Moving a dog or cat from New Zealand to Canada is very doable with the right preparation. Preparation is relatively light here, so plan on about 2-6 weeks to be comfortable. No routine quarantine …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from New Zealand to Canada
typically takes around 2-6 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Verification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The New Zealand to Canada import process
01
Check with your vet. Dogs 3+ months must be vaccinated against rabies.
Confirm microchip and rabies vaccination records are current
Responsible: Your veterinarian in New Zealand
02
4-6 weeks before travel. Direct Air NZ services have limited live animal slots.
Book Air New Zealand or Air Canada cargo space
Responsible: You or your cargo agent
03
Vet examination + MPI endorsement within 10-day window.
Obtain MPI-endorsed health certificate within 10 days of Canadian arrival
Responsible: MPI-authorised vet + MPI
04
CBSA inspection at Canadian port of entry.
Travel day: cargo desk at Auckland 3-4 hours before departure
Responsible: You + cargo team
Requirements
Canada entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
Recommended (ISO 11784/11785). Not federally mandated but strongly advised.
Rabies vaccination
Required for dogs 3 months and older. Must be current at time of entry. Cats: recommended but not federally required.
Rabies titre test
Not required for personal pet imports from New Zealand.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for compliant pets.
Import permit
Not required for personal imports of 1-2 pets. Commercial imports require CFIA permit.
Health certificate
Required. Signed by MPI-authorised vet, endorsed by MPI. Must include: microchip number, rabies vaccination record, statement that pet appears healthy.
Leaving New Zealand
Export requirements
Export permit
No formal export permit required for personal pet exports from New Zealand.
Health certificate
CFIA-compatible health certificate issued by an MPI-authorised vet and endorsed by MPI. Issued within 10 days of Canadian arrival.
Costs
What this route typically costs
Air NZ or Air Canada cargo fee (AKL to YVR or YYZ)
IATA-compliant crate
MPI-authorised vet fee
MPI endorsement fee
Agent fee (optional but useful for first moves)
Critical points
No titre test and no quarantine makes this one of the simpler long-haul pet moves. Start the health certificate process 2 weeks before travel.
Brachycephalic breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs) are restricted from cargo on Air New Zealand and Air Canada. Check your breed before booking.
If continuing to a city beyond Vancouver or Toronto, confirm domestic Canadian airline pet rules for the connecting leg.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
Air New Zealand
Cargo from AKL to Vancouver (YVR) and Toronto (YYZ). Direct transpacific services. Live animal cargo process well established on this corridor. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo.
Cargo Only
Air Canada
Cargo from AKL via connections (often via LA or Tokyo). Heated, pressurised hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted year-round.
Cargo Only
Cathay Pacific
Cargo AKL-HKG-YVR or YYZ. Single transfer via Hong Kong. Live animal facility at HKG. An option if Air NZ is unavailable.
Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines
Cargo AKL-SIN-YVR. Single transfer via Singapore. Good live animal handling at Changi.
Cargo Only
Canada entry requirements at a glance
Bringing a pet into Canada is one of the simpler processes. Cover the core requirements and you should have few surprises.
Getting the details right
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
No. A titre test is not required for personal pet imports from New Zealand to Canada. The main requirements are a current rabies vaccination for dogs aged 3 months and over, and a health certificate issued within 10 days of Canadian arrival.
No. Compliant pets from New Zealand face no routine quarantine on arrival in Canada. CBSA may inspect documents at the port of entry, but the pet is released to you on arrival day if paperwork is correct.
Air New Zealand is the best starting point. They operate direct services from Auckland to Vancouver (YVR) and Toronto (YYZ) and accept live animal cargo on this corridor. Air Canada and Cathay Pacific are alternatives, typically with one connection.
No import permit is required for personal imports of 1-2 pets. Commercial imports (pets for sale, breeding, fostering, or more than 2 dogs) do require a CFIA import permit. For a family pet, the health certificate is the primary document.
A CBSA officer checks the health certificate, vaccination records, and microchip details. For compliant pets from New Zealand with correct documentation, the inspection is quick. Your pet is released to you on arrival day. If documentation is incomplete, the pet may be held for further inspection at your cost.
Airline guides
Air New Zealand
Air Canada
Cathay Pacific
Singapore Airlines
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.