Answers to the most common questions about shipping a pet domestically or internationally from Canada. Every answer links to a detailed guide with the full breakdown.
Cost and pricing
How much does it cost to ship a pet from Canada?
International pet shipping from Canada typically costs $3,000 to $6,000 CAD for a medium-sized dog to most destinations. The total depends on your pet’s size, destination requirements, airline cargo fees, and whether the destination requires quarantine or a rabies titer test. Domestic in-cabin travel on Air Canada or WestJet runs $50 to $150 CAD. For a full breakdown by destination, see our pet shipping cost guide.
What is included in full-service pet relocation from Canada?
Full-service pet relocation typically includes route planning, airline cargo booking, CFIA health certificate coordination, IATA-compliant crate provision, import permit applications, airport delivery and check-in, and destination-side customs clearance coordination. Learn more in our step-by-step guide to how pet relocation works from Canada.
Documents and health certificates
What is a CFIA health certificate and do I need one?
A CFIA health certificate is a veterinary health certificate endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It confirms your pet is healthy and meets the import requirements of the destination country. It is required for virtually all international pet moves from Canada. The certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel and costs $20 to $40 CAD for CFIA endorsement plus your vet exam fee ($75 to $200 CAD). Full details in our CFIA health certificate guide.
What is a rabies titer test and which countries require one?
A rabies titer test is a blood test measuring your pet’s rabies antibody levels. Countries including Japan, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the UAE require it. The test must be done at least 30 days after rabies vaccination, costs $230 to $450 CAD, and some countries require a 180-day waiting period after a successful result. See our rabies titer test guide for Canadian pet owners.
Airlines and travel logistics
Which Canadian airlines allow pets in cargo?
Air Canada is the primary Canadian carrier offering cargo pet transport, with fees from $105 to $326 CAD for domestic routes. WestJet does not offer cargo pet transport. International carriers departing from Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal (Lufthansa, KLM, British Airways, Cathay Pacific) also accept pets in cargo with their own policies. See our Canadian airline pet policies guide for a full comparison.
Can brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds fly from Canada?
Air Canada does not accept brachycephalic breeds in cargo at any time of year. Small flat-faced pets may fly in-cabin if they meet size requirements. Options for larger brachycephalic breeds include ground transport, routing through permissive international carriers (Lufthansa and KLM accept some restricted breeds), or charter flights. Full details in our breed restrictions guide for Canadian pet owners.
How do winter cold embargoes affect pet shipping from Canada?
Airlines suspend cargo pet transport when ground temperatures drop below approximately -7 to -12 degrees Celsius at the origin or destination airport. This affects most Canadian airports from November through March, with Prairie and Northern airports seeing the longest embargo seasons. Vancouver (YVR) has the mildest winter and is the most reliable cold-season departure point. Planning strategies are in our winter pet shipping guide.
Destinations
How do I ship my pet from Canada to the United Kingdom?
Shipping a pet from Canada to the UK requires a microchip, rabies vaccination, tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival, a CFIA-endorsed health certificate, and airline cargo booking. There is no quarantine for pets from Canada with proper documentation. Budget $3,500 to $5,500 CAD for full-service relocation of a medium-sized dog. See our UK destination guide.
How do I ship my pet from Canada to Australia?
Australia requires a rabies titer test with a 180-day waiting period, multiple treatments, an import permit, and mandatory quarantine (minimum 10 days) at the Mickleham facility. There are no direct flights from Canada to Australia, so pets route through a hub city. The full process takes 6 to 8 months and costs $5,000 to $10,000+ CAD. See our Australia destination guide.
How do I ship my pet from Canada to the United States?
The CDC’s 2024 rule change added new requirements for dogs entering the U.S. from Canada. All dogs now need a CDC Dog Import Form, current rabies vaccination, and a veterinary health certificate. Cats have fewer requirements. Total cost for a small dog flying in-cabin: roughly $300 to $600 CAD. See our U.S. destination guide.
Military and special situations
How do I move my pet during a Canadian Armed Forces posting?
Pet transportation during a CAF posting is typically handled through the Personalized Envelope under the CF IRP (administered by BGRS). Coverage varies by posting type. OUTCAN postings require the same health certificates and country-specific paperwork as civilian moves. For postings to titer-test countries like Japan, start preparation as soon as a posting is possible. See our CAF military pet relocation guide.
Should I hire a pet relocation service or handle it myself?
DIY works well for domestic in-cabin travel and straightforward U.S. border crossings. Professional help is worth considering for first-time international moves, complex destinations (Australia, Japan, Singapore), large pets in cargo, brachycephalic breeds, and winter moves with embargo risk. The cost difference is roughly $2,000 to $3,500 CAD for a typical international route. See our detailed comparison.
Preparation
What do I need to prepare before shipping my pet from Canada?
A complete preparation checklist includes: confirming microchip registration, ensuring current rabies vaccination, scheduling any required titer tests months ahead, obtaining the correct CFIA health certificate form for your destination, booking airline cargo space, purchasing and acclimating your pet to an IATA-compliant crate, and organizing all documents. See our pet travel checklist for Canadians with timeline milestones.
Get help with your move
Every pet move is different. If you want a clear plan with all the steps, timing, and costs for your specific route, request a quote. We will send you an itemized breakdown with no obligation.