Lead time needed
8-12 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Moderate
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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NA
CA

Pet Transport from Namibia to Canada

The journey from Namibia to Canada for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. This is a middle of the road route, and about 8-12 weeks of preparation usually covers it. Pets with correct documentation skip quarantine entirely. A …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Namibia to Canada typically takes around 8-12 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.
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Step by step

The Namibia to Canada import process

Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.

1
Start of planning.
Confirm the microchip is fitted before any vaccination is given.

Responsible: Your vet in Namibia

2
As early as practical; keep the certificate current through the travel date.
Rabies vaccination given or current booster confirmed.

Responsible: Your vet in Namibia

3
Close to departure, once the flight is booked.
Health certificate built to CFIA's format and endorsed by the Directorate of Veterinary Services.

Responsible: Namibian state vet / MAWLR

4
4-6 weeks before travel.
Book cargo routing, typically Windhoek to Frankfurt on Discover Airlines then Frankfurt to Toronto on Air Canada, or via Johannesburg on Airlink with an alternative transatlantic carrier.

Responsible: Owner or agent

5
On arrival.
Present the health certificate at the Canadian port of entry; no import permit needed for a single personal pet.

Responsible: CFIA / CBSA

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter Canada

Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.

Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip strongly recommended and, in practice, expected as …
Rabies vaccination
Required for dogs, current and documented on a certificate in English or French. …
Rabies titre test
Not required. CFIA does not ask a personal pet dog, even one arriving from a …
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for a pet arriving with correct documentation as a …
Import permit
Not required for personal pets, defined by CFIA as 1-2 animals travelling with …
Health certificate
Veterinary health certificate confirming vaccination status, microchip and …
Export permit
No separate export permit scheme for a dog or cat leaving Namibia by air. The …
Government endorsement
Health certificate endorsed by the Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry …
Costs

What this route typically costs

Namibian vet visits, vaccination and health certificate: N$1,800-3,200 …
IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 90-320
Cargo, Windhoek to Toronto via Frankfurt or Johannesburg: USD …
Specialist agent fee: USD 300-700
Total typical range: USD 2,000-4,700 over 8-12 weeks

Critical points

Namibia's presence on CFIA's high-risk-for-dog-rabies list, updated 13 March 2025, does not add a titre test or a permit requirement for a personal, owner-accompanied pet. The list's real bite is the commercial dog import ban that has applied since September 2022. Confirm your pet qualifies as personal, not commercial, before assuming the light process applies.

No airline flies Windhoek to Toronto or Montreal directly. Every booking connects through Frankfurt or Johannesburg, adding a leg and a second document check to plan around.

Build the export health certificate around CFIA's own format from the outset. A certificate drafted for the UK's GB Pet Health Certificate layout, which this same Namibian vet may have issued on other routes, won't automatically satisfy Canada's requirements.

Airlines

Approved carriers for this route

Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.

Air Canada
Operates Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to Frankfurt (FRA) year-round, the natural first leg for a …
Cargo Only
Discover Airlines
Lufthansa Group carrier flying Frankfurt to Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International (WDH) …
Cargo Only
Airlink
The alternative final leg for a routing via Johannesburg instead of Frankfurt, connecting …
Cargo Only

The rules for bringing a pet into Canada

Canada has a clear set of import requirements that are manageable with some planning. Follow them in order and keep an eye on the dates that cannot move.

How to keep this move on track

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

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.

FAQ

Common questions

No. CFIA doesn’t require a rabies titre test for a personal pet dog or cat, even one arriving from a country on its high-risk list. The high-risk designation mainly affects commercial dog imports, which CFIA has refused entry from listed countries since September 2022.
Not for a personal pet. CFIA doesn’t require an import permit for 1-2 animals travelling with their owner. If you’re moving more than two dogs, or the animal is being transferred to someone else on arrival, confirm the current commercial-import rules with CFIA directly.
No. The standard routing connects through Frankfurt, using Discover Airlines then Air Canada, or through Johannesburg on Airlink with an onward transatlantic carrier.
No routine quarantine applies to a personal pet arriving with a current rabies vaccination and a correctly formatted health certificate in English or French.
Airline guides
  • Air Canada
  • Discover Airlines
  • Airlink
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

Move your pet to Canada.

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NA CANamibia to Canada
International pet transport route
Lead time8-12 weeks
QuarantineNone
ComplexityModerate
Airlines3
ServiceDoor to door
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