Relocating a pet from Canada to Colombia takes about 8 to 10 weeks of preparation, and the total cost varies based on your pet’s size, departure city, and whether they travel in-cabin or as cargo. The good news: Colombia does not quarantine compliant pets and does not require a rabies titer test for entry. The part that requires careful planning is Colombia’s extended vaccination list (your pet needs several vaccinations beyond rabies) and its restrictions on more than a dozen dog breeds. One advantage Canadian pet owners have over their American counterparts: bringing a dog back to Canada from Colombia is far simpler than returning to the US, because Canada does not classify Colombia as a rabies high-risk country. Here’s exactly how it works.
Different destinations, different routes, different challenges.
Your pet’s route, crate, and paperwork plan depends on where you’re starting, what species and breed you have, and when you need to arrive. We build each plan from scratch.
ICA (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario) is Colombia's import authority, and their vaccination requirements go well beyond what most destinations ask for. Dogs need six additional vaccines on top of rabies. Cats need three. We map out the full vaccination checklist for your pet's species at the start and coordinate with your vet to get everything current before the health certificate window opens.
Canada does not have direct flights to Colombia with pet cargo on most carriers, so routing requires a connection. The most common path runs through a US hub, typically Miami (MIA) or Houston (IAH), with pet-friendly transfer procedures. Copa Airlines also offers connecting service through Panama City (PTY) from Toronto. We evaluate each option against airline pet policies, layover times, and seasonal cargo restrictions.
One coordinator handles your file from the first call through arrival and ICA inspection in Colombia. They track vaccination schedules, CFIA endorsement timing, and airline booking windows so you always know what is happening and what comes next.
Colombia is one of the more open South American destinations for pets, with no quarantine and no titer test required for entry. But the preparation involves more detail than many Canadian pet owners expect. ICA’s vaccination requirements go significantly further than most countries, covering six additional vaccines for dogs and three for cats beyond rabies. Your veterinarian completes a Canadian International Health Certificate (there is no Colombia-specific CFIA form), and CFIA (the Canadian Food Inspection Agency) endorses it before departure.
If you are still in the early stages of planning, our overview of how international pet shipping works walks through the general process. For pets returning to Canada after time in Colombia, the re-entry process is relatively straightforward compared to the US, though you still need a valid rabies certificate and a health examination.
We coordinate the full process for you. That includes:
To keep everything clear, we break the process into steps:
We confirm what rules apply based on your pet and travel details.
We map out what happens when, so steps are completed in the right order.
We help keep appointments and timing aligned with what’s required.
We check the details that cause delays (microchip digits, dates, names, signatures).
We help align crate setup and routing with airline handling expectations.
We guide you on travel-day handoff and what to expect on arrival.
For the most current rules, refer to these official sources:
Canada does not have the same abundance of direct pet-cargo routes to Colombia that the US has, so routing from Canadian cities typically involves one connection. The options are reliable, but they require more advance planning to book and coordinate.
Colombia does not quarantine compliant pets arriving from Canada. Puppies and kittens under four months of age must complete a home observation period upon arrival. No rabies titer test is required. A microchip is not mandatory under ICA regulations, but an ISO 11784/11785 microchip is strongly recommended for identification purposes and for any future international travel. The rabies vaccination must be given at least 21 days before departure and administered in Canada.
Dogs also need current vaccinations for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, and Coronavirus. Cats need Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. Internal and external parasite treatment must be completed within 60 days of travel.
Colombia restricts more than a dozen dog breeds: American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Doberman, Bullmastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Mastiff, and crosses of these breeds. An ICA veterinarian inspects the pet and documents at the Colombian airport, with a fee of approximately an amount that varies.
Before scheduling vet steps or flights, we confirm what rules apply to your pet and whether breed restrictions affect your plan. Request a quote to get a plan built around your travel date.
Canada does not have a Colombia-specific CFIA health certificate form. Your veterinarian completes the standard Canadian International Health Certificate, and CFIA endorses it. The endorsement must fall within 10 days of departure. If your pet is traveling as checked baggage or cargo (not in the cabin), SISPAP registration (Colombia’s online sanitary tracking system) is required before departure. Allow 3 to 4 weeks for the SISPAP application to process. Pets transiting through the US may also need to comply with US transit requirements depending on the airline and routing, which we confirm during route planning.
Start 8 to 10 weeks before your move date. Get all required vaccinations current 6 to 8 weeks before departure. If your pet needs SISPAP registration (cargo or checked baggage), submit the application 3 to 4 weeks before travel. Schedule the health certificate examination within 10 days of departure so the CFIA endorsement falls inside the validity window. If routing through the US, confirm any transit documentation needs at least 2 weeks before travel.
Canadian dog owners have a significant advantage on the return trip. Unlike the United States, Canada does not classify Colombia as a high-risk country for dog rabies. Bringing your dog back to Canada requires a valid rabies vaccination certificate and a health examination, but there is no titer test requirement, no CDC-style import form, and no age restriction beyond what applies to all dog imports. This makes Colombia a much simpler round-trip destination for Canadian pet owners compared to American ones.
The cost of a move depends on several things: your pet’s size and weight, which set the crate and cargo price, the airline and departure city, veterinary fees for the health certificate and any required tests, government endorsement and permit fees, and how much of the process you would like us to coordinate. Because those pieces change from one pet and route to the next, we quote the full journey up front, including government fees, so there are no surprises later. Tell us your pet and your destination and we will send a clear plan and a price.
Colombia requires more vaccinations than most destinations. Dogs need rabies plus Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, and Coronavirus. Cats need rabies plus Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. All vaccinations must be current at the time of the health certificate examination. We compare your pet’s vaccination record against ICA’s requirements at the start of planning so your vet knows exactly what to schedule.
Yes. Colombia restricts more than a dozen breeds, including American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Doberman, Bullmastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Mastiff, and crosses of these breeds. Restricted breeds are not necessarily banned from the country, but there are strict ownership rules that apply once you arrive, including muzzle requirements in public, leash regulations, and liability insurance. We verify the current status of your breed before you start the process.
SISPAP is Colombia’s online sanitary registration system, managed by ICA. If your pet is traveling as checked baggage or as manifest cargo, SISPAP registration is required before departure. The system tracks the sanitary status of live animal shipments entering Colombia. If your pet is flying in the cabin with you, SISPAP registration is not required. The application takes 3 to 4 weeks to process, so we submit it early in the planning timeline.
Much easier. Colombia is classified by the CDC as a high-risk country for dog rabies, which means dogs returning to the United States from Colombia face strict requirements: a FAVN titer test, a US-issued rabies vaccination, an ISO microchip, a minimum age of 6 months, and an approved CDC Dog Import Form. None of those additional requirements apply to dogs returning to Canada. Canada requires a valid rabies vaccination certificate and a health examination, but there is no titer test, no CDC-equivalent form, and no high-risk country classification. This is a real advantage for Canadian pet owners who plan to eventually return home.
We manage every step from your first call through the ICA inspection at the Colombian airport. That includes confirming current vaccination requirements, coordinating with your vet on the full vaccine checklist, completing the Canadian International Health Certificate with CFIA endorsement, handling SISPAP registration if your pet travels as cargo, and routing through the best connection point with safe layover procedures. One coordinator manages your file from start to finish. Request a quote to start planning your move.
© 2026 Pet Travel Advisors. All rights reserved.
