Step-by-Step Process for Exporting Cats and Dogs to Canada (Same for USA) As per the BARK website: http://www.bark-taiwan.org/en/tips-and-information/exporting-your-animals/exporting-animals-to-canada
It’s really a rather simple process to export your pet to Canada. Taiwan is considered rabies-free so there is currently no quarantine for dogs and cats entering Canada. The following guidelines apply to all of Taiwan but the office locations will differ depending on which city you live in. Here is the step-by-step:
AIRLINES:
1.Before you reserve your flight, ensure that the airline will carry animals. Some airlines do not carry animals. If your ticket is issued by Air Canada but you are flying on EVA Air then animals are NOT permitted.
2.Try to avoid flights with stopovers. If there will be a stopover, you need to know where and for how long. Some countries have quarantine for animals in transit. You will want to avoid stopovers in certain countries as the quarantine can be up to 6 months in some cases.
3.Ask if your pet can travel in the cabin of the plane or if it must be sent as extra baggage. Only animals small enough to fit under the seat in their crate will be permitted into the cabin.
4.Ask what the airline requirements are for the pet and crate such as size or weight restrictions. Most airlines have no international weight limit for pets but if you are continuing on within Canada, the combined pet and crate weight can not exceed 32kgs.
5.When you book the flight, make sure you get a confirmation number.
6.Reconfirm with the airline once or twice the week before you fly. This should be in addition to confirming with your travel agent. If the airline doesn’t have a confirmation record it’s a good idea to call the headquarters of the airline company.
VACCINATIONS and MICROCHIP:
1.After you have made arrangements with the airline, make sure that your pets’ last rabies vaccination was given less than 11 months prior to departure. We suggest that you get ALL vaccinations updated 35 days prior to departure. And if your pet doesn’t have a microchip, it will need to get one.
2.If your pet is 3 months old or younger, it is not required to have rabies vaccinations. IMPORTANT: If your pet does have rabies vaccinations, it must have the vaccinations at least 30 days prior to departure. (*** although the 30 day wait is not a requirement for entrance into Canada, it is a requirement to get your pet out of Taiwan – plan this carefully!)
QUARANTINE OFFICE:
1.On the 7th day prior to your departure, go to Bureau of Animals and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine. Kaohsiung location is 31 Haibian Road, 4th floor, #2 Application and Issuance of Animal and Plant Health Certificates.
2.Make sure to bring your passport, visitors/work visa/ARC and airline ticket, as well as the animals’ vaccination book with you to the office. It’s not necessary to bring the animal’s crate.
3.Here they will have a quick look at your pet and scan it for a microchip.
4.They sign the appropriate form called “Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine – Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, ROC – Veterinary Certificate” which you take to the airline counter. Don’t fold the papers! You must carefully proofread the papers to ensure everything is spelled correctly and dates are correct. MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO TYPOS OR YOUR PET WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO TRAVEL WITH YOU. This office has made mistakes in the past.
AT THE AIRPORT: The process at the airport is very easy.
1.Go to the airline check-in counter to check yourself in. You will then be directed to the airline information counter where you will pay the fee for your pet.
2.Return to the check-in counter to present your receipt and then you’ll be informed as to when you can check in your pet. Remember to put the quarantine tag on the pet crate.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1.Give your pet some time, a few weeks prior to departure, to get used to the crate and using the water bottle. Don’t use a water dish as the water will spill during the flight.
2.We recommend that you purchase a medium weight pet coat to keep your pet comfortably warm on its journey. Give your pet some time, a few weeks prior to departure, to get used to the sweater.
3.Also recommended is to lay down absorbent nappies (can purchase at pet stores and pharmacies) so your pet does not lay in its urine. Because there are usually different segments of flights it’s recommended that you lay down several nappies, some covered in a plastic bag, for each segment of the flight.
4.Don’t feed your pet anything for 6- 8 hours prior to departure. There are good chances that your pet will get sick if it has any food in its stomach. It’s better to let them fast for the entire flight including all segments.
AT THE AIRPORT IN CANADA:
1.When you arrive at the airport in Canada you will pass through customs where you show a card (given to you in the airplane) filled out with what you have to claim (tobacco, liquor, animals, etc.).
2.Next, you go to baggage claim to get your baggage and to special baggage claim to get your animal.
3.Then take the animal and the paperwork and the pets’ vaccination book to the agriculture center (someone will point you in the right direction) to get the forms checked and then you are good to go. If you are on a connecting flight ask for assistance transporting your animal to the domestic terminal.
4.If you have a long layover check with airport information about where you can walk your dog. Some airports have dog parks nearby. Allow yourself plenty of time to get your pet, soothe your pet, and get to the proper areas in the airport for your next flight.