How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Pet from Canada to India?
India is a regular route from Canada and one where the paperwork matters more than the fees.
Freight is the largest single cost, and carriers price this lane per booking based on crate size and dates.
What it costs, line by line
| Cost | Amount | Who charges it |
|---|---|---|
| CFIA export certification | Set by the CFIA at the endorsement appointment | CFIA |
| Airline freight | Quoted per route. Carriers price this lane per booking. | Airline |
| IATA crate | CAD $80 to $340 at retail depending on size. We size the crate at your pet’s fitting and confirm the cost before anything is booked | Retailer |
| Vet exam, health certificate, blood draw | Set by your clinic | Your vet |
| Import documentation and clearance | Varies. A local agent is normally required. | Destination agent |
| Quarantine | Not normally required for a compliant pet | Not applicable |
The equivalent US endorsement runs USD $101 to $275.
India generally requires import clearance handled by an agent at the destination, and the requirements around pet imports have changed more than once in recent years. We confirm the current position with the destination agent before booking rather than relying on published guidance, and we would suggest you do the same with any provider.
CFIA endorsement appointments must be booked and paid at least three days ahead and are non-refundable once booked. Availability is usually the tightest constraint in a Canadian export timeline.
How flight pricing works on this route
Live animal freight from Canada is priced per booking, not from a rate card. Air Canada Cargo, WestJet, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Emirates and Qatar all quote each shipment individually, based on crate size, route, and dates.
No US carrier publishes a pet freight rate out of Canada. American Airlines Cargo, which does publish a transborder cargo tariff, states that it does not transport any animals outbound from Canada at all, so it is not an option on this lane unless the pet is driven to a US gateway and flown from there. The exact figure for this route is set once the crate size and dates are known, which is why we price it per booking instead of printing a number that will not match your itinerary.
What we can tell you is what drives it. Airlines charge on chargeable weight, which is whichever is greater: actual weight, or a volume figure from the crate dimensions. For pets the volume figure almost always wins. Air Canada publishes the divisor at 166 cubic inches per pound. A size 400 crate works out to roughly 66 kg of chargeable weight no matter what is inside it, which is why crate size moves the price more than the dog does.
What is not included here
Your vet sets their own fees. The examination, the certificate paperwork and any blood draw are priced by your clinic and vary between practices. Ask for a quote when you book the visit; we handle the timing so every piece lands inside its validity window. The lab fee covers the test itself, and the draw is always the clinic’s charge.
Ground transport at either end is quoted per route. Our coordination fee is included in the total we quote you and itemised on your invoice.
What moves the price
Crate size drives freight, and the long routing means connections matter more than usual. Fewer stops is worth paying for here.
Heat is a serious constraint on Indian arrivals for much of the year, and it applies to the whole route.
Documentation completeness determines whether clearance is quick or slow, which in turn determines how long your pet waits at the airport.
Figures and sources
Figures verified July 2026. CFIA fees are re-indexed for inflation every 31 March, so check the source if you are reading this later.
Indian government charges are assessed at the port of entry and change without notice, so we confirm them through the destination agent for each booking rather than relying on a printed figure. Ask us or your destination agent for the position that applies on your travel dates.
Terms used here are defined in our pet relocation glossary.
Want this priced for your pet and dates?
Send us the route, the breed and roughly when you want to travel. Request a quote and we will reply with an itemised plan, a timeline and clear next steps.
For entry rules and the full paperwork timeline, see our guide to pet shipping requirements for India.
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