Are any documents required for traveling abroad with an animal?

Traveling with a pet abroad from Calgary requires careful planning and comprehensive documentation, which can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on the destination country. The Canadian animal export regulation system sets strict requirements to ensure the safety of both the animals themselves and the health of the population in the destination countries.

Basic federal requirements

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) sets the fundamental rules for exporting pets from Canada. Under federal law, most pets traveling from Canada to another country require an export certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian and certified by an official CFIA veterinarian.

It is critical to understand that CFIA certification of the export certificate is mandatory and must be obtained before the animal leaves Canada. The CFIA cannot certify or issue a certificate if the animal is no longer in Canada. This means that all documents must be prepared and certified in advance.

Animal categories and specific requirements

The CFIA only recognizes dogs, cats, and ferrets as pets for international travel. All other animal species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals, fall under the category of “other animals” and may have additional or different requirements.

Dogs over three months of age must be vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before travel. The vaccine must be valid at the time of travel, and the vaccination certificate must clearly identify your animal.

Procedure for obtaining documents in Calgary

Step 1: Consultation with a veterinarian

Pet owners in Calgary should begin the document preparation process at least 2-6 months before their planned trip. Calgary Family Vet, Town Centre Veterinary Hospital, Westhills Veterinary Clinic, and other veterinary clinics in the city provide international health certificate preparation services.

Veterinary clinics in Calgary emphasize the importance of early planning. Forest Glade Animal Hospital requires a minimum of 3 months prior to travel to process all documents. Little Creek Veterinary Clinic and Chestermere Veterinary Clinic also provide international certification services.

Step 2: Determine the requirements of the destination country

Before contacting a veterinarian, you must determine the requirements of the destination country. Owners must contact the veterinary authorities or embassy of the destination country themselves to obtain the current import requirements. Requirements are subject to change without prior notice from the CFIA.

Step 3: Prepare the export certificate

Once the requirements have been established, the veterinarian completes the appropriate export certificate. If there is no agreed certificate for a specific country, the Canadian International Health Certificate may be used. This document must be printed on legal-size paper (8.5“ x 14”), although letter-size paper (8.5“ x 11”) is also acceptable.

The veterinarian must sign and date the forms in any color ink other than black. The documents must be completed accurately and completely, as any errors may result in the animal being unable to travel.

CFIA Certification in Calgary

CFIA Office in Calgary

The CFIA has an office in Calgary that handles animal health issues. Contact information for the CFIA Calgary office:

  • Phone (English): 587-230-2468
  • Phone (French): 587-230-2201
  • Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Certification procedure

Advance booking is required for export certificate certification. Animal owners should provide as much advance notice as possible when booking an appointment. Once an appointment has been made, the original forms can be brought or mailed to the nearest CFIA office for certification and stamping.

The CFIA certification fee is $22.00 per form. If several animals with the same owner are traveling to the same destination country, they may be included on one form if the destination country allows it. If the veterinarian uses separate forms for each animal, the fee will be charged for each form.

If there is no CFIA office nearby, the forms can be sent by mail, including the original forms, a payment of $22 per form, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of the forms. The CFIA will usually return the forms within two business days of receipt.

Specific requirements for popular destinations

United States

As of August 1, 2024, the US CDC has implemented new requirements for dogs entering the US. The requirements vary depending on the dog's travel history in the last six months and where it was vaccinated.

For dogs that have only been in low-risk or rabies-free countries, the requirements include a USDA-certified health certificate, valid rabies vaccination, and microchip. Dogs must be at least 6 months old to enter the US.

European Union

As of January 15, 2022, the EU requires all dogs, cats, and ferrets transiting through the EU to meet specific conditions and be certified. This applies even to animals that are only transiting through European airports.

Australia and New Zealand

These countries have some of the strictest requirements in the world. The preparation process for travel can take up to 6 months. Requirements include rabies antibody titer tests, which can take up to 6 weeks to obtain results.

Microchipping and identification

Although microchipping is not mandatory for all countries, many international destinations require an ISO-compliant microchip (ISO 11784 and ISO 11785). The microchip must be implanted before rabies vaccination to ensure proper identification.

Veterinary clinics in Calgary, such as The 100X Mobile Vet in Ottawa, provide microchipping and international certification services. It is important to ensure that the contact information in the microchip database is up to date before traveling.

Cost of preparing documents

The cost of preparing international documents in Calgary varies depending on the clinic and the complexity of the requirements. Calgary Family Vet offers health certificate preparation services, but the exact cost is not published. Clarendon Animal Care in the US sets a base cost of $350 for an international health certificate, plus $135-338 for digital submission to the USDA.

Additional costs may include deworming, tick treatment, and repeat visits required to meet the country's requirements. Many clinics require a non-refundable advance payment when scheduling an appointment.

Exotic animals and CITES permits

For owners of exotic animals, the process is significantly more complicated. Many exotic animals, including most parrots, some lizards, turtles, snakes, and hybrid cats, require CITES permits (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

Environment and Climate Change Canada issues Certificates of Ownership (pet passports) for Canadian residents who frequently travel with their exotic animals. These certificates are valid for three years and allow for multiple exports and re-imports.

An application for a Certificate of Ownership can take up to 40 days to process. The cost and specific requirements vary depending on the type of animal and the country of destination.

Quarantine requirements

Fortunately, for most countries, quarantine is not required if all import requirements are met correctly. However, if an animal does not comply with the established rules, it may be:

  • quarantined;
  • returned to its country of origin;
  • or even euthanized.

All costs associated with such measures are borne by the importer.

Travel insurance for animals

Although specialized travel insurance for animals is not widely available in Canada, some companies offer coverage:

  • TuGo Travel Insurance — covers up to $300 for transporting your pet home in case of medical evacuation.
  • Fetch Pet Insurance through a partnership with IMG — coverage at any veterinary clinic in the US or Canada.
  • Desjardins Pet Insurance — plans ranging from Bronze Paw ($44/month) to Gold Paw ($203/month).

Airlines and their requirements

Canadian airlines have their own policies regarding international travel with animals:

  • WestJet — requires an international health certificate, rabies vaccination, microchip, and parasite treatment.
  • Air Canada — from June 2025, only soft-sided carriers will be allowed. Requirements should be checked directly with the airline.

Transit countries

If your pet will be transiting through one or more countries before reaching its final destination, additional requirements may apply from both the transit and destination countries. Owners should contact the veterinary authorities or embassies of both the destination country and the transit countries.

Planning recommendations

Veterinary clinics in Calgary strongly recommend starting the process as early as possible. Town Centre Veterinary Hospital advises contacting them as early as possible, especially for rabies-free countries such as Australia or New Zealand, where the process can take six months.

  • Forest Glade Animal Hospital requires a minimum of 3 months.
  • Chestermere Veterinary Clinic recommends at least 5 days before submission to complete the forms.

It is important to note that some certificates must be issued within 10 days of travel, some countries require specific deworming treatments within 24-120 hours of travel, and some require rabies antibody tests 180 days prior to entry.

Preparing documents for international travel with a pet from Calgary is a complex process that requires careful planning, coordination between multiple organizations, and strict adherence to deadlines. While the process may seem daunting, Calgary veterinary clinics are well-versed in the requirements and can provide the necessary support to ensure a successful trip.

The key to success is early planning, strict adherence to requirements, and close cooperation with qualified veterinarians and official authorities.