# Flying with a dog in and out of Canada: airline, CFIA, service dog and U.S. rules

URL: https://pawtrace.ca/flying-with-a-dog-in-and-out-of-canada/
Updated: 2026-10-24

The short answer

Flying with a dog means meeting three sets of rules: your airline’s, the destination country’s, and Canada’s when you come home. For a returning personal pet that is 3 months or older, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) asks for a valid rabies vaccination certificate that carries every element on its list. A dog entering the United States must be at least 6 months old, microchipped and covered by a CDC Dog Import Form receipt (U.S. rules). Airlines set their own fees, carrier sizes and weather limits, so read your airline’s own pet page before you book. A service dog has its own rules under Canadian federal regulations: see the service dog section below. Ask your vet first whether your dog should fly at all.

PawTrace is not a law firm. This guide shares what we found in the sources listed below; it is general information, not legal advice.

Quick highlights

- Three sets of rules apply: your airline’s, the destination country’s, and Canada’s when you come home.

- CFIA asks for a valid rabies vaccination certificate for a returning personal pet 3 months or older.

- A dog entering the U.S. must be at least 6 months old, microchipped and covered by a CDC Dog Import Form receipt.

- Ask your vet first whether your dog should fly at all.

Photo: [Aliaksei Smalenski / Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/photo/funny-photo-of-the-shiba-inu-dog-in-a-pilot-suit-at-the-airport-16264570/)

### Key takeaways

- Three sets of rules apply: the airline’s, the destination country’s, and the CFIA’s on the way home. Each one can stop your dog at the counter or the border.

- The CFIA says that if a dog does not meet the requirements at the border, it may be ordered removed from Canada or face fines or legal action. Its tool for personal pets is built around the dog’s age, the country it travels from and whether the owner travels with it.

- For a personal pet that is 3 months or older, the CFIA asks for a valid rabies vaccination certificate. The dog must have been at least 3 months old when vaccinated.

- Dogs entering the U.S. from Canada need the CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip that a universal scanner can read, and an age of at least 6 months (U.S. rules).

- Airline fees and limits differ by airline. One airline’s published page shows cabin fees from $50 to $120 one way and hold fees from $105 to $324, depending on the route.

- Short-nosed breeds face extra limits. The CFIA, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and the airline page checked here all flag breathing and heat risk.

- A service dog travels under the Canadian Transportation Agency’s Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations: give the carrier at least 48 hours’ notice, expect to show a declaration and a document from the organization or person that trained the dog, and know that emotional support animals are not covered by those regulations.

- Air Canada’s Cabin-Ready Canines assessment, announced June 2 2026, gives owner-trained service dogs a certification path for Air Canada flights. It does not cover travel to or from the United States.

- Carry printed copies of every document. The CFIA tells owners to keep paper and digital copies and says the owner is responsible for accurate information.

### Step 1: ask whether your dog should fly

The CFIA’s page on transporting pets tells owners to check that a pet is healthy and fit for the journey, and to consult a veterinarian first. It says brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds, such as bulldogs and pugs, are more prone to respiratory issues that may get worse during travel. The CVMA’s position statement on the transport of dogs and cats (May 16 2024) says some of these dogs may need extra support such as climate control and closer monitoring, and notes that brachycephalic dogs have overheated at temperatures as low as 21 to 22 °C.

Sedation is a question for your vet, and the two sources differ in tone. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recommends not sedating or tranquilizing pets in transit. If sedation is medically necessary, IATA says a vet should direct it and note it on the health certificate. The CVMA says some medications available through a vet may relieve the effects of transport. Do not give any medication your vet has not prescribed for this trip.

Book the vet visit early. Your vet can also tell you whether a puppy, a senior dog or a dog with a heart or breathing condition is a poor candidate. For older dogs, see [what changes after age seven](https://pawtrace.ca/senior-dogs-what-changes-after-age-seven/). If you do not have a clinic yet, [choosing a vet](https://pawtrace.ca/choosing-a-vet-and-what-the-first-visit-covers/) explains how to pick one.

### The three sets of rules

| Leg of the trip | Who sets the rules | What to check

| Leaving Canada | The destination country. The CFIA endorses export certificates. | The CFIA says that in most cases you need an export certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by a CFIA veterinarian before the dog leaves Canada. Rules can change without notice to the CFIA, so check with the destination’s veterinary authority or embassy. Transit countries may add rules.

| On the flight | The airline, the IATA Live Animals Regulations and Part XII of the Health of Animals Regulations | Carrier type and size, fees, seat rules, breed limits and weather limits. The carrier must be large enough for the dog to stand, turn around and lie down in its natural position.

| Returning to Canada | The CFIA | Rules depend on the dog’s age, country of origin, purpose and whether the owner travels with it. See the table below.

| Entering the United States | The CDC (U.S.) | Dog Import Form receipt, age and microchip. See the U.S. section below.

Sources: CFIA export page, CFIA transporting pets page, CFIA importing pets page, CDC.

### Airline rules: what to expect and how to check

IATA says airlines have their own procedures for accepting, handling and delivering animals, and that they can limit the number of animals on a flight. Its page says only small dogs and cats can travel in the cabin, and that larger dogs may travel as special baggage in a heated, ventilated hold. It advises booking early, confirming with the airline that it accepts your pet on your day and flight, and reconfirming at least 48 hours before departure. IATA also says most airlines require a health certificate from a vet.

IATA gives container sizing formulas and says snub-nosed breeds need a container 10% larger. Use the formula on IATA’s page, not a guess.

Fees are not set by law, so they differ by airline and route. Air Canada’s pet page shows what one Canadian airline publishes. Treat it as an example and read your own airline’s page.

| Item | What Air Canada’s pet page says

| Cabin fee, one way | $50.00 to $60.00 within Canada and between Canada and the U.S.; $100.00 to $120.00 international. The page labels the figures “CA/US”.

| Baggage compartment or cargo fee, one way | $105.00 to $126.00 within Canada and between Canada and the U.S.; $270.00 to $324.00 international. Tax of 0% to 18% (or 20%, depending on the table) is included, based on the itinerary.

| Cabin carrier | Soft-sided and flexible, under the seat in front of you. One cat or small dog per passenger. The dog must be able to stand, turn around and lie down in the carrier.

| Seats | No pet in the cabin if you sit in an exit or bulkhead row, or travel in Premium Economy.

| Hold kennel | Maximum 292 cm in length plus width plus height. Maximum 45 kg for pet and kennel together. In most cases the dog must be at least 10 weeks old and fully weaned.

| Short-nosed breeds | Not accepted in the baggage compartment, because of heat stroke and breathing risk.

| Weather and season | Dogs under 4.5 kg are not accepted in the baggage compartment from November 1 to March 31 or whenever the temperature is 0 °C or below. The page says it may not be possible to take your pet when summer temperatures exceed 29.5 °C. No pets are accepted as checked baggage or cargo from December 18 to January 4.

| Booking and check-in | Register the pet with the airline. The page strongly recommends doing so within 24 hours of booking, so the ticket is refunded without charge if the pet cannot be accommodated. No online or kiosk check-in with a pet. Arrive 30 minutes before the recommended check-in time to see an agent.

Source: Air Canada, pets page, checked October 23 2026. Rules and fees change, and other airlines differ.

Service dogs follow different rules, set out in the service dog section below. The pet fees, carrier rules and weather limits in this table do not apply to a service dog that travels on board.

### Flying with a service dog

A service dog is not a pet in the eyes of Canadian transportation law. The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) administers the [Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations (SOR/2019-244)](https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2019-244/FullText.html). Their service rules, including the service dog rules, apply to large air carriers (those that carried 1,000,000 or more passengers worldwide in each of the two preceding calendar years) on flights within Canada and to or from Canada (section 25). The regulations were current to September 30 2026 when checked.

#### What counts as a service dog

Section 1 defines a service dog as “a dog that has been individually trained by an organization or person specializing in service dog training” to perform a task to assist a person with a disability with a need related to their disability. The definition covers dogs only. The CTA says the regulations “do not address travelling with pets or emotional support animals.”

#### What carriers must allow

- **Acceptance.** Under section 51(1), on request a carrier must accept the service dog for transport and let it travel on board with the passenger. The CTA says the dog travels at no additional charge.

- **Control.** A carrier may require the dog to be controlled with a leash, tether or harness.

- **Declaration and document.** A carrier may require a declaration at the time of reservation that the dog was individually trained by an organization or person specializing in service dog training, and, before departure, an identification card or other document from that organization or person. If you gave the carrier that document for an earlier request and it kept an electronic copy, the requirement is met (section 51(3)).

- **Floor space.** If the dog is too large to lie at the passenger’s feet in the passenger’s own seat, the carrier must provide an adjacent seat as needed. The CTA page says the extra seat is free for domestic travel and does not address international travel.

- **Notice.** Section 32 sets a 48-hour request period before scheduled departure. With less notice, the carrier must still make every reasonable effort to provide the service. A carrier may also ask for information or documents reasonably necessary to assess a request (section 33).

#### Emotional support animals

The regulations quoted above cover service dogs only, so they do not require a carrier to accept an emotional support animal. A CTA decision of June 23 2023 ([Decision No. 105-AT-C-A-2023](https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/ruling/105-at-c-a-2023)) dealt with applications against Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, KLM and VIA Rail. The CTA found that carriers “are only required to accommodate dogs as ESAs, and only under specific conditions.” For an emotional support dog to be accepted in the cabin, the person must:

- provide proof from a physician or medical health professional that they are being treated for a mental health disability and need the dog;

- submit, at least 96 hours before travel, a veterinary certificate that identifies the dog and the person and confirms the dog’s vaccination and health status (dated within two months before travel, unless the destination sets other timing);

- keep the dog in an animal carrier that fits under the seat in front for the whole flight; and

- show that the dog meets every travel, entry and exit requirement of the places they travel to or from.

The CTA says a person who meets these conditions must not be charged for the accommodation, and that a carrier may refuse a dog that behaves aggressively or that the person cannot control or removes from its carrier. The decision guides the CTA when it rules on individual complaints, and each case is decided on its own merits. Airline policies differ: Air Canada and Porter accept only dogs as emotional support animals, under their own conditions, and WestJet states that since August 5 2021 “emotional support animals will not be accepted for travel in any cabin.” Porter asks for a letter dated within one year from a licensed medical or mental health professional, and on flights to the United States its emotional support dogs travel as pets. Ask your carrier before you book.

#### Air Canada: Cabin-Ready Canines (June 2 2026)

Air Canada’s announcement says there is no single, country-wide service dog certification standard, and that certification programs are not available in all provinces. On June 2 2026 it launched Cabin-Ready Canines for owner-trained dogs and dogs trained outside a recognized organization. As the announcement (Air Canada news release, June 2 2026) describes it:

- Air Canada’s Accessibility Services team refers eligible customers to an independent assessor named by Air Canada. Air Canada says it is not involved in the evaluation.

- A fee applies, managed by the assessor. The announcement does not state the amount.

- A dog that passes receives a certification and photo ID card that Air Canada agents can verify in the assessor’s database. The record is valid for two years, and the customer then follows Air Canada’s standard booking process.

- Testing is offered in English and French in the Toronto and Montréal areas, so for now it is available in Ontario and Quebec.

- The program is valid for domestic and international travel. Travel to and from the United States is not in scope, because documentation requirements are governed by U.S. legislation.

- Dogs with provincial certification, and dogs trained through Assistance Dogs International (ADI), International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) or other approved organizations, are exempt from the assessment.

#### Air Canada, WestJet and Porter policies

| Item | WestJet (its service dog page) | Porter (its service dog page)

| Notice | Call the Special Care Desk at least 48 hours before departure (seven days for the United Kingdom) | Notify at least 48 hours before departure; requests inside 48 hours receive reasonable efforts

| Training proof | Registration is optional. The registration form needs proof of training attached or it is incomplete. WestJet keeps registration details on file for up to three years. | Written certification from an Assistance Dogs International (ADI)-accredited institution at least 48 hours before the flight. Dogs from non-accredited programs or online training are generally not accepted; Porter assesses them case by case, at its discretion.

| Fee for the dog | The page lists none. Hold transport is free, but you provide the kennel. | Certified and psychiatric service dogs travel without charge.

| Extra floor space | Free on flights within Canada. On flights outside Canada you may buy a second seat. | Free on domestic flights, subject to availability. You must buy a second seat on transborder flights.

| Seat limits | Not allowed in the emergency exit row or in an empty seat | Exit row seats cannot be assigned; the dog cannot occupy a seat

| Service dogs in training | Travel free, subject to cabin space | Not accepted

| U.S. flights | CDC import form and receipt needed | Signed U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form due 48 hours before departure; CDC Dog Import Form receipt shown before boarding

Sources: WestJet service dogs page and Porter service dogs page, checked October 23 2026. Policies change: read your airline’s page before you book.

Air Canada’s own [service and emotional support dogs page](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/accessibility/service-emotional-support-dogs.html) asks you to send its Service Animal Form to Air Canada Accessibility Services at least 48 hours before departure, with an identification card or document from the organization or person that trained the dog. For U.S. flights it asks for the U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form instead, plus the relief attestation form for flights of 8 hours or more. It accepts certifications issued by the Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia governments. Extra floor space is free on flights within Canada; on other flights you buy it. Air Canada accepts only dogs as emotional support animals: the dog travels in an approved carrier under the seat in front for the whole trip (or in the pressurized baggage compartment if it does not fit), and the page lists forms, including one from a licensed medical or mental health professional and a veterinary health form, due at least 96 hours before the flight.

#### Flying a service dog to the United States (U.S.)

- **Entry (U.S.).** The CDC says “Service dogs must meet the same requirements as all other dogs entering the United States.” The CDC page (updated August 27 2026) says a dog that has not been outside Canada, Mexico and the U.S. needs only the CDC Dog Import Form online, and the dog must still appear healthy, be microchipped and be at least 6 months old.

- **What counts (U.S.).** The CDC says the dog must meet the definition of service animal in 14 CFR 382.3, and that emotional support, comfort, companionship and in-training animals do not qualify.

- **Airline forms (U.S.).** The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) says a service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, and that emotional support animals are not service animals. Airlines may require two U.S. DOT forms: one on the animal’s health, behaviour and training, and one on relieving itself for flights of 8 hours or more. The U.S. DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form was updated in September 2024. Porter requires it for U.S. travel.

- **Cabin-Ready Canines.** Air Canada says this path does not cover travel to or from the United States.

Ask your vet about vaccines and health for the trip, and carry the dog’s identification card, training document and the CDC receipt. This section is general information, not legal advice. If a carrier refuses your service dog, the CTA handles accessibility complaints.

Want to help raise a future guide or service dog? Read [how to foster a guide dog puppy in Canada](https://pawtrace.ca/foster-a-guide-dog-puppy-canada/). Looking for a trainer or other local help? [Find dog services near you](https://pawtrace.ca/dog-services/).

### Coming back into Canada: the CFIA rules

The CFIA’s page for travellers says you need the right paperwork at the border and that without it your animal may not be allowed into Canada. Its tool for personal pet dogs gives these requirements.

| Dog’s age at arrival | Travelling with the owner | Travelling without the owner

| Under 3 months | Proof of the dog’s age from a veterinarian. The dog must appear healthy and meet humane transportation requirements. | Proof of age plus a valid Veterinary Certificate of Health. For the certificate, a licensed vet in the country of origin must examine the dog within the 72 hours before import.

| 3 months to under 8 months | A valid rabies vaccination certificate (or, from a rabies-free country, a Rabies Country-Freedom Certificate). The dog must appear healthy and meet humane transportation requirements. | The same rabies proof plus a valid Veterinary Certificate of Health.

| 8 months or older | A valid rabies vaccination certificate or, from a rabies-free country, a Rabies Country-Freedom Certificate. | The same rabies proof as for a dog travelling with its owner. At this age the tool does not ask whether the owner travels with the dog.

Source: CFIA, Bringing animals to Canada: importing and travelling with pets (page dated July 22 2024).

The CFIA lists these rabies-free countries in its tool: Australia, Fiji, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). A Country-Freedom Certificate must say the dog has been in the exporting country since birth or for at least 6 months, and that rabies has not occurred there in the last 6 months. The tool treats dogs from the United States and Mexico under the rabies vaccination requirement, not the rabies-free list.

#### What the rabies certificate must show

- The dog was at least 3 months old when vaccinated.

- It is written in English or French, or comes with an official translation.

- A licensed veterinarian issued and signed it.

- It identifies the dog (age, breed, sex, colour or markings, weight, and microchip or tattoo number if applicable) and the owner.

- It states the dog is vaccinated against rabies and gives the date.

- It gives the trade name and serial number of the licensed rabies vaccine.

- It states how long the vaccination is valid. If it does not, the CFIA treats it as valid for 1 year from the date of vaccination.

- It carries the vet’s name and signature and the date it was signed, and every word is legible.

The CFIA accepts a European Union pet passport in place of the certificate if it carries all of these elements. If a personal pet does not meet the rabies requirement, the CFIA says the owner must, at their own expense, have the dog vaccinated within a specified period and present the record to a CFIA Animal Health Office. A documented medical reason can support a written exemption request. The CFIA says it is not enough to state that the dog is too old.

Check the certificate before you leave home. A missing microchip number or an expired validity period is the kind of gap that causes trouble at the border. Your vet can fix it in the clinic. The [vaccination schedule for Canadian puppies](https://pawtrace.ca/vaccination-schedule-for-canadian-puppies/) shows when a puppy’s rabies dose is due.

#### Puppies and dogs bought abroad

Rules for personal pets differ from rules for commercial dogs. The CFIA defines commercial dogs as dogs brought to Canada to be given to someone else, resold, bred, shown, adopted, fostered or used in research. Since September 28 2022 the CFIA has prohibited the entry of commercial dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies, until further notice. For dogs under 8 months old brought in for breeding or resale, including adoption, the CFIA has required since May 15 2021 an import permit applied for through My CFIA, an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination no earlier than 3 months of age with a 28-day wait, and treatment for internal and external parasites before export. Dogs must be at least 16 weeks old at export. The CFIA also warns buyers that offers to ship a puppy instead of letting you visit are a red flag. Read [buying a puppy online safely](https://pawtrace.ca/buying-a-puppy-online-safely/) before you pay for a dog you have not met.

### Flying to the United States (U.S. rules)

The CDC’s page for dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries says that, starting August 1 2024, the only required documentation is the CDC Dog Import Form, one for each dog. The page states that any country not on the CDC’s high-risk list is treated as rabies-free or low-risk, and it refers to dogs that travel between the U.S. and Canada. The CDC’s frequently asked questions page (updated August 27 2026) says a dog that has not been outside Canada, Mexico and the U.S. needs only the online form, and that the form is valid for multiple entries for six months as long as the country of departure does not change, so a dog travelling often between Canada and the U.S. can reuse it.

| Requirement (U.S.) | What the CDC says

| Form | The CDC Dog Import Form receipt must accompany the dog, each dog on its own form. The dog can enter at any airport, seaport or land border crossing.

| Age | At least 6 months old at the time of entry or return to the U.S.

| Microchip | A microchip that a universal scanner can detect.

| Health | The dog must appear healthy on arrival.

| Time in high-risk countries | A dog that has been in a country the CDC lists as high risk for dog rabies in the previous 6 months falls under different CDC requirements.

Source: CDC, importation pages for dogs (U.S.), checked October 23 2026. Use the CDC Dog Importation Navigator before every trip.

### Other countries

The CFIA’s export page says requirements vary by country and can change, and that errors or delays can make a dog ineligible to travel. Allow time for any tests, vaccinations or treatments, and book a CFIA appointment for endorsement as early as you can. The CFIA cannot endorse a certificate after the animal has left the country. If no negotiated certificate exists for your destination, the Canadian International Health Certificate may be used, but only if the destination’s import requirements can be met. Confirm that with your local CFIA animal health office, because negotiating a new certificate can take several months. We found no Canadian source that sets a standard lead time for every country, so start with the destination’s own rules.

### A checklist for the weeks before the flight

- Ask your vet whether your dog is fit to fly, and what tests, vaccines or treatments your destination requires.

- Read the destination’s import rules and, for any country except the U.S. and Canada, the CFIA export page. Note every deadline.

- Read your airline’s pet page. Register the dog with the airline, and confirm cabin space or hold acceptance in writing.

- Buy a carrier that meets the airline’s rules and IATA’s sizing. Let your dog get used to it before the trip. [Crate training without tears](https://pawtrace.ca/crate-training-without-tears/) shows how.

- Check the rabies certificate against the CFIA list above. If you travel with a certified assistance dog, the CFIA’s personal pet tool has a separate path for it. Check the microchip number matches.

- For the U.S., complete the CDC Dog Import Form online and keep the receipt.

- Reconfirm with the airline at least 48 hours before departure, as IATA advises. With a service dog, give notice at least 48 hours before departure and carry the dog’s identification card or training document.

- Print every document and keep digital copies. Carry them in your hand luggage, not in checked baggage.

The CFIA says it is your responsibility to make sure all information is accurate before you travel. Keeping records in one place helps. A PawTrace passport carries your dog’s records and can be shown to your vet. For the border, carry the signed certificate your vet issued.

### Moving to Ottawa or another Ontario city with a dog

After you land, local rules apply. Ottawa’s Animal Care and Control By-law (No. 2003-77) limits a dwelling to three dogs, with listed exceptions (section 50). The City’s dog licence fee for an unsterilized dog six months or older is $42. Check ottawa.ca for the fee that applies to your dog. Other Ontario cities have their own by-laws. The [new puppy hub](https://pawtrace.ca/new-puppy/) collects the first steps for a dog that is new to your home.

### Myth vs fact

| Myth | Fact

| A pet passport lets my dog fly anywhere. | There is no single pet passport for travel from Canada. The CFIA says that in most cases you need an export certificate for the destination, endorsed by a CFIA veterinarian. The CFIA accepts a European Union pet passport only as an alternative rabies certificate when it carries every required element.

| A puppy of any age can fly to the U.S. | The CDC says dogs must be at least 6 months old at entry or return (U.S.).

| If the airline accepts my dog, the border rules do not matter. | The airline’s rules and the government’s rules are separate. The CFIA says a dog that does not meet the requirements at the border may be ordered removed from Canada.

| A sedative makes the flight easier. | IATA recommends not sedating pets in transit. If a vet says sedation is medically necessary, the vet directs it and notes it on the health certificate.

| The same fees apply on every airline. | Airlines set their own fees, carrier sizes and weather limits. Read the page of the airline you will fly.

| My emotional support animal flies free like a service dog. | The Canadian regulations on service dogs cover service dogs only. A 2023 CTA decision says carriers are only required to accommodate dogs as emotional support animals, and only under conditions that include documents 96 hours ahead and a carrier under the seat. Airline policies differ: Air Canada and Porter accept only dogs, under their own conditions, and WestJet says it does not accept emotional support animals in any cabin.

| An owner-trained service dog needs no paperwork. | Federal rules let a carrier ask for a declaration and a document from the organization or person that trained the dog. Air Canada says many customers with owner-trained dogs had no official way to confirm their training for its flights, which is why it set up Cabin-Ready Canines.

### Frequently asked questions

Does my dog need a passport to fly from Canada?

Canada has no single pet passport for travel. You need what your airline and the destination require, in most cases an export certificate issued by a licensed vet and endorsed by a CFIA veterinarian. For the U.S. (U.S. rules), you need the CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip and a dog that is at least 6 months old. Coming home, you need what the CFIA asks for your dog’s age and origin.

Can a puppy under 6 months old fly to the U.S.?

Not under the CDC’s current rules (U.S.). The CDC page for dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries says dogs must be at least 6 months old at entry or return.

Can my dog fly in the cabin with me?

Some airlines allow a small dog in a soft-sided carrier under the seat for a fee. Space is limited per flight and seat rules apply, so register your dog with the airline. IATA says only small dogs and cats can travel in the cabin.

What does my dog’s rabies certificate need to show to re-enter Canada?

The CFIA lists a signed certificate from a licensed vet that identifies the dog and owner, states the vaccination date and the vaccine’s trade name and serial number, and shows a validity period. The dog must have been at least 3 months old when vaccinated. The certificate must be in English or French, or come with an official translation.

Can I fly a flat-faced dog in the hold?

The airline page checked here does not accept short-nosed breeds in the baggage compartment. The CFIA says these breeds are more prone to respiratory issues in travel. Ask your vet before you book, and consider driving or a pet sitter for short trips.

Is driving a better option?

For many trips it lets your dog stay with you. The CFIA tells owners to restrain a pet in a vehicle with a carrier secured by a seatbelt or a harness attached to a seatbelt, never to let pets roam in the back of a pick-up truck, and never to leave a pet in a parked vehicle without ventilation, and then only for very short periods. The CDC form and CFIA rules still apply at a land border.

How far ahead should I start?

The CFIA says some requirements must be completed within specific timeframes and that negotiating a new export certificate can take several months. Start as soon as you know the destination, and ask your vet which deadlines apply to your dog.

Can I take my service dog on a flight in Canada?

Yes. Under the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations, a carrier must accept a service dog on request and let it travel on board. Give the carrier at least 48 hours’ notice, expect to provide a declaration at booking and an identification card or document from the organization or person that trained the dog, and ask about floor space.

Does my owner-trained service dog need certification to fly Air Canada?

Air Canada accepts dogs individually trained by an organization or person specializing in service dog training, and certifications issued by the Alberta, British Columbia and Nova Scotia governments. For other owner-trained dogs in Ontario and Quebec, its Cabin-Ready Canines path, announced June 2 2026, uses an independent assessor named by Air Canada. A fee applies and the amount is not stated. A pass is valid for two years. Dogs with provincial certification or ADI or IGDF training are exempt.

Is a service dog free on WestJet and Porter?

WestJet’s page lists no fee for a service dog, and Porter says certified and psychiatric service dogs travel without charge. Extra floor space is free on domestic flights, but both airlines say you may need to buy a second seat on flights outside Canada. Read each airline’s page before you book.

Can an emotional support animal fly in the cabin in Canada?

The federal service dog regulations do not cover emotional support animals. A 2023 CTA decision says carriers are only required to accommodate dogs, and only if the dog fits in a carrier under the seat and the person provides a professional’s proof and a veterinary certificate at least 96 hours ahead. Air Canada and Porter accept only dogs, under their own conditions, and Porter charges pet fees in some cases. WestJet says it does not accept them in any cabin. Check your airline before you book.

What does my service dog need to enter the United States (U.S.)?

The CDC says service dogs must meet the same requirements as all other dogs: the CDC Dog Import Form, a microchip and an age of at least 6 months. Airlines may also require U.S. DOT forms. Air Canada’s Cabin-Ready Canines path does not cover U.S. travel.

Last reviewed October 23 2026. General information, not legal or veterinary advice. Rules change, so check the CFIA, the CDC and your airline before every trip.

### Keep reading

- [Crate training without tears](https://pawtrace.ca/crate-training-without-tears/)

- [Vaccination schedule for Canadian puppies](https://pawtrace.ca/vaccination-schedule-for-canadian-puppies/)

- [Choosing a vet and what the first visit covers](https://pawtrace.ca/choosing-a-vet-and-what-the-first-visit-covers/)

- [Senior dogs: what changes after age seven](https://pawtrace.ca/senior-dogs-what-changes-after-age-seven/)

- [Buying a puppy online safely](https://pawtrace.ca/buying-a-puppy-online-safely/)

### Sources

- [CFIA: Bringing animals to Canada: importing and travelling with pets (includes the personal pet dog tool; page dated July 22 2024)](https://inspection.canada.ca/en/importing-food-plants-animals/pets) (checked October 23 2026)

- [CFIA: Travelling with your dog (page dated January 9 2026)](https://inspection.canada.ca/en/travelling-pets-food-plants/travelling-pets/dog-travel) (checked October 23 2026)

- [CFIA: Transporting pets (page dated January 15 2026)](https://inspection.canada.ca/en/importing-food-plants-animals/pets/transporting-pets) (checked October 23 2026)

- [CFIA: Pets (dogs, cats and ferrets): export certificates (page dated March 31 2025)](https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/exports/pets) (checked October 23 2026)

- [CFIA: Fact sheet, import requirements for commercial dogs less than 8 months of age](https://inspection.canada.ca/en/importing-food-plants-animals/pets/dogs/commercial-imports-8-months/fact-sheet) (checked October 23 2026)

- [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: dogs from rabies-free or low-risk countries (U.S.)](https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/rabies-free-low-risk-countries.html) (checked October 23 2026)

- [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: dog importation FAQs (U.S., updated August 27 2026)](https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/faqs.html) (checked October 23 2026)

- [International Air Transport Association: travelling with pets](https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/live-animals/pets/) (checked October 23 2026)

- [Canadian Veterinary Medical Association: transport of dogs and cats (position statement, May 16 2024)](https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/policy-and-outreach/position-statements/statements/transport-of-dogs-and-cats/) (checked October 23 2026)

- [Air Canada: travelling with pets (one airline’s published rules and fees)](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/special-assistance/pets.html) (checked October 23 2026)

- [CFIA: Ask questions before you buy or adopt a dog](https://inspection.canada.ca/en/importing-food-plants-animals/pets/ask-questions-you-get-dog) (checked October 23 2026)

- [Justice Laws: Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations, SOR/2019-244 (current to September 30 2026)](https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2019-244/FullText.html) (checked October 23 2026)

- [Canadian Transportation Agency: your rights when travelling with a service dog](https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/content/cta-101-your-rights-when-travelling-a-service-dog) (checked October 23 2026)

- [Canadian Transportation Agency: final decision on travelling with emotional support animals (June 23 2023)](https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/content/canadian-transportation-agency-issues-final-decision-about-travelling-emotional-support) (checked October 23 2026)

- [Air Canada: service and emotional support dogs, including Cabin-Ready Canines](https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/plan/accessibility/service-emotional-support-dogs.html) (checked October 23 2026); Cabin-Ready Canines details from the Air Canada news release of June 2 2026 on aircanada.com (checked October 23 2026)

- [Canadian Transportation Agency: Decision No. 105-AT-C-A-2023 (emotional support animals, June 23 2023)](https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/ruling/105-at-c-a-2023) (checked October 23 2026)

- [WestJet: service dogs](https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/accessible-travel/service-dogs) (checked October 23 2026)

- [Porter Airlines: travelling with a service dog](https://www.flyporter.com/en-us/travel-information/disability-assistance/service-animals) (checked October 23 2026)

- [U.S. Department of Transportation: service animals (U.S., last updated September 25 2025)](https://www.transportation.gov/resources/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/service-animals) (checked October 23 2026)

- [U.S. Department of Transportation: Service Animal Air Transportation Form (U.S., updated September 2024)](https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/aviation-consumer-protection/service-animals/Air_Transportation_Form) (checked October 23 2026)

- [Canadian Transportation Agency: travelling with a service animal](https://otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/service-animals) (checked October 23 2026)

- [City of Ottawa: Animal Care and Control By-law No. 2003-77](https://ottawa.ca/en/animal-care-and-control-law-no-2003-77) (checked October 23 2026)