Moving to Canada from the UK with pets — the complete import guide

If you've read anything about moving pets to Australia or New Zealand, Canada will come as a relief. There's no quarantine, no import permit for standard cats and dogs, and no blood-titre test for animals coming from the UK. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) treats the UK as a rabies-free/low-risk country, which removes most of the complexity.

What's left is doing the paperwork properly and getting the flight logistics right.

Why Canada is straightforward

Because the UK is CFIA-recognised as rabies-free/low-risk, most cats and dogs can enter Canada with simple documentation and no quarantine, provided the paperwork is correct and complete. The inspection happens at the border on arrival — there's no pre-approval process to wait on.

What your dog needs

Dogs eight months or older need a veterinarian certificate showing one of the following: that the dog has resided in the UK, a valid rabies vaccination certificate written in English or French, or an acceptable RNATT (rabies neutralising antibody titre test) result.

Dogs under three months old don't require rabies vaccination or certification at all.

Between three and eight months, the practical route is a valid rabies certificate in English or French, identifying the dog (breed, colour, weight), the vaccine used, and the dates of vaccination and expiry.

A microchip isn't legally mandated by the CFIA, but every relocator will tell you to have one: airlines expect it, it links your paperwork to the animal, and you'll need it for provincial licensing anyway.

What your cat needs

Cats from the UK need a rabies vaccination certificate in English or French, signed by a licensed vet, identifying the animal and the vaccine. Kittens under three months are exempt. There's no quarantine and no import permit.

How many animals you can bring

There's no strict numerical limit for a personal move, but bringing more than three dogs may trigger commercial import rules — which means an import permit and a different inspection process. If you're moving with a larger number of animals, contact the CFIA directly before booking.

What can't come

Amphibians and reptiles are not permitted entry into Canada under standard rules. Birds are possible but sit under separate, stricter requirements. For anything outside cats, dogs and birds, contact the CFIA directly rather than relying on forum advice.

Flying: the part that actually needs planning

The documentation is easy; the flight is where costs and constraints appear.

Cabin, checked or cargo. Very few airlines flying UK–Canada allow pets in cabin. Most UK departures move pets as manifest cargo, which means booking through the airline's cargo division or a pet relocator rather than as part of your own ticket.

Crate. An IATA-compliant crate sized so the animal can stand, turn and lie down naturally. Buy it months early and let your pet sleep in it at home.

Heat and cold embargoes. Canadian winters cut both ways — cargo holds are temperature-controlled, but ground handling in extreme cold triggers embargoes. Winter arrivals into Calgary, Winnipeg or Edmonton need a weather contingency.

Snub-nosed breeds. Bulldogs, pugs, Persians and similar face outright bans with many carriers. Check before you book flights for yourself.

Timeline

4–6 months out: confirm rabies status and microchip; check airline breed and route policy; get quotes from relocators.

3 months out: book pet transport; buy the crate and start crate training.

1 month out: get the veterinary certificate and rabies documentation in English or French; confirm arrival airport handles live animals.

On arrival: present documents to the CBSA officer. There's an inspection fee for the border check, paid on the spot.

After you land

Licensing is municipal, not national. Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and most cities require an annual dog licence, usually tied to the microchip. Register within the first few weeks.

Vet costs are high. There's no NHS equivalent for animals and Canadian vet fees run well above UK prices. Pet insurance is worth pricing before you arrive.

Rentals. Pet policies vary sharply by province — Ontario landlords generally cannot enforce a no-pets clause, while other provinces allow them outright. Check the rules where you're heading.

Wildlife and winter. Ticks, coyotes in urban parks, and salted pavements in winter are all new hazards for a UK dog. Paw balm and a coat are not indulgences in Alberta in January.

Costs to budget for

Roughly £150–£300 for veterinary certification, £100–£250 for a crate, £700–£2,500 for the flight depending on size and whether you use a relocator, plus the CBSA inspection fee on arrival and municipal licensing afterwards.

For moving funds across, Wise is generally cheaper than a bank transfer, and SafetyWing covers the waiting period before provincial health cover starts for you.

Plan your move with pets

Life Planned sequences the pet tasks alongside your visa, shipping and housing steps, with lead times so nothing gets left to the last month.

See also our step-by-step Canada moving timeline, the Canada visa options guide, and our cost of living in Canada guide.