Canada to Colombia
Pet Shipping from Canada to Colombia
We provide international pet transport from Canada to Colombia, planned around its import rules, the Canadian winter and your move date.
Book door-to-door pet relocation, or only the parts you need.
- Airline booking
- The travel crate
- The CFIA export paperwork
- Check-in at your Canadian airport
- Pickup in Colombia with delivery to your new address
Colombia at a glance
Full requirementsThe CFIA’s list of certificates negotiated with destination countries, read 22 September 2026, has none for Colombia, so a pet from Canada travels on the Canadian International Health Certificate, completed to the destination’s import rules and endorsed by the CFIA before departure.
- Microchip
- Not on ICA’s list of requirements; we recommend an ISO microchip
- Rabies vaccination
- Current at the time of travel
- Health certificate
- There is no Colombia specific CFIA form. Your vet completes the standard Canadian International Health Certificate and the CFIA endorses it before the pet leaves Canada, inside ICA’s limit of 10 days before entry
- SISPAP request
- Made online before arrival, for a pet travelling as baggage or as cargo; ICA names no cabin exception and no processing time
- Quarantine
- None when the documents are complete
Pet Shipping from Canada to Colombia
Colombia is one of the more open South American destinations for pets, with no quarantine and no titre test required for entry. But the preparation involves more detail than many Canadian pet owners expect. ICA’s vaccination requirements go significantly further than most countries, covering six additional vaccines for dogs and three for cats beyond rabies. Your veterinarian completes a Canadian International Health Certificate (there is no Colombia-specific CFIA form), and CFIA (the Canadian Food Inspection Agency) endorses it before departure.
If you are still in the early stages of planning, our overview of how international pet shipping works walks through the general process. For pets returning to Canada after time in Colombia, re-entry asks for less paperwork than the US does, though a dog still needs a valid rabies vaccination certificate.
We coordinate the full process for you. That includes:
- Confirming Colombia's current ICA requirements and verifying your pet's vaccination compliance
- Managing the Canadian International Health Certificate and CFIA endorsement timeline
- Routing through US hubs or Panama City and booking compliant flights with safe layover procedures
- Preparing you for the ICA veterinary inspection and fee payment at the Colombian airport
Confirming Colombia's current ICA requirements and verifying your pet's vaccination compliance
Approved Routes and Entry into Colombia
Canada does not have the same abundance of direct pet-cargo routes to Colombia that the US has, so routing from Canadian cities typically involves one connection. The options are reliable, but they require more advance planning to book and coordinate.
- Toronto (YYZ) to Bogota (BOG) is available on Avianca with a connection. Connecting through Miami (MIA) or Houston (IAH) is the most practical option from most Canadian cities, with well-established pet transfer procedures and daily onward service to Bogota, Medellin (MDE), Cartagena (CTG), and Cali (CLO).
- Copa Airlines offers connecting service through Panama City (PTY) from Toronto, which avoids a US transit entirely. This can simplify logistics for owners who prefer not to deal with US transit documentation.
- Bogota's El Dorado International Airport (BOG) handles the largest volume of pet imports and has a staffed ICA inspection facility. Medellin, Cartagena, and Cali also process pet arrivals. Airlines enforce seasonal cargo restrictions when ground temperatures exceed safe limits.
Route details: Canada to Colombia
- Route
- Canada to Colombia
- Arrival airports
- Cleared at the ICA office of the entry airport; ICA lists offices at El Dorado (Bogotá), Rionegro, Cartagena, Palmira and other airports
- How the pet flies
- With the owner as accompanied baggage, or as cargo: the two ways ICA’s dog and cat entry page names
- Before arrival
- An ICA user account, then a CIS inspection request in SISPAP, printed with proof of payment; ICA’s airport office can take it instead
- Health certificate
- Canadian International Health Certificate (CFIA lists no Colombia form), CFIA-endorsed in Canada; ICA: issued 10 days or less before entry
- Quarantine on arrival
- ICA checks the papers and the pet, then issues the CIS; if either fails: retention, home quarantine, reshipment or euthanasia, at owner cost
- Time to get ready
- At least 21 days: ICA says a pet’s first rabies vaccination must be given at least 21 days before shipment
Work out your pet’s dates for this route
From official sources, read 29 October 2026: ICA, Ingreso de perros y gatos a Colombia; ICA, Registro de viajero importador y pago del Certificado de Inspección Sanitaria, PDF; ICA, Horario de atención de Puertos, Aeropuertos y Pasos de Frontera; CFIA, Pets: Export certificates; CFIA, Canadian International Health Certificate; ICA, ABC para entrar a Colombia con tu mascota, PDF.
Entry Requirements and Documentation for Colombia
Import Eligibility for Pets
Colombia does not quarantine compliant pets arriving from Canada. ICA sets the minimum age for a pet entering Colombia at 15 weeks. No rabies titre test is required. A microchip is not mandatory under ICA regulations, but an ISO 11784/11785 microchip is strongly recommended for identification purposes and for any future international travel. ICA wants a first rabies vaccination to be at least 21 days old on the day the pet is shipped.
Dogs also need current vaccinations for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, and Coronavirus. Cats need Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. Internal and external parasite treatment must be completed within 60 days of travel.
Colombia restricts more than a dozen dog breeds: American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Doberman, Bullmastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Mastiff, and crosses of these breeds. An ICA veterinarian inspects the pet and documents at the Colombian airport.
Before scheduling vet steps or flights, we confirm what rules apply to your pet and whether breed restrictions affect your plan. Request a quote to get a plan built around your travel date.
Health Preparation and Documentation
Canada does not have a Colombia-specific CFIA health certificate form. Your veterinarian completes the standard Canadian International Health Certificate, and CFIA endorses it. ICA wants the certificate issued no more than 10 calendar days before the pet enters Colombia, so on a route with a connection the arrival day is the one that counts, and the CFIA has to endorse it before the pet leaves Canada. Before the pet lands, ICA also wants an online request for its sanitary inspection certificate, the Certificado de Inspección Sanitaria (CIS), filed in SISPAP once you have an ICA user account, for any dog or cat arriving as accompanied baggage or as cargo. ICA’s registration guide, read 29 October 2026, sets no processing time, and if the online request is not possible, the ICA office at the arrival airport takes it, with card payment. Pets transiting through the US may also need to comply with US transit requirements depending on the airline and routing, which we confirm during route planning.
| Requirement | Colombia, from Canada |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Not on ICA’s list of requirements; we recommend an ISO microchip |
| Rabies vaccination | Current at the time of travel |
| Health certificate | There is no Colombia specific CFIA form. Your vet completes the standard Canadian International Health Certificate and the CFIA endorses it before the pet leaves Canada, inside ICA’s limit of 10 days before entry |
| SISPAP request | Made online before arrival, for a pet travelling as baggage or as cargo; ICA names no cabin exception and no processing time |
| Quarantine | None when the documents are complete |
For the most current rules, refer to these official sources:
Planning Timeline for Pet Shipping to Colombia
By our own estimate, begin 8 to 10 weeks ahead of your move date, with every required vaccination current 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Send ICA the SISPAP request before your pet arrives, however it travels. Time the vet’s certificate and the CFIA endorsement appointment so the issue date falls inside ICA’s window before your pet lands in Colombia. If routing through the US, we suggest confirming any transit documentation at least 2 weeks before travel, again our own estimate.
Coming home is simpler for a Canadian family pet, though Canada does list Colombia: the CFIA’s list of countries at high risk for dog rabies, read 29 October 2026, includes it, and since 28 September 2022 the CFIA has refused commercial dogs from those countries, which covers dogs bound for a new owner, resale, adoption, fostering, breeding or shows. For a personal pet dog 8 months or older, the CFIA’s pet import tool, read 29 October 2026, asks for a valid rabies vaccination certificate, and the dog must appear healthy and meet humane transportation requirements. The tool’s answer for that dog names no titre test and no import form.
Two neighbours, two different files. See our Argentina and Chile pages before comparing them.
Every Pet Travels Differently
Different destinations, different routes, different challenges.
Your pet’s route, crate, and paperwork plan depends on where you’re starting, what species and breed you have, and when you need to arrive. We build each plan from scratch.
Destination-Focused Planning
ICA (Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario) is Colombia's import authority, and their vaccination requirements go well beyond what most destinations ask for. Dogs need six additional vaccines on top of rabies. Cats need three. We map out the full vaccination checklist for your pet's species at the start and coordinate with your vet to get everything current before the health certificate window opens.
Smart Routing and Logistics
Canada does not have direct flights to Colombia with pet cargo on most carriers, so routing requires a connection. The most common path runs through a US hub, typically Miami (MIA) or Houston (IAH), with pet-friendly transfer procedures. Copa Airlines also offers connecting service through Panama City (PTY) from Toronto. We evaluate each option against airline pet policies, layover times, and seasonal cargo restrictions.
Personalized Support
One coordinator handles your file from the first call through arrival and ICA inspection in Colombia. They track vaccination schedules, CFIA endorsement timing, and airline booking windows so you always know what is happening and what comes next.
Questions about moving a pet to Colombia
Request a QuoteHow much does it cost to relocate a pet from Canada to Colombia?
The cost of a move depends on several things: your pet’s size and weight, which set the crate and cargo price, the airline and departure city, veterinary fees for the health certificate and any required tests, government endorsement and permit fees, and how much of the process you would like us to coordinate. Because those pieces change from one pet and route to the next, we quote the full journey up front, including government fees, so there are no surprises later. Tell us your pet and your destination and we will send a clear plan and a price.
What vaccinations does my pet need for Colombia?
Colombia requires more vaccinations than most destinations. Dogs need rabies plus Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, and Coronavirus. Cats need rabies plus Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. All vaccinations must be current at the time of the health certificate examination. We compare your pet’s vaccination record against ICA’s requirements at the start of planning so your vet knows exactly what to schedule.
Are there breed restrictions for dogs entering Colombia?
Yes. Colombia restricts more than a dozen breeds, including American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Doberman, Bullmastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Mastiff, and crosses of these breeds. Restricted breeds are not necessarily banned from the country, but there are strict ownership rules that apply once you arrive, including muzzle requirements in public, leash regulations, and liability insurance. We verify the current status of your breed before you start the process.
What is SISPAP and does my pet need it?
Yes, if it is a dog or cat flying into Colombia: SISPAP is ICA’s online system, where you apply for the Certificado de Inspección Sanitaria (CIS), the certificate ICA issues once it has inspected the pet at the arrival airport. ICA asks for that request before arrival whether the pet comes as accompanied baggage or as cargo, and none of its pages exempts a pet flying in the cabin. It publishes no processing time, and its guide lets the airport office take the request when the online system cannot be used.
Is it easier to bring a dog back to Canada from Colombia than to the US?
Yes, by the paperwork each country asks for, though both list Colombia as high risk for dog rabies. A US-vaccinated dog going back to the United States needs a USDA-endorsed rabies vaccination form signed before it left the US, a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip and a minimum age of 6 months, under the CDC’s rules read 29 October 2026; that CDC page names no titre test. A personal pet dog returning to Canada needs a valid rabies vaccination certificate, and the CFIA expects it to appear healthy and to travel humanely. The CFIA does not admit commercial dogs from Colombia, so a dog meant for sale, adoption or a new home in Canada cannot come in.
How does Pet Travel Advisors coordinate a Canada to Colombia move?
We manage every step from your first call through the ICA inspection at the Colombian airport. That includes confirming current vaccination requirements, coordinating with your vet on the full vaccine checklist, completing the Canadian International Health Certificate with CFIA endorsement, sending ICA the SISPAP request, and routing through the best connection point with safe layover procedures. One coordinator manages your file from start to finish. Request a quote to start planning your move.
Ready to start?
Book door-to-door pet relocation, or only the parts you need.