Lead time needed
8-12 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Medium
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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BO
CA

Pet Transport from Bolivia to Canada

Taking your dog or cat from Bolivia to Canada comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Expect about 8-12 weeks. Nothing here is unusually complex, but the deadlines matter. There is no routine quarantine, provided the paperwork is in order. This …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Bolivia to Canada typically takes around 8-12 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Step by step

The Bolivia to Canada import process

Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.

1
Start of planning, 2-3 months before travel for dogs.
Confirm the dog's age will be at least 7 months at entry, fit the ISO microchip, and administer or verify the rabies vaccination given after 3 months old. Cats skip the age and rabies steps entirely.

Responsible: Your vet in Bolivia.

2
4-6 weeks before travel.
Apply for the Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación through SENASAG.

Responsible: You or your agent.

3
Early in planning, for peace of mind rather than a formal requirement.
Confirm with CFIA or your agent that no commercial-import restriction applies, since your pet is a personal, owner-accompanied move rather than a commercial dog.

Responsible: You or your agent.

4
6-8 weeks before travel.
Book pet-hold space, either via Copa through Panama City or BoA through Miami, into your Canadian gateway.

Responsible: You or a pet transport agent.

5
Within days of travel.
Obtain the SENASAG-endorsed health certificate close to travel and carry it along with the vaccination record on arrival.

Responsible: SENASAG-endorsed vet.

6
Day of arrival.
Arrive at a Canadian port of entry for CFIA inspection and clearance.

Responsible: CFIA officer at the port of entry.

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter Canada

Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.

Microchip
For dogs: a 15-digit ISO 11784/11785 microchip, implanted before or on the same …
Rabies vaccination
For dogs: a valid rabies vaccine given after the dog reaches 3 months old. Dogs …
Rabies titre test
Not required. CFIA's high-risk-country framework for dogs does not include a …
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for a personal pet dog or cat arriving with compliant …
Import permit
Not required for a personal import of 1-2 animals. Commercial imports, and any …
Health certificate
SENASAG-endorsed health certificate, recording the rabies vaccination date and …
Export permit
Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación issued by SENASAG (Servicio Nacional de …
Costs

What this route typically costs

SENASAG export certificate and vet fees: BOB 200-600 (roughly USD …
IATA-compliant travel crate: CAD 90-350.
Pet-hold fare, Santa Cruz to a Canadian gateway via Panama City or …
Agent and handling fees at both ends: CAD 300-600.
Total typical range: CAD 2,100-4,800.

Critical points

Bolivia is on CFIA's list of countries considered high-risk for dog rabies. CFIA's September 2022 restriction on entry from these countries applies strictly to commercial dogs, resale, adoption, fostering, breeding, show or research animals, and does not extend to an owner-accompanied personal pet. Don't let this distinction get lost when researching the route.

A dog moving under this route must be at least 7 months old at entry, with the ISO microchip fitted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination. Cats are not subject to either rule.

There is no direct flight between Bolivia and Canada. Copa Airlines through Panama City and Boliviana de Aviación through Miami are the two practical connecting routes.

Airlines

Approved carriers for this route

Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.

Copa Airlines
Connects Santa Cruz Viru Viru to Toronto and other Canadian gateways through its Panama …
Passenger Hold
Boliviana de Aviación
An alternative first leg via its Miami service, useful if a US-routed connection into …
Passenger Hold
Air Canada
Handles the final domestic or transborder leg once the pet reaches a North American …
Cargo Only

What Canada requires

The path into Canada is straightforward to follow once you know the steps. Give the time-sensitive items priority and check the details below.

Avoiding the common mistakes

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.

Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

FAQ

Common questions

No. CFIA’s September 2022 measure restricting entry from high-risk countries applies specifically to commercial dogs, those intended for resale, adoption, fostering, breeding, show or research. An owner-accompanied personal pet dog or cat is not covered by this restriction.
No. Unlike the US, Australian or UAE frameworks, CFIA does not require a titre test for dogs from high-risk countries. A valid rabies vaccination given after 3 months old, along with the correct microchip timing, is what CFIA asks for instead.
Yes. A dog must be at least 7 months old at the time of entry, since Bolivia is on CFIA’s high-risk-for-dog-rabies list. This age rule and the microchip-before-vaccination sequencing requirement do not apply to cats.
No. The two practical routings are Copa Airlines via Panama City into Toronto or another Canadian gateway, or Boliviana de Aviación via Miami with an onward Canadian connection.
Airline guides
  • Copa Airlines
  • Boliviana de Aviación
  • Air Canada
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

Move your pet to Canada.

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BO CABolivia to Canada
International pet transport route
Lead time8-12 weeks
QuarantineNone
ComplexityMedium
Airlines3
ServiceDoor to door
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