Bringing a dog into Canada
One of the biggest setbacks is having trouble with leaving your dog at home when travelling. But that should not be a problem. This article will help you learn all about crossing the Canadian border with a dog and all about the e-Visa permit, eTa Canada.
You can bring your dog with you to most countries as long as you meet their requirements. If you are planning to go to Canada with your dog, you need to know that some breeds are banned from entering.
You will need a health certificate and a pet carrier bag if you’re travelling by plane.
The cities of Ontario and Winnipeg ban some breeds and their crosses. They may enter the airport, but not go into the city.
The city of Ontario bans the following breeds:
1. American Pit Bull
2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
3. American Staffordshire Terrier
4. American Bulldog
5. American Mastiff
Fortunately, the city of Winnipeg bans only 3 breeds:
1. American Pit Bull Terrier
2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
3. American Staffordshire Terrier
Service dogs are exempts from the ban and health certificate. You only need to prove that it is a service animal and that you are the owner.
Rabies vaccines
If your dog is older than 3 months, you need to have a health certificate issued by a veterinarian. The certificate needs to state that your dog has been vaccinated against rabies. The certificate must be either in English or French. However, there are some countries that Canada considers free from rabies.
Some of them are:
1. The United Kingdom
2. New Zealand
3. Australia
4. Japan
Travelling by car
If you are traveling by car, chances are the border agent will ask you if your dog is vaccinated when you arrive at the Canadian border, but won’t check the certificate. Just to be sure, always have the certificate with you when crossing the border.
Travelling by plane
If you’re arriving by plane then you also need to research the airline’s requirements for travelling with a dog. The basics are to have them in a pet carrier bag at all times. Most airlines let you have your dog with you in the cabin as long as they’re small enough to fit under your seat. But if it’s not a small dog or the flight is very long it’ll need to fly with the cargo.
Every airline has different requirements and restrictions, so make sure to research properly. Also, the fees will vary depending on the airline and the size of your dog.
ETA to Canada
ETA to Canada is an electronic visa permit that allows travellers to cross the Canadian border. ETA to Canada is valid for 5 years from the issuing date or until your passport expires. It is a multiple-entry visa that allows numerous visits in Canada during the validity period. However, each stay cannot exceed 6 months at a time.
It is an obligatory document to have when travelling by plane to Canada. The application process can be completed entirely from home and won’t take longer than 15 minutes to complete.
E-Visa to Canada costs 49 Euro and doesn’t have to be renewed for the next 5 years. However, if your passport expires so does eTA. So make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months ahead of the trip.
Fill an online application form, provide your data and all the necessary information. Pay the handling visa fee using any method of online payment available and check your e-mail address.
ETA links directly with your passport, customs official scan the biometric page of your document to check your permit.
Arriving in Canada
When you arrive at the Canadian airport, your dog will be inspected by an agent. This is obligatory and costs $30. However, dogs from the United States are exempt from this inspection.
Also, make sure your dog is healthy because if an agent believes your dog is sick, you will be required to pay for a medical examination.
That’s all. As you can see, it’s not impossible to travel with your dog, just make sure you meet the requirements to avoid any issues.
