Australia → Canada

Personal pet dog only: it will live with its owner, who must be the importer and able to prove ownership obtained before entry. Otherwise it is a commercial import.

Dog 3 months or older at arrival: valid rabies vaccination certificate issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian, in English or French (CFIA's tool also accepts an official translation). It must identify the dog (age, breed, sex, colour/markings, weight, microchip/tattoo number if any) and the owner, give the vaccination date, vaccine trade name and serial number, and the validity period — if no validity is stated the vaccination counts as valid for 1 year. The dog must have been at least 3 months old when vaccinated and the vaccination must be current on arrival. No minimum wait after vaccination is stated. An EU pet passport is accepted if it contains all these elements.

Instead of a vaccination: Rabies Country-Freedom Certificate in English or French on official letterhead of the origin country's veterinary authority, issued and signed by an official veterinarian (or by a licensed vet designated by that authority and endorsed by an official veterinarian). It identifies the dog and states that the dog has lived in that country since birth or for at least the 6 months before export, and that rabies has not occurred there for at least 6 months before export. No validity period is stated.

Declare the pet to CBSA on arrival and present it with all documents at the first port of entry. Undeclared animals, including family pets, can be refused entry, confiscated or detained.

CBSA officers check the documents (rabies certificate valid, description matches the animal) and look at the pet. A healthy pet with correct papers that was transported humanely is released without the CFIA. A sick animal or a humane-transport problem is referred to a CFIA veterinarian (extra CFIA fees). A pet without a valid rabies certificate gets a Notice to Vaccinate: vaccinate within the deadline given (at most 14 days) and send proof to the CFIA; otherwise the CFIA typically orders the animal removed from Canada. Carry paper originals.