Skip to content
Pet Valet

Fit to fly certificate

Vet health certificate for flying

Air Canada needs one for every pet. WestJet needs one for some pets. We tell you which applies, and we can drive your pet to your own vet for the exam.

Book a vet ridePlan a full move
A vet holding paperwork next to a dog

What a fit to fly certificate is

A fit to fly certificate is a health certificate signed by a licensed vet after an exam. It tells the airline your pet is healthy enough to travel. The airlines call it a health certificate or veterinary certificate; most people search for "fit to fly". It is the same thing.

For a move within Canada, the airline decides whether your pet needs one, not the government. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has no health certificate requirement for pets travelling between provinces. That also means you do not need a CFIA accredited vet. Any licensed vet can sign it, including the vet who already knows your pet.

By airline

Who needs one

Air Canada Cargo

Every pet

A health certificate is required for every pet shipped as cargo, from a licensed vet, dated no more than 30 days before travel.

Air Canada also asks for a signed Shipper's Certification for Live Animals. We fill it in when we book.

WestJet Cargo

Some pets only

A health certificate is needed only for snub-nosed breeds, pets 8 to 12 weeks old, and pets that are sedated or have had recent surgery. It is valid for 10 days.

WestJet has its own vet certificate form. We send it to you so your vet can fill it in. We fill in WestJet's Shipper's Certificate for Live Animals ourselves.

Not sure which airline your pet will fly with? Get the certificate within 10 days of the flight and it works for both. If the airline does not need one, a recent check-up before a big move is still a good idea.

How we help

Your own vet, our ride

We use your own vet. They know your pet's history, and the certificate is quick for them to write. If you do not have a vet in Toronto, ask us and we can suggest clinics that write travel certificates often.

If you cannot get to the appointment, we can take your pet. We pick them up at home, drive them to your vet, wait during the visit and bring them home with the signed certificate. Pets only in our vehicles, so you do not ride along.

You pay the vet directly for the exam and the certificate. We charge only for the ride.

How the vet ride is priced

  • A return ride to your vet, plus a waiting package of 45, 60 or 90 minutes.
  • The price depends on the driving distance to your vet and the waiting time you choose.
  • If the visit runs over, extra time is billed in 15 minute blocks after the trip.
  • You can add an option where the driver stays in the exam room with your pet while you join by phone.

Enter your address and your vet's address in the form. For most addresses in Toronto and nearby cities you see your price on screen right after you enter your contact details. For the rest we send it within 24 hours. More on local rides on the pet taxi page.

Part of a bigger move?

When you book a pet relocation with us, tick "Ride to your vet for the health check" in the quote form. We time the visit so the certificate is valid on the day your pet flies.

Get a price for a move

Step by step

How it works

  1. 1

    We check the rules

    Once we know the airline and your pet's breed and age, we tell you if a certificate is needed and how long it is valid.

  2. 2

    You book your vet

    Pick a date inside the valid window. We send you the airline's form if it has one.

  3. 3

    We drive, if you want

    We take your pet to the appointment, wait, and bring them home with the signed certificate.

  4. 4

    It travels with your pet

    We bring the certificate to the cargo office with the rest of the paperwork on flight day.

Last checked against the airlines' own pages on October 1, 2026.

Airlines change their rules. Always check the official page before you book.

Fit to fly certificates: questions

What is a fit to fly certificate for a pet?
It is a short health certificate, signed by a licensed vet after examining your pet, saying your pet is healthy enough to travel. Airlines call it a health certificate or a veterinary certificate. People often call it a fit to fly certificate.
Does my dog need a fit to fly certificate to fly within Canada?
It depends on the airline. Air Canada Cargo needs one for every pet, dated no more than 30 days before travel. WestJet Cargo needs one only for some pets: snub-nosed breeds, puppies and kittens 8 to 12 weeks old, pets recovering from surgery, and sedated pets. WestJet's is valid 10 days. We tell you which applies when we book.
Do I need a CFIA accredited vet?
Not for travel within Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has no health certificate requirement for pets moving between provinces, so any licensed vet can sign the airline's certificate. CFIA rules only come in for pets leaving or entering the country.
How much does a pet health certificate cost?
Your vet sets the fee, and you pay the vet directly. We only charge for the ride if you want us to take your pet there. The ride price depends on the distance to your vet and the waiting time you choose. Enter both addresses in the quote form to see it.
When should the vet visit be?
Close enough to the flight that the certificate is still valid on the day. For Air Canada, within 30 days of the flight. For WestJet, within 10 days. If your flight could move, book the visit closer to the date so a short delay does not mean a second visit.

Need a ride to the vet before the flight?

Tell us your address and your vet's address. The form shows the price right away.

Book a vet ride
Get a price