Pet Transport from Spain to Canada
Moving a dog or cat from Spain to Canada is one of the more straightforward international pet moves. Canada does not require quarantine, titre tests, or import permits for personal pets from Spain. The main requirement is a valid rabies vaccination certificate …
The Spain 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: Licensed veterinarian in Spain
Responsible: Owner or vet
Responsible: Owner or agent
Responsible: Owner
Responsible: Owner
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
The rabies vaccination certificate must be in English or French. A Spanish-language-only certificate will be refused at the Canadian border.
Canada uses the CBSA for document checks on arrival. If the certificate is incomplete or invalid, your pet can be refused entry or detained. Ensure vaccination is current and within validity period on your arrival date.
Brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs and cats) face cargo restrictions on most airlines. Check this before booking if you have a French Bulldog, Pug, Persian, or similar breed.
Commercial imports (dogs for breeding, resale, or rehoming) require significantly more documentation. This guide covers personal pets travelling with their owner.
Approved carriers for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.
What does Canada require for pets arriving from Spain?
For personal pets over three months of age, Canada requires a valid rabies vaccination certificate under the Health of Animals Regulations (SOR/91-525). The certificate must be written in English or French, identify the animal precisely (breed, colour, weight, microchip number where applicable), be signed by a licensed veterinarian, and specify the duration of the vaccine’s immunity.
No titre test, no quarantine, no import permit, and no formal export health certificate from Spain is required by CFIA for personal pets. The CBSA officer at the Canadian point of entry checks the rabies certificate. If the certificate is incomplete, invalid, or not in English or French, your pet can be detained or refused entry. Source: CFIA, inspection.canada.ca; CBSA, cbsa-asfc.gc.ca (2026).
Can my pet travel in the cabin from Spain to Canada?
Small pets can travel in the cabin on some routes from Spain to Canada. Iberia allows small pets (typically under 8kg including the carrier) in the cabin on certain routes; Air Transat seasonal charter flights also permit cabin pets. Air Canada’s policies for international routes differ from domestic; check current cabin pet rules on the specific route before booking.
Larger pets travel as checked baggage (under the aircraft in the hold, within the aircraft’s environmental zone) or as manifest cargo. The distinction matters: checked baggage pets travel on the same flight as you; cargo pets are booked separately via the airline’s cargo division. Brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs and cats like Pugs, Bulldogs, Persian cats) face restrictions on cargo year-round with most carriers.
Is any documentation needed from Spain before leaving?
For personal pets, the main document is the rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed Spanish vet. If your vet issues the certificate in Spanish only, obtain an official translation into English or French, or ask the vet to include English notation on the certificate. Canada will not accept a Spanish-only certificate.
Some airlines require a health certificate from a vet for cargo acceptance, in addition to the vaccination certificate. Confirm the airline’s exact documentation requirements when booking. There is no export health certificate requirement from MAPA for Canada-bound personal pets, unlike the formal AHC process required for Australia.