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Bringing a dog from Hong Kong 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 (Hong Kong certificates are normally bilingual, which covers this). 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. | — |
| Hong Kong exit side | Canada does not require an export health certificate, and CFIA does not require a microchip — though Hong Kong dogs are chipped and licensed under local law anyway. If your airline asks for a health certificate, a registered vet can issue one and AFCD can endorse it (about one working day; AFCD certificates are generally valid 10 days). | Final 10 days, if needed |
| 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; check the certificate carries product name, batch and validity in English or French
- 2Final 10 days — Only if your airline asks: vet health certificate, AFCD endorsement
- 3Arrival — 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 other costs are veterinary and AFCD fees (only if you take certificates for the airline) and air transport.
Questions people ask about this route
Hong Kong is rabies-free in practice — why does my dog need a vaccination certificate?
Because CFIA's recognised rabies-free list is a fixed list of 9 countries and Hong Kong is not on it. Without that listing, the vaccination-certificate route is the requirement, however good Hong Kong's actual rabies record is.
Does my dog need a rabies blood test for Canada?
No. Canada requires no titer test for personal pet dogs from Hong Kong — a valid rabies vaccination certificate is the whole federal requirement.
I heard Canada banned dogs from some countries. Does it affect us?
Only 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.
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 Hong Kong 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 (Hong Kong is not listed)
- AFCD Hong Kong — Issue or official endorsement of an animal health certificate
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.