Moving from the EU to Canada with your dog or cat? Your pet needs a rabies vaccination certificate if 3 months or older — the EU pet passport works as an alternative as long as it includes everything CFIA requires — plus a CBSA inspection fee (this one does apply, unlike arrivals from the US). There’s no CFIA-mandated microchip for personal pets. Here’s exactly what CFIA and CBSA require to bring your pet into Toronto.
Moving from Europe to Toronto with a cat or dog is an exciting new chapter, and understanding exactly what Canada’s Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) require makes the difference between a smooth landing and a stressful one. This guide covers the EU → Canada direction specifically. If you’re instead relocating from Canada to the EU, see our companion guide, EU Pet Passport: Best Guide for Canadians.
Does My Pet Need an EU Pet Passport, or Something Else?
Here’s a detail that trips a lot of people up: Canada does not require the EU pet passport specifically. What CFIA actually requires is a rabies vaccination certificate containing a specific set of information. The EU pet passport is accepted as an alternative to that certificate, as long as it includes all the elements CFIA lists below — so if your pet already has an EU pet passport with everything filled in correctly, you likely don’t need a separate document. If anything is missing, a standard vet-issued rabies certificate covering the same information works just as well.
Source: CFIA — Importing and travelling with pets
Rabies Vaccination Certificate Requirements
- Under 3 months old: No rabies certificate required — just proof of age from a vet, and the pet must appear healthy.
- 3 months or older: Your pet must have been vaccinated against rabies at 3 months of age or older, with a certificate (or EU pet passport) presented at the border.
Whichever document you use, it needs to be in English or French (or officially translated), issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian, and identify your pet by age, breed, sex, colour/markings, and microchip or tattoo number if applicable — plus the rabies vaccination date, vaccine trade name and serial number, and the vaccine’s validity period. If no validity period is stated, CFIA treats the vaccine as valid for 1 year from the vaccination date. We haven’t found a CFIA-stated rule requiring the certificate itself to be issued within a set number of days of arrival — what matters for entry into Canada is that the rabies vaccine is still within its validity window when your pet lands.
Is a Microchip Required?
Not for a personal pet. Many EU pets already carry an ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip since that’s the EU’s own requirement — and that’s genuinely useful for identifying your pet on the certificate — but CFIA itself doesn’t mandate a microchip for a personally-owned dog or domestic cat entering Canada. The only Canadian microchip mandate applies to commercial dogs under 8 months old, which is a different category from a family pet moving countries with you.
Source: CFIA — Importing and travelling with pets
CBSA Inspection Fees
Unlike arrivals from the United States, pets arriving in Canada from the EU are not exempt from the standard CFIA/CBSA inspection fee: CAD $36.95 for the first animal and CAD $6.16 for each additional animal, effective 31 March 2026. If a border officer has to issue a vaccination order because your documentation isn’t in order, that fee is higher — CAD $67.75 for the first animal and CAD $36.95 for each additional animal.
Source: CBSA — Inspections and fees
What Happens at CFIA Inspection on Arrival
Most of our EU-to-Toronto clients land at Toronto Pearson International Airport, where a CFIA officer inspects your pet’s documentation on arrival — checking that the rabies certificate (or EU pet passport) is complete, that the vaccination is current, and that any microchip listed matches your pet.
If your pet’s documentation isn’t complete or current, CFIA does not impose a fixed quarantine period. Instead, you’d need to have your pet vaccinated against rabies within a specified time, at your own expense, and present the vaccination record to a CFIA Animal Health Office — plus pay the vaccination-order fee above. Arriving with a complete, correctly-filled-out certificate avoids all of this.
Personal vs. Commercial Imports
If you’re bringing your own pet to live with you, it’s a personal import — just the rabies documentation above. Dogs imported for resale, adoption facilitation, fostering, breeding, or exhibition are classified as commercial and require a CFIA import permit obtained before the dog leaves Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an EU pet passport to bring my pet to Canada?
Not specifically. CFIA requires a rabies vaccination certificate with certain information — the EU pet passport is accepted as an alternative as long as it includes that same information. A standard vet-issued certificate works too.
Is a microchip required to bring my pet from the EU to Canada?
Not for a personal pet. CFIA doesn’t mandate a microchip for personally-owned dogs or domestic cats entering Canada, even though most EU pets already have an ISO-compliant chip from the EU’s own rules.
How long is the rabies certificate valid for entry into Canada?
What matters is the rabies vaccine’s own validity period, which defaults to 1 year from the vaccination date if the certificate doesn’t state otherwise. We haven’t found a separate CFIA rule requiring the certificate to be issued within a set number of days before arrival.
Will I have to pay a CBSA inspection fee coming from the EU?
Yes. Unlike US arrivals, EU-origin pets aren’t exempt — the fee is CAD $36.95 for the first animal and CAD $6.16 for each additional animal.
What happens if my pet’s documentation isn’t correct on arrival in Toronto?
CFIA doesn’t impose a fixed quarantine period. You’d need to have your pet vaccinated within a specified time at your own expense and present proof to a CFIA Animal Health Office, plus pay the higher vaccination-order fee.
What if I’m importing an animal other than a dog or cat?
The rules above are for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Other species like rabbits, birds, or reptiles fall under different CFIA requirements — we specialize in dog and cat transport but can point you to the right CFIA resources for other species.
How much does it cost to bring my pet from the EU to Canada?
Costs vary based on veterinary fees in your EU country, airline cargo fees (which depend on pet size and crate dimensions), the CBSA inspection fee, and the level of service you need from us. We provide personalized quotes based on your specific move.
Let Us Handle the Details
Bringing your cat or dog from Europe to Toronto involves careful timing and paperwork. As your dedicated international pet relocation partner, we guide EU families through every step, from the rabies certificate to pickup at Pearson. Call us at 647-477-5858 or reserve your ride to get started.
