Guide · Canada and United States

Travelling with pets across the Canada-US border: CBSA, CFIA, CDC and CBP

General information, not official or legal advice. Customs, immigration and border rules change and every situation is different. Check the linked official sources and the agency’s current page before you travel. This site is not affiliated with CBP, the CBSA, DHS or any government.

Steps

1. The CBSA says to declare any pet when entering Canada.^[1][3] CBP says travellers entering the US are required to declare animals, as well as meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil and plant and animal products.^[9]
2. For Canada, the CBSA points to the CFIA's Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) for current requirements and strongly recommends carrying the physical original copies of all required documents.^[1]
3. For a dog entering the US that has been only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the last six months, CDC says the CDC Dog Import Form receipt (free, printed or on a phone) is the only required documentation.^[2]
4. CDC's rules depend on where the dog has been in the previous six months, so the dog's travel history in high-risk rabies countries matters.^[4][5]
5. The CBSA says pet birds and commercial animals are not allowed in NEXUS lanes.^[6]

Entering Canada with a pet

The CBSA says CFIA establishes the import requirements for all animals, including domestic and non-traditional pets, and that border services officers will inspect and can refuse entry, confiscate or detain an animal that is undeclared, lacks permits or certificates, is suspected of illness or pest or disease, or is transported inhumanely.^[1] A "personal dog" is a pet that lives with the owner and will not be transferred; you must be the importer and have documents proving ownership. Otherwise the dog is a commercial import, including dogs for breeding, resale, shows, research, adoption or fostering and rescue dogs.^[1] The CBSA says CFIA will not issue import permits for commercial dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies, so such dogs are denied entry.^[1] It recommends travelling with physical original copies of all required documents.^[1]

The CBSA's visitor page repeats that pets must be declared, with a penalty of up to CAN$1,300 where pets or food are not declared.^[3] For exotic pets such as parrots, lizards, turtles, snakes and small wild cats, travellers are responsible for checking CITES permit requirements.^[1]

Assistance dogs

The CBSA defines an assistance (service) dog as a dog providing a distinct service to its handler, certified and trained by an organization accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation or Assistance Dogs International. It says therapy, companionship, emotional support and comfort animals are not assistance dogs. An assistance dog in the personal category is exempt from the rabies vaccination requirements; one travelling with another person or in "training status" is a commercial import.^[1] The checklist notes service dogs are exempt when accompanied by their owners.^[8]

Entering the US with a dog

CDC's rules from 2024-08-01 depend on the dog's situation, including where it has been in the previous six months and where it was vaccinated.^[4] For a dog that has been only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries, CDC says the only required documentation is the CDC Dog Import Form; you complete it online (it is free), get a receipt by email, and can show it printed or on a phone. The receipt is valid for six months unless the dog visits a high-risk country or a different low-risk country, and it may be used for multiple entries; one form per dog. The dog must appear healthy, be at least six months old at entry, and carry a microchip detectable by a universal scanner. Dogs in this category can enter at any airport, seaport or land border crossing.^[2]

CFIA's summary says that "at this time" dogs from Canada that were also in a high-risk country in the last six months are not eligible to enter the US directly from Canada; the dog must wait six months in Canada or enter the US directly from the high-risk country. CFIA says it is working with the CDC on a process for this situation and that further guidance will be provided on its page. A dog returning to Canada must still meet Canada's requirements, such as a valid rabies certificate.^[5]

Cats and other pets entering the US

CBP's prohibited and restricted items page says cats are subject to inspection and may be denied entry if they have evidence of infectious disease; cats need no proof of rabies vaccination for federal importation, though some states require it. Other common pets such as rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, gerbils and guinea pigs may be imported if healthy; reptiles and invertebrates are restricted. It also asks you to check state, county and local rules.^[7] Parts of that CBP page, including dog vaccination certificate text, predate CDC's 2024 rules, so for dogs use the CDC pages above.^[7][2]

NEXUS lanes and pets

The CBSA says most domestic pets are allowed through dedicated NEXUS lanes and kiosks if you have a valid rabies vaccination certificate signed and dated by a veterinarian and identifying the animal by breed, age, sex, colouring and distinguishing marks, with the vaccine's name, serial number and expiry. Pet birds, prohibited animals and commercial animals are not allowed in NEXUS lanes.^[6]

Birds

CBP says pet birds may be imported if they comply with APHIS and Fish and Wildlife requirements, and the page carries an undated advisory about a temporary ban on pet birds from regions affected by H5N1 (check APHIS for current status) and 30-day quarantine for non-US origin birds other than from Canada. The CBSA mentions restrictions on poultry and birds from the US.^[7][8]

What we did not cover

We did not read CFIA's full pet-import requirements for entry to Canada beyond the CBSA summary (one CFIA page we tried was no longer available), nor USDA APHIS details. Check CFIA and APHIS directly.

About this guide

Officers decide at the border; this is general information, not official guidance. travel.tnaado.ca is not affiliated with CBP, CBSA, DHS or the Government of Canada.