Canada Import/Export

Health Certificate (CVI)
Equine residing in Canada more than 60 days
Must have a CVI endorsed by a salaried veterinarian of the Canadian government stating that
: Equine has been in Canada for 60 days immediately preceding importation into the United States.
: Equine has been inspected and found free of contagious diseases and has had no known exposure to contagious diseases within the 60 days preceding importation.
: Equine have not been vaccinated with a live, attenuated, or inactivated vaccine during the 14 days immediately preceding exportation.
: Equine have not been on a premises where African Horse Sickness, Dourine, Glanders, Surra, Epizootic Lymphangitis, Ulcerative Lymphangitis, Equine Piroplasmosis, Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), Vesicular Stomatitis, or Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis has occurred during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation, nor have these diseases occurred on any joining premises within 60 days immediately preceding importation.
: Equine has not been in a country where CEM is known to exist, nor has had any contact with equine from such a country for 12 months immediately preceding importation.:Equine has tested negative to EIA within 180 days immediately prior to importation.
: Equine has tested negative to EIA within 180 days immediately prior to importation.
Equine residing in Canada less than 60 days
Must be accompanied by original copy of Export Health Certificate from country of origin.
Must have a CVI endorsed by a salaried veterinarian of the Canadian government stating that
: Equine have been tested four Dourine, Glanders, EIA, Piroplasmosis, and have been released from quarantine.
: Import testing requirements for CEM have been met in Canada (Certification of testing should accompany the Equine).
: Equine has been inspected and found free of contagious diseases and has had no known exposure to contagious diseases within the 60 days preceding importation.
: Equine have not been vaccinated with a live, attenuated, or inactivated vaccine during the 14 days immediately preceding exportation.
: Equine have not been a on premises where African Horse Sickness, Dourine, Glanders, Surra, Epizootic Lymphangitis, Ulcerative Lymphangitis, Equine Piroplasmosis, Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), Vesicular Stomatitis, or Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis has occurred during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation, nor have these diseases occurred on any joining premises within 60 days immediately preceding importation.
: Equine has not been in a country where CEM is known to exist, nor has had any contact with equine from such a country for 12 months immediately preceding importation.
: Equine has tested negative to EIA within 180 days immediately prior to importation.
Equine residing in Canada less than 30 days
Equine imported into the U.S.A. under the Temporary Customs Authorization
: CVI is valid for an unlimited number of importations for 30 days from the date listed on the CVI.
: Equine has tested negative to EIA within 180 days immediately prior to importation.
Equine Of U.S.A. origin
Must have a U.S. issued Export Health Certificate valid for 30 days.
: Equine may reenter the U.S. an unlimited number of times during the 30 day period without U.S. port inspection if accompanied by original Export Health Certificate.
: Equine that have exhibited at publicly recognized expositions in Canada, including races, horse shows, rodeos, circus, or stage exhibitions, that have not been in Canada for more than 90 days are eligible for return to the U.S. without Canadian Health Certificates.
: Equine must be accompanied by original U.S. Export Health Certificate.
: Health Certificate must state that equine has tested negative for EIA within 180 days prior to returning to the U.S.
Port Inspection
Equine originating from Canada
Equine originating in Canada presented for permanent entry into the U.S. will be inspected by a Port Veterinarian at the border.
: A fee will be access for the inspection.
Equine originating in U.S.A.
Traveling to Canada for publicly recognized exhibitions and returning within 90 days, will be inspected at the U.S. Port of Entry.
: Equine must be found free of communicable diseases.
: A fee will be access for the inspection.
Equine traveling for 30 days or less
Equine originating in Canada and entering the U.S. for 30 days or less, are not subject to inspection.
Equine from the U.S. traveling in Canada for 30 days or less, are not subject to inspection.
Ports of Entry
Idaho Eastport
Maine Houlton
  Jackman
Michigan Detroit
  Port Huron
Sault Ste. Marie
Minnesota Baudette
  International Falls
Montana Opheim
  Raymond
Sweetgrass
New York Alexandria Bay
  Buffalo
Champlain
North Dakota Dunseith
  Pembina
Portal
Vermont Derby Line
  Highgate Springs
Washington Oroville
  Sumas
Permit Information
An Import Permit is not required for Canadian horses entering the U.S.
An Import Permit is not required for U.S. horses traveling into Canada and returning to the U.S.
Export Regulations into Canada
Certificate of Veterinarian Inspection (CVI)
Must be within 30 days prior to exportation.
: Must state that the Equine is free from evidence of communicable diseases.
: Must state that the Equine has not been exposed to any communicable disease within 60 days of exportation.
: Must state that the Equine has resided in the United States or Canada since birth – or – has meet all of the import requirements of the United States of America and has resided in the United States of America for the past 60 days.
: Equine has not been on a premises where T. equigenitalis has been isolated, under quarantine, or currently being investigated for CEM during the 60 days prior to exportation.
: Any female equine have not been bred naturally to, or inseminated with semen from a stallion positive for CEM – or – a stallion resident upon a positive premises – or – a stallion under quarantine or currently being investigated for CEM.
: Equine shows no clinical signs of CEM on the day of inspection.
: Equine was shown at time of inspection to be healthy and in a physical condition fit to be transported.
*Fit to be transported means that, on the day of inspection, no animal has an infirmity, illness, injury or any other condition that could be aggravated when the animal is being transported, causing the animal to suffer.
: Must state that the exporter has been advised that any deterioration in health of physical condition of the animals that may render animals unfit for transport may result in the shipment to be refused entry to Canada.
: Must state that during the previous 21 days, the equine in this shipment has not been in the state of Texas.Nursing foals must be issued their own health certificate, due to the use of an identification diagram.
Nursing foals must be issued their own health certificate, due to the use of an identification diagram.
Test Requirements
Negative Coggins test within 6 months prior to exportation.
: Nursing foals with EIA negative dam are exempt.
Other Information
Canadian originating equine returning to Canada must comply with CFIA requirements.
: CFIA requirements can be found at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/imp/airse.shtml
Individualized Health Certificate should be utilized for export of equines to Canada.
: VS Form 17-140 can be used for multiple equine shipments if all the following criteria are meet –
  • Multiple equine shipments can be used for one-way export only. The equines will not be allowed re-entry into the U.S.A. with the 17-140 Form.
  • All equine from a single consignor must be consigned to the same destination and originate from the same premises.
  • All equine must have Current EIA test charts, and charts must be attached to the 17-140 form.
    *These charts must be accurately drawn descriptions of the equine in order to identify the equine and must be attached to the CVI.
  • All equine must be identified on the 17-140 form with a written description.
  • All equine must have a visual numerical identification (example: mane tag, back tag, necklace-type tag) and each equine must be numbered differently. This number must be entered alongside the equine’s written description on the 17-140 form and on the EIA test chart.
For more information and questions please contact the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
Information Hotline: (202) 720-2791