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Bringing a dog from China to Canada
Step-by-step checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Rabies vaccination certificate (the key document) | Issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian, in English or French — a Chinese-language certificate needs an official translation attached. It must identify your dog and state the vaccination date, the vaccine's trade name and serial/batch number, and its period of validity (if no validity is stated, Canada treats it as 1 year). Your dog must have been at least 3 months old when vaccinated. | Before travel |
| Under 3 months old? | Puppies under 3 months are exempt from the rabies vaccination requirement; carry a vet-issued proof of age instead. | — |
| No microchip for Canada — but China requires the exit process | CFIA does not require a microchip for personal pet dogs. China Customs' export process, however, works from the chip record: your dog should be chipped for the exit paperwork regardless of Canada's rules. | Before the exit process |
| China Customs exit quarantine | Declare online through the 'Internet + Customs' / Single Window pet-export module — local Customs guides advise filing 10–14 days before departure, then bring your dog for the on-site clinical inspection within the final 7 days with your ID, the rabies vaccination certificate and chip proof. Customs issues the Animal Health Certificate (generally valid 14 days) once the file passes. | Final 2 weeks |
| Arrival in Canada | Your dog must appear healthy. Border officers check the vaccination certificate at entry; if they refer the dog for a veterinary inspection, an inspection fee can apply. There is no post-entry quarantine for personal pets from any country. | Arrival |
Your preparation timeline
- 1Any time — Rabies vaccination in date; certificate prepared in English or French (or officially translated)
- 210–14 days out — File the China Customs online export declaration
- 3Final 7 days — On-site Customs inspection; Animal Health Certificate issued
- 4Arrival — Certificate checked at the border; healthy dogs go straight home
Costs you can plan for
Canada charges no import permit fee for a personal pet dog; a fee can apply only if border officers refer your dog for a veterinary inspection. Your real costs are the China side (vaccination and certificate preparation, the Customs exit process) and air transport.
Questions people ask about this route
Does my dog need a rabies blood test for Canada?
No. Canada requires no titer test for personal pet dogs from China — a valid rabies vaccination certificate is the whole federal requirement. (A titer result is accepted as an alternative proof in some categories, but it is never mandatory.)
I heard Canada banned dogs from China. Is that true?
Only for commercial dogs. Since 28 September 2022, dogs imported for sale, adoption, breeding, showing or research from countries CFIA lists as high-risk for dog rabies cannot enter. Your own pet, travelling as a personal pet, is not covered by that ban.
Does my dog need a microchip for Canada?
Not for CFIA. But China Customs' exit-quarantine process is built around the chip record, so in practice a dog leaving China for Canada should be chipped anyway.
Will my dog be quarantined in Canada?
No. Canada has no post-import quarantine for personal pet dogs; a dog that arrives healthy with a valid certificate clears at the border.
Related guides
- Bringing a cat from China to Canada
- Rabies titer tests (FAVN / RNATT): validity and waiting periods by country
- How many days before travel do you need a pet health certificate?
- Pet quarantine by country: how long, where, and how to avoid it
- Microchip before or after rabies vaccination?
- How far in advance should you start preparing?
Official sources for this page
- CFIA — Bringing animals to Canada: importing and travelling with pets
- CFIA — Countries recognised as rabies-free (China and Hong Kong are not listed)
- China Customs (Huangpu, Guangzhou Customs) — Guide for travellers taking pets out of China (Chinese)
We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.
Want a professional to run this route for you?
Licensed pet relocation companies handle permits, vet paperwork and flights daily. We are adding vetted partners for this route — check back soon.