Canada

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Spain

Pet Transport from Canada to Spain

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7 Oct 2026

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Your Canada-licensed vet completes CFIA's English/Spanish EU certificate, then a CFIA vet endorses it before your pet leaves Canada. CFIA counts its 10-day validity from your vet's signature. Flying direct, no titre test is needed. Air Canada flies non-stop to Madrid, an authorised entry point, from Montréal year-round and Toronto in season.

Key facts: Canada to Spain

Under EU rules, Canada falls in the group “Listed third countries and territories, Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636”. No rabies antibody titration test needed. Animal health certificate, microchip and rabies vaccination still required; entry through a travellers' point of entry with documentary and identity checks. Montenegro and Serbia were added by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1228. The EUR-Lex text of 2026/636 lists the USA as including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.
Official source
Export health certificate: Most pets leaving Canada need an export certificate from a licensed vet, endorsed by an official CFIA veterinarian (page modified 2025-03-31). Applies to dogs and cats leaving Canada.
Pets: export requirements, checked 1 October 2026
Quarantine: Under EU rules quarantine is tied to non-compliance: a pet that fails the entry checks may be returned to the country of departure, quarantined until it complies, or, if neither is possible, euthanised (Your Europe, last checked 1 September 2026). Separately, Article 29 of 2026/131 lets a Member State admit a non-compliant pet on a permit that may include isolation under official supervision for up to six months. The entry measures for a compliant pet (Article 14 of 2026/131, see other_vaccines_and_tests) include no quarantine. Applies to dogs and cats from third countries.
EU rules on travelling with pets and other animals in the EU, checked 1 October 2026

Taken from official government pages, last checked 2 October 2026. Rules change, so open the linked page again before you book.

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Official rules on this page checked 2 October 2026

Prepared by Marcus Webb, Senior Pet Relocation Consultant

What does Canada require for Spain before the flight?

CFIA's EU certificate must be completed in English and the official language of the EU country where the pet first enters the EU, so a pet landing first in Spain needs the English/Spanish version, which CFIA publishes as a PDF.
Export of dogs, cats and ferrets to the European Union or Northern Ireland: Non-commercial movements (CFIA), checked 7 October 2026
Your licensed veterinarian in Canada completes the EU certificate, and it must then be endorsed by a CFIA veterinarian.
Export of dogs, cats and ferrets to the European Union or Northern Ireland: Non-commercial movements (CFIA), checked 7 October 2026
CFIA says the EU certificate is valid for 10 days counted from the licensed veterinarian's signature, so the CFIA endorsement and the flight to Spain have to fit inside that window.
Export of dogs, cats and ferrets to the European Union or Northern Ireland: Non-commercial movements (CFIA), checked 7 October 2026

Which airlines take pets from Canada to Spain?

Air Canada takes one cat or small dog per passenger in the cabin, in a soft-sided carrier under the seat in front, on flights operated by Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge or Air Canada Express (Jazz).
Travelling with your Pet (Air Canada), checked 7 October 2026
Larger pets can go in Air Canada's baggage compartment up to 45 kg for pet and kennel combined, in a kennel of no more than 292 cm in linear dimensions.
Travelling with your Pet (Air Canada), checked 7 October 2026
Air Canada will not carry a pet on any itinerary that includes a flight sold by Air Canada but operated by a codeshare partner, which rules out partner-operated connections to Spain.
Travelling with your Pet (Air Canada), checked 7 October 2026
Air Canada accepts no pets as checked baggage or cargo from 18 December to 4 January.
Travelling with your Pet (Air Canada), checked 7 October 2026
Short-nosed (brachycephalic) dog breeds on Air Canada's list cannot travel in its baggage compartment.
Travelling with your Pet (Air Canada), checked 7 October 2026
In Air Transat's cabin the pet and its soft-sided carrier together must not weigh more than 8 kg; heavier pets go in the hold (up to 45 kg including the carrier).
Flying With Pets and Airline-Approved Pet Carriers (Air Transat), checked 7 October 2026
From 1 November to 31 March, and at any other time when it is 0 °C or below, Air Canada does not accept cats and dogs under 4.5 kg in the baggage compartment of any of its aircraft.
Travelling with your Pet (Air Canada), checked 7 October 2026

Where does the journey connect and land?

If the pet first lands in another EU country on the way to Spain, CFIA's own example says to use the certificate in that first country's language (a pet for Poland arriving via Germany uses the English/German certificate).
Export of dogs, cats and ferrets to the European Union or Northern Ireland: Non-commercial movements (CFIA), checked 7 October 2026
Air Canada flies non-stop to Madrid year-round from Montreal and seasonally from Toronto.
Book Air Canada flights to Madrid (MAD) (Air Canada), checked 7 October 2026
Air Transat runs up to three direct flights a week from Montreal to Madrid.
Flights Montreal (YUL) Madrid (MAD) (Air Transat), checked 7 October 2026

Where can the rabies blood test be done?

Under its rabies antibody titration test heading, CFIA says the test is not required for pets travelling directly from Canada, so no approved laboratory is needed for a direct move to Spain.
Export of dogs, cats and ferrets to the European Union or Northern Ireland: Non-commercial movements (CFIA), checked 7 October 2026

What do the published charges come to?

Air Canada publishes one-way international pet charges labelled CA/US $100.00 to $120.00 in the cabin and CA/US $270.00 to $324.00 in the baggage compartment, without saying which currency applies, including 0% to 20% tax depending on itinerary.
Travelling with your Pet (Air Canada), checked 7 October 2026

These are published charges only, not the full cost of a move. Prices change with your pet's size and crate, the airline and routing, the season, fuel surcharges and exchange rates. Your quote may differ.

Which Spain rules depend on a pet coming from Canada?

The EU sorts non-EU countries into groups, and Canada falls in “Listed third countries and territories, Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636”.

No rabies antibody titration test needed. Animal health certificate, microchip and rabies vaccination still required; entry through a travellers' point of entry with documentary and identity checks. Montenegro and Serbia were added by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1228. The EUR-Lex text of 2026/636 lists the USA as including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands. Official source

The rules that apply to every pet entering Spain, whatever the origin, are listed with their official sources in our Spain guide.

What does Canada require before your pet leaves?

Export health certificate: Most pets leaving Canada need an export certificate from a licensed vet, endorsed by an official CFIA veterinarian (page modified 2025-03-31). Applies to dogs and cats leaving Canada.
Pets: export requirements, checked 1 October 2026
Export health certificate: CFIA endorsement must be obtained before the animal leaves Canada; it cannot be done afterwards. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Canada.
Pets: export requirements, checked 1 October 2026
Export health certificate: An appointment is needed for CFIA endorsement; book as early as possible. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Canada.
Pets: export requirements, checked 1 October 2026
Export health certificate: Where a destination has no negotiated certificate, the generic Canadian International Health Certificate may be used, completed by a Canada-licensed vet and endorsed by an official government vet. Applies to pet dogs and cats to countries without a specific certificate.
Canadian International Health Certificate, checked 1 October 2026
Other conditions: CFIA charges a service fee for endorsement, worked out by a CFIA officer after booking and paid online by credit card at least 3 days before the appointment. Walk-ins are not accepted. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Canada.
Book an appointment for CFIA pet export certification endorsement, checked 1 October 2026
Other conditions: The endorsement fee must be paid online at least 3 days ahead and is non-refundable once the appointment is booked (it carries over if rescheduled). Applies to dogs and cats leaving Canada.
Book an appointment for CFIA pet export certification endorsement, checked 1 October 2026
Other conditions: Walk-in endorsement appointments are not accepted. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Canada.
Book an appointment for CFIA pet export certification endorsement, checked 1 October 2026

FAQ

Common questions

Your Canada-licensed vet completes the EU non-commercial animal health certificate in its English/Spanish version, and a CFIA veterinarian then endorses it. CFIA must endorse it before your pet leaves Canada, by appointment only, and walk-ins aren't accepted. The certificate is valid for 10 days from your vet's signature, so book the CFIA appointment and the flight to fit inside that window.

Air Canada flies non-stop to Madrid year-round from Montréal and seasonally from Toronto, and takes pets in the cabin or the baggage compartment. Air Transat runs up to three direct flights a week from Montreal to Madrid. In Air Transat's cabin, the pet and carrier together can't weigh more than 8 kg.

CFIA says the certificate must be in English and the official language of the country where your pet first enters the EU. Its own example is a pet bound for Poland that lands in Germany, which uses the English/German certificate. Air Canada also won't carry a pet on any itinerary that includes a codeshare flight operated by a partner airline.

Air Canada accepts no pets as checked baggage or cargo from 18 December to 4 January. From 1 November to 31 March, and whenever it is 0 °C or below, it also refuses cats and dogs under 4.5 kg in the hold. The short-nosed dog breeds it lists can't travel in the baggage compartment. Outside those limits, pet and kennel together can weigh up to 45 kg in the hold.

Air Canada publishes one-way international pet charges of CA/US $100 to $120 in the cabin and CA/US $270 to $324 in the baggage compartment, tax included, without saying which currency applies. Prices change with your pet's size and crate, the airline and routing, the season, fuel surcharges and exchange rates.

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