Both Canada and the US tightened their pet-import rules recently — the CDC overhauled requirements in August 2024, and Canada updated its rabies certificate process in 2026. The short version: a healthy vaccinated dog from a low-risk country (Canada qualifies) crosses with much less paperwork than people fear, but you do need a CDC Dog Import Form receipt and a current rabies certificate. This guide walks through what you need in each direction, for dogs, cats, and the most common other pets.
Verify before you travel. Pet import rules are technical and changing — for the latest, check CDC's dog importation page and CFIA's pet import page. Penalties for non-compliance include refused entry and quarantine, not just fines.
The 30-second answer
| Pet | Into the US (from Canada) | Into Canada (from US) |
|---|---|---|
| Dog (6+ months) | CDC Dog Import Form receipt + healthy + microchip | Rabies certificate from licensed vet |
| Dog (under 6 months) | Generally not allowed from any country | Rabies certificate not required under 3 months; proof of age (vet records) helps |
| Cat (3+ months) | Healthy on arrival — no formal CDC paperwork required | Rabies certificate (not strictly required but recommended) |
| Birds, ferrets, rabbits | Species-specific rules; verify with USDA APHIS | Species-specific rules; verify with CFIA |
| Service animals | Lighter documentation; bring credential/letter | Lighter documentation; bring credential/letter |
Bringing a dog into the US (from Canada)
As of August 2024, the CDC's only formal requirement for a dog arriving from a "dog rabies-free or low-risk country" (Canada qualifies) is the CDC Dog Import Form, plus general health and identity requirements.
What you need
- CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Fill out the form on the CDC website 2-10 days before crossing; print the receipt or save it on your phone. Receipt is valid for 6 months.
- Dog must be at least 6 months old regardless of origin country.
- Dog must appear healthy at the border. Visible illness (coughing, lethargy, untreated wounds) can prompt secondary inspection or refusal.
- Dog must have a microchip. ISO-compatible microchips are universally readable; non-ISO chips can complicate things but are generally accepted with a microchip reader.
- Rabies vaccination strongly recommended — Canada is "low risk" but CBP officers can ask about vaccination history and may require proof if your travel history includes high-risk countries.
Most US-bound dogs from Canada cross with the form receipt printed and a current rabies certificate, and that's sufficient.
Bringing a dog into Canada (from US)
Canada requires a rabies vaccination certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian for all dogs 3+ months old. The certificate must show:
- Dog's name, breed, age, color, weight, and microchip number.
- Vaccine product name, manufacturer, lot/serial number.
- Date of vaccination.
- Date the vaccination expires (or "duration of immunity"). Most rabies vaccines are valid for 1 or 3 years.
- Veterinarian's name, license number, address, and signature.
Service dogs (certified guide, hearing, or service dogs) are exempt from the rabies certificate requirement, but bring the service credential.
Canada accepts dogs without rabies vaccination if under 3 months old, but you should bring vet records showing the dog's birth date to prove age.
Cats in both directions
Cats are treated more leniently than dogs by both countries:
- Into the US: No formal CDC paperwork required. Cat must appear healthy at the border. CBP may ask about vaccination but typically doesn't require certificates.
- Into Canada: Rabies certificate is technically required for cats 3+ months old, though CBSA officers often don't ask. Bring one anyway — the document weighs nothing.
Birds, ferrets, rabbits, reptiles
Each has its own rules:
- Pet birds — USDA APHIS regulates. Generally require a health certificate from a licensed vet within 30 days of travel. Birds from countries with avian influenza outbreaks may face additional quarantine or refusal.
- Ferrets — No federal CDC rules for ferrets, but Hawaii and California have state restrictions (California prohibits them entirely without a permit). Check destination state law.
- Rabbits — Generally allowed without paperwork in both directions, but USDA APHIS may inspect.
- Reptiles, amphibians, fish — Wildlife rules apply via US Fish & Wildlife Service and Environment Canada. Pets bought as pets are usually fine; anything wild-caught or on CITES lists requires permits.
When in doubt, call USDA APHIS (1-301-851-3300) or CFIA (1-800-442-2342) before traveling. Both have pet-import help desks.
Flying with pets across the border
Land crossings are much simpler than air travel for pet imports. Air travel involves the airline's own pet policies, larger documentation requirements, and (for US-bound flights) entry through one of a small number of "authorized airports of entry" for animals.
If you have the option, drive. The CDC Dog Import Form and a rabies certificate cover land entries; air travel often layers on USDA health certificates and airline-specific veterinary inspection.
Practical tips for the crossing itself
- Have documents in a printed folder, not your phone. Officers prefer paper. Make a slim "pet binder" with the rabies certificate, CDC form receipt, microchip number, and a current vet contact phone number.
- Don't sedate the dog just for crossing — officers sometimes ask to see the dog's behavior to verify health, and a groggy dog can be flagged.
- Bring water and a portable bowl. Border waits can be hours. A bored, thirsty pet is harder to manage than a hydrated one.
- If your pet has medical equipment or prescriptions (insulin, anti-seizure meds, etc.), bring the prescription and a vet letter. CBP officers can mistake unfamiliar vet meds for something else.
- Don't bring raw pet food across the border in either direction. CBP and CBSA both treat raw meat — including raw pet food — as agricultural import and have it confiscated/destroyed.
- Travel at off-peak times — long queues are harder on pets than on people. See our best-time guide for the patterns.
What happens if you're missing paperwork
Without the required documents, expect one of:
- Refusal of entry. The dog goes back across the border with you. You can fix the paperwork and re-try.
- Quarantine. For higher-risk situations (recent travel to a high-risk country, no rabies vaccination, signs of illness), the pet may be held until cleared by USDA or CFIA vets, sometimes at your expense.
- Confiscation in serious cases. Rare — usually involves unvaccinated dogs from high-risk countries or suspected smuggling. Doesn't apply to normal Canada/US travel.
Bottom line
Pre-fill the CDC Dog Import Form before you travel, keep the rabies certificate in a folder with your other documents, microchip your dog if it isn't already, and time your crossing to an off-peak hour. Most pets cross both directions without issue when their paperwork matches them at the booth.
Pull up your crossing on the homepage to time the trip to a quieter window — short waits make for a calmer pet.