EXPORTING CATS AND DOGS TO CANADA
It’s really a rather simple process to export your pet from Taiwan to Canada. Taiwan is considered rabies-free, so there is currently no quarantine for dogs and cats entering Canada.
The following guidelines apply to all of Taiwan but the office locations will differ depending on which city you live in. Here is the step-by-step:
AIRLINES:
1. Before you reserve your flight, ensure that the airline will carry animals. Some airlines do not carry any animals, some airlines do not carry brachycephalic (snub-nosed) animals, and some airlines don’t carry animals during certain times of the year. Do your research online first, and then call the airline with your dates of preferred travel to confirm their pet policy.
2. Try to avoid flights with stopovers. If there will be a stopover, you need to know where and for how long. Some countries require a transit permit, while other countries will quarantine animals in transit. You should try to avoid stopovers as it prolongs the travel time while your pet is in cargo.
3. Ask if your pet can travel in the cabin of the plane or if it must be sent as extra baggage. Only animals that are small enough to fit under the seat in their crate will be permitted into the cabin on some airlines.
4. Ask what the airline requirements are for the pet and crate such as size or weight restrictions. Most airlines have no international weight limit for pets, but if you are continuing on within Canada you will need to check with your domestic flight carrier to find out the weight restrictions.
5. After you buy the pet’s crate, you will need to contact the airline to officially reserve a pet space. The airline needs to know the dimensions of the crate (length, height, width) and the combined weight of the crate and the pet.
6. Reconfirm yours and your pet’s reservation with the airline once or twice the week before you fly. This should be in addition to confirming with your travel agent. If the airline doesn’t have a confirmation record it’s a good idea to call the headquarters of the airline company.
VACCINATIONS and MICROCHIP:
1. After you have made arrangements with the airline, make sure that your pet's last rabies vaccination was given less than 11 months prior to departure. We suggest that you get ALL vaccinations updated 35 days prior to departure. And if your pet doesn't have a microchip, it will need to get one.
2. If your pet is 3 months of age or younger, it is not required to have rabies vaccinations. IMPORTANT: If your pet does have rabies vaccinations, it must have the vaccinations at least 30 days prior to departure. (*** although the 30 day wait is not a requirement for entrance into Canada, it is a requirement to get your pet out of Taiwan – plan this carefully!)
3. On the 7th day prior to your departure, take your pet to a licensed vet clinic. You need to ask the vet to do a quick exam of the pet and fill in one Vaccination Certificate for each pet. See here for CFIA import requirements: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/petanie.shtml
QUARANTINE OFFICE:
1. On the 7th day prior to your departure, go to Bureau of Animals and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine. Kaohsiung location is 31 Haibian Road, 4th floor, #2 Application and Issuance of Animal and Plant Health Certificates.
2. Make sure to bring along your passport, visitors/work visa/ARC and airline ticket, as well as the pet’s rabies certificate/ vaccination book to the office. It’s not necessary to bring the pet’s crate.
3. Here they will have a quick look at your pet and scan it for a microchip.
4. They sign the appropriate form called “Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine – Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, ROC – Veterinary Certificate” which you take to the airline counter. Don’t fold the papers! You must carefully proofread the papers to ensure everything is spelled correctly and dates are correct. MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO TYPOS OR YOUR PET WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TRAVEL WITH YOU. This office has made mistakes in the past.
AT THE AIRPORT:
The process at the airport is very easy.
1. Go to the airline check-in counter to check yourself in. You will then be directed to the airline information counter where you will pay the fee for your pet. Then you will return to the check-in counter to present your receipt and then you’ll be informed as to when you can check in your pet. Remember to put the quarantine tag on the pet crate.
2. When you are boarding each flight, remind the pilot/ cabin crew that you have a pet in the cargo hold.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Give your pet some time, a few weeks prior to departure, to get used to the crate and using the water bottle. Don’t use a water dish in the crate as the water will spill during the flight.
2. We recommend that you purchase a medium weight pet coat to keep your pet comfortably warm on its journey.
3. Also recommended is to lay down absorbent nappies (can purchase at pet stores and pharmacies) so your pet does not lie in its urine. If there are different segments of flights, it’s recommended that you lay down several nappies, and take extras, for each segment of the flight.
4. Don’t feed your pet less than 4 hours prior to departure. There are good chances that your pet will get sick if it has any food in its stomach.
AT THE AIRPORT IN CANADA:
1. When you arrive at the airport in Canada you will pass through customs where you show a card (given to you in the airplane) filled out with what you have to claim (tobacco, liquor, animals, etc.).
2. Next, you go to baggage claim to get your baggage and to special baggage claim to get your pet.
3. Then take your pet and all the pet’s documents to the Canada Border Services Agency/ Agriculture Center (someone will point you in the right direction) to get the forms checked and pay an inspection fee (http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/feefrae.shtml). Now you are good to go. If you are on a connecting flight, you can ask for assistance transporting your pet to the domestic terminal.
4. If you have a long layover, check with airport information about where you can securely feed your pet and walk your dog. Some airports have dog parks nearby. Allow yourself plenty of time to get your pet, soothe your pet, change its soiled bedding and get to the proper areas in the airport for your domestic/ connecting flight.
* Read the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Pet Import Guidelines carefully: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/petanie.shtml
* Read CFIA Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Importation of Domestic Cats: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/felqueste.shtml
* Read CFIA Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Importation of Domestic Dogs: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/imp/petani/canqueste.shtml
Are you flying via Hong Kong? Read about transit requirements here: http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/quarantine/qua_ie/qua_ie_ipab/qua_ie_ipab_idc/qua_ie_ipab_idc.html
Are you flying via Korea? Read about transit requirements here: http://www.nvrqs.go.kr/eng/rese_quarantine_02.asp?pageNumber=3-0
Are you flying via the USA? Read about their import requirements here: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/animals/animal_import/animal_imports_pets.shtml
AIRLINE PET POLICIES
China Airlines Pet Policy: http://www.china-airlines.com/en/check/check_ba3-1.htm
Eva Airways Pet Policy: http://www.evaair.com/html/b2c/english/tips/Airport_service/Baggage/#a9
Japan Airlines Pet Policy: http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/service/pet/
Air Canada Pet Policy: http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/pets-in-baggage.html
WestJet Pet Policy: http://www.westjet.com/guest/en/travel/special-arrangements/pets.shtml
For useful information on pet immigration/ transit regulations for other countries and airline regulations: www.pettravel.com
