Bringing a dog from Canada to the United States is one of the simplest international pet moves there is, and that simplicity is exactly why people get caught. Canada is classed as low risk for dog rabies, there is no quarantine, no titer test and no Canadian export certificate to chase. But the US now applies a few hard rules to every dog at the border, and two of them, the six-month minimum age and the six-month travel history, stop more Canadian dogs than any paperwork mistake does.
This guide sets out what the US requires, what Canada does and does not do on its side, and the situations that need extra care: puppies bought from Canadian breeders, dogs that recently travelled somewhere high risk, snowbirds who cross every season, and cats. It is part of our inbound-to-the-US series led by the Europe to the US hub. If you are heading north instead, see our guide to pet transport to Canada.
What the US requires for a dog coming from Canada
A dog that has spent the last six months only in Canada, the US or other low-risk countries follows CDC's simplest path. The CDC page for dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries lists four requirements:
- The dog is at least six months old when it enters the US.
- The dog has a microchip that a universal scanner can detect.
- The dog appears healthy on arrival.
- You carry a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, completed online for each dog.
Dogs on this track can enter at any airport, seaport or land border crossing. That is the whole federal list. There is no CDC rabies certificate requirement on this track, though most airlines and many states still want one, which we cover below.
What Canada does on its side: very little
Owners often go looking for a Canadian export permit or a government health certificate and cannot find one. That is because there is not one for a personal pet heading to the US. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says on its page about exporting pets to the United States that it does not issue certificates for pets travelling to the US, and that it is the owner's responsibility to meet all federal and state requirements on the US side. CFIA points owners to CDC for the federal rules.
So the Canadian side of the move is practical rather than bureaucratic: a vet visit to confirm the microchip and vaccines, a health certificate if your airline or destination state wants one, and a crate if the dog is flying.
The travel-history trap
The rule that surprises Canadian owners most is the six-month look-back. CDC sorts dogs by every country they have been in during the six months before arriving in the US, not just the country they are leaving from. CFIA spells out the consequence: a dog from Canada that has also been in a country at high risk for dog rabies during those six months is not eligible to enter the US directly from Canada. The dog must either stay in Canada until six months have passed, or enter the US directly from the high-risk country under the stricter high-risk rules.
This catches families who winter in Mexico and the Caribbean without problems, then add one trip somewhere on the CDC high-risk country list, such as Colombia, Peru, the Dominican Republic or parts of Asia. It also catches rescue dogs that were flown from a high-risk country into Canada and are now being rehomed to a US adopter. If there is any doubt about where a dog has been, check the list before you book anything. Our guide to importing a dog into the US explains the high-risk path in full.
Completing the CDC Dog Import Form
The form is free and online. CDC's Dog Import Form instructions explain each field. You will need the microchip number, the dog's date of birth, a clear photo of the dog's face and body, and your planned date and port of entry. A few points specific to Canada:
- Frequent crossers can reuse a receipt. On the low-risk track the receipt stays valid for six months, provided the dog does not visit a high-risk country in that time. Owners living near the border, such as in the Vancouver to Seattle corridor or around Windsor and Detroit, can cross repeatedly on one receipt.
- Match the port. If you change from the Peace Arch crossing to the Pacific Highway crossing, or from Toronto Pearson to driving through Buffalo, update the form.
- Every dog needs its own form. A family with three dogs files three forms.
Driving across the border
Most Canadian dogs reach the US by car. At the crossing, US Customs and Border Protection may ask for the CDC receipt and proof of rabies vaccination, and may scan the microchip. Some days you will be asked nothing, other days everything; carry the documents in the cabin so you can hand them over immediately.
Canada is not a screwworm-affected country, so the USDA screwworm certificate that dogs from Mexico now need does not apply to a dog coming straight from Canada. Pack food sensibly, because agriculture rules on meat products are separate from the dog rules. For a long drive once you are across, our guide to a road trip with a dog covers stops, heat and crates.
Flying from Canada
Air Canada, WestJet and the major US carriers all fly pets between the two countries, with different rules on cabin size, cargo, breeds and summer heat. Brachycephalic breeds are often restricted from cargo. Airlines frequently ask for a rabies certificate and sometimes a recent health certificate even where CDC does not, so confirm before you book. Our guide to Air Canada pet transport covers that carrier's cabin and cargo options in detail.
US preclearance at major Canadian airports such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary means you clear US entry before you board. Have the CDC receipt ready at preclearance, not just at your destination, and allow extra time.
Puppies from Canadian breeders
Plenty of Americans buy puppies from breeders in Canada, and many of those sales collapse on one rule: no dog under six months may enter the US. That has no exception for vaccinated puppies or for puppies travelling with the buyer. A breeder who promises to deliver an eight-week-old puppy across the border is promising something the rules do not allow.
There is a second layer. When a breeder or rescue imports a dog for sale or adoption, the import is commercial, and the USDA page on importing dogs for resale or adoption requires an import permit from APHIS Animal Care, a rabies vaccination at least 30 days before entry, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and leptospirosis vaccines within 12 months, and an English health and rabies certificate, again for a dog at least six months old. If you are buying, ask the breeder how they plan to meet those rules before you send a deposit. Our guide to shipping a puppy from a breeder covers the buyer side of that conversation.
Snowbirds and seasonal crossers
Canadian snowbirds who winter in Arizona, Florida or Texas cross with dogs twice a year. Keep three things in order: the dog's rabies vaccination, a current CDC receipt, and a clean six-month travel history. If you add a cruise or side trip that touches a high-risk country, your dog may not be able to re-enter the US from Canada on schedule. Our guide to snowbird pet transport covers the logistics of seasonal moves, including hiring a driver for one leg.
Cats from Canada
Cats are much simpler. CDC does not require a rabies certificate or an import form for pet cats, and the US does not require an import permit for a personal pet cat from Canada. The cat must look healthy on arrival. Some states require rabies vaccination for cats, and airlines may want a health certificate, so carrying a current rabies record is still wise.
US dogs coming home from a Canadian trip
The same rules apply to an American dog returning from a holiday in Banff or a cottage in Ontario. CDC does not give returning US dogs a separate easier lane on the low-risk track: the dog still needs the microchip, the six-month minimum age and a CDC Dog Import Form receipt for the return crossing. Fill the form in before you leave home so the receipt is on your phone when you reach the border, and use the six-month validity to cover both the outbound and return legs of a shorter trip. If you are going north for longer, remember Canada has its own entry rules for your dog, which our Canada guide covers, and that Canada will want a rabies certificate on the way in even though the US does not ask for one on the way back.
Service dogs, older dogs and dogs with health problems
Service dogs follow the same CDC entry rules as pet dogs, including the age, microchip and import form requirements, so a trained service dog crossing from Canada should have its paperwork done the same way. Airlines handle service dogs under their own policies and forms, which you should complete well ahead of the flight.
The appear-healthy requirement deserves more attention for senior dogs and dogs with chronic conditions. A dog that looks lethargic, is coughing or has an obvious wound may be referred for a veterinary examination, at the owner's expense, before it is admitted. If your dog has a known condition, such as arthritis, a heart murmur or a skin problem that looks worse than it is, carry a short letter from your vet describing the condition and current treatment. It costs little and can save a long conversation at the border or the airport.
State rules after you cross
Federal entry is only the first gate. Most US states require dogs to be vaccinated against rabies, and many require a certificate of veterinary inspection for dogs entering the state, especially when a transporter is moving the dog or the dog is being sold or adopted. A Canadian rabies certificate is generally accepted if it shows the vaccine, the date and the vet's details. If you are moving for good, register the dog with a local vet soon after arrival and switch to a US-issued rabies record at the next booster.
What it typically costs
For most owners driving across with an adult dog, the cost is little more than a vet visit. Flying and professional shipping add more. These are planning ranges in US dollars, not quotes.
| Item | Typical range (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CDC Dog Import Form | Free | Receipt reusable for six months on the low-risk track |
| Microchip, if needed | About $25 - $60 | Must be readable by a universal scanner |
| Vet visit and health certificate | About $150 - $400 | Only if your airline or destination state asks for one |
| Vaccinations, if due | About $20 - $100 per vaccine | Rabies strongly advised for airlines and state rules |
| In-cabin airline fee, small dog | About $95 - $200 each way | Varies by carrier |
| Cargo, larger dog | About $200 - $1,200+ | Driven by crate size, route and season |
| Hired ground transport after crossing | Quoted per trip | Distance and private versus shared route drive the price |
Checklist before you go
- Confirm the dog will be at least six months old on travel day.
- Scan the microchip and note the number.
- List every country the dog has been in during the last six months and check it against the CDC high-risk list.
- If the dog is being sold or adopted out, confirm who holds the APHIS commercial import permit.
- Bring the rabies vaccination up to date.
- Complete the CDC Dog Import Form and save the receipt on your phone and on paper.
- Check your airline's pet rules and your destination state's entry rules.
Most owners with one adult dog can manage this without help. If you have several pets, a large dog flying cargo, or an awkward travel history, a professional can take the timing risk off your hands.