VN
CA

Pet Transport from Vietnam to Canada: No Titre Test, MARD Certificate

Canada is one of the more accessible destinations for pet owners relocating from Vietnam. The CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) does not require a titre test or quarantine for personal pet …

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8-14
Weeks lead time needed
Start this early minimum
0
Days quarantine on arrival
Medium
Route complexity
4
Airlines on this route
Step by step

The Vietnam to Canada import process

01
At least 30 days before travel to ensure vaccination is current and valid.
Implant microchip and administer rabies vaccination in Vietnam.

Responsible: Vet in Vietnam

02
Within 10 days of departure from Vietnam.
Obtain official health certificate from MARD-authorised vet, countersigned by DAH.

Responsible: MARD-authorised official vet

03
6-8 weeks before departure to secure space.
Book cargo space on connecting flight to Canada (e.g. via Seoul, Taipei).

Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent

04
After health certificate is issued.
Fly to Canada via hub. CBSA inspection on arrival.

Responsible: Airline, CBSA

Requirements

Canada entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip
Microchip strongly recommended. Canada does not mandate microchipping for import, but it is required by most airlines and is standard practice.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required for dogs aged 3 months or older. Vaccination must have been given in Vietnam or another country recognised by the CFIA. Source: CFIA, inspection.gc.ca.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Canada does not require a titre test or quarantine period for personal pet imports from Vietnam. Source: CFIA, inspection.gc.ca.
Quarantine
No quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
Import permit
No import permit required for personal pet dogs and cats. The health certificate serves as the entry document.
Health certificate
Official health certificate in Canadian government-approved format, issued by a MARD-authorised official vet and countersigned by DAH. Presented to CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) on arrival.
Leaving Vietnam

Export requirements

Export permit
No separate export permit required for pet dogs and cats. MARD-endorsed health certificate is the export document. Departure from major international airports including Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Hanoi (HAN).
Health certificate
Official health certificate from a MARD-authorised official vet, countersigned by the Department of Animal Health (DAH). Issued within 10 days of departure. Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, cucthuy.gov.vn.
Costs

What this route typically costs

Rabies vaccination and microchip in Vietnam: approximately VND 500,000-2,000,000
MARD health certificate and DAH endorsement: approximately VND 500,000-1,500,000
Cargo fees Vietnam to Canada via hub: approximately CAD 800-2,500 depending on pet size and routing
Pet transport agent fee: CAD 300-800 if used
Realistic total: CAD 1,500-4,000

Critical points

No direct cargo flights operate between Vietnam and Canada. All routings involve at least one hub connection. Each leg must accept live animals: confirm with both carriers before booking.

CFIA does not require a titre test from Vietnam. This makes Vietnam-Canada considerably simpler than Vietnam-to-EU routes, which do require a titre test and 90-day wait.

The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of the Canadian arrival date and must be in a format accepted by the CFIA. A generic Vietnamese veterinary certificate is not sufficient.

Dogs aged 3 months or older must have a current rabies vaccination. Dogs under 3 months are subject to additional restrictions at Canadian entry.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

AirlineNotesType
Vietnam AirlinesVietnam Airlines connects HAN and SGN to Canadian cities via hub connections (typically Seoul ICN or other Asian hubs). No direct Vietnam-Canada cargo service. Advance booking and full documentation required.Cargo Only
Korean Air CargoVia Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Vancouver (YVR) or Toronto (YYZ). A common connecting option from Vietnam. Korean Air Cargo handles live animals. Documentation must be valid for both legs.Cargo Only
Air Canada CargoAir Canada Cargo accepts live animals into Canada. Does not operate its own direct services from Vietnam but can be part of a connecting arrangement with partner carriers.Cargo Only
EVA Air CargoVia Taipei Taoyuan (TPE) to Vancouver or Toronto. An option for owners departing from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN).Cargo Only

CFIA requirements: what Canada needs from Vietnam

Canada’s import requirements for personal pet dogs and cats from Vietnam are managed by the CFIA. The key requirements are: a current rabies vaccination (for dogs aged 3 months or older), and an official health certificate in the format required by Canada, issued by a MARD-authorised official vet in Vietnam and endorsed by the Department of Animal Health (DAH). The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of the Canadian arrival date. No titre test, no quarantine, no import permit for personal pets. Source: CFIA, inspection.gc.ca.

Dogs under 3 months old are subject to separate CFIA rules and may face additional restrictions. If you are travelling with a puppy, confirm the current CFIA rules for young dogs from Vietnam before making travel plans. Cats from Vietnam face no specific CFIA vaccination requirements, though a health certificate from the MARD-authorised vet is still required for airline acceptance and for CBSA at the border.

Routing from Vietnam to Canada: hub connections

No direct cargo services operate between Vietnam and Canada. The most common routing for live animals is via Seoul Incheon (ICN) using Korean Air Cargo or Vietnam Airlines connections, or via Taipei Taoyuan (TPE) with EVA Air. Both routes connect to Vancouver (YVR) or Toronto Pearson (YYZ), the two main entry points for live animal imports into Canada.

When booking a connecting route, confirm with each carrier individually that live animals are accepted on both legs of the journey. Transit documentation requirements vary at hub airports. A specialist pet transport agent with experience on this corridor can manage the carrier coordination and confirm that the documentation is valid for each leg. Allow 6-8 weeks lead time before departure to confirm cargo space and coordinate documentation.

Vietnam-Canada versus Vietnam-EU: a requirements comparison

For owners with flexibility over their destination, the difference between Canada and EU countries is worth understanding. Canada: no titre test required, no quarantine, current rabies vaccination and MARD health certificate are sufficient. Total preparation: 8-14 weeks. EU countries (Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain): Vietnam is not on the EU Annex II approved third-country list. FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory is required, blood draw at least 30 days after final vaccination, mandatory 90-day wait from the blood draw date. Total preparation: 20-28 weeks. Source: EU pet travel regulations, ec.europa.eu.

The titre test and 90-day wait add approximately 4-5 months to the EU process compared with Canada. For owners whose relocation to Europe is fixed, this is simply a planning requirement. For owners choosing between destinations, Canada’s shorter process is a practical advantage.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

No. Canada (CFIA) does not require a titre test for personal pet imports from Vietnam. A current rabies vaccination and an official health certificate are the key requirements. Source: CFIA, inspection.gc.ca.
No. There is no quarantine for compliant pets arriving in Canada from Vietnam. CBSA will inspect the documentation on arrival, but compliant pets are released without a holding period.
Allow 8-14 weeks total. Most of this time is for booking cargo space, completing vaccinations, and obtaining the MARD health certificate within the required 10-day window before Canadian arrival.
No. There are no direct cargo services from Vietnam to Canada. All routings require a hub connection, typically Seoul ICN via Korean Air or Taipei TPE via EVA Air. Confirm live animal acceptance on both legs before booking.
Canada: no titre test, no quarantine, total preparation 8-14 weeks. Germany (EU): titre test required, 90-day wait from blood draw, total preparation 20-28 weeks. Canada is considerably simpler in terms of documentation and timeline.
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