Travelling with a service animal

Before you travel, determine your destination country’s entry requirements for service animals by contacting the nearest foreign government office in Canada. You might need a Canadian International Health Certificate and proof of vaccination for the animal, and you should always carry its training certificate with you.

Contact your travel agent or airline in advance to determine your carrier’s policy and requirements on travelling with service animals.

Airport security screening

When going through airport security, you and your service animal should pass through the walk-through metal detector together. You do not need to remove the animal’s harness, but you must take off any carrying bags or pouches and present them to the screening officer for screening. Remember to bring water for your pet, but follow the requirements for liquids, aerosols and gels.

On the airplane

Make sure you have checked your air carrier’s policy on travelling with service animals before you leave on your trip. As a rule of thumb, the animal can remain with you in the aircraft cabin provided it has been trained by a professional service animal institution to assist a person, is properly harnessed and remains under your control. It does not have to be muzzled.

If your animal is too large or there is not enough space under your seat to accommodate it, then it may remain on the floor area at your feet.

You and your service animal may not occupy seats where the presence of the animal would impede or obstruct access to an emergency exit and/or interfere with the ability of a crew member to carry out his or her assigned duties during an emergency.