UY
Uruguay
✈️
CA
Canada
Pet Transport Uruguay to Canada: 2026 Guide
2-4 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
Low
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Uruguay to Canada
typically takes around 2-4 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
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Overview
A move from Uruguay to Canada with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Around 2-4 weeks should do it, as this is an easier route to plan. There is no routine quarantine, provided the paperwork is in order.
This route does not call for a rabies titre test. Read on for the requirements, timing and carrier options for this route.
Step by step
The Uruguay to Canada process
1
Verify before anything else. The certificate must be in English or French.
Confirm rabies vaccination is current and certificate is in English
Responsible: MGAP-registered vet
2
If not already done.
Microchip (ISO 11784/11785) - recommended
Responsible: Uruguayan vet
3
Within 10 days of travel or per airline requirements.
MGAP health certificate in English (or with certified translation)
Responsible: MGAP-registered vet
4
Any time after deciding on the move.
Book cargo MVD to Canadian gateway (YYZ, YVR, or YUL) via South American hub
Responsible: Owner or agent
5
Travel day. MVD to Toronto typically 14-18 hours via South American hub.
Travel day: CBSA inspection at Canadian port of entry. Present health certificate and rabies vaccination certificate.
Responsible: CBSA
Checklist
Canada: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Not federally required but strongly recommended. ISO 11784/11785. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required for dogs over 3 months old. Certificate from a licensed vet, in English or French. Must confirm current rabies vaccination. Source: CFIA inspection.canada.ca. |
| Rabies titre test | Not required. Uruguay is not classified by CFIA in a category that triggers a titer test requirement for personal companion dogs. |
| Quarantine | No quarantine for compliant arrivals. |
| Import permit | Not required for personal companion animals. |
| Health certificate | MGAP-issued health certificate from Uruguay. Certificate or certified translation must be in English or French for CBSA inspection. |
Leaving Uruguay
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No formal export permit required for companion animals from Uruguay. |
| Health certificate | Veterinary health certificate from a MGAP-registered vet in Uruguay. Must accompany the animal. An English-language certificate (or certified translation) is required for CBSA at the Canadian border. Departure airport: Carrasco International (MVD), Montevideo. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | MGAP health certificate (English-language): UYU 2,000-6,000 (approximately CAD 70-200) |
| 2 | Cargo MVD to Canadian gateway via hub: CAD 800-2,000 |
| 3 | IATA crate: CAD 80-300 |
| 4 | Pet transport agent: CAD 300-800 |
| 5 | Total typical range: CAD 1,200-3,100 |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ Rabies vaccination certificate must be in English or French. A Spanish-only certificate will not be accepted at CBSA without a certified translation. Ask your Uruguayan vet to issue in English or arrange a translation.
⚠ No titer test is required for personal companion dogs from Uruguay entering Canada. Do not pay for a titer if a service provider claims it is needed.
⚠ Canada has no federal breed ban, but provincial restrictions apply. Check your destination province before travel with certain breeds.
⚠ The CFIA commercial dog import ban (September 2022) does not affect personal companion dogs accompanying their owner. It applies only to commercial imports of dogs for resale.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Air Canada via São Paulo or Buenos Aires
Air Canada connects São Paulo (GRU) and Buenos Aires (EZE) to Toronto (YYZ) and other Canadian gateways. MVD to GRU or EZE via LATAM or Aerolíneas Argentinas, then Air Canada Cargo to YYZ or YVR.
LATAM Airlines via hub to Toronto
LATAM connects MVD to major South American hubs. Onward connections to Canada via partner airlines from GRU or SCL.
American Airlines via Miami, then Air Canada
MVD via Buenos Aires or São Paulo to Miami (MIA), then connecting Air Canada or WestJet cargo from MIA to Canadian gateways.
WestJet
WestJet connects some South American routes to Canadian cities. Check whether live animal cargo is accepted on Uruguay-connecting routes.
Meeting Canada's entry requirements
The requirements for Canada are light, but not zero. A little planning goes a long way on a route like this.
Advice worth following
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.
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
If your Uruguayan vet issues the certificate in Spanish only, a certified translation into English is required for CBSA. The simplest solution is to ask your vet to issue the certificate in English from the outset. Many Uruguayan vets dealing with international pet movements can issue bilingual or English-language certificates. Confirm this when booking the appointment.
No. Canadian pet import rules are governed by the CFIA and CBSA based on animal health considerations. Uruguay’s trade relationships, including MERCOSUR, have no bearing on the CFIA requirements. The process is the same as for any South American country not in a CFIA high-risk category.
Federal CFIA rules allow the dog to enter Canada. Within Canada, provincial and municipal rules vary. Ontario has a ban on pitbull-type dogs. Check the rules in your specific destination province and city before travel if your breed could fall within a restricted category.
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