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Bringing a dog from Taiwan to Canada

Yes — Canada is the simplest destination on this page for a personal pet. Taiwan sits in the middle of CFIA's classifications: it is not one of the nine countries Canada recognises as rabies-free, and it is not on Canada's high-risk-for-dog-rabies list either. So a dog aged 3 months or older from Taiwan needs one core document — a valid rabies vaccination certificate in English or French from a licensed vet — with no titer test, no import permit for a personal pet, and no quarantine.

1 document

Core requirement

Valid rabies vaccination certificate, English or French

3 months

Age threshold

Under 3 months: no rabies certificate needed

None

Quarantine / permit

Personal pets — neither applies

CAD $36.95

Border inspection fee

First animal, since 31 Mar 2026; +$6.16 each extra

Step-by-step checklist

Requirements — Dog · Taiwan → Canada
Step	What to do	When
Personal pet status	These rules are for a personal pet dog — an animal that lives with its owner, who is the importer. Sale, adoption, fostering, breeding, show and research dogs are 'commercial' and follow different, permit-based rules. One relief for Taiwan: CFIA's commercial-dog prohibition (in force since 28 September 2022) applies only to countries on its high-risk-for-dog-rabies list, and Taiwan is not on that list — the Asia entry is mainland China only.	Before anything else
Microchip — not required by Canada	CFIA does not require a microchip for a personal pet dog. Taiwan's side does: APHIA's export process requires the dog to be microchipped before the rabies vaccination its paperwork relies on, so a dog leaving Taiwan will be chipped anyway. Put the chip number on the vaccination certificate if there is one.	Before vaccination
Rabies vaccination + certificate	Taiwan is not on CFIA's rabies-free list (only nine countries are: Australia, Fiji, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom), so the rabies-free shortcut does not apply. A dog from Taiwan aged 3 months or older needs a valid rabies vaccination certificate, issued in English or French by a licensed veterinarian from the country of origin, which clearly identifies the dog and shows it is currently vaccinated against rabies. CFIA's pet-import tool specifies the certificate contents in detail (animal and owner identification, vaccination date, vaccine trade name and serial number, and the period of validity — if no validity period is stated, the vaccination is treated as valid for one year). The alternative CFIA accepts instead is a rabies neutralising antibody titre test (RNATT) of 0.5 IU/ml or higher.	Before travel; must be current on arrival
Age branches	Dogs under 3 months do not require rabies vaccination or rabies-free certification. A pet dog under 8 months travelling with its owner follows the same rabies rules; a pet dog under 8 months travelling without its owner additionally needs a vet health certificate: examined within 72 hours before import, at least 8 weeks old, free of disease, and vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. Commercial dogs under 8 months may only be imported under a CFIA permit.	Depends on age / accompaniment
APHIA export certificate	Bring the dog, the rabies vaccination certificate, your ID or passport and the flight booking to an APHIA branch office or inspection station within 7 days before departure to obtain Taiwan's official veterinary certificate. Canada does not require this certificate for a personal pet — APHIA issues it as part of leaving Taiwan, and airlines may ask for it.	Final 7 days
Arrival inspection	Pet dogs imported from any country are not subject to post-import quarantine in Canada. At the border the documents are checked and the dog inspected; if the rabies paperwork does not meet the requirements, an inspector can order the dog vaccinated against rabies within a set period at the owner's expense, with the certificate then presented to an inspector.	Arrival day

Your preparation timeline

1Any time — Confirm the dog is a personal pet (not a commercial import) and its age branch
2Before travel — Rabies vaccination in date, with a certificate in English or French that identifies the dog and shows current vaccination
3Final 7 days — APHIA export inspection and official veterinary certificate
4Final 72 hours (only if under 8 months and unaccompanied) — Vet health-certificate examination
5Arrival — Border document check and inspection — no post-import quarantine for pet dogs

The mistake that causes trouble on this route: Misreading Taiwan's position in Canada's lists — in either direction. Owners who assume Taiwan counts as rabies-free (it does not; only nine countries do) arrive without a vaccination certificate and face a vaccination order at their own expense. Owners who assume Taiwan is treated like mainland China (it is not; CFIA's high-risk entry is 'China (mainland only)') wrongly fear the commercial-dog prohibition. The other trap is purpose: the simple rules on this page are for a personal pet living with its owner — a dog being sold, adopted out, fostered or bred is a commercial import with permit rules of its own.

Costs you can plan for

Canada's government charges are published in the CFIA Fees Notice (rates as of 31 March 2026): import inspection of a dog or cat is CAD $36.95 for the first animal in the shipment and CAD $6.16 for each additional animal, plus tax. If an inspector has to issue a vaccination order because the rabies paperwork failed, the inspection fee rises to CAD $67.75 for the first animal (CAD $36.95 each additional), and the vaccination itself is at the owner's expense. Add Taiwan-side vet and APHIA export costs (APHIA's English pages do not publish its export fee) and the air fare or cargo charge. There is no quarantine facility cost to budget for.

✈️ Government rules are only half the trip. Airlines set their own pet carriage rules (crate size, breed limits, seasonal embargoes). Re-confirm carriage with your airline after you meet the rules above.

Questions people ask about this route

Is Taiwan rabies-free for Canada?

No. CFIA recognises only nine rabies-free countries — Australia, Fiji, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Taiwan is not one of them, so the rabies country-freedom certificate shortcut is not available and a current rabies vaccination certificate is the document that counts.

Is Taiwan high-risk for dog rabies for Canada?

No. CFIA's high-risk list names mainland China only ('China (mainland only)') and does not name Taiwan. That is why the prohibition on commercial dogs from high-risk countries, in force since 28 September 2022, does not apply to Taiwan — although commercial imports still follow their own permit rules, and this page covers personal pets.

Does my dog need a titer test or quarantine for Canada?

Neither is required for a personal pet with a valid rabies vaccination certificate. CFIA's Import Reference Document also accepts a rabies neutralising antibody titre test (RNATT, 0.5 IU/ml or higher) as an alternative document, and it states expressly that pet dogs imported from any country are not subject to post-import quarantine.

Are any dog breeds banned in Canada?

CFIA's federal import rules list no breed ban for pet dogs. Breed restrictions in Canada are set locally — some provinces and municipalities restrict pit bull-type dogs — so check the rules of the province and city you are moving to before you travel.

Related guides

✓ Last verified: 2026-11-12

Official sources for this page

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.