CA
Canada
✈️
US
United States
Pet Transport Canada to USA: Simple, With One Form to Remember
1-4 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
Low
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
Regulations verified
Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities. How we source our data →
Overview
Moving a pet from Canada to the USA is straightforward. Canada is classified as a low-risk country by the CDC, so dogs need only the CDC Dog Import Form; there is no titre test and no quarantine. Many owners drive across the land border. The one thing not to forget: the CDC form is required for all dogs, even when driving. Allow 1-4 weeks.
Step by step
The Canada to United States process
1
Verify now.
Confirm microchip is in place and pre-dates any rabies vaccination
Responsible: Vet
2
Before travel. Valid for 6 months. Bring the QR code receipt.
Complete CDC Dog Import Form at cdc.gov/importation
Responsible: Owner
3
Driving is common and simple for Canada to US moves.
Decide: drive across the border or fly
Responsible: Owner
4
Few weeks ahead. Air Canada allows cabin for small pets.
If flying: book cabin or cargo and get vet health certificate
Responsible: Owner or agent
5
On travel date.
Travel to USA (drive or fly)
Responsible: Owner / airline
6
At the border or airport. No quarantine. Released to owner.
CBP inspection. CDC Dog Import Form receipt scanned.
Responsible: US Customs and Border Protection
Checklist
United States: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required for all dogs. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. |
| Rabies vaccination | Not required by the CDC for dogs from low-risk countries such as Canada. Required by airlines and advisable. |
| Import permit | No formal import permit. The CDC Dog Import Form (free, online at cdc.gov/importation) is the registration mechanism. |
| Health certificate | Not federally required by the CDC for dogs from low-risk Canada, but required by airlines for cabin or cargo booking. |
Leaving Canada
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No formal Canadian export permit required. |
| Health certificate | Health certificate from a Canadian-licensed vet for the airline booking. Not federally required for the land border but advisable. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | Driving: minimal cost beyond the vet visit (CAD 50 to CAD 120) |
| 2 | Air Canada cabin pet fee: approximately CAD 50 to CAD 120 per leg for small pets |
| 3 | Air cargo fee (larger pets): CAD 500 to CAD 2,000 depending on route and crate size |
| 4 | Vet health certificate for the airline: CAD 50 to CAD 200 |
| 5 | IATA-compliant travel crate (if cargo): CAD 100 to CAD 400 |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ The CDC Dog Import Form is required for ALL dogs entering the USA, including from low-risk Canada. Complete it online before travel and bring the QR code receipt, even when driving across the land border.
⚠ The dog must be at least 6 months old and appear healthy on arrival.
⚠ Some US states and cities have breed-specific legislation. Check your destination state and city rules.
⚠ Microchip must pre-date the rabies vaccination.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Air Canada
Cabin for small pets on many routes, cargo for larger. Canadian cities to US hubs.
WestJet
Canada to US routes. Cabin and cargo options. Check current policy at booking.
Land border (own vehicle)
Many Canada to US pet moves are by car. Present the CDC Dog Import Form receipt at the border.
Driving across the border
Because Canada and the USA share a land border, many pet owners drive across with their pet in the car. Even when driving, all dogs require the CDC Dog Import Form receipt, which US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will ask to see at the crossing.
Complete the form online at cdc.gov/importation before you travel. It is free, takes about 10 minutes, and generates a QR code receipt valid for 6 months. Bring a printed copy and a digital backup.
Canada's CDC low-risk status
The US CDC classifies Canada as a low-risk (rabies-free for these purposes) country. This means dogs from Canada do not need a titre test, quarantine, or a CDC-registered facility. The only mandatory CDC document is the Dog Import Form. While the CDC does not require a rabies vaccination for low-risk countries, airlines require one for their booking, so most pets will have a current vaccination regardless. Cats face no US federal requirements at all.
FAQ
Common questions
Yes. The CDC Dog Import Form is required for all dogs entering the USA regardless of how they arrive, including driving across the land border from Canada. CBP officers at the crossing will ask to see the QR code receipt. Complete the form free online at cdc.gov/importation before you travel and bring a printed copy plus a digital backup.
No. Canada is a CDC low-risk country, so dogs do not need a titre test, quarantine, or a CDC-registered facility. The only mandatory CDC document is the Dog Import Form. Airlines require a rabies vaccination for their booking, so your dog will typically have one, but it is not a CDC entry requirement for low-risk Canada.
Yes, on Air Canada and WestJet on many routes. Both allow small pets in the cabin provided they meet the under-seat carrier size and weight limits. Larger dogs travel in cargo. For short cross-border moves many owners simply drive, which avoids the cabin and cargo question entirely.
Almost nothing federally. Cats entering the USA from Canada face no US federal import requirements: no CDC form, no health certificate at the border, no quarantine. If flying, the airline will require a health certificate for the booking. Some US states have their own cat rules, so check your destination state if moving outside a major city.
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