Travelling with your pet from Canada to the US is simpler than many people expect, but the rules for dogs changed on August 1, 2024. A dog that has only been in Canada or other low-risk countries for the past 6 months needs to be at least 6 months old, microchipped, healthy, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Cats have no CDC rabies proof requirement, though some states have their own rules.
Coming home is a separate set of rules, set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): your dog or cat needs a valid rabies vaccination certificate. This guide covers both directions, so you are not surprised at either border. Rules change, so always check the official pages before you go.
What does a dog need to enter the US from Canada?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sets the rules for dogs entering the US. Since August 1, 2024, the CDC says that for dogs that have only been in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries in the past 6 months, the only required document is the CDC Dog Import Form. Canada is in that group.
| Requirement | What the CDC says |
|---|---|
| Age | At least 6 months old when entering or returning to the US |
| Microchip | A microchip that a universal scanner can detect |
| Health | The dog must appear healthy on arrival |
| Paperwork | A CDC Dog Import Form receipt, shown to the airline when flying and to US Customs and Border Protection on arrival |
| Receipt validity | 6 months, for multiple entries from the same country, unless the dog visits a high-risk country |
A dog under 6 months old cannot enter the US under the CDC rules that started on August 1, 2024, even for a short trip.
The form is online. The CDC says you can complete it on the day of travel, and suggests doing it a few days ahead to be ready. For a dog under one year old, the photo on the form should be taken within 15 days before arrival. If your dog has been in a high-risk country in the last 6 months, different and stricter rules apply; use the CDC's navigator tool.
What does a cat need to enter the US?
The CDC says cats are not required to show proof of rabies vaccination to enter the US, though it recommends that all cats be vaccinated. Cats can be inspected on arrival, and the state you are going to may have its own requirements. The CDC notes, for example, that cats arriving in Hawaii are subject to that state's own quarantine requirements.
Before you go, check with officials in the state you are going to, as the CDC advises. For dogs, USDA APHIS confirms that the CDC is the primary authority.
What does your pet need to come home to Canada?
The CFIA notes that a dog returning to Canada still has to meet Canada's import requirements, such as a valid rabies vaccination certificate. For personal pet dogs and cats from the US, a valid rabies certificate signed by a licensed vet is the main document for animals 3 months and older. The CFIA's online tool gives the exact requirements for your pet's age and situation.
Check that the rabies certificate will still be valid on the day you come back, not just the day you leave. A booster due mid-trip is an easy thing to miss. Our guide on proof of rabies vaccination explains what the certificate shows.
Travelling with your pet from Canada to the US: a checklist
- A month or more ahead: check your dog will be 6 months or older on the travel date, and that the microchip scans. Ask your vet if anything else is needed for your trip.
- Check the rabies certificate: it needs to be valid for your return to Canada. Book a booster if it runs out during the trip.
- Check the destination state for cats and dogs, and the airline's own rules if you are flying.
- A few days ahead: complete the CDC Dog Import Form for a dog, and keep the receipt on your phone and on paper.
- Pack the papers: the CDC receipt, the rabies certificate, the microchip number and your vet's contact details.
- On the way back: have the rabies certificate ready for the Canadian border.
Talk to your vet before the trip
Your vet can check the microchip, update vaccines, and tell you about health risks where you are going, such as ticks or heat. Travel can be stressful for some pets; ask your vet about it rather than giving anything on your own. This post is general information, not veterinary or legal advice.
Plan the papers in the PetGrid app
The free PetGrid app has a travel helper. Choose Canada to the US or the US to Canada and your travel date, and it lists what to check and by when, worked out from the rabies vaccine you entered, with a link to the official CFIA, USDA APHIS and CDC pages beside each step. It does not replace those pages: always check them, because the rules change.
Your vet signs the travel papers, so book that visit with your own clinic. Keep the rabies certificate and microchip number on your phone in the app, and share them with a sitter or a vet on the road if you need to. See the features and the app questions.
Questions people ask
Does my dog need a rabies certificate to enter the US from Canada?
Under the CDC rules in effect since August 1, 2024, a dog that has only been in low-risk countries like Canada for 6 months needs the CDC Dog Import Form, a microchip, and to be at least 6 months old and healthy. You will still need a valid rabies certificate to bring your dog back into Canada, so carry it.
Can I take my puppy to the US?
Not if the puppy is under 6 months old. The CDC requires dogs entering or returning to the US to be at least 6 months old.
Is the CDC Dog Import Form free?
Yes, the CDC describes the form as free and quick to complete online. The receipt arrives by email and is valid for 6 months of entries from the same country.
Does my cat need anything to cross into the US?
The CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination for cats, but recommends it, and the state you are going to may have its own rules. You will need a valid rabies certificate for your cat to come back into Canada.
What do I need to bring my pet back into Canada?
A valid rabies vaccination certificate, signed by a licensed vet, for dogs and cats 3 months and older. Use the CFIA's online tool to confirm the details for your pet's age and situation.
Where can I check the latest rules?
The CDC's dog importation pages for dogs entering the US, USDA APHIS for state requirements, and the CFIA for coming home to Canada. The PetGrid travel helper links to each of them.
The short version
For a dog: 6 months or older, microchipped, healthy, and a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. For a cat: check the state. For both: a valid rabies certificate to come home to Canada.
Plan the dates, check the official pages, and keep the papers on your phone. The PetGrid app is free for pet owners and its travel helper lists the steps with links to each official page.
Keep your pet's records, vaccines and visits in one safe place. The PetGrid app is free for pet owners, with or without a clinic.
Get the free PetGrid appSources
Every fact about another product or organisation comes from these pages, read on the date shown.
- CDC, Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog Rabies-Free or Low-Risk Countries ()
- CDC, Dog Import Form and Instructions ()
- CDC, Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations ()
- CDC, Bringing an Animal into the U.S. (cats) ()
- CFIA, Taking pets from Canada to the United States ()
- CFIA, Bringing pets to Canada ()
- USDA APHIS, Pet Travel ()