Pet Transport from Australia to Canada: CFIA Rules, Costs and How It Works

A move from Australia to Canada with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Expect about 6-8 weeks. Nothing here is unusually complex, but the deadlines matter. No …

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6-8

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

None

Quarantine on arrival

Moderate

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Lead time needed

6-8 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Moderate

Airlines

4 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Australia to Canada typically takes around 6-8 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.

Regulations checked June 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The Australia to Canada import process

Before vaccinations. Strongly recommended even if not legally required by CFIA.

Implant ISO microchip (if not already done)

Responsible: Your vet in Australia

At least 6-8 weeks before travel. If expired or never given (for dogs), allow 21 days from new vaccination before travel.

Confirm rabies vaccination is current

Responsible: Your vet in Australia

Within 10 days of planned arrival date in Canada. Cannot be issued earlier.

Obtain health certificate from accredited Australian vet

Responsible: Your accredited vet in Australia

4-6 weeks before travel. Confirm pet availability and breed restrictions.

Book cargo or cabin space with chosen airline

Responsible: Owner or agent

3-4 hours before scheduled departure for cargo; 2 hours for cabin

Deliver pet and all documents to airline cargo desk on departure day

Responsible: Owner

On arrival at Canadian port of entry (YVR, YYZ, or other)

CBSA inspection on arrival in Canada; health certificate and microchip review

Responsible: CBSA plus owner

Requirements

Canada entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip strongly recommended. Not legally mandatory under CFIA federal rules for personal pet imports, but required by most airlines for cargo transport and strongly advised for identification purposes. Must be implanted before rabies vaccination if used.

Rabies vaccination

Required for dogs. Must be current (administered by a licensed vet and valid at time of entry; booster required if more than 3 years since last dose). Cats: no rabies vaccination requirement under CFIA rules for personal imports, though some provinces recommend it. Source: CFIA, inspection.gc.ca.

Quarantine

No quarantine for dogs or cats arriving with correct documentation. Animals must appear healthy on arrival. CBSA officers can hold pets that appear unwell at the owner's cost.

Import permit

No CFIA import permit required for personal pet imports of 1-2 animals. Imports of more than 2 dogs, or any dog for commercial purposes (sale, breeding, adoption, fostering), require a CFIA import permit. Source: CFIA, inspection.gc.ca.

Health certificate

Official veterinary health certificate required. Must be issued by an accredited vet within 10 days of arrival in Canada. Certificate must state the animal is free from clinical signs of communicable disease and has been examined by a vet within 10 days of the arrival date. Source: CFIA, inspection.gc.ca.

Leaving Australia

Export requirements

Export permit

No export permit required from Australia for personal pet exports to Canada. Health certificate from an accredited Australian vet is sufficient documentation for departure.

Health certificate

Official health certificate from an accredited Australian vet, issued in the format required by CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency). No specific Australian government endorsement required for Canada, but the certificate must be signed by a vet registered with the Australian Veterinary Association or equivalent state authority. Must be issued within 10 days of arrival in Canada. Source: DAFF, agriculture.gov.au.

Costs

What this route typically costs

Microchip implant (if not yet done): approx. AUD 80-150 at an Australian vet

Rabies vaccination or booster: approx. AUD 80-150 at an Australian vet

Health certificate from accredited Australian vet: approx. AUD 150-350

Airline cargo fees (Sydney or Melbourne to Vancouver or Toronto): approx. AUD 1,500-4,000 depending on pet size, crate, and routing

IATA-compliant travel crate: AUD 100-400 depending on size

Specialist agent fee if used: AUD 600-1,500

Critical points

Australia is rabies-free, but Canada still requires dogs to have a current rabies vaccination. Do not assume that Australia's disease-free status removes this requirement; it does not.

The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of arrival in Canada, not departure from Australia. On a flight of 15-20 hours with possible connections, confirm the precise arrival date before booking your vet appointment.

Transit through the United States, even without clearing customs, may introduce USDA documentation requirements. If your itinerary routes through a US airport, confirm transit documentation requirements with both the airline and USDA APHIS before travel.

Brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Bulldogs, Persian cats) face cargo restrictions on most airlines serving this route, particularly during Australian summer (December to February). Confirm breed eligibility before booking.

Australia itself requires an export health certificate but not an export permit for personal pet exports. Ensure your vet understands the CFIA format requirements, not just Australian domestic certificate templates.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Qantas	Cargo service from Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), and Brisbane (BNE) to Vancouver (YVR) via Honolulu (HNL) on some routes, or direct on select services. All pets travel as manifested cargo via Qantas Freight. Brachycephalic breeds restricted year-round. Temperature embargoes during Australian summer (December to February).	Cargo Only
Air Canada	Cargo from Australian gateways to Vancouver (YVR) and Toronto (YYZ). Small pets (under 10kg including carrier) may travel in cabin on some segments, subject to availability. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo year-round. Air Canada Cargo operates pressurised, temperature-controlled hold.	Cabin and Cargo
Emirates	Cargo routing from Sydney or Melbourne via Dubai (DXB) to Toronto (YYZ) or Vancouver (YVR). Pets as manifested cargo. Temperature restrictions on the DXB leg during Gulf summer months. Longer total transit time than direct routing.	Cargo Only
United Airlines	Cargo routing via United States hub (Los Angeles LAX or San Francisco SFO) to Canadian gateway. Note: US transit introduces USDA documentation requirements even if the pet is not cleared through customs. Confirm transit documentation requirements before booking.	Cargo Only

What Canada requires

Getting a pet into Canada is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.

Avoiding the common mistakes

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.

If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

No. Canada does not require quarantine for dogs or cats from Australia with the correct documentation. Your pet will be inspected by CBSA at the port of entry, and provided the health certificate is in order and the animal appears healthy, clearance is typically straightforward.

No. Canada does not require a rabies titre test for personal pet imports from Australia. A current rabies vaccination for dogs and an official health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival are sufficient. This makes the Australia-to-Canada pathway considerably shorter than routes to countries requiring titre tests and waiting periods.

The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of your pet’s arrival date in Canada. Not 10 days before departure from Australia, but 10 days before arrival at a Canadian port of entry. On a long-haul flight this distinction matters. Schedule your vet appointment as close to your departure date as possible to ensure the certificate remains valid on arrival.

A microchip is not strictly required under CFIA federal rules for personal pet imports of dogs and cats. However, it is strongly recommended: most airlines require it for cargo transport, and it is the most reliable way to reunite you with your pet if any issue arises in transit. If your pet does not yet have a microchip, implant it before any vaccinations are given.

Transit through a US airport may trigger USDA APHIS documentation requirements even if your pet does not clear US customs. Requirements vary depending on the transit airport and whether the pet remains on the aircraft or passes through the cargo facility. Confirm with your airline and USDA APHIS before finalising any itinerary that routes through the US.

Airline guides

Qantas
Air Canada
Emirates
United Airlines

Breed guides

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