How to Get a Canadian Pet Passport in 2026: A Complete Guide
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View 4 More +Traveling is known to be stressful, but it can also be one of the most exciting parts of your life! All the organizing and packing and ensuring that you have all your documentation in order is time-consuming but essential.
If you plan on bringing along your dog, you'll have to do even more organizing and ensure that you have all the right permits and documents. So, if you’re traveling from Canada to another country, keep reading to learn what you’ll need if you want to successfully take your pet with you.
The 4 Steps to Obtain a Pet Passport When Traveling Out of Canada
Canada actually doesn’t have a pet passport, but there are a few documents that you’ll need for your pet before traveling. Here are the steps you should take to ensure that you can bring your dog with you outside of Canada.
1. It Starts With Researching
You should start by contacting the embassy of your destination country to ask about the regulations for bringing pets into their country.
Each country has its own rules, so it’s essential that you make yourself familiar with them before leaving. Bear in mind that you’ll be paying for vaccines, treatments, and testing before entering the country. Some countries may also require an export certificate and import permit.
2. Make an Appointment With Your Veterinarian
Many countries will accept the Canadian International Health Certificate, which should be printed on legal-sized paper (8.5 x 12”), though letter-sized (8.5 x 11”) is also acceptable.1
This certificate must be filled out by a licensed veterinarian and then mailed to or dropped off at the closest Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). There, it is endorsed by a CFIA vet, which will cost you $20. You won’t need this certificate if your destination country provides its own health certificate or requires specific veterinary certificates with the CIFA.
3. Get Exams and Vaccinations While at the Veterinarian's Office
While you're at the vet's office to have the Canadian International Health Certificate filled out, you’ll likely have to pay for their time, which will include a physical exam. If your pet needs to have their vaccines updated, your vet will take care of this too.
Additionally, if your pet isn’t already microchipped, you should probably have that done. It will give you peace of mind if your pet is lost while traveling, and some countries require pets to be microchipped.
4. Get the Rabies Neutralizing Antibody Titre Test
Some countries, particularly Australia, will request the rabies-neutralizing-antibody-titre test (also called RNATT). This tests your dog's blood to detect the level of rabies antibodies. Your vet will draw the blood, centrifuge it to obtain serum, and send it to a qualified laboratory.
If you’re going to Australia, Canadians must have the blood serum sent to Kansas State University in the United States. There’s an $84 charge for the lab work.
How to Obtain a Pet Passport When Traveling Into Canada
Traveling to Canada also requires specific documentation.
1. Research Canada’s Import Rules
If you’re flying into Canada, you’ll want to check the import rules for bringing your pet into the country. Without the proper documentation, your pet will be removed. Pets entering Canada will need a rabies vaccination certificate or a health certificate completed by a licensed veterinarian. An EU Pet Passport will be accepted if you live in a rabies-free country.2
If you’re using a veterinary certificate, you should also have documentation that states that rabies has not occurred in your country for at least 6 months before your pet enters Canada.
2. Research Online
The Government of Canada has made things easier for you by providing a question-and-answer section.3 This enables you to answer a few questions, such as the type of pet, their age, and why you’re bringing your pet with you.
You are then given the requirements needed to enter the country. The website enables you to choose from many animals, not just cats and dogs.
Countries With No Certificate Requirements
If you’re traveling to a country that does not require an export certificate and doesn’t have one of its own, you’ll need to contact the destination country’s embassy or veterinary officials to enquire about their current import requirements.
However, this process has been known to take months, so you must look into this the moment you’re planning your trip. You should also contact your local CIFA animal health official to ensure you’ve covered all your bases.
Traveling With Exotic Pets
The Government of Canada lists pets that are not cats, dogs, or ferrets as exotic pets. This means if you have a parrot, turtle, snake, or rabbit, they are labeled exotic, and you’ll need permits for your pet when traveling with them.
This is where you’ll need the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) permit.4 CITES works to prevent things like illegal poaching and international trade of wildlife, and bringing any CITES-listed animal across most borders without a CITES permit is illegal.
If you’re a frequent traveler with your pet, you can apply for the Certificate of Ownership, which is a passport of sorts.5 But to apply for this certificate, you must be a Canadian resident and only be temporarily taking your pet out of the country for personal reasons.
The Certificate of Ownership is valid for 3 years. It can be used for multiple exports and re-entries into Canada by some countries.
Traveling Through Other Countries
The European Union has specific conditions in place for cats, dogs, and ferrets. If your trip includes stopovers in other countries, you must be prepared for these conditions to ensure a smooth traveling experience for both you and your pet.
The animal health certificate is bilingual in English and the language of the country you are entering. For example, if you’re heading to Switzerland but have a stopover in Spain, you’ll need to fill in the English/Spanish certificate.
You can check this list of EU Member States, which provides the necessary information, such as the official language, so you know which form to fill in.
Conclusion
Preparing for a trip is stressful stuff, and when you add a petto the mix, it requires quite a bit more preparation. The moment that you book everything, the first thing that you should do is start contacting veterinarian officials and potentially, the embassy of your destination country.
Some countries don’t require too much in the way of pet certificates, but in some cases, the certificates and tests can take months, and you’ll want everything completed before departure.
Don’t be shy about speaking to your vet about the process of traveling with your dog. They are instrumental in giving you the proper documentation so you can travel as hassle-free as possible with your beloved companion.
Featured Image Credit: 135pixels, Shutterstock
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Kathryn was a librarian in a previous lifetime and is currently a writer about all things pets. When she was a kid, she hoped to work in a zoo or with wildlife in some way, thanks to her love for animals. Unfortunately, she's not strong in the sciences, so she fills her days with researching and writing about all kinds of animals and spends time playing with her adorable but terribly naughty tabby cat, Bella. Kathryn is hoping to add to her family in the near future – maybe another cat or two and a dog.
