Pet Transport from Iceland to Canada

A move from Iceland to Canada with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Around 3-5 weeks should do it, as this is an easier route to plan. No routine quarantine …

Get your free quote →

3-5

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

None

Quarantine on arrival

Low

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Lead time needed

3-5 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Low

Airlines

2 carriers on this route

Start my quote

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Iceland to Canada typically takes around 3-5 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 Iceland to Canada import process

Before booking, if not already done.

Confirm the ISO microchip is in place, though it is not a strict CFIA requirement.

Responsible: Icelandic vet

Within 10 days of the arrival date in Canada.

Get the MAST-endorsed certificate confirming rabies-free residency history and current health.

Responsible: MAST-accredited vet, endorsed by MAST

4-6 weeks before travel.

Book cargo space with Icelandair, confirming current KEF-YYZ frequency for your travel dates.

Responsible: You or your agent

3-4 hours before scheduled departure.

Deliver pet and documents to the Icelandair Cargo desk on departure day.

Responsible: You

On arrival.

CBSA inspection on arrival at Toronto Pearson; health certificate and microchip review.

Responsible: CBSA plus owner

Requirements

Canada entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip strongly recommended, not legally mandatory under CFIA federal rules for personal pet imports, but required by most airlines for cargo transport.

Rabies vaccination

Not required. Iceland is one of only nine countries or territories CFIA recognises as rabies-free (Australia, Fiji, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK). A veterinary certificate confirming rabies has not been present in Iceland in the past 6 months, and that the animal lived there throughout that period or since birth, replaces the vaccination requirement. Source: CFIA, inspection.canada.ca, 2026.

Rabies titre test

Not required. Because Iceland sits on CFIA's rabies-free list, no titre test or waiting period applies to dogs or cats moving on this route.

Quarantine

No quarantine for dogs or cats arriving with correct documentation. Animals must appear healthy on arrival. CBSA officers can hold pets that appear unwell at the owner's cost.

Import permit

No CFIA import permit required for personal pet imports of 1-2 animals. Source: CFIA, inspection.canada.ca.

Health certificate

Official veterinary health certificate required, issued within 10 days of arrival in Canada, stating the animal is free from clinical signs of communicable disease and confirming its rabies-free residency history. Source: CFIA, inspection.canada.ca, 2026.

Leaving Iceland

Export requirements

Export permit

No separate export permit. MAST's endorsement of the health certificate is the export step.

Health certificate

Official certificate completed by a MAST-accredited vet and endorsed by MAST, confirming the animal's Icelandic residency history and current health. No CFIA-specific bilateral form is required; the MAST-endorsed certificate, combined with proof of residency, satisfies Canada's rabies-free country provision. Issued within 10 days of arrival in Canada. Source: MAST, mast.is; CFIA, inspection.canada.ca, 2026.

Costs

What this route typically costs

Vet check and microchip confirmation in Iceland: ISK 15,000-30,000 (roughly EUR 100-200)

MAST certificate endorsement fee: around ISK 6,600 (roughly EUR 44)

IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 60-250

Cargo fee, Keflavik to Toronto direct: EUR 600-1,400 depending on crate size and season

Agent fee, if used: EUR 150-400

Total typical range: EUR 900-2,100

Critical points

The rabies-free shortcut only works if the certificate explicitly documents the animal's Icelandic residency history. A pet that was itself recently imported into Iceland from elsewhere may not qualify; check the paper trail before assuming this route applies.

Icelandair stopped taking pets as checked baggage on 1 November 2024. Even on this direct route, the pet moves through Icelandair Cargo as manifested freight, a separate booking process with its own lead times, not the ordinary passenger check-in.

This is one of the few Iceland routes on this site with a genuine nonstop flight. Confirm current KEF-YYZ frequency at booking time, since Icelandair's North American schedule can vary by season.

No quarantine and no titre test does not mean no paperwork. The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of arrival in Canada, not departure from Iceland, so time the vet visit against your actual landing date.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Icelandair	Flies Keflavik (KEF) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) direct, close to daily depending on season, around 5 hours 45 minutes in the air, one of the few Iceland routes on this site with a genuine nonstop option. Since 1 November 2024, Icelandair no longer accepts pets as checked or excess baggage on any route, so this moves as manifested cargo through Icelandair Cargo rather than the ordinary passenger check-in desk.	Cargo Only
Air Canada	Operates the YYZ-KEF sector as a joint service alongside Icelandair on some schedules. If your itinerary is booked on Air Canada metal rather than Icelandair's own aircraft, confirm directly which carrier's cargo terms and lead times apply before booking.	Cargo Only

Meeting Canada's entry requirements

Bringing a pet into Canada is one of the simpler processes. Cover the core requirements and you should have few surprises.

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 about this route

No. Iceland is one of only nine countries CFIA recognises as rabies-free for personal pet imports. A veterinary certificate confirming the animal lived in Iceland throughout the past 6 months, or since birth, replaces the vaccination requirement entirely.

No. Canada does not require quarantine for dogs or cats arriving from a CFIA-recognised rabies-free country with the correct documentation. CBSA officers inspect the health certificate and microchip on arrival, and clearance is typically quick if the paperwork is in order.

Yes. Icelandair operates Keflavik to Toronto Pearson nonstop, close to daily depending on season. Since 1 November 2024, the pet travels as manifested cargo through Icelandair Cargo rather than as checked baggage, so book through the cargo desk rather than a standard passenger fare.

It must be issued within 10 days of your pet’s arrival date in Canada, not the departure date from Iceland. Book the vet appointment as close to your travel date as the certificate’s validity allows.

Not strictly under CFIA federal rules, but it is strongly recommended. Most airlines, Icelandair included, require a microchip for cargo transport, and it remains the most reliable way to confirm your pet’s identity if any question arises in transit.

Airline guides

Icelandair
Air Canada

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

Move your pet
to Canada.

Get a free, fully itemised quote for this route. We map the complete preparation timeline and costs. No commitment required.

Get my free quote