Under the National Animal Health Program, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) establishes import requirements for all animals and animal products entering Canada-including domestic pets. The Agency can refuse entry to any animal presented for importation.
Import guidelines for the more common pets can be found at the following links:
Important note to Pet bird owners traveling to Mexico by land, through the United States: Due to the fact that most of Mexico is not considered to be free of Newcastle Disease, birds returning to Canada from Mexico, cannot enter back into the United States, by land. Alternative arrangements must be made, prior to departure. For more details on re-entry into Canada, please contact your local CFIA office.
If the animal you wish to import is not listed, please refer to the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS), which provides information on import requirements for all commodities regulated by the CFIA. If you need information on importing exotic pet animals, you can refer to the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada (PIJAC Canada) Web site.
A general certificate of health is not required by CDC for entry of pet dogs into the United States, although some airlines or states may require them. However, pet dogs are subject to inspection at ports of entry and may be denied entry into the United States if they have evidence of an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans. If a dog appears to be ill, further examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense might be required at the port of entry.
Proof of Rabies Vaccination: Dogs must have a certificate showing they have been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior to entry into the United States. These requirements apply equally to service animals such as Seeing Eye dogs.
Importation of Unvaccinated Dogs: Dogs not accompanied by proof of rabies vaccination, including those that are too young to be vaccinated (i.e. less than 3 months of age), may be admitted if the importer completes a confinement agreement (see below) and confines the animal until it is considered adequately vaccinated against rabies (the vaccine is not considered effective until 30 days after the date of vaccination). Spanish, French, and Russian translations of form CDC 75.37 are available, but must be completed in English.
Puppies that are too young to be vaccinated (i.e. less than 3 months of age) must be kept in confinement until they are old enough to be vaccinated, and then confined for at least 30 days after the date of vaccination.
Unvaccinated dogs must be vaccinated within 4 days of arrival at their final U.S. destination and within 10 days of entry into the United States, and must be kept in confinement for at least 30 days after the date of vaccination.
Dogs may not be sold or transferred to other owners during this period of confinement, and the person that signs the confinement agreement is responsible for ensuring the conditions of the agreement are met.
Importers must provide a contact address where the dog will be kept during the confinement period. If the importer will be housing the dog at several addresses or traveling with the animal, all points of contact must be provided.
Importation of Dogs from Rabies-free Countries: Unvaccinated dogs may be imported without a requirement for proof of rabies vaccination if they have been located for a minimum of 6 months or more in countriesthat are free of rabies.
Following importation, all dogs are subject to state and local vaccination or health certificate requirements. All pet dogs arriving in thestate of Hawaiiand theterritory of Guam, even from the U.S. mainland, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements. Additional information can be found in theCompendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control.
Importation of Dogs for Commercial/Breeding purposes:There are no separate CDC regulations for dogs to be used for commercial purposes, rather than as pets. The rules for bringing domestic dogs into the United States are covered under regulation42CFR71.51. When importing puppies, the importer is responsible for maintaining quarantine according to the vaccination and confinement agreement signed at the time of importation.
A general certificate of health is not required by CDC for entry of pet cats into the United States, although some airlines or states may require them. However, pet cats are subject to inspection at ports of entry and may be denied entry into the United States if they have evidence of an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans. If a cat appears to be ill, further examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense might be required at the port of entry.
Cats are not required to have proof of rabies vaccination for importation into the United States. However, some states require vaccination of cats for rabies, so it is a good idea to check with state and local health authorities at your final destination.
All pet cats arriving in thestate of Hawaiiand theterritory of Guam, even from the U.S. mainland, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements.
Birds:Currently,CDC restricts birdsfrom countries where highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 is present in poultry, in order to prevent the introduction of Avian Influenza.
USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) implements regulations regarding the importation of birds. To import a pet bird of non-U.S. origin, meaning a bird imported for personal pleasure of the individual owner and not for resale, the owner must fulfill the following requirements:
Provide a current health certificate issued by a full-time salaried veterinarian employed for the agency responsible for animal health of the national government in the exporting country of origin
Quarantine the bird for 30 days, at the owners expense, in an USDA animal import center (listed on the APHIS website)
In the United States, theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(FWS)regulates the importation of birdsprotected by the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (WBCA). These regulations are part of an international conservation effort to protect exotic wild birds subject to trade. Most exotic pet birds, including parrots, parakeets, macaws, lories, and cockatoos, are affected by CITES and the WBCA. However, the budgerigar, cockatiel, and rose-ringed parakeet are exempt. According to the WBCA, to import a pet bird of non-U.S. origin into the United States, you must have continuously resided outside the United States for at least one year. In addition, the WBCA limits the number of pet birds that can be imported to two birds per person, per year. All required WBCA and CITES permits must accompany the bird while in transit. Visit the FWSWild Bird Conservation Act websiteto obtain more information and the permit application.
Reptiles (snakes and lizards):CDC does not regulate snakes or lizards, but does limit imports of small turtles. Those with a carapace (shell) length of less than 4 inches may not be imported for any commercial purpose. An individual may import as many as six of these turtles for noncommercial purposes. This rule was implemented in 1975 after it was discovered that small turtles frequently transmitted salmonella to humans, particularly young children.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulates the importation of reptiles. Regulations regarding reptiles, fish, andendangered speciescan be found on theirimport/export website.
Small Mammals and Non-African rodents:Unless they are included in a specific embargo, such ascivets,prairie dogs and African rodents, or known to carry disease transmissible to humans, these animals are not covered under CDC regulations. However, state or local regulations may apply. Pet ferrets, for example, are prohibited in California. Any animal known to carry azoonotic diseaseis subject to regulation42CFR71.54. Additionally, animals carrying diseases of risk to domestic or wild animals are subject toregulations from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as they may be consideredinjurious species.
An FDA-approved rabies vaccine is available for ferrets, although it is not required for importation. CDC advises the use of this vaccine to protect the animal, as well as the owner, from rabies virus that could be acquired within the U.S.
Horses:If the horse is not known to carry any diseases transmissible to humans, no CDC regulations would apply. However, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires various periods of quarantine depending on the country of origin of the horse. In countries with prevalent screwworm, the quarantine period is 60 days. USDA regulations for importing equines can be found on theirVeterinary Services, Import/Export website.
The same CDC regulations that apply to animals for individual use also apply for zoos. These regulations allow for exceptions, as determined by the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine. We can supply written permission for importation of restricted animals such as nonhuman primates or African rodents, for use in scientific research institutions and educational exhibits. To apply for permission, please mail or fax a letter providing the following information:
What species of animal is to be imported
How many will be imported
The animal's country of origin
How the animal will be kept safe and unable to escape
The identity of the party responsible for meeting the animal upon arrival into the U.S.
This letter can be faxed to the Division of Global Migration and Quarantine at 404-639-4441, or mailed to:
CDC, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine
Animal Import Program
Mailstop E-03
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
U.S.A.
Frequently Asked Questions about traveling with pets
Traveling outside the United States with your pet?
Before taking a pet to another country, contact that country'sconsulate or embassyfor information about their requirements.
Are the regulations the same if I just want to drive over the border with my pet in my car, rather than if traveling by air, or other means?
All animals entering (or reentering) the United States are subject to the same laws, regardless of the port or method of entry.
If traveling by air, do I pick up my pet at the international airport or only at my final destination?
Pets are generally transported as baggage, and they go through the same procedures as baggage. If a pet does not require quarantine at the port of entry, then an international traveler would pick up both luggage and the pet at international baggage claim, go through customs, then re-check both luggage and the pet for the domestic flight to their final destination.
Do I have to indicate I have a pet on my customs declaration card?
Animals must be included when filling out a customs declaration card.
What CDC restrictions apply to interstate and intrastate movement of animals?
There are no CDC regulations on interstate and intrastate transportation of animals. USDA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and various states may impose restrictions, depending on the animal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, working in concert with CDC, has enactedregulationsrestricting the movement of prairie dogs and African rodents.
How can I be sure my pet stays healthy while traveling?
CDC focuses its regulation efforts on ensuring the health and safety of the public.
While it is important to make sure your pet stays healthy while traveling, CDC is primarily concerned with preventing the spread of diseases that affect humans. Consult your veterinarian for more information regarding protecting your pet’s health while traveling. Additionally, the following link provides useful tips regarding traveling with a pet. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/pet_travel/pet_travel_tips.shtml
