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Bringing a cat from the United Kingdom to Canada

Q: Does my cat need a rabies vaccination for Canada?

Not necessarily. A currently-vaccinated cat is one accepted option, but a cat from the UK can instead travel on the rabies-free-country statement — the certificate records that it has lived in the UK for the last 6 months. Most owners simply keep the vaccination current anyway, because the UK export process assumes it.

Q: Does my cat need a microchip for Canada?

CFIA does not require one for a personal pet cat. In practice your cat will be chipped: the UK export certificate identifies the pet by its chip, and airlines require secure identification.

Q: Are any cat breeds banned in Canada?

No federal breed restrictions apply to pet cats.

Q: My kitten is 10 weeks old — what does it need?

For Canada, nothing: cats under 3 months of age are not subject to any import restrictions. You will still need to satisfy the UK export process and your airline's minimum-age and carrier rules.

Yes — Canada is one of the easiest destinations on this site for a UK cat. There is no import permit for a personal pet and no quarantine. A cat of 3 months or older enters with a veterinarian's certificate in English or French that clearly identifies the cat and shows one of three things: it is currently vaccinated against rabies, or it comes from a designated rabies-free country (the UK) where it has lived for the last 6 months, or it has a passing RNATT result. Kittens under 3 months face no restrictions at all.

1 cert

Canadian paperwork

Vet certificate — three accepted proofs

No permit

Import permit

Not required for personal pet cats

0 days

Quarantine

None for compliant pet cats

<3 months

Kittens

No import restrictions at all

Step-by-step checklist

Requirements — Cat · the United Kingdom → Canada
Step	What to do	When
Veterinarian's certificate	Take a certificate from a veterinarian, in English or French, that clearly identifies your cat and states one of: (1) the cat is currently vaccinated against rabies; or (2) the cat is being imported from a country designated as free from rabies — the UK — where it was living during the 6 months immediately before entry; or (3) the cat has an RNATT result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, taken at least 30 days after any prior rabies vaccination, with the lab report travelling with the cat. Option 1 or 2 is what UK cats normally use.	Before travel
Export health certificate (EHC)	The UK side: for non-EU destinations you apply for an export health certificate and an export application form (EXA), and nominate an official vet (OV) who checks your cat and signs the certificate close to travel. The UK certificate can carry the CFIA wording above, so one vet visit usually covers both countries' needs.	Apply a few weeks ahead; issued close to travel

Your preparation timeline

1A few weeks out — Apply for the UK export health certificate and nominate your official vet
2Final days — Official vet examines your cat and signs the EHC including the CFIA certificate wording
3Arrival — Border inspection of documents; compliant cats proceed without quarantine

The mistake that causes trouble on this route: Arriving with no certificate at all. Canada's cat rules are light, but they are not zero: a cat of 3 months or older with no vet certificate can be ordered by an inspector to be vaccinated against rabies at your expense within a set period, with the certificate presented afterwards. One vet visit in the UK prevents the whole problem.

Costs you can plan for

Canada charges no import permit fee for a personal pet cat, and there is no quarantine cost. Your spending is on the UK side: the official vet's EHC fee (vets set their own prices; GOV.UK publishes none) and the flight. A border document/inspection charge may apply at some ports of entry.

✈️ 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

Does my cat need a rabies vaccination for Canada?

Not necessarily. A currently-vaccinated cat is one accepted option, but a cat from the UK can instead travel on the rabies-free-country statement — the certificate records that it has lived in the UK for the last 6 months. Most owners simply keep the vaccination current anyway, because the UK export process assumes it.

Does my cat need a microchip for Canada?

CFIA does not require one for a personal pet cat. In practice your cat will be chipped: the UK export certificate identifies the pet by its chip, and airlines require secure identification.

Are any cat breeds banned in Canada?

No federal breed restrictions apply to pet cats.

My kitten is 10 weeks old — what does it need?

For Canada, nothing: cats under 3 months of age are not subject to any import restrictions. You will still need to satisfy the UK export process and your airline's minimum-age and carrier rules.

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.

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