Puppy Import Rules for the US, Canada and Mexico

Important: Import rules change, sometimes with little notice. This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Before any puppy travels, confirm the current requirements directly with the official agency for the destination country, linked in each section below.

United States

Two federal agencies set the rules for a puppy coming into the US for sale: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS). Both apply at the same time.

CDC rules for all dogs (in effect since August 1, 2024)

• Minimum age: every dog must be at least 6 months old when it enters the US. This applies to all dogs, pets and puppies for sale alike.
• Microchip: the dog must have a microchip that can be read by a universal scanner.
• CDC Dog Import Form: each dog needs its own completed form and receipt. The form is free and is filled out online before travel.
• Health: the dog must appear healthy on arrival.

The CDC sorts countries by dog rabies risk. South Korea, Canada and Mexico are not on the CDC's list of high-risk countries for dog rabies, so a dog that has been only in those or other non-high-risk countries for the 6 months before arrival follows the simpler low-risk requirements above. A dog that has been in a high-risk country during those 6 months faces much stricter rules. The list can change, so check it before travel. See the CDC's Bringing a Dog into the U.S., the low-risk country requirements and the high-risk country list.

USDA APHIS rules for dogs imported for resale or adoption

Dogs brought into the US to be sold, including fee-based adoption, are covered by the Animal Welfare Act. APHIS requires:

• Minimum age: at least 6 months (180 days) old on arrival.
• Rabies vaccination: given by a licensed veterinarian when the puppy was at least 84 days (12 weeks) old, at least 30 days before entry, and still current on arrival.
• Other vaccinations: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza (DHLPP) within the 12 months before entry.
• Health certificate: in English, signed by a licensed veterinarian in the exporting country, stating the dog is healthy and free of infectious disease and internal and external parasites.
• Import permit: an APHIS Animal Care import permit, applied for through APHIS eFile at least 5 business days before arrival.

Some shipments carry extra USDA conditions. Dogs from Mexico need a certificate showing they were inspected for New World screwworm within 5 days before shipment and found free of it. Dogs for resale from regions APHIS considers affected by African swine fever must also meet bedding, microchip and bathing conditions under a 2021 federal order. See APHIS's Commercial Dog Import page and its dog import page for the screwworm rules.

Your state may have its own rules as well, such as a certificate of veterinary inspection. Check with your state's animal health office.

Canada

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) treats a dog under 8 months old that is imported for resale (including adoption) or breeding as a commercial import. Since May 15, 2021 these puppies must meet the following conditions:

• Minimum age: at least 16 weeks old at the time of export to Canada.
• Rabies vaccination: given no earlier than 3 months of age, followed by a 28-day wait before the puppy can be exported.
• Other vaccinations: distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza, given no earlier than 6 weeks of age.
• Microchip: an ISO-compliant microchip.
• Parasite treatment: treated for internal and external parasites before export.
• Kennel of origin: born in a kennel certified by an official veterinarian of the country of origin as meeting specific animal health criteria.
• Health certificate: veterinary certification following CFIA's model certificates.
• Import permit: a single-entry CFIA import permit, applied for through My CFIA and valid for 3 months, stating the number of dogs.
• Arrival: the importer must arrange a CFIA veterinary inspection at the airport or land border before the shipment leaves, and puppies arriving by air must go to a CFIA pre-approved post-import quarantine facility.

Since September 28, 2022, Canada has prohibited commercial dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies. South Korea, Mexico and the United States are not on CFIA's high-risk list. The full official requirements are in CFIA's Automated Import Reference System (AIRS). See CFIA's requirements for commercial dogs under 8 months, the high-risk country list and the commercial dog prohibition notice.

Mexico

Mexico's National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) inspects animals entering the country. Under its published guidance for dogs:

• Inspection: every dog is physically inspected at the point of entry, and a Certificado Zoosanitario para Importación (zoosanitary import certificate) is issued by SENASICA there.
• Dogs from Canada: no health certificate or vaccination card is required for a pet dog. The dog is inspected on arrival.
• Dogs from the United States: since August 3, 2026, a certificate of inspection for New World screwworm, issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, is required.
• Dogs from other countries, such as South Korea: a health certificate issued no more than 15 days before arrival, showing the rabies vaccination date and validity (puppies under 3 months are exempt from rabies vaccination), deworming within the previous 6 months and freedom from external parasites.
• Bedding and supplies: carriers must be clean, and bedding, pads, newspaper and some treats are confiscated at entry.

Dogs imported as a commercial shipment are handled as a regulated import: the importer checks SENASICA's zoosanitary requirements for that origin, or requests a requirements sheet, before arrival. Puppies born in Mexico and sold to buyers in Mexico City do not cross an international border. See SENASICA's requirements for traveling to Mexico with a pet and its zoosanitary import certificate page.

What this means when you buy from us

• Every puppy we place meets the destination country's age, microchip, vaccination and paperwork requirements before travel.
• United States: US law requires a puppy imported for sale to be at least 6 months old on arrival, rabies-vaccinated, microchipped and covered by a USDA import permit and a CDC Dog Import Form. A puppy shipped to you from outside the US will be at least 6 months old.
• Canada: Canadian law requires a commercially imported puppy to be at least 16 weeks old at export, rabies-vaccinated at least 28 days before export, microchipped and covered by a CFIA import permit, with inspection and quarantine on arrival.
• Mexico: puppies entering Mexico pass SENASICA inspection at the port of entry with the health documents required for their country of origin.
• A warning sign for any buyer: if any seller offers to ship an 8-week-old puppy from another country to you in the US or Canada, that shipment would not meet these rules.

Rules change. Before your puppy travels, you can confirm the current requirements with the CDC, USDA APHIS, CFIA or SENASICA using the links on this page.

Sources

• CDC: Bringing a Dog into the U.S.
• CDC: Dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries
• CDC: High-risk countries for dog rabies
• USDA APHIS: Commercial dog import
• USDA APHIS: Pet dogs import into the US (screwworm rules)
• CFIA: Commercial dogs under 8 months, then and now
• CFIA: Countries at high risk for dog rabies
• CFIA: Prohibition of commercial dogs from high-risk countries
• SENASICA: Traveling to Mexico with your pet
• SENASICA: Zoosanitary import certificate

Last reviewed 2026-11-07. Rules change, so confirm with the official agency before travel.