Bringing a Dog or Cat to Europe from Canada

General information, not veterinary advice. Requirements are set by the destination authority and can change: confirm with the official authority, your accredited vet and your airline.

Canada is on the European Union's list of approved countries for pet travel, so the move to an EU country needs no blood test. What matters is the order of the vet steps and one appointment with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that must happen before your pet leaves Canada.

What the EU asks of pets from Canada

Canada appears in Annex II of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636, which exempts dogs and cats from the rabies antibody titer test as long as any transit through an unlisted country is covered by a signed transit declaration. The core requirements are:

A microchip implanted by a veterinarian. The chip should meet ISO 11784/11785 (usually 15 digits). With a non-ISO chip, carry a reader that can scan it.
A rabies vaccination given after the chip (the same day is fine), at 12 weeks of age or older. At least 21 days, or the vaccine's longer immunity period, must pass after the primary vaccination before the vet signs and before entry.
The EU animal health certificate for non-commercial movements (Annex III, Part 1 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705), with a signed owner declaration attached.
Tapeworm treatment for dogs going to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway, given by a vet 24 to 120 hours before the scheduled entry time.

One point is specific to Canada: CFIA warns that not every rabies vaccine approved in Canada is acceptable to the EU. Ask your vet to confirm the vaccine on your pet's record.

Who does what: licensed vet, then CFIA

Your licensed veterinarian acts as the "Authorised Veterinarian". They examine your pet, complete the certificate and sign it.

A CFIA veterinarian then endorses it, by appointment through your local animal health office. Bring the original latest rabies certificate, records of earlier rabies vaccinations since the chip, proof of the microchip implant or reading, proof of tapeworm treatment if needed, and proof of travel. Each page of the endorsed certificate carries the CFIA reference number, stamp and signature.

CFIA cannot endorse a certificate once the animal has left Canada, and no changes are allowed after endorsement. Check every name, date and chip digit first.

CFIA charges an endorsement fee; its EU page does not state the amount, so ask when you book.

The 10-day window, the Canadian way

EU law says the certificate must be issued or endorsed no more than 10 days before entry. CFIA's position: the certificate is valid for 10 days from the licensed vet's signature. The clock starts at your vet's visit, not the CFIA appointment.

For dogs going to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway, CFIA requires the tapeworm treatment before the certificate is signed. With the 120-hour limit, this effectively shrinks your window from 10 days to about 5.

Step	Timing	Notes
Microchip	Before or with the rabies vaccine	Have the chip read at each visit
Rabies vaccine	At 12 weeks of age or older	Check EU acceptability with your vet
Earliest EU entry	21 days after the primary vaccination	Restarts if cover lapses
Tapeworm (dogs to FI, IE, MT, NI, NO)	24 to 120 hours before entry, before the vet signs	Given by a licensed vet
Licensed vet signature	Up to 10 days before entry	Starts the CFIA 10-day count
CFIA endorsement	After the vet signs, before departure	Not possible once the pet has left
Onward EU travel	Up to 6 months after entry checks	Or until rabies expires, if earlier

Boosters and the 21-day wait

A booster given before the previous dose expires keeps cover with no new 21-day wait. If cover lapses, the wait starts again. CFIA's page states that an addendum is needed if travel falls within 21 days of a booster given with no lapse in cover: ask CFIA when you book.

Language and transit

The certificate must be in English and an official language of the country where you enter the EU. CFIA notes that Finland and Malta accept the English-only version. CFIA states that no extra transit declaration is needed on direct flights or with a US connection.

Arriving in the EU

Pets from Canada must enter through a travellers' point of entry. The competent authority carries out document and identity checks and records them on the certificate. After those checks, the certificate stays valid for six months, or until rabies cover expires if that is sooner, for travel on to other EU countries.

Ireland adds a short list of entry points, advance notice through DAFM's portal, a compliance check with a per-animal fee (the DAFM page does not state the amount, so ask when you book), and an original certificate with wet signature and stamp.

Choosing a flight from Canada

When we checked, Air Canada's pet page allowed one cat or small dog in the cabin in a soft-sided carrier, did not accept short-nosed dog breeds in the hold, and stated no pets as checked baggage or cargo from 18 December to 4 January. WestJet's pet page lists Ireland (Dublin) among destinations where it does not accept pets. Confirm with the airline before booking.

Plan it with the kit

The Canada to EU kit includes a user guide, a timeline workbook that computes every date from your flight date, a vet visit brief, a document and airline checklist, and letter templates. It follows the CFIA endorsement sequence and EU entry rules.

No titer, 10 days$29

Canada to EU pet move kit

The European Union from Canada: chip, rabies vaccine and 21 days, the EU certificate endorsed by CFIA, tapeworm rules and the 6-month onward validity.

See the kit