Pet Transport from Canada to Mongolia

Bringing your dog or cat from Canada to Mongolia takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. Around 7-11 weeks is sensible here, with a few steps that must …

7-11 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

High

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

Get my free quote

Lead time needed

7-11 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

High

Airlines

3 carriers on this route

Start my quote

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Canada to Mongolia typically takes around 7-11 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.

Regulations checked July 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The import process, in full

Before any rabies vaccination.

Microchip implanted, if not already fitted.

Responsible: Canadian vet

At least 30 days, and no more than 12 months, before travel.

Rabies vaccination given, or a current booster confirmed.

Responsible: Canadian vet

6-8 weeks ahead; Ulaanbaatar's scheduled capacity is thin.

Book routing via Frankfurt (Air Canada/Lufthansa to MIAT) or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines/MIAT).

Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent

As early as possible; CFIA cannot endorse a certificate once the pet has left Canada.

Book a CFIA endorsement appointment and have the vet complete the certificate.

Responsible: Owner, via CFIA regional office

2-5 business days for processing, longer in peak season.

CFIA officially endorses the export certificate.

Responsible: CFIA regional office

On landing.

Arrival inspection at Chinggis Khaan International Airport; certificate and microchip checked.

Responsible: Mongolian veterinary officials

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip

Not formally required by Mongolia, but expected in practice since the chip number needs to appear on the certificate presented at the border. Implant before the rabies vaccination.

Rabies vaccination

Required, given between 30 days and 12 months before arrival.

Rabies titre test

Not required for a pet entering Mongolia, whatever its country of origin. Facilities for holding non-compliant animals are limited, so a complete certificate matters more here than in countries where a paperwork gap just means extra queuing.

Quarantine

No quarantine for pets arriving with a complete, compliant certificate.

Import permit

Not required for a personal pet travelling with its owner. Only commercial animal imports need a separate import permit.

Health certificate

The CFIA-endorsed certificate, checked on arrival by veterinary officials at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, serves as the import document.

Export permit

No standalone export permit for a personal pet. Mongolia's own guidance expects a CFIA-endorsed certificate rather than a vet's signature alone.

Veterinary inspection

A clinical examination by a CFIA-accredited veterinarian, confirming the pet is fit to travel.

Health certificate

A CFIA-accredited vet completes the certificate, then an official CFIA veterinarian endorses it at a booked regional office appointment. CFIA cannot endorse a certificate once the pet has left Canada, so this step has to happen before departure. Processing typically runs 2 to 5 business days. Source: CFIA, Pets: Export certificates, inspection.canada.ca, 2026.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Canada to Mongolia move gets missed.

Pet Transport Global

Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.

Turkish Airlines

Toronto to Istanbul nonstop, connecting to Ulaanbaatar on Turkish's own network or via MIAT's Istanbul service. Cabin pets under 8kg; brachycephalic breeds excluded from both cabin and hold since October 2021. Cargo via Turkish Cargo, flat USD 150 fee up to 50kg.

Cabin and Cargo

MIAT Mongolian Airlines

Runs its own Boeing 787 and 767 services between Ulaanbaatar and both Frankfurt and Istanbul, either reachable nonstop from Toronto on Air Canada or Lufthansa. Cabin pets under 5kg with carrier. Checked hold pets up to 42kg combined weight. An 18-breed brachycephalic exclusion list applies to the hold, wider than most carriers', including Cane Corso and Dogue de Bordeaux.

Cabin and Cargo

Air Canada

No route to Ulaanbaatar. Handles the Toronto-side leg as far as Frankfurt or Istanbul, where the pet transfers to MIAT or Turkish Airlines for the onward sector. Air China's well-publicised dog transport suspension applies to its US-bound flights specifically, not a Canada-Beijing routing, but scheduled live-animal cargo capacity via Beijing to Ulaanbaatar isn't well documented for this corridor, so Frankfurt or Istanbul remain the more reliable choice.

Cargo Only

Costs

What this route typically costs

CFIA-accredited vet certificate and CFIA endorsement: CAD 150-380

Microchip and rabies vaccination, if not already current: CAD 60-130

IATA-compliant travel crate: CAD 100-350

Cargo agent handling for the export booking: CAD 700-1,600

Air cargo Toronto to Ulaanbaatar via Frankfurt or Istanbul: CAD 1,500-3,600 depending on crate size and season

Total typical range: CAD 2,500-5,700

Critical points

There is no direct Canada-Mongolia service, for pets or people. Every routing goes via Frankfurt or Istanbul on MIAT's own network or Turkish Airlines. Book 6-8 weeks ahead rather than the 3-4 weeks that might work on a busier route.

MIAT's cargo-hold brachycephalic exclusion list runs to 18 breeds, longer than most carriers', and includes dogs not everyone flags as flat-faced, such as Cane Corso and Dogue de Bordeaux.

Mongolia asks for no titre test and no import permit from a personal pet. Unlike the UK route, this ease genuinely runs both ways for a Canadian pet: CFIA does not require a rabies titre test for a dog re-entering Canada from any country, so there's no equivalent sting waiting on a return trip.

Meeting Mongolia's entry requirements

The requirements for Mongolia are thorough rather than difficult. Work through them methodically and confirm anything you are unsure about with the official source.

Advice worth following

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.

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.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Mongolia does not require a titre test for pets entering from any country, Canada included. A microchip, a rabies vaccination given within the last 12 months, and the CFIA-endorsed certificate are sufficient.

Broadly yes, which is unusual for this site. CFIA does not require a rabies titre test for a dog entering Canada based on country of origin, so there’s no equivalent to the three-month wait a UK pet faces returning from Mongolia. Confirm current CFIA guidance close to your return date regardless, since import rules can change.

No. The realistic routing goes via Frankfurt or Istanbul on MIAT Mongolian Airlines’ own network, or via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Both hubs are reachable nonstop from Toronto.

MIAT Mongolian Airlines excludes 18 brachycephalic breeds from its cargo hold, including some dogs not everyone would flag as flat-faced, such as Cane Corso and Dogue de Bordeaux. Turkish Airlines excludes brachycephalic breeds from both cabin and hold. Check your specific breed before booking.

No, not for a personal pet travelling with its owner. Mongolia only requires an import permit for commercial animal imports.

Ready when you are

Move your pet

to Mongolia.

Get a free, fully itemised quote for this route. Preparation timeline, full cost breakdown, and breed specific advice. No commitment.