DE
Germany
✈️
CA
Canada
Pet Transport Germany to Canada: 2026 Guide
13
Sourced facts for this journey
7 Oct 2026
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Lufthansa flies Frankfurt to Toronto and Munich to Vancouver direct, but won't carry dogs or cats under 15 weeks to or from Germany. An EU pet passport can replace Canada's rabies certificate if it holds the required details. There's no quarantine. Snub-nosed dogs can't go in either airline's hold, but Lufthansa Cargo can carry them as air freight.
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Official rules on this page checked
Which airlines take pets from Germany to Canada?
- Lufthansa takes small dogs and cats in the cabin only if the animal and its container weigh 8 kg or less together, in a container no bigger than 55 x 40 x 23 cm, with a maximum of two animals per passenger.
Transporting animals as additional carry-on baggage in the cabin, checked 7 October 2026 - Lufthansa will only carry a dog or cat on a flight from, to or via Germany if it is at least 15 weeks old (12 weeks elsewhere on its network).
Transporting animals as additional carry-on baggage in the cabin, checked 7 October 2026 - Dogs and cats over 8 kg with their container cannot travel in Lufthansa's cabin; they can fly as excess baggage in the air-conditioned hold, at most two per passenger, with Lufthansa confirming the booking no later than 72 hours before departure.
Carriage of animals as excess baggage in the cargo hold, checked 7 October 2026 - Lufthansa has not carried snub-nosed dogs and cats in the hold since 1 January 2020. Its list includes pugs, boxers, bulldogs and Staffordshire bull terriers, and Persian and British shorthair cats. These breeds can still fly in the cabin within the cabin rules, or as air freight, for example with Lufthansa Cargo.
Fighting dog breeds and snub-nosed animals, checked 7 October 2026 - Air Canada allows one cat or small dog per passenger in the cabin, in a soft-sided carrier under the seat in front, but not for passengers in Premium Economy or in an exit or bulkhead row.
Travelling with your Pet, checked 7 October 2026 - Air Canada does not carry short-nosed (brachycephalic) dog breeds in the baggage compartment because of the risk of heat stroke and breathing problems.
Travelling with your Pet, checked 7 October 2026 - From 18 December to 4 January Air Canada accepts no pets as checked baggage or as cargo, because of peak winter loads.
Travelling with your Pet, checked 7 October 2026 - From 1 November to 31 March, or when the temperature is 0°C or below, Air Canada does not accept cats and dogs under 4.5 kg (10 lb) in the baggage compartment.
Travelling with your Pet, checked 7 October 2026
Where does the journey connect and land?
- Lufthansa's Frankfurt to Toronto (YYZ) page shows a direct flight of about 8 hours 20 minutes and 21 flights a week, with two of the three daily Frankfurt departures operated by Air Canada.
Flight from Frankfurt to Toronto (FRA-YYZ), checked 7 October 2026 - Lufthansa's Munich to Vancouver (YVR) page shows a direct flight (LH476) of about 10 hours 10 minutes, so a pet can leave from Munich and land on Canada's west coast without changing planes.
Flight from Munich to Vancouver (MUC-YVR), checked 7 October 2026 - A pet in Lufthansa's hold that changes planes in Frankfurt (for example after a domestic flight from another German airport) is charged a transfer surcharge on top of the hold charge: EUR 150 or CAD 220 on Lufthansa's page.
Carriage of animals as excess baggage in the cargo hold, checked 7 October 2026
What do the published charges come to?
- Air Canada's published charge for a cat or dog in the cabin is $100 to $120 one way on itineraries outside Canada and Canada to US travel (shown as CA/US dollars on its pet page).
Baggage Fees and Optional Services, checked 7 October 2026 - Air Canada's published charge for a cat or dog in the baggage compartment is $270 to $324 one way on itineraries outside Canada and Canada to US travel (shown as CA/US dollars on its pet page).
Baggage Fees and Optional Services, 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 Canada rules depend on a pet coming from Germany?
Canada sets different rules for 3 groups of countries, and the official wording does not settle on its own which group covers Germany. Check the group table in our Canada guide before you plan.
These rules apply to pets from Germany, on top of the rules every pet follows:
- Rabies vaccination: An EU pet passport is accepted in place of the rabies vaccination certificate if it contains all the required details. Applies to dogs and cats with an EU pet passport.
Pet import tool content (results behind Bringing animals to Canada: importing and travelling with pets), checked 2 October 2026
The rules that apply to every pet entering Canada, whatever the origin, are listed with their official sources in our Canada guide.
What does Germany require before your pet leaves?
- Export health certificate: Berlin example: apply to the district veterinary office three to four weeks before travel; fees are time-based under tariff 31050 of the Berlin VSGebO, from EUR 41 to EUR 615. Applies to dogs and cats leaving from Berlin (Treptow-Köpenick).
Reisen mit Heimtieren, checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: Rhein-Erft-Kreis example: the district veterinary office charges EUR 35 to issue a health certificate for a stay abroad; it is valid for at most 10 days. Applies to dogs and cats leaving from Rhein-Erft-Kreis.
Gesundheitszeugnis für Auslandaufenthalte von Hunden/Katzen, checked 1 October 2026 - Export health certificate: Official veterinary health and vaccination certificates for pets travelling abroad are issued by the local veterinary office (Veterinäramt) of the city or district (example: Munich city Veterinäramt). Applies to dogs and cats leaving Germany for non-EU countries.
Tiere im Ausland und bei Reisen, checked 1 October 2026 - Other conditions: Entry rules for dogs and cats vary widely between non-EU destinations (blood tests, parasite treatment, entry permits); owners must check the destination's rules in advance. Applies to dogs and cats leaving Germany for non-EU countries.
Reisen mit Hund und Katze außerhalb der EU, checked 1 October 2026
FAQ
Common questions
Lufthansa lists direct flights from Frankfurt to Toronto, about 8 hours 20 minutes, and from Munich to Vancouver, about 10 hours 10 minutes. Two of the three daily Frankfurt to Toronto departures on Lufthansa's page are operated by Air Canada, which has its own pet rules. If your pet flies in the hold and changes planes in Frankfurt, Lufthansa adds a transfer surcharge on top of the hold charge.
On Lufthansa, only if your dog and its container weigh 8 kg or less together; heavier pets travel in the air-conditioned hold. Air Canada takes one cat or small dog per passenger in the cabin, in a soft-sided carrier under the seat in front, but not in Premium Economy.
Air Canada publishes $100 to $120 one way for a cat or dog in the cabin and $270 to $324 one way in the hold on trips beyond Canada and the US. Prices change with your pet's size and crate, the airline and routing, the season, fuel surcharges and exchange rates. Canada's border agency also charges an inspection fee for pets arriving from outside the US.
Yes. From 18 December to 4 January, Air Canada accepts no pets as checked baggage or cargo. From 1 November to 31 March, or when it's 0°C or below, it won't put a cat or dog under 4.5 kg in the hold.
Lufthansa has kept snub-nosed breeds, including pugs, boxers and Staffordshire bull terriers, out of its hold since 1 January 2020, though they can still fly in the cabin within its rules or as air freight with Lufthansa Cargo. Air Canada also keeps snub-nosed dogs out of its baggage compartment. If you're moving to Ontario, provincial law bans importing Staffordshire bull terriers and other pit bull types.
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Sources
Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.