Destination: Canada

Pet Travel to Canada – What You Need to Know

Canada is a very welcoming destination for pets, especially from rabies-free countries like the UK. However, you still need to follow strict health and documentation rules to ensure your dog or cat is allowed to board the flight and enter Canada without delays.

1. Quarantine rules

• There is no routine quarantine for dogs and cats travelling to Canada from the UK when all import conditions are met.
• Pets are usually inspected on arrival by Canadian authorities; if documents are incomplete or incorrect, they can be refused entry or held at your expense.

2. Rabies vaccination and health requirements

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) sets import rules for all pets. For dogs and cats coming from the UK:

• The UK is recognised by Canada as rabies-free, which simplifies the process.
• Your pet will usually need either: A current rabies vaccination given after microchipping. Or veterinary certificate confirming they were born and have lived only in a recognised rabies-free country such as the UK.
• Additional parasite treatments (for example tapeworm) are not routinely required by Canada but may be recommended by our vets for your pet’s health and comfort.

3. Export Health Certificate (EHC) from the UK

Because Canada is a non-EU destination, dogs and cats must travel with a DEFRA Export Health Certificate (EHC):

• For Canada, this is EHC 2923: Export cats and dogs to Canada.
• The certificate is completed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) and confirms that your pet meets Canada’s import requirements.
• EHC 2923 must usually be issued within 5 days of departure, so timing and paperwork must be carefully planned.
• PetAir UK arranges the OV appointment, prepares all supporting documentation and coordinates the timing in line with your flight booking.

4. Microchipping and identification

• Canada does not always require microchipping for personal pets, especially adult pets from rabies-free countries.
• However, a working microchip is mandatory for EHC 2923 and is considered best practice for safe international travel and identification.
• Our vets will scan your pet’s microchip and ensure the number appears correctly on all documents.

5. Airlines, routing and travel class

Most pets travelling from the UK to Canada fly in the aircraft’s temperature-controlled hold, in line with welfare and safety guidelines.

• Common routes use pet-friendly airlines such as Air Canada, KLM and British Airways with direct or one-stop services to major Canadian cities.
• For some carriers, pets cannot travel in the cabin on UK–Canada routes, even if the airline allows cabin pets elsewhere on its network.
• Where possible, we recommend direct flights (e.g. London – Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal or Calgary) to minimise transfers and overall journey time.

6. Timelines and preparation

As a guide:

• 3–6 months before departure: Initial consultation, confirm route, microchip check, rabies vaccination (if needed).
• 4–6 weeks before departure: Finalise flight bookings, complete any outstanding blood tests or treatments (if applicable).
• 5–7 days before departure: OV appointment, completion of EHC 2923 and final health checks.
• Flight week: Pet cabin fitting, travel plan confirmed, documentation checked and re-checked by our team.

Throughout this process, PetAir UK manages the paperwork, liaises with your vet and the airline, and checks every detail so your pet meets both UK export and Canadian import rules.