YYZ to YYJ
Toronto to Victoria Pet Relocation
We move dogs and cats from Toronto to Victoria on Air Canada Cargo flights. We pick up your pet at home, supply the airline crate if you need one, handle the paperwork and check your pet in at Pearson.
Moving your pet to Victoria
Sending your pet on its own as airline cargo is the fastest way to get from Toronto to Victoria: about 5 to 5.5 hours in the air, instead of days in a car.
You can fly on the same day or on a different day from your pet. Some owners fly first and send their pet a day or two later, so the new home is ready. We look after everything in Toronto, and you choose who collects your pet at the airline's cargo office in Victoria.
We choose the flight and the timing that are easiest on your pet. Every booking depends on airline space, the time of year and the breed rules, so we confirm the flight with the airline before anything is final.
Quick facts
- Airports
- Toronto YYZ to Victoria YYJ
- Airline
- Air Canada Cargo
- Flight time
- About 5 to 5.5 hours (scheduled)
- Check-in
- At YYZ cargo, about 3 hours before the flight
- Pickup
- About 3 hours after landing on Air Canada
- December
- Holiday embargo by air, very limited space
- Taxes
- Plus applicable taxes, based on where the move ends
Your price
What your Toronto to Victoria price includes
Your price depends on your pet's size (it sets the crate size, and the airline charges by crate size or weight), your address in the Toronto area, and the extras you choose. Fill in the form and we send your exact price within 24 hours, plus applicable taxes, with a list of what is included.
Included
- Home pickup anywhere in Toronto and the GTA
- Pearson cargo check-in, forms and labels
- Airline cargo booking, with all airline fees
- Flight tracking and updates for you and whoever collects your pet
Extras
- Airline crate in the right size, ready to fly
- Ride to your vet for the health check (you pay the vet directly)
- More than one pet: each pet flies in its own crate unless two small pets can share
Step by step
How it works on this route
- 1
Get your price
Fill in the form with your pet's size and your dates, and we send your exact price within 24 hours.
- 2
Crate and vet
We confirm the crate size and supply it if you need one. If your pet needs a health certificate, we can drive your pet to your vet (an extra).
- 3
Flight booked
We book the cargo space and send you the flight details and the air waybill number.
- 4
Pickup and check-in
On the day, we collect your pet at home and check them in at Pearson cargo about 3 hours before the flight.
- 5
Landing in Victoria
The person you choose collects your pet at the airline's cargo office at YYJ. We send them the address, the opening hours and the air waybill number.
Airline rules that matter on this route
- Health certificate: Air Canada needs one for every pet. We tell you the date it must be done by. See vet health certificate for flying.
- December and winter: holiday embargoes limit space in late December, and some aircraft take no pets in the coldest months. See winter and holiday embargoes.
- Breeds: snub-nosed and strong breeds have extra airline rules, and pit bull type dogs cannot travel through Pearson. See snub-nosed breeds and flying.
- Pickup on time: collect your pet as soon as it is ready. A pet not collected within 4 hours is moved to a kennel (or a vet) at your cost.
More questions? See the FAQ and our guide to Air Canada pet cargo.
Local guide: Victoria
Moving to Victoria with a pet
Weather and the best time to move
Greater Victoria has the mildest climate in Canada, with rainy but mild winters and very little snow. Summers are sunny and dry. Winter moves are rarely slowed by snow, but expect wet weather from late fall to early spring.
Late spring through early fall is easiest, with dry and mild days, while November to February are wetter and darker but still mild compared with the rest of Canada.
Arriving at Victoria International Airport (YYJ)
Pets are collected at the airline's cargo office, not at the passenger terminal. From the airport to downtown Victoria is about 25 km, 25 to 40 minutes via Highway 17.
Pet licence and local rules
In the City of Victoria, every dog over four months old must be licensed, and the dog gets a tag. Other Greater Victoria municipalities, such as Saanich and Oak Bay, run their own dog licences.
- Dogs are not allowed at Gonzales Beach from June 1 to August 31, and must be leashed there the rest of the year.
- Dogs must be on leash on all Capital Regional District trails, including the Galloping Goose and Lochside trails.
- On BC Transit buses in Victoria, only small pets in a cage that fits on your lap may ride.
Where to walk your dog
Off-leash areas include Dallas Road waterfront (Beacon Hill Park, between the multi-use path and the seaside path), Banfield Park (Vic West, seasonal hours) and Topaz Park (Hillside-Quadra, two leash-optional areas). Check the posted rules before you let your dog off leash.
The Dallas Road waterfront path is a favourite ocean walk, and the Galloping Goose Regional Trail is good for longer on-leash walks.
Dates to know in Victoria
- Victoria Day Monday (May): Victoria Day Parade downtown. Downtown roads close for the morning, so plan pickups and drop-offs around the parade.
- July 1: Canada Day at the Inner Harbour, with fireworks around 10:20 p.m. Big downtown crowds all day and loud fireworks at night that can scare pets.
- June to August: Dog ban at Gonzales Beach. If you live near Fairfield, plan other beach walks for the summer months.
Renting with a pet in British Columbia
BC landlords can refuse pets, and some leases have a no pets clause. If pets are allowed, the landlord can ask for one pet damage deposit of up to half of one month's rent. In a strata building, strata bylaws can also limit pets.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your lease, and contact the Residential Tenancy Branch if you are unsure.
Pickup areas in Toronto
We pick up anywhere in Toronto, including Downtown, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York, York, and across the GTA: Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill. We also cover Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Caledon, King, Aurora, Newmarket, Whitchurch-Stouffville and nearby towns. The form shows the price for your address.
Settling in Victoria
- Book a visit with a new vet in the first few weeks and bring your pet's records.
- Update the address on your pet's microchip record.
- Keep your pet's routine, food and bedding the same for the first week.
Toronto to Victoria: questions
How much does it cost to ship a pet from Toronto to Victoria?
How long is the flight from Toronto to Victoria?
Who picks up my pet in Victoria?
When does my dog need a licence in Victoria?
Where can my dog run off leash near downtown Victoria?
Can I bring my dog to the beach in summer?
Get your Toronto to Victoria price
Takes about three minutes. We send your price within 24 hours.