Lead time needed
4-7 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Medium
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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CA
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Pet Transport from Canada to El Salvador

Moving a dog or cat from Canada to El Salvador is very doable with the right preparation. Plan on roughly 4-7 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is manageable. There is no routine quarantine, provided the paperwork is in order. This route does not …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Canada to El Salvador typically takes around 4-7 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Step by step

The Canada to El Salvador 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.
Confirm or implant a microchip and check the rabies vaccination is current.

Responsible: Canadian vet

2
Valid 30 days once issued, so time it close to the travel date if applied for in advance.
Apply for the MAG import authorisation, or plan to complete it on arrival at San Salvador.

Responsible: Owner or an El Salvador-side agent

3
1-2 weeks before travel.
Book the CFIA-endorsed Canadian International Health Certificate appointment.

Responsible: Owner and CFIA-endorsing vet

4
Must be completed while the pet is still in Canada.
Certificate endorsed by CFIA before departure.

Responsible: CFIA veterinarian

5
3-5 weeks before travel.
Book cargo space on the Avianca Toronto or Montreal nonstop, or an alternative routing.

Responsible: Owner or agent

6
Travel day.
Present documentation to MAG officials on arrival in San Salvador.

Responsible: Owner

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter El Salvador

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

Microchip
Not explicitly mandated by MAG's published import guidance, but strongly …
Rabies vaccination
A current vaccination record must accompany the pet, original or copy, alongside …
Rabies titre test
Not required by El Salvador for pets arriving from Canada.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine stated in MAG's published guidance for a pet arriving with …
Import permit
MAG import authorisation required in advance, or at the point of entry itself. …
Health certificate
The CFIA-endorsed Canadian International Health Certificate, plus the completed …
Export permit
No blanket CFIA export permit requirement for a personal pet dog or cat. Most …
Costs

What this route typically costs

CFIA-endorsed Canadian International Health Certificate: CAD 150-300
MAG import authorisation: USD 9.04
IATA-compliant travel crate: CAD 100-350
Airline cargo fee, Toronto or Montreal to San Salvador: CAD 700-1,400 …
Total typical range: CAD 950-2,050 over 4-7 weeks

Critical points

CFIA cannot endorse the export health certificate after the pet has left Canada. Book the endorsing vet appointment with enough margin before departure, not as a last-minute step.

The MAG import authorisation is single-entry and cannot double as an export authorisation for a later return journey, so a round trip needs two separate applications.

Avianca's nonstop Toronto and Montreal services are a genuine advantage on this route, but confirm current cargo acceptance and any seasonal capacity limits directly with the airline before booking.

Airlines

Approved carriers for this route

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

Avianca
Flies San Salvador (SAL) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) nonstop, about 5 hours, with up to 12 …
Cargo Only
Avianca
Also serves Montreal-Trudeau (YUL), a newer addition to its Canadian network, useful for …
Cargo Only
American Airlines
An alternative routing via Miami, worth checking if Avianca's direct Toronto or Montreal …
Cargo Only

El Salvador entry requirements at a glance

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

Getting the details right

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

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.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. Avianca flies Toronto Pearson to San Salvador nonstop, about 5 hours, up to 12 times weekly, and also serves Montreal-Trudeau nonstop. This avoids the US layover that most other Canada-Central America pet routes require.
No blanket permit is required for a personal pet. Most owners use the Canadian International Health Certificate, completed by a Canadian vet and endorsed by a CFIA veterinarian before departure, since it must be endorsed while the pet is still in Canada.
No. MAG does not require a rabies titre test for pets arriving from Canada. A current vaccination record, a health certificate and a MAG import authorisation cover the destination-side requirements.
USD 9.04, valid for 30 days from issue and covering one entry only. It can be applied for in advance or completed at the point of entry in San Salvador on the day of arrival.
Airline guides
  • Avianca
  • Avianca
  • American Airlines
Breed guides

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Move your pet to El Salvador.

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CA SVCanada to El Salvador
International pet transport route
Lead time4-7 weeks
QuarantineNone
ComplexityMedium
Airlines3
ServiceDoor to door
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