United States Pet Entry Requirements From Canada

For personal travel with a dog or cat from Canada to the United States, the federal path depends first on species and—especially for dogs—the animal's complete country history during the six months before entry.

Reviewed by YourPetPass Travel Desk · Last reviewed October 18, 2026

Direct answer: if a dog has spent the prior six months only in Canada, the United States or other CDC dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries, the CDC Dog Import Form is the only CDC document required. Each dog needs its own receipt. The dog must also be at least 6 months old, appear healthy and have a universally readable microchip. Cats follow a different federal path: they must appear healthy, but CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination. Destination-state, territory and carrier rules remain separate for both species.

Step 1: check the dog's full six-month country history

CDC bases the dog-import pathway on every country the dog visited during the six months before U.S. entry—not only the country shown on the final flight or border crossing. Canada is not on CDC's high-risk list, so a dog that remained only in Canada and other low-risk countries can use the simplified pathway.

If the dog visited a high-risk country, stop before using this checklist. The vaccination documents and allowed port of entry can change. CDC's current FAQ states that some foreign-vaccinated dogs with high-risk history cannot enter at a land border and must arrive at an airport with a CDC-registered animal care facility.

Step 2: complete the free CDC Dog Import Form

Each dog needs a separate CDC Dog Import Form receipt. CDC says the form is free. For an eligible low-risk dog, the form may be completed on the day of travel, although CDC recommends completing it a few days ahead or up to six months before travel.

The receipt can be used for multiple U.S. entries for six months when the dog remains eligible and continues departing from the same country. A new departure country, a high-risk visit or an expired receipt requires a new review of the pathway.

Step 3: confirm age, health and microchip

Under the CDC low-risk pathway, the dog must:

• be at least 6 months old at entry;
• appear healthy on arrival; and
• have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner.

The low-risk CDC form does not ask for the microchip number. That does not remove the microchip requirement, and the documentation rules are different for dogs with high-risk travel history.

Air travel from Canada

Show the dog's CDC form receipt to the airline before boarding. The form asks for travel information, and the carrier can separately require a reservation, health certificate, carrier measurements, breed information or service-animal documents. Those airline rules do not replace CDC entry requirements.

A qualifying low-risk dog can enter at any U.S. airport, including eligible preclearance locations. High-risk travel history can restrict the airport and require a CDC-registered animal care facility.

Land travel from Canada

A dog that qualifies for the rabies-free or low-risk pathway may enter at any U.S. land border crossing. The CDC form asks for the travel type and first-trip details. Transit still counts as entry: a dog crossing the United States by car, truck or bus must meet the same CDC requirements even when it will not stay overnight.

Do not use the low-risk land pathway for a dog with unresolved high-risk travel history. CDC's current rules can bar land-border entry for some foreign-vaccinated dogs that were in a high-risk country.

What cats need

CDC requires cats to appear healthy when they arrive and subjects them to inspection at ports of entry, including land borders. A cat that appears ill may require examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner's expense or may be denied entry.

CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination for cats entering the United States, though it recommends vaccination. CFIA states that a Canadian licensed veterinarian can issue documentation required by U.S. authorities and that CFIA endorsement is not required for cat documentation.

Step 4: check the final state or territory

Federal entry rules are only one layer. USDA APHIS says the destination state may have additional animal-health requirements. CDC also notes that Hawaii and Guam have locally imposed quarantine pathways for cats. Check the final destination before deciding that no health certificate or vaccination record is needed.

Service animals and emotional support animals

CDC dog-import requirements apply to all dogs, including service animals and dogs returning to the United States. The CDC form asks the importer to identify the purpose of import. Airline service-animal documentation is a separate carrier process, and service-animal status should remain separate from the dog's physical travel arrangement in YourPetPass.

Canada → United States checklist

1. List every country the dog visited during the previous 6 months.
2. Choose the correct CDC pathway. Do not use the low-risk checklist after high-risk travel.
3. Complete one free CDC Dog Import Form per dog.
4. Confirm the dog is at least 6 months old, healthy and microchipped.
5. Carry the CDC receipt. Air travelers must show it before boarding.
6. For a cat, confirm health and destination requirements. Federal rabies proof is not the whole state or carrier checklist.
7. Check the final state or territory and the carrier separately.

FAQ