Pet Transport from Russia to Canada
Planning a pet relocation from Russia to Canada is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. Plan for approximately 12-18 weeks. This is a rigorous route with little room to compress the schedule. Compliant pets are not held in quarantine on …
The Russia 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.
Responsible: Your vet in Russia.
Responsible: Your vet and the accredited laboratory.
Responsible: You or a pet transport agent.
Responsible: State Veterinary Service, via Rosselkhoznadzor eCert.
Responsible: You or an IPATA-registered relocation agent.
Responsible: Rosselkhoznadzor Territorial Administration officer.
Responsible: CFIA border officer.
What your pet needs to enter Canada
Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.
What this route typically costs
Critical points
Russia is on CFIA's list of countries considered high-risk for dog rabies (inspection.canada.ca, checked July 2026). That triggers the full high-risk pathway: RNATT titre test, CFIA import permit, and a 7-month minimum age for the dog on arrival. Commercial dog imports from Russia have been banned outright since 2022; this route is only available for a genuine personal pet move.
Only five Canadian airports have the animal inspection facility required for a high-risk-country dog: Toronto Pearson, Montreal Trudeau, Vancouver, Calgary and Halifax. Your flight routing has to end at one of these five, whatever the airline's general pet policy says.
There have been no direct flights between Russia and Canada since Transport Canada closed Canadian airspace to Russian aircraft on 27-28 February 2022. Every move currently runs through Istanbul or, since mid-2026, Dubai.
This CFIA high-risk process applies to dogs. Cats face a considerably lighter Canadian entry process, so confirm which species you are moving before assuming the pathway above applies in full.
Approved carriers for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.
Canada import rules, explained
Practical tips for this move
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
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.