I'm struggling a little to get a straight answer on this...we are moving to Toronto after Christmas and will be bringing our dog with us. She will be on a flight a couple of days after us. I'm planning to use air transat from Glasgow to Toronto, I will get her vaccinations updated and her rabies shot which I understand is not mandatory but recommended given the UK is rabies free. Is this the health certificate? I have also read about getting a "fit to fly" letter which needs to be issued within 72 hours of the flight but is this an airline requirement and mandatory? the air transat site does not mention this at all and just states that the dog should "appear healthy". The issue i am potentially going to have is that if we need this with 72 hours of flying the vet will be closed as it is new years. Any help appreciated and any experience using AT to send their dog would be great!

The best I can do is point you to these 2 x official websites and you should get your answer

Govt of Canada website

https://inspection.canada.ca/en/impo...s-animals/pets

Air Transat

https://www.airtransat.com/en-CA/tra...d-service-dogs

Yeah, been on both of these. No mention of "fit to fly" within 72 hours and only health certificate. I will inquire with AT when I call to book her on.

Surely whoever you’re using to transport her will sort this? The company we used had their own vet at Heathrow kennels and they did the fit to fly certification for us.

I'm not using a pet transport company - We will put her on the flight ourselves. None of the companies I contacted will fly her directly from Glasgow and charge around £3000 to have her go from heathrow compared to £200 if I do it myself. This is what it says on the Air Transat site: To Canada: From non-rabies free countries dogs and cats may enter Canada if accompanied by valid health certificate issued in either English or French, by a licensed veterinarian, clearly identifying the animal and showing that they are currently vaccinated against rabies. The certificate should indicate the type of rabies vaccine used, date administered and expiry date (if validity date does not appear on certificate, it will be considered a 1year vaccine).
From rabies-free countries (as recognized by Canada) Dogs and cats may enter Canada if accompanied by a valid health certificate, in either English or French, of an official government veterinarian clearly identifying the animal and showing that rabies has not existed in that country for the 6 month period immediately preceding shipment of the animal, and that the animal has been in that country for the 6 months preceding import or since birth.

Oh, I assumed you were as you said she's following on. So who's putting her on the flight? They'll need to take her to a vets and get the health cert done.

Also, the £200 does that include everything? Seems to be a lot less than I remember, have you included all the inspection/border fees for when she arrives in Canada?

Good luck.

There's a good post here: Travelling from UK to Canada with pets

https://www.gov.uk/export-health-cer...rtificate-2923 details the 'health certificate' required by UK Govt. Looking at the example it shows it must be done within 72 hours of the flight.





https://inspection.canada.ca/en/impo...s-animals/pets

You might also want to check that Air Transat will ship a dog as Cargo in January when the temperatures will be very low.
https://www.pettravel.com/informatio...rgo-transport/

Edited to add - don't forget to add your dog to your "goods to follow" list and get it stamped when you arrive.

I have a family member who is going to put her on, a vet is coming out the day before to do the export health certificate and fit to fly. The £200 is what air transat charges according to their website, there is something like $30 to pay at customs.

We did this a few years back, and Air Transat are the good cheap way to do it A few thoughts...
1. Attach a tracker to the cage (a cheap MiLi is good enough if you're not a rich Samsung/Apple user).
2. Remind the plane staff that you've got a pet in the hold (they should reassure you that the heat is on!).
3. If the cage is fairly large, bring a little rope with you - if need be, two trolleys can be tied together at opportune moments.
Hope it goes well.

Why do I need to put the dog on my goods to follow? Wouldn't that be covered by the customs clearance at the airport? How would I even list her and assign a value on the goods to follow list?

Because the dog is not accompanying you on the same flight.

In your original post you state you are moving to Toronto. Are you returning as a former resident I.e one of you has lived in Canada before, moving to become permanent residents of Canada or moving temporarily on a work/study permit?

See this link

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-v...c-drc-eng.html

Essentially you supply CBSA with a list of goods you will physically have in your possession on arrival and a list of goods that will arrive at a later date.

Simply list it as a dog (description and age) and what you paid for it.

Don’t overthink this.

Yes - we are returning citizens/PRs. Been away for 2.5 years.

What Former Lancastrian said.


You will need to complete 2 separate copies of the form; one with goods accompanying you and one with goods to follow - including the dog. Don't forget to get them stamped when you enter Canada.
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicat...f186a-eng.html