Guide
Moving a pet between Canada and the US
We move dogs and cats across the border in both directions, door to door, by road, by air or both. Here is what each country asks for, taken from the official pages, and the parts we take care of.
Two sets of rules
Each country checks pets on the way in. Going into the US, the rules come from the CDC, the federal health agency, and US border officers check them. Going into Canada, they come from the CFIA, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Canadian border officers check them. The state or province you move to can add its own rules on top.
The rules below are for a dog or cat moving as a personal pet. A pet that is going to be sold, adopted, fostered or bred counts as a commercial import, with stricter rules on both sides. Tell us if that is your case.
Quick facts
- Dogs into the US
- CDC Dog Import Form, microchip, at least 6 months old
- Cats into the US
- Healthy on arrival; your state may ask for more
- Into Canada
- Rabies certificate for dogs and cats 3 months and older
- Dogs under 8 months into Canada
- A vet health certificate from the 72 hours before arrival
- Customs
- We arrange it through a licensed customs broker
Into the US from Canada
Dogs
For a dog that has only been in Canada or the US in the last 6 months, the CDC asks for:
- The CDC Dog Import Form. It is free and filled in online. It can be done up to the day of travel, but a few days ahead is better. It asks for a photo of the dog's face and body; for a dog under a year old, the photo must be taken in the 15 days before arrival. The receipt, printed or on a phone, is shown to the airline on a flight and to US border officers on arrival.
- A microchip of any brand, as long as a universal scanner can read it.
- A healthy look on arrival.
- Age: at least 6 months when the dog enters the US. Moving a younger puppy? Ask us before you plan anything.
The same applies to a US dog coming home after time in Canada. One receipt covers repeat trips from Canada for 6 months.
Cats
The CDC does not ask for a rabies certificate for cats, only that the cat looks healthy on arrival. It does recommend the rabies vaccine, and many states ask for one, so we plan for it.
State rules
Each US state sets its own entry rules, such as a current rabies vaccine and a health certificate. Our pet entry rules by state page covers Washington and the other states we fly to most.
Into Canada from the US
Dogs and cats 3 months and older
A valid rabies vaccination certificate, signed by a licensed vet, in English or French. It names the pet and its description, the owner, the date of the vaccine, the vaccine's trade name and serial number, and how long the vaccine is valid. If the certificate does not say how long it is valid, Canada counts it as valid for 1 year, so a 3 year vaccine needs the 3 years written on it. A dog must have been at least 3 months old when it was vaccinated.
Puppies and kittens under 3 months
No rabies certificate. Instead, proof of age from a vet.
Dogs under 8 months travelling without you
For Canada, a dog travels "accompanied" only when its owner travels with it. On our moves your dog travels with a licensed partner or as airline cargo, so a dog under 8 months also needs a vet health certificate from an exam in the 72 hours before it arrives in Canada, on the clinic's letterhead, with the date, the time and the time zone of the exam. We time the vet visit for it.
At the border
Canadian border officers check the papers and that the pet matches them. They can refer a pet to the CFIA for a closer look, which has its own fees. A pet that does not meet the rules is usually ordered out of Canada. Carry the original papers: copies may not be enough. Canada does not ask for a microchip for a personal pet, and USDA says no USDA endorsement is needed for a personal pet dog or cat going to Canada.
What we take care of
- We tell you which papers your pet needs for your dates, and check them with you before the move.
- We can book the visit with your own vet and time it, for example for the 72 hour certificate.
- We arrange the customs clearance through a licensed customs broker.
- We plan the safest way across, by road or by air, with pickup at home and delivery to your new door.
You give us the two addresses, the date and your pet's details in the quote form, and we email your quote within one business day. Moving to a country outside the US and Canada? See international pet relocation.
Moving pets between Canada and the US: questions
Can my puppy under 6 months move to the US from Canada?
Does my cat need a rabies certificate?
Does my dog need a microchip?
Do I need a USDA endorsed health certificate to take my pet to Canada?
Can you move my pet by road across the border?
What if my pet is going to be sold, adopted or bred?
Last checked against the official pages on October 9, 2026.
Airline and state rules can change, so check the official page before booking.
Moving across the border with a pet?
Enter both addresses and your pet's details. We plan the move and the papers with you, and email your quote.