Taking Pets to Canada

One of the most curious issues for pet owners who will apply for a Canada visa is the procedures for their travel abroad. Before proceeding with pet departure procedures, we begin with a few tips to help you make sure your pet has a comfortable and safe journey.

Health check

It's always a good idea to check your pet's health before a long journey to make sure it's convenient to travel. Health certificates or other documents may be required when transporting your pet, especially by plane. Find out what is necessary. (You can find the necessary documents for Canada in the following page.)

Pet Carriers

The carrier for your pet must be suitable for the type of animal you are carrying. The animal carriers must be large enough to allow the animal to reach out and rest in its natural position. You need a safe and spacious pet carrier so that the animal cannot escape or be injured, but still provide adequate ventilation. If you are traveling by plane, leave food, water in the pet carrier. If necessary, obtain special travel diapers for animals.

Pet's Travel to Canada by Airplane

Most airlines have special requirements for animal transport. It is recommended that you contact the airline in advance to find out if you are bringing your pet and if you need to do anything before arriving at the airport.

Attention to Special Breeds Which is Specific in Turkey

If your pet isn't a Van cat, Akbaş or Kangal, you can take your pet to Canada by completing the necessary procedures. It is forbidden to carry special breeds to other countries which is protecting in our country such as Van cat, Akbaş dog and Kangal dog. Airport control officers in Turkey can't give permission to  the protected breeds to be taken abroad unless the special permission from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Procedures for Carrying Pets to Canada

Under the National Animal Health Program, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) establishes import requirements for all animals and animal products, including pets and pets entering Canada.

The Most Important Document: Rabies Vaccination

• Rabies Vaccination is the first thing you need to do to take your pet to Canada. However, the most important point here is the rabies vaccine where, when, which vaccine brand is used, and the physical characteristics of the pet, the photo and information indicating the vaccination card should be in English. Vaccination card must be provided with stamp and signed. We recommend that you keep your pet's health card, including vaccination, other treatments and special care, for a retrospective 1 year period.
• It will be advantageous if your pet is neutered and you can prove it with the document. Some civil servants may send your pet to the government animal shelter for 1 month just for neutering. In order to eliminate all negative situations you may experience at the airport, it is in your best interest to have all of the documents mentioned.
• Non traditional domestic animals (including but not limited to ducks and pigeons), such as pigs, sheep, goats and poultry, represent the same risk of animal disease as livestock. These animals must meet import requirements, including testing and quarantine, before entering Canada. There is no quarantine requirement for animals such as cats and dogs.

For cats: Please note that if you plan to travel to Canada with your cat, cats younger than three months are exempt from exit procedures. Different procedures are applied for cats aged three months and older. There is no quarantine application for pets in Canada. According to airline companies, small cats can travel in the cage with their owner. Please confirm this information from the airline you plan to travel to by specifying the breed of pet.

For dogs: Your pet dogs that you plan to take to Canada don't need to be quarantined. Canada doesn't require a microchip for dogs imported as personal pets. However, dogs less than 8 months of age (retail, breeding, demonstration or exhibition, scientific research, dogs 'special training status, and dogs for dogs' adoption and / or animal welfare organization) imported by commercial category may be identified by an electronic microchip.

Canada is an Advantageous Country for Pet Transport

You don't need to have a titration test for your pets. Therefore, there is no waiting time.

The Canadian procedures don't include any quarantine processes that apply to your pet (fom cat and dog) that you bring from abroad.

The most important thing you need to do to get your pet into Canada is Rabies Vaccine. The proving document of rabies vaccination must be in English or French. Turkey isn't a rabies free country and thats why a requirement to make this vaccine.

You will need to obtain a pet import certificate from the Agriculture District Directorate. You can also use this document as a Rabies Vaccine Certificate because it contains rabies vaccination information. In this document, identification of the animal, vaccines, etc. information is exist in English or French.

Attention! : You can receive this document up to 48 hours before departure. It isn't possible to get it before. You will also need to take your pet to the district office where you will receive this document. The veterinarian in charge of the District Directorate of Agriculture is required to see your pet.

You can take your pets to Canada with the pet part of the plane or in two ways as pet cargo.

For further information, please contact the CFIA Canada Animal Health Regional Office. You can connect to our support line for visa procedures for Canada tourist, commercial, family visits and education travel.