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Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
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Canada

Last Modified: Apr 8, 2021
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IRegs for LIVE Animals

Notice: If you have any questions or concerns regarding the procedures and requirements for exporting animals, you should contact the VS Field Office covering the area from which the animal will be exported, the area in which your office is located.

This country allows USDA Accredited Veterinarians to use USDA’s online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) to complete some health certificates.

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USDA Accredited Veterinarian Signature Electronic Signature Accepted
USDA APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer Signature Digital endorsement varies by species — see below for more information
The health certificate either bears the original ink signature and embossed seal or digital signature/seal
Before going to VEHCS: Scroll below this banner to view animal-specific requirements.

To process some health certificates, VEHCS may need the USDA Accredited Veterinarian to upload the completed fillable PDF version found below. Either save a copy of the PDF below, or return to this page for the health certificate, if prompted by VEHCS.
USDA Accredited Veterinarians, log in here if you wish to use VEHCS.
USDA Accredited Veterinarians, help with using VEHCS is available on the VEHCS Help Page. To walk yourself through issuing a health certificate in VEHCS, click here.
NOTE: The printed paper endorsed health certificate must accompany each shipment. For digitally endorsed health certificates, USDA Accredited Veterinarians can print the health certificate from VEHCS once it is endorsed. For non-digitally endorsed health certificates, you can arrange to have your endorsed health certificate returned via pick-up or by mail (a pre-paid, pre-addressed return label must be provided during certificate submission).

For all commodities other than Aquaculture / Aquatic Animals* to Canada, USDA Accredited Veterinarians may issue health certificates electronically through the online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS).  These certificates will be digitally endorsed by APHIS once received in the system and available for printing by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian once the endorsement is completed by APHIS.

NOTE: An APHIS-endorsed, printed paper copy must accompany the shipment.

*Health certificates for all Aquaculture / Aquatic Animals may be submitted by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian through VEHCS; however, the APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer's ink (wet) signature with the application of the APHIS embossed seal must appear on the health certificate.  To accomplish this, aquatic certificates received by APHIS through the VEHCS system will be printed and endorsed in our offices, and the hard copy will be returned when complete.  This APHIS-endorsed paper copy must accompany the shipment. 

Equine

 USDA Health Certificate options:

PLEASE NOTE: When submitting certificates for live horses (non-slaughter) to Canada through VEHCS, please select the intended use of breeding/rearing OR competition/racing.  The breeding/rearing option includes all horses traveling as personal pets, for recreation, etc., regardless of intention for use as a breeding animal. 

Note: There are only TWO classifications of U.S. origin live horses destined for Canada:

  1. Breeding/Rearing/Competition/Racing - This option includes all horses entering Canada for purposes other than slaughter.  All horses traveling as personal pets, for recreation, etc. are included in this option, regardless of intention for use as a breeding animal.

Note: In addition to the fillable form and online submission, Canada will also accept both the VS Form 17-145 and VS Form 17-140 (these forms require an addendum to include all necessary statements for Canada) for shipments.

For Canadian horses returning to Canada on a Canadian health certificate, a supplemental certification document will be provided by the CFIA endorsing office when advised of intended return.  The supplemental certification will need to be attached to the Canadian health certificate after completion and endorsed by USDA before return of the horse(s) to Canada. Canadian horses returning to Canada exported to the United States for exhibition or pleasure purposes require an Owner's Declaration included in the supplemental certification.  The Owner's Declaration does not need to be endorsed by USDA.

For information about U.S. horses transiting to/from Alaska from the lower 48, including horses transiting through Canada, click here.  CAUTION: Before you depart the United States and enter Canada, please make sure that your certificate will still be valid upon entry into Alaska or reentry into the lower 48 states.  The certificate is valid 30 days after the date of inspection (Box. 14 on Page 1 of the model certificate for export) for export by the accredited veterinarian.​

Addendum to Health Certificate for Temporary Export of Horses to the European Union Intended for Re-Export to Canada in Less Than 60 Days - April 2017  

      2.  Slaughter

Note: In addition to the fillable form, Canada will also accept both the VS Form 17-145 and VS Form 17-140 (these forms require an addendum to include all necessary statements for Canada) for shipments.

Effective January 31, 2010, Canada published new requirements and information for equine owners for equines intended to slaughter.

An Equine Certification Document signed by a Veterinarian accredited in the USA must accompany live equine imported from the USA for slaughter.  Click here for the Equine Certification Document.  Effective January 1, 2012, all shipments of feeder and slaughter horses entering Canada from the United States by ground transportation will be required to proceed through designated ports of entry.  Shipments will only be accepted during the CFIA's regular hours of operation.  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is implementing the new measures to verify that horses are being humanely transported in accordance with the Health of Animals Regulation.   

Designated Border Ports of Entry for Feeder and Slaughter Horses Entering Canada from the United States can be found at: http://inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/trans/20111031inde.shtml 

Other Equine Certificates 

Cattle

Sheep and Goats

Other Ruminants  

Swine

Poultry

Note: Includes fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls

Note: Includes fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls

Note: If a protocol listed above requires an APHIS VS Form 17-6, this can be accessed here.

Birds (non-Poultry)

Note: If a protocol listed above requires an APHIS VS Form 17-6, this can be accessed here.

Other Animals

Aquaculture / Aquatic Animals

Export Restrictions for New Mexico, California, Florida, and Texas

Note: Effective December 2019, Canada has placed a ban on all shipments of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) from the state of New Mexico which are susceptible to Infectious Hypodermal and Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV).

Note: Effective November 2019, Canada has placed a ban on all shipments of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) from the state of California which are susceptible to Infectious Hypodermal and Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV).

Note: Effective June 2019, Canada has placed a ban on all shipments of live crustaceans from the states of Florida and Texas which are susceptible to Infectious Hypodermal and Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV).  This includes, but is not limited to: blue shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris), brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus), brown tiger prawn (Penaeus esculentus), giant tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon), greasyback shrimp (Metapenaeus ensis), northern white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus), whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), and yellowleg shrimp (Farfantepenaeus californiensis).  To verify if crustaceans originating from Florida and Texas are susceptible to IHHNV, and are impacted by this ban, please check CFIA regulated species and the diseases they are susceptible to.

Guidance Documents

Note: How to Meet the Requirements for Export of Aquatic Animals from the United States to Canada

Note: Disease and Testing Information:                          

Aquatic Animals and Germplasm - Culture           

Note: Instructions for Aquatic Animals and Germplasm for Culture Health Certificate - December 2012

Aquatic Animals and Germplasm - Research and Education

Aquatic Animals Intended for Zoo / Aquarium

Aquatic Animals Intended for Food Service, Retail, or Further Processing

Note: Instructions for Aquatic Animals Intended for Food Service, Retail Use, or Further Processing Health Certificates - April 2014

Note: Information for Live Marine Molluscan Shellfish - April 2014

Finfish

Koi Carp

Note: Instructions for Koi Health Certificate - March 2019

Note: Testing Information for Koi Health Certificate - March 2019

Ornamental Aquatic Animals

Note: Instructions for Live Ornamental Aquatic Animals Health Certificate - December 2012  

Note: Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) Instructions for Completing the Ornamental Aquatic Animal Health Certificate - March 2015  

Canada Import Permit Information

Phone number: 1-855-212-7695
Fax: 289-247-4068
Email: Permission@inspection.gc.ca

Pets

Visit the APHIS Pet Travel Website for information about exporting your pets.
For species not listed, the requirements are not known.  However, exporters wanting to ship livestock and/or germplasm, whose requirements are not listed above, should have the interested party (importer/buyer) in the country of destination apply for an Import Permit at the appropriate ministry.  This Import Permit will most likely outline the specific requirements.



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