Canada to UK Pet Transport: Bringing Your Dog or Cat from Canada to Great Britain
Canada and the UK share deep cultural ties, and many Canadians relocate to the UK each year – often with pets. The process is manageable, but the titre test requirement means you need to start planning at least 5 months before your intended move date.
UK entry requirements for pets from Canada
Canada is a non-EU listed third country under APHA’s pet travel rules. Requirements:
- ISO 15-digit microchip (implanted before or same day as first rabies vaccination)
- Rabies vaccination – current and valid
- Rabies titre test blood drawn at least 30 days after the most recent rabies vaccination
- Titre test showing 0.5 IU/mL or above from a UK-approved laboratory
- UK travel at least 3 months after the date of the satisfactory titre test
- Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by a Canadian Official Veterinarian and endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) within 10 days of UK arrival
- Dogs only: tapeworm treatment (Praziquantel) by a vet between 1 and 5 days before arriving in Great Britain
Getting the titre test done in Canada
Canada has several APHA-approved labs for rabies titre testing. The main one used by Canadian vets is:
- Rabies Laboratory, Cornell University (processes samples from Canada)
- Some vets also use IDEXX or other approved labs – confirm the lab is on the APHA approved list before testing
Ask your vet to confirm which approved lab they use for titre testing before the blood draw. The result is only valid for UK entry if the lab is APHA-approved.
CFIA endorsement
The AHC must be endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Your vet issues the certificate; CFIA endorses it. Allow time for CFIA processing – typically 3-5 business days, but during busy periods it can take longer. Some vets send the certificate to CFIA directly; others ask the owner to do it.
Flying from Canada to the UK
The main direct routes are from Toronto (YYZ), Vancouver (YVR), and Montreal (YUL) to London (LHR or LGW). Air Canada and British Airways are the primary carriers. Both accept pets in cargo on many transatlantic routes, but policies vary by season and breed.
Book early – cargo space for pets is limited, especially in summer.
Source
APHA (UK): gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain (verified May 2026). CFIA: inspection.canada.ca (verified May 2026).