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Official EU Travel Guide

Traveling with Your Dog from Canada to European Union

Flying from Canada to the EU with your dog? Here's everything you need to ensure a smooth journey.

Basic Requirements

For Travelers Starting in Canada:

  • • Your dog must have a microchip that can be read by a universal scanner
    Note: Must be implanted before rabies vaccination
  • • Valid rabies vaccination
  • • You must obtain an EU Health Certificate from a CFIA-accredited veterinarian and have it endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) within 10 days before traveling

For EU Residents Returning with EU Pet Passport:

  • • Your dog must have a microchip that can be read by a universal scanner
  • • Valid rabies vaccination recorded in EU Pet Passport
  • • Valid EU Pet Passport (no additional health certificate needed)
    Note: Can be obtained from any EU-certified veterinarian

Special Requirements for Young Dogs

Important: Unvaccinated puppies under 12 weeks old from Canada are not permitted entry into the EU

Rabies Vaccination Requirements

  • • Minimum age: 12 weeks old at time of vaccination
  • • Microchip must be implanted before vaccination
  • • Wait 21 days after primary vaccination before travel
  • • Vaccination must remain valid throughout EU stay

Tapeworm Treatment

Required if you are traveling to: Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, and Northern Ireland

  • • Must be administered by licensed veterinarian
  • • Treatment timing: 24-120 hours (1-5 days) before entry
  • • Must be documented in EU health certificate or EU Pet Passport

Timeline & Planning

For Canadian Travelers:

  • 1. Microchip implantation
  • 2. Rabies vaccination after microchip
  • 3. Wait 21 days after vaccination
  • 4. Get EU health certificate (within 10 days of travel)
  • 5. Obtain CFIA endorsement
  • 6. Tapeworm treatment if required (1-5 days before entry)

For EU Residents Returning:

  • 1. Verify microchip functionality
  • 2. Check rabies vaccination validity in Pet Passport
  • 3. Tapeworm treatment if required (1-5 days before entry)

Additional Considerations

  • • Commercial rules apply when traveling with more than 5 dogs
  • • Verify airline-specific requirements for pet travel
  • • Keep copies of all vaccination records and treatments
  • • Consider a pre-travel veterinary check-up
  • • Check Canadian re-entry requirements with CFIA

Based on Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 and related EU legislation

Last updated: November 5, 2024

View Official EU Regulation →