Canadian Armed Forces Pet Relocation: Moving Your Pet During a Military Posting

When you receive a posting message from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), your pet’s move adds a layer of logistics on top of an already compressed timeline. Whether you are posted within Canada, to the United States, or to an overseas base in Europe, your pet needs their own travel plan with its own paperwork, timing, and costs.

Here is what CAF members need to know about moving a pet during a posting, what the forces cover, and how to plan the move alongside your own relocation.

Since 1 April 2026 a CAF move has been governed by the Canadian Armed Forces Relocation Directive (CAFRD), and SIRVA has been the contracted relocation service provider for files authorized from 6 January 2026, with BGRS keeping files authorized before then. Section 9.2.06 of the directive pays for shipping pets: getting the animal between your home and the shipping agent at each end, the commercial shipment itself (transportation costs only), and basic commercial animal care the carrier or the host country requires.

For a posting between two places in Canada, CAFRD 3.4.02 limits pet expenses to $1,000 CAD for the relocation, paid from the Custom Account. Service dogs are paid from the Core Account.

For OUTCAN postings, and postings to or from isolated posts, that $1,000 limit does not apply. Either way, 9.2.06 does not pay for buying the animal carrier, or for special diets, grooming, veterinary costs, medications, inoculations or vaccine certificates, and the shipment dates have to line up with your own travel dates unless your unit certifies that was impossible.

Check your posting instructions and ask SIRVA early how your pet claim is handled. Getting clarity on this before you commit to a shipping plan prevents surprises at reimbursement time.

Keep itemized receipts for every pet-related expense: veterinary exam, CFIA export certificate, airline cargo fees, crate purchase, rabies titre test (if applicable), and any professional relocation service fees. Even if not all costs are covered, having complete documentation supports your claim.

Most domestic postings involve driving to the new base, and your pet rides along. For members posted coast-to-coast (say, Halifax to Edmonton), the drive is long but straightforward. Pack your pet’s food, water, medications, and familiar items. Plan rest stops every 3 to 4 hours.

If flying to your new posting and your pet is too large for in-cabin travel, you will need to arrange cargo transport separately. Air Canada is the primary option for domestic cargo pet transport. Check the seasonal restrictions in our fall and winter pet travel guide. Air Canada Cargo says that from 1 November to 31 March it does not accept warm-blooded animals as cargo on some of its narrowbody fleet, because their cargo holds are not heated.

Postings to the United States (exchange postings, liaison roles) are relatively straightforward for pet moves. Key requirements as of 2026:

For a dog that has only been in Canada or another rabies-free or low-risk country in the past six months, the CDC Dog Import Form receipt is the only required documentation. The 2024 CDC rule change applies to Canadian pets entering the United States.

Cats have fewer requirements for U.S. entry. A health certificate and current vaccinations are standard.

If you are driving across the border with your pet, the process is simpler than flying cargo, but you still need the documentation. Border officers can (and do) ask for health certificates.

European postings are common for CAF members: NATO postings in Belgium, exchange postings in the UK, Germany, or France. The pet import process for EU countries requires:

Start the documentation process as soon as you receive the posting message. For European destinations, 6 to 8 weeks of lead time is usually sufficient if your pet’s vaccinations are current. If a rabies titre test is required (varies by destination and your pet’s vaccination history), add 2 to 4 months.

Some European countries restrict certain breeds. Germany classifies breeds like American Staffordshire Terriers, Bull Terriers, and Pit Bulls as potentially dangerous, requiring special permits and insurance. The UK bans Pit Bull Terriers entirely. If you own a restricted breed, check the destination country’s rules before accepting the posting or making arrangements.

Postings to Japan (exchange postings or UN positions) or other Asian destinations require the most advance planning:

Japan requires a rabies titre test with a 180-day waiting period from the date of the successful blood draw. If your posting message arrives with less than 7 months notice, your pet physically cannot meet the timeline. In this case, options include having your pet stay with family until the waiting period ends, or exploring interim boarding arrangements.

This is the scenario where early planning is most critical. If there is any possibility of a Japan or Australia posting, consider getting the titre test done proactively. A valid titre test result remains current as long as the rabies vaccination does not lapse.

The core tension for CAF members is that military posting timelines do not align with pet import timelines. You may get 6 weeks notice for a posting that requires 7 months of pet preparation (titre test countries). Even for European postings, the CFIA process and airline booking need 4 to 6 weeks that you may not have.

Strategies for managing the gap:

Ship yourself first, pet follows. For postings with tight report dates, you may need to report to the new base on time and have your pet shipped once the documentation is complete. A relocation service can coordinate the pet’s move while you are already in-country.

Family member handles the pet move. If your family is travelling separately or on a later timeline, the pet can travel with them. All documentation must be in the pet owner’s name (the person travelling with the animal).

Pre-position your pet’s documentation. If you know an OUTCAN posting is likely, keep your pet’s rabies vaccination current, get the titre test done, and maintain a valid microchip registration. Having these in place before the posting message arrives saves months.

Request a quote and we will put together a detailed plan and price for your specific route.

Prefer to talk? Give us a call at 1-877-707-1739.

Military transport flights (CC-177, CC-130) do not typically accommodate personal pets. Pet transport must be arranged through commercial airlines or a pet relocation service.

If the final destination does not have a commercial airport, we ship to the nearest major airport and coordinate ground transport for the last segment. For remote postings, charter options may also be available.

Yes. Each animal needs its own health certificate, CFIA endorsement, and (if applicable) titre test and import permit. Airline cargo booking is also per-crate. The costs scale with the number of animals, which is important to factor into your relocation budget.

Ask your relocation service provider (SIRVA, or BGRS for files authorized before 6 January 2026) about the full range of entitlements and whether any discretionary funds apply. If driving is an option (domestic or cross-border U.S. postings), it dramatically reduces costs. For overseas postings, get quotes from multiple providers and ask about phased payment options.

Checked August 2026. The relocation directive and the relocation provider read again 24 October 2026.