Bringing Dogs into Canada from the US

If you plan on traveling to Canada with a dog from the United States, there are requirements that must be met otherwise you could be denied entry to Canada.

Rabies Vaccination Certificate
In most situations, a dog must be accompanied by a rabies vaccination certificate in order to be permitted to cross the border. To be considered valid by Canadian authorities, a rabies vaccination certificate must written be in English, identify the breed, sex, color and weight of the dog, specify the duration of immunity and the trade name or serial number of the licensed vaccine, and must be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian. If a dog does not meet the Canadian rabies vaccination requirements, the owner must either withdraw their application for admission into Canada or have the animal vaccinated against rabies within a specified period of time (at their own expense) and provide this vaccination record to a Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Service Dogs
A service dog is exempted from all animal import requirements as long as it is accompanied by the person whom it is assigned and there is documentation proving that the animal is certified as a service animal by an appropriate organization.

Pet Dogs >3 Months and Accompanied by Owner
The only requirement for pet dogs older than three months entering Canada with their owner is that they have a rabies vaccination.

Pet Dogs <3 Months and Accompanied by Owner
There are no requirements for pet dogs less than three months old who are traveling with their owner provided there is proof of the dog's age.

Commercial Dogs <8 Months
Dogs under eight months that will be entering Canada for resale, breeding purposes, dog shows, scientific research, training or adoption require a rabies vaccination certificate, a microchip, an import permit and a veterinary certificate of health. Please note: rescued and stray dogs destined for adoption or an animal welfare organization are classified as commercial dogs unless they are being imported as a personal pet.

Commercial Dogs >8 Months
Dogs from the USA that are older than eight months can be brought into Canada for revenue generating reasons provided they have a valid rabies vaccination certificate.

Canadian Commercial Dogs
In order for a Canadian commercial dog to return to Canada, it must not have been outside of the country for more than 60 days. It must also be accompanied by a resident of Canada, have a valid rabies vaccination certificate, and it must also have proof that it was registered in a competition, show or a trial hosted by a recognized association.

If anyone importing or accompanying a dog into Canada has a DUI or other criminal offense in their past, they may be considered criminally inadmissible and denied entry at the border. Americans that have any criminal record, including a single DUI or DWI, may not be permitted entry to Canada without special permission in the form of a Temporary Resident Permit or Canadian Rehabilitation, especially if the offense happened in the past ten years. The good news is that for people without a criminal record, bringing a dog across the Canadian border generally involves much less paperwork than entering Canada with misdemeanor charges. If you have an assault charge or drunk driving charge and plan on taking a dog into Canada, phone us now for a free consultation.