How to Immigrate to Canada with Your Puppy
Life is so much better with a puppy by your side, so why
not bring them along with you on your journey to Canadian immigration!
In this article, we’ve gathered everything you’ll need to move to Canada with your precious puppy.
So make sure to read this article until the very end to get
all the right information on how to immigrate to Canada with your pup the proper way!
Table of Contents
✈️ Moving to Canada with Your Puppy
One of the main concerns of Canadian immigration candidates is whether it is possible to take their pets with them.
Having a puppy is basically like having an additional family member, so all major life decisions usually include them in it.
What’s great about moving to Canada is that the entire country is pet-friendly, and you’re more than welcome to immigrate to Canada with your furbabies.
But how? is the question that most pet-owner immigrants have, and here at CanadaCIS, we’re here to help you and your pets move to “The Great White North” with ease.
🐾 Immigration Programs Canada: For Pet-Owners
Before bringing your pet to Canada, you’ll also have to consider yourself first.
You’ll first need to go through the application process of becoming a Canadian immigrant.
To do so, you’ll need to choose the most suitable immigration program for you,
and luckily, CanadaCIS includes services such as finding the best immigration programs for you!
Some programs to consider are:
The Express Entry program is excellent for skilled workers looking for Canadian permanent residency under federal and provincial economic programs.
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot program is a good option for skilled workers and international graduates who plan on working in Canada’s 4 Atlantic Provinces.
The Start-Up Visa program is best for immigrant entrepreneurs who plan to start their own business and live as permanent residents in Canada.
✔️ Guidelines and Requirements for Moving Your Puppy
Before deciding to pack your bags and your puppies crate straight for Canada, you’ll need to consider and prepare the guidelines and requirements for moving your puppy.
We’ve provided you the requirements you should take note of and gather for your puppy before entering Canada.
- A rabies vaccination certificate (only necessary for non-rabies-free countries)
- A veterinary certificate (for rabies-free countries)
- Puppies under 3 months aren’t required to present a rabies certification, but you should be able to prove their age
- You may use The European Union pet passport as an alternative to the rabies vaccination certificate
Rabies Vaccination Certificate Requirements
- Should be written in English or French
- Issued with a signature of a licensed veterinarian
- The breed, sex, color, and weight of the puppy
- Should state the puppy received their rabies vaccination along with the date of vaccination
- The trade name and serial number of the licensed vaccine: and the duration of immunity should be specified (this should be valid for one year from the vaccination date)
Veterinary Certificate Requirements
- Should be written in English or French
- Issued with a signature of a licensed veterinarian
- The breed, sex, color, and weight of the puppy
- It should state that the puppy was born in the exporting country
- A competent government authority document should be attached to the certificate, saying that the puppy has been rabies-free for at least six months before the animal’s move to Canada.
🐕 Pet Relocation Fees for Canada in 2024
Immigrating to Canada with your puppy is most certainly not free. Depending on which airline you choose and the size of your puppy, the fees you’ll need to pay may vary. But we’re sure that animal lovers can agree that it’s worth every cent to bring their cherished puppies with them wherever they may relocate.
To give you a good idea of how much you’ll need to save up for the total cost of moving to Canada with your pups, we’ve provided you with the average price for all fees.
Inspection Fees
$30 Canadian dollars and $5 dollars for all additional animals that arrive with you in Canada.
Rabies Vaccination
Rabies vaccines range around $7 - $20 dollars but may vary in different countries.
Animal Excess Baggage Fees
The prices are different for each airline and should be based on your puppy’s weight class. A sample price is $500 at Emirates Airlines for a puppy in a cage that does not go over 23kg and 59 inches.
Import Fees
Depending on your pet and situation, The CFIA will let you know how much the import fees will cost.
🍁 Airport Checks for Your Puppies
Airport checks are necessary for transporting animals.
To check your puppy’s airport requirements, you should contact your chosen airline before your flight to figure out what you’ll need to do before arriving in Canada.
Circumstances and requirements will also depend on your puppy’s weight classifications and the length of your flight.
You may also be able to have them checked-in as carry-on luggage instead of cargo as long as they fit below your seat.
Do take note that puppies that are checked-in as baggage are required to be placed inside
airline-approved carriers that are fully escape-proof and have enough ventilation to breathe under your seat.
🐶 How to Help Your Puppy Adjust to Your New Home
Once you’ve arrived in Canada and have successfully passed through immigration and customs, it’s now time to finally adjust to your new home and environment!
To help ease the adjustment process, we’ve provided some great tips to help both you and your little upper!
Stick to Old Routines
Maintaining the same general routine that you and your puppy had before moving, such as bath time, getting up, heading to the yard, or taking your dog for a walk and meals should all be at the same time as it used to. This is very helpful to pets in terms of adjustment.
Don’t Buy New Things
It’s best to keep things at a minimum and use old toys, towels, water bowls, and household items in your new place.
Bringing in new items in a new household can be overwhelming for a puppy who is still adjusting to its environment.
Lots of Tender Loving Care
This should be easy to do!
Giving your dog lots of love and attention is extremely important when adjusting to a new home.
Just like you, your puppy might be feeling overwhelmed, and there’s nothing better than unlimited cuddles and kisses from mom or dad!
Treats are the Key!
Want to know the key to any dog’s heart?
It’s food!
During the first few weeks after your arrival to Canada, rules shouldn’t apply.
So spoiling your puppy with treats could most certainly help your dog feel more at home.
Floor Time
Spending some time on the floor with your puppy could improve their feelings towards a new environment.
This helps by rubbing your scent around the house faster and gives your puppy some extra care that he needs during this stressful time.
🐰 How to Bring Your Pet to Canada: Other Animals
Besides puppies, we didn’t forget that other animals are just as important!
If you want to know more about Canada Immigration with Pets, we’ve also included some other pets’ requirements
that you might be interested in bringing along with you.
- Must arrive with a rabies vaccination certificate or veterinary certificate
- Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will need to perform a visual inspection on the cat to ensure the vaccination has been recently applied and the animal description matches the provided certificate (this may cost over $30 Canadian dollars)
- Amphibians and reptiles are the easiest to move due to Canada permitting these pets to enter from any country and for any use in Canada.
- Turtles and tortoises, on the other hand, are required to arrive with an import permit.
- You will need an import permit issued by a local CFIA office
- Make sure your bird is coming from a country that Canada officially recognizes as avian influenza-free
- Birds will need to be quarantined
- Rabbits will need permit and quarantine requirements if you’re coming from a country other than the U.S.A.
- You will need to receive a permit from the CFIA 30 days before your arrival to Canada and sign a declaration that the rabbits are personally-owned pets.
Overall, immigrating to Canada is a lot of work!
But having your pet beside you and being fully prepared to move them to Canada can help make the immigration process more manageable.
We want nothing more than to see you and your puppy successfully enter Canada and start a new life happily together!
❓ Commonly Asked Questions
Yes, you can.
But you’ll need specific paperwork depending on what kind of pet will be accompanying you.
Do take note that only cats and dogs are allowed to accompany you when immigrating to Canada.
Other pets should be shipped or placed in cargo.
As long as your pet has received their rabies vaccination, there’s no need to have them quarantined!
Some requirements include valid rabies vaccination certificates or a veterinary certificate.
For a complete list of guidelines and requirements, you may revisit the “Guidelines and Requirements for Moving Your Puppy” section of this article.
Each household in Canada is allowed up to 4 dogs or cats.
If you decide to bring in more than 4 animals, you’ll need to acquire a special permit.
Generally speaking, pet fees for a 1-way ticket to Canada can range between $105 to 120.75 Canadian dollars depending on the airline you choose.
Most dogs are allowed in Canada, but certain provinces such as Manitoba and Ontario have banned several aggressive dog breeds from entering, which is essential to take note of.
Prohibited Dog Breeds in Manitoba
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Prohibited Dog Breeds in Ontario
- Pit Bull Terrier
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Airlines such as Air Canada allow emotional support animals but don’t necessarily let them fly free.
Whether regular or emotional support animals, all pets still require a pet traveling fee at an average of $125 Canadian dollars.
Yes, they can.
But it comes with policies that vary from pet travel carrier to carrier. Most major carriers allow pets to fly alone but in separate cargo services.
On the plane, your puppy must remain in the carrier at all times. You cannot remove them from the carrier, and if you were to place them on your lap, they’d still need to be in the carrier.
