Canada to Israel
Pet Shipping from Canada to Israel
We provide international pet transport from Canada to Israel, 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 Israel with delivery to your new address
Israel at a glance
Full requirementsThe CFIA sends an owner taking a dog or cat to Israel to one of its offices for instructions, which it says cover the required documents, timelines, certification and the places where Israel accepts such pets.
- Microchip
- ISO microchip
- Rabies vaccination
- Must be an inactivated or recombinant vaccine. Modified live vaccines are not accepted
- Rabies titre
- 0.5 IU/ml or higher, at a WOAH approved laboratory, at least 30 days after vaccination
- Health certificate
- Israel has its own country specific form. In Canada it comes from your local CFIA office, not the CFIA website, so it has to be requested directly
- Ownership
- At least 90 days physically with the owner before arrival
Pet Shipping from Canada to Israel
Moving a pet from Canada to Israel follows Israel’s own import framework, which is separate from both the EU and US systems. There is no quarantine for pets that arrive with complete, valid documentation. The core requirements are an ISO microchip, a current rabies vaccination (inactivated or recombinant only), a passing rabies titre test from a WOAH-approved lab, an Israel-specific health certificate endorsed by the CFIA, and pre-notification to the airport veterinary service at Ben Gurion.
For a broader overview of international pet shipping, our general guide covers the process from start to finish. If you are bringing a pet into Canada from abroad, our Canada import guide covers those requirements.
We manage the entire relocation for you. That includes:
- Obtaining the Israel-specific health certificate form from your local CFIA office and confirming the current version
- Coordinating the titre test at a WOAH-approved lab and verifying results meet the 0.5 IU/ml threshold before proceeding
- Routing your pet through the best European hub based on your departure city, season, and airline pet policies
- Filing the pre-notification (Annex B and Annex C) with Israel's airport veterinary authority on the correct timeline
Obtaining the Israel-specific health certificate form from your local CFIA office and confirming the current version
Approved Routes and Entry into Israel
There are no direct flights from any Canadian city to Israel. Every pet shipment from Canada connects through a European or Middle Eastern hub, which means the connection city and transfer handling are critical parts of the routing decision.
- From Toronto (YYZ), the most common connections are through Istanbul (IST) on Turkish Airlines, Frankfurt (FRA) on Lufthansa, or Zurich (ZRH) on Swiss. Each hub has different live-animal transfer procedures and layover durations. Turkish Airlines has been one of the more accommodating carriers for pets on routes to Israel.
- From Montreal (YUL), routing options are similar to Toronto, with the addition of direct service to Paris (CDG) on Air France, which can connect onward to TLV. Availability for live-animal cargo varies by season and aircraft type.
- From Vancouver (YVR), total transit time is longer. Routing typically goes through Frankfurt or Istanbul, adding several hours compared to East Coast departures. Summer cargo restrictions apply to many European hub connections, narrowing options further between May and September.
What are the entry requirements for pets going to Israel?
The short answer
From Canada, the application for permission goes to Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture online, and its officials check it and reply, with the Israeli health certificate obtained through a local CFIA office and endorsed there.
Import Eligibility for Pets
Israel does not quarantine pets that arrive with complete, correct documentation. Animals that fail inspection may be returned to Canada, placed in quarantine at the owner’s expense, or in serious cases, euthanized. The stakes are real, and every detail matters.
A rabies titre test is mandatory for all dogs and cats. The test must be a FAVN (Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization) or RFFIT performed at a WOAH-approved laboratory. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after rabies vaccination, and the result must reach 0.5 IU/ml or higher. There is no 90-day waiting period after the titre results (unlike the EU rule for unlisted countries). The titre stays valid for life as long as rabies vaccinations remain current with no lapse.
The US agriculture department’s Israel page reports that the country prohibits eight listed dangerous breeds and dogs mixed with them: Rottweiler, Brazilian Fila, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Argentinean Dogo, Bull Terrier and two Staffordshire Bull Terrier entries (English Staff and Amstaff). Bengal cats are restricted, and Savannah cats must be F5 generation or later. Only a translated Israeli import licence for dangerous dogs, still valid and in the owner’s hands, lets such a dog through, the page says.
Pets must be at least four months old. Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture accepts as many as two dogs or cats per owner as a personal import when they fly in together and have lived physically alongside that person for 90 days or more, and its officials first check and answer an application for permission. Three or more pets, unaccompanied cargo shipments, under 90 days in the owner’s company, or restricted breeds require a formal import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture (contact: vs-ie@moag.gov.il).
Before scheduling vet steps or flights, we confirm what rules apply to your pet and whether breed restrictions or the import permit requirement affects your plan. Request a quote to get a plan built around your travel date.
Health Preparation and Documentation
Israel requires its own country-specific health certificate. In Canada, this form is obtained from your local CFIA office. It is not published on the CFIA website and is not available for download, so you or your coordinator must request it directly. This is one of the steps that catches Canadian pet owners off guard because most destination certificates are readily available online.
The rabies vaccination must be inactivated or recombinant only (modified live vaccines are not accepted). Israel considers all rabies vaccines to be one-year vaccines regardless of the manufacturer’s labelled duration, so the vaccination must fall within one year of the arrival date. The ISO microchip must be implanted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination.
Before departure, you must submit a pre-notification to the Israeli airport veterinary authority. This includes Annex B (arrival notification) and Annex C (ownership declaration for the 90-day rule), sent by email to vs-airport@moag.gov.il. The notification must arrive at least two Israeli business days before the pet’s flight. Israeli business days are Sunday through Thursday, so plan the submission accordingly. If your pet arrives on a Sunday, the notification must be received by the previous Wednesday.
| Requirement | Israel, from Canada |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO microchip |
| Rabies vaccination | Must be an inactivated or recombinant vaccine. Modified live vaccines are not accepted |
| Rabies titre | 0.5 IU/ml or higher, at a WOAH approved laboratory, at least 30 days after vaccination |
| Health certificate | Israel has its own country specific form. In Canada it comes from your local CFIA office, not the CFIA website, so it has to be requested directly |
| Ownership | At least 90 days physically with the owner before arrival |
| Breed restrictions | Eight listed dangerous breeds and their mixes are prohibited, APHIS reports |
| Pre-notification | Airport veterinary authorities have to be notified before your pet arrives |
| Quarantine | None when the paperwork is complete and correct |
For the most current rules, refer to these official sources:
Planning Timeline for Pet Shipping to Israel
Begin four to six months before your move date. The titre test controls the schedule: your pet needs a current rabies vaccination, then a 30-day wait before the blood draw, then three to six weeks of lab processing. After the titre clears, the final steps (obtaining the CFIA certificate form, vet examination, CFIA endorsement, pre-notification filing) fit into the last 10 days. If you need an import permit, apply through the Ministry of Agriculture well ahead of this window because processing times are unpredictable. Also factor in CFIA appointment availability, which varies by region and season.
Also comparing Turkey or Egypt? Each has its own Canadian route page: Turkey and Egypt.
Every Pet Travels Differently
Different destinations, different routes, different challenges.
No two pet relocations follow the same path. Your departure city, your pet’s vaccination history, and the titre test timeline all shape the plan. We customize every detail to fit your situation.
Destination-Focused Planning
Israel requires a country-specific health certificate that Canadian pet owners obtain from their local CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) office. This form is not published online, which makes it harder to find than most destination certificates. We confirm the current form version and CFIA process before anything else, so you are not scrambling to locate the right paperwork at the last minute.
Smart Routing and Logistics
There are no direct flights from Canada to Israel. Pets departing from Toronto (YYZ), Montreal (YUL), or Vancouver (YVR) connect through a European hub like Istanbul (IST), Frankfurt (FRA), or Zurich (ZRH) before reaching Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). We evaluate each connection for transfer duration, airline live-animal handling, and seasonal cargo policies to find the route that keeps your pet comfortable.
Personalized Support
A single coordinator manages your relocation from the first call through arrival and registration in Israel. They track titre test results, CFIA appointment scheduling, pre-notification deadlines, and airline booking windows so nothing falls through the cracks.
Questions about moving a pet to Israel
Request a QuoteHow much does it cost to relocate a pet from Canada to Israel?
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 is the CFIA process for pet travel to Israel?
The CFIA process for Israel differs from most destinations because the health certificate form is not available online. You request the Israel-specific form from your local CFIA office, then have your licensed veterinarian complete the health examination and fill out the certificate. Once completed, you bring the certificate to a CFIA office for endorsement. The CFIA inspector verifies that the paperwork meets Israel’s import requirements. You will also need your pet’s rabies vaccination certificate, titre test lab report, and proof of microchip implantation.
Does Israel have breed restrictions for dogs from Canada?
Yes. Israel’s breed restrictions apply regardless of the country of origin. The US agriculture department reports eight prohibited entries, their mixes included: Rottweiler, Brazilian Fila, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Argentinean Dogo, Bull Terrier and two Staffordshire Bull Terrier entries (English Staff and Amstaff). Bengal cats are also restricted, and Savannah cats must be generation F5 or later. The exception it names is a translated Israeli import licence for dangerous dogs, still valid, in the owner’s name.
What is the pre-notification requirement for pets entering Israel?
Before your pet’s departure, you must email two documents to Israel’s airport veterinary authority at vs-airport@moag.gov.il. Annex B is the arrival notification form, which includes your flight details and pet information. Annex C is the ownership declaration, and the Ministry of Agriculture’s condition is 90 days or more spent physically with you before arrival. Both must be received at least two Israeli business days before arrival. Israeli business days run Sunday through Thursday. For example, if your pet arrives on a Monday, the notification must be received by the previous Thursday at the latest. We handle this filing as part of the relocation plan so the timing is correct.
How does Pet Travel Advisors handle a Canada to Israel relocation?
We manage every step from initial planning through arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. That includes obtaining the Israel-specific certificate form from the CFIA, scheduling the titre test at the right point in your pet’s vaccination timeline, and coordinating your vet visit with the blue-ink and form requirements. It also covers booking the CFIA endorsement appointment, selecting the best connecting route through a European hub, filing the pre-notification on the correct timeline, and preparing you for the arrival inspection. One coordinator handles 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.