The first thing most clients notice about the Vietnam-to-Canada route is what’s missing from the bill: quarantine fees. Unlike Australia (where a minimum 10-day quarantine can cost AUD $2,000–$4,500) or Japan (where a 180-day preparation protocol and arrival quarantine add thousands to the total), Canada releases your pet directly to you after a brief CBSA border inspection. No facility. No nightly rate. No weeks of waiting. That structural difference makes our Pet Shipping to Canada service one of the most cost-effective long-haul routes from Vietnam.
Freight is what sets the total. In Daisy’s 2026 quotes, a 35 kg dog flown as manifest cargo came to about USD $9,900, of which about $6,500 was freight and about $2,000 was the Canadian agent, clearance and handling; the crate was extra. Cats and small dogs are quoted case by case, with much lower freight. Here is where the money goes.
Pre-Flight Veterinary and Documentation Costs
These costs occur in Vietnam before your pet ever sees an airport cargo terminal. They are non-negotiable regardless of which airline or route you use.
| Item | Estimated Cost (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip implantation | $20–$60 | ISO 11784/11785 standard; do before rabies vaccine |
| Rabies vaccination | $15–$40 | Daisy Pet’s standard buffer: wait 30 days after first shot before flying |
| Pre-travel health exam + Animal Health Certificate | $50–$150 | By a licensed Vietnamese veterinarian; required by airlines |
| Document preparation service (optional) | $150–$400 | Professional handling of paperwork, endorsements |
Total pre-flight vet and doc costs: USD $85–$650 depending on whether you use a documentation service.
IATA-Compliant Travel Crate
Your pet must travel in an IATA-compliant hard-shell crate. Airlines will reject a crate that doesn’t meet specifications — soft bags, wire cages without solid tops, or undersized crates will get your pet refused at check-in. Budget for this as a one-time investment: a quality crate will also serve for future travel.
| Pet Size | Crate Size | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Small cat/dog (under 8 kg) | IATA 100–200 series | $60–$150 |
| Medium dog (8–25 kg) | IATA 300–400 series | $120–$300 |
| Large dog (25–50 kg) | IATA 500–600 series | $250–$500 |
| Extra-large dog (over 50 kg) | IATA 700 series | $400–$800 |
For guidance on measuring your pet and selecting the correct size, see our IATA Crate Size Calculator.
Airline Cargo Fees: The Largest Variable Cost
Vietnam has no direct flights to Canada. Every pet shipment from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) or Hanoi (HAN) to major Canadian airports — Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or Vancouver (YVR) — involves at least one connecting hub. The most common routes and their associated transfer hubs are:
- Korean Air via Seoul Incheon (ICN): SGN → ICN → YYZ/YVR
- Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong (HKG): SGN → HKG → YYZ/YVR
- Air China via Beijing (PEK): SGN → PEK → YYZ/YVR
- Air Canada via a connecting hub: typically through an Asian partner airline for the Vietnam leg
Airline cargo fees are calculated on volumetric (chargeable) weight — the greater of actual weight vs. dimensional weight. This formula makes large-breed dogs significantly more expensive to ship than their actual body weight suggests.
| Pet Category | Chargeable Weight Range | Estimated Airline Fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Cat or small dog | 15–25 kg chargeable | Quoted per booking; small crates on other long-haul routes ran $1,200–$2,800 in 2026 quotes |
| Large dog, 35 kg (crate 120 × 67 × 67 cm) | about 90 kg chargeable | about $6,500 (2026 quote) |
These figures are for Manifest Cargo shipment and exclude about $520 per shipment for the air waybill, export customs declaration and handling. In-cabin and accompanied baggage options are generally not available on the long-haul Canada routes from Vietnam.
Canada Arrival Costs
Unlike Australia or Japan, Canada has no quarantine on arrival. The government fee is the CBSA border inspection fee; for a pet arriving as manifest cargo, the larger cost is the customs agent’s clearance and handling.
| Item | Estimated Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CBSA border inspection fee | CAD $36.95 (~USD $27) for the first pet, plus GST/HST | Payable at the port of entry; $6.16 CAD each additional pet |
| Canadian agent, import clearance and cargo handling | about USD $2,000 | From Daisy’s 2026 quote for a 35 kg dog arriving in Toronto as manifest cargo |
Full-Service Professional Relocation: What It Costs and What It Covers
A professional pet relocation service handles every step — from pre-flight documentation and crate coordination to airline booking, cargo tracking, and airport pickup logistics in Canada. In Daisy’s 2026 quotes, a full-service move for a 35 kg dog came to about USD $9,900, covering the Vietnam-side documents, the import permit, freight, export handling and Canadian clearance; the crate was extra.
The realistic way to evaluate this cost: a full-service provider absorbs the risk of documentation errors (which can cost $500–$2,000+ to fix if a shipment is turned back) and the time investment of navigating airline cargo booking systems, CFIA requirements, and multi-leg routing. For pet owners making a one-time international move, the professional route often has a lower true cost than it appears at first glance.
Budget Scenarios from 2026 Quotes
| Scenario | Pet | Route | Estimated Total (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service, large dog | 35 kg, crate 120 × 67 × 67 cm | SGN → YYZ, manifest cargo | about $9,900 (crate extra) |
| Full-service, cat or small dog | Under 10 kg | SGN/HAN → YYZ or YVR | Quoted case by case; freight for a small crate is a fraction of the large-dog figure |
Note what’s absent from every row: quarantine costs. The Canada route’s clean arrival process means these figures represent the complete picture — not a starting point before adding weeks of facility fees.
What Drives Cost Up and What Keeps It Down
The two biggest variables in your total cost are pet size and route choice. A large dog on a long indirect route will cost significantly more than a small cat on a direct-hub connection. Beyond those, preparation timeline matters: expedited document processing or last-minute airline bookings carry premiums of 20–40% over standard lead times of 6–8 weeks.
To understand the full compliance requirements before budgeting, see our Canada Pet Import Laws Guide. For a step-by-step timeline of what happens from microchip to arrival, see our Pet Shipping Timeline Vietnam to Canada. Ready to get an accurate quote for your specific pet and situation? Get a Quote from our team for a custom assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a pet from Vietnam to Canada?
In Daisy’s 2026 quotes, a 35 kg dog flown as manifest cargo with full service came to about USD $9,900, including about $6,500 in freight and about $2,000 in Canadian clearance; the crate was extra. Cats and small dogs are quoted case by case. Unlike Australia or Japan, Canada has no quarantine fees on arrival.
Are there quarantine costs for pets arriving in Canada from Vietnam?
No. Canada does not quarantine personal pets on arrival. The only mandatory arrival cost is the CBSA border inspection fee of CAD $36.95 for the first pet (plus GST/HST; $6.16 CAD each additional pet), plus the customs agent’s clearance and handling when the pet arrives as cargo (about $2,000 in Daisy’s 2026 quote).
Last updated 15 Oct 2026
Compiled by our specialists from the regulations in force on the date above, for reference only. Rules may change after this date. Please verify with the competent authorities or contact us for the most accurate information.
