Relocating a pet from Canada to Seychelles follows a clear path once you understand what Seychelles asks for. Set aside roughly 20-28 weeks for this route and keep a close eye on the sequencing. A 28 day quarantine stay applies once your …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Canada to Seychelles
typically takes around 20-28 weeks.
Expect 28 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Canada to Seychelles pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Microchip implanted and rabies vaccination administered.
Responsible: Canadian vet
Vaccination 30 days to 12 months before export; all core vaccinations at least 2 weeks before travel.
2
Titre test blood draw at an accredited laboratory.
Responsible: Vet and accredited laboratory
At least 30 days after vaccination, tested within 6 months of the planned departure.
3
3-month mandatory wait from the blood draw date.
Responsible: Owner
Fixed. Runs in parallel with the NBA import permit application.
4
Apply to the NBA for the import permit.
Responsible: Owner or agent
At least 4 months ahead of the intended arrival.
5
Obtain the CFIA-endorsed health certificate and book cargo via Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Mahe.
Responsible: CFIA-accredited vet and owner or cargo agent
Within 10 days of travel for the certificate; flight booking 4-6 weeks ahead.
6
Arrange the quarantine stay at the Mahe facility on arrival.
Responsible: NBA quarantine facility
Approximately 4 weeks (28 days) for a compliant pet.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Seychelles
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
Microchip number must be declared on the National Biosecurity Agency (NBA) application. Industry practice points to ISO 11784/11785 compliance, though the current NBA document doesn't restate the standard explicitly.
Rabies vaccination
Minimum age 3 months for an inactivated rabies vaccine. Booster given 30 days to 12 months before export. All vaccinations, not just rabies, must be given at least 2 weeks before departure. Minimum age to travel is 16 weeks.
Rabies titre test
Required. Canada's internationally recognised status is 'rabies-controlled', not rabies-free, so it doesn't sit anywhere near the short list of countries Seychelles treats as low-risk, and there's none of the documentation ambiguity that complicates a genuinely rabies-free origin such as Australia. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, tested within 6 months of departure, result above 0.5 IU. Entry is only permitted 3 months after the blood draw date, a fixed wait. Source: NBA, 'Importation of Cats and Dogs,' 2024.
Quarantine
Mandatory by law, no exceptions. Compliant pets from a rabies-affected origin, which includes Canada, face a minimum of 4 weeks (28 days) at Seychelles' single quarantine facility on Mahe. Non-compliant pets face a minimum of 6 months quarantine or return to origin at the owner's expense.
Import permit
Required from the NBA, issued within 7 working days of a complete application and valid for 1 month from the intended arrival date. Apply at least 4 months ahead given the rabies-affected-origin pathway. A second Ministry of Finance import permit is needed to clear customs on arrival.
Health certificate
Health certificate in English or French, confirming microchip, vaccination and titre result. Dogs also need clearance for Brucella canis, Trypanosoma evansi, Babesia gibsoni, Leishmania and Erlichia canis unless the exporting country's vet certifies the country free of these diseases.
Export permit (Canada)
No CFIA export permit for a personal pet. CFIA does not regulate a private pet leaving the country the way it regulates imports, so the paperwork centres on the health certificate rather than a permit application. Source: CFIA, 'Exporting animals from Canada', inspection.canada.ca, accessed July 2026.
Costs
What this route typically costs
CFIA-accredited vet exam and health certificate, with CFIA endorsement: CAD 150-300.
Titre test and laboratory fee: CAD 200-380.
NBA import permit and Ministry of Finance customs permit: fees set at application.
Quarantine facility, approximately 4 weeks: SR 1,000 for the first 2 weeks, plus SR 500 per week thereafter.
IATA-compliant travel crate: CAD 150-450.
Cargo, Toronto or Vancouver to Mahe via Dubai or Abu Dhabi: CAD 3,200-6,200.
Total typical range: CAD 4,000-8,800 over 5-7 months, including the mandatory wait and quarantine.
Critical points to read before you book
Canada's rabies status is 'rabies-controlled', not rabies-free, so there's no equivalent to the documentation ambiguity that complicates this site's Australia-to-Seychelles route. The full titre-test pathway is simply the one that applies here, without a lighter alternative worth chasing.
The 3-month wait after the titre blood draw is fixed, and the NBA's own guidance recommends applying for the import permit at least 4 months ahead. Budget the better part of six months from a standing start.
Quarantine is mandatory by law for every pet arriving in Seychelles, with no exception for a compliant Canadian-origin animal: roughly 4 weeks at the single Mahe facility, and non-compliant pets face up to 6 months.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
EMIRATES
Emirates SkyCargo
Toronto to Dubai runs daily as of April 2026, connecting to Emirates' own Dubai-Mahe service, which operates several times a week. This is the routing most Canadian pet relocation agents book by default for the Seychelles leg.
Cargo Only
ETIHAD AIRWAYS
Etihad Airways / Etihad Cargo
Etihad flies its A380 daily between Toronto and Abu Dhabi, then connects onward to Mahe via the Pet Oasis facility, a useful second option when Emirates capacity is tight around peak season.
Cargo Only
AIR CANADA
Air Canada
Handles the domestic leg into Toronto if the pet isn't already departing from there. Air Canada Cargo carries pets in a heated, pressurised hold on domestic sectors, though brachycephalic breeds are restricted from its cargo hold year-round.
Cabin and Cargo
Seychelles import rules, explained
Seychelles has a detailed set of import rules, and each one needs to be satisfied before travel. None of it is unusual, but the order and timing are what catch people out.
Practical tips for this move
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about Canada to Seychelles pet transport
Yes. Canada is classed as a rabies-controlled, not rabies-free, country by the standards the NBA applies, so the full titre-test pathway applies: blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, a result above 0.5 IU, and a fixed 3-month wait from the blood draw date before travel.
Yes. Quarantine is mandatory by law for every pet. A compliant animal from Canada typically serves around 4 weeks at Seychelles’ single quarantine facility on Mahe. Non-compliant pets face a minimum of 6 months.
No. Every shipment connects through a Gulf hub. Emirates flies Toronto to Dubai daily with an onward Dubai-Mahe service, and Etihad flies its daily Toronto-Abu Dhabi A380 service with a connection to Mahe via the Pet Oasis facility.
Clearance for Brucella canis, Trypanosoma evansi, Babesia gibsoni, Leishmania and Erlichia canis, unless the Canadian vet certifies the country free of a given disease. This panel applies to dogs regardless of origin country.
Airline guides
Emirates SkyCargo
Etihad Airways / Etihad Cargo
Air Canada
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.