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General Information
Both Canada and the U.S. have regulations governing the movement of horses across their shared border. These regulations can change at any time and without notice due to disease outbreaks or international events.
Tips for Preparation
Preparations to cross the border should begin early, allowing time for all necessary tests and paperwork to be completed. If registration papers do not match the horse exactly, the breed registry should correct them before crossing the border. (e.g. if the horse has been gelded or there has been a colour or marking change).
Documents Needed for Moving Horses across the Border: Both Permanent and Temporary Importation
All horses leaving the province of Alberta MUST have a brand inspection and be accompanied by a Horse Permit or an A Form. Contact Livestock ID Services LTD at (403) 509-2088 or 1 -866-509-2088.
All horses require a negative EIA (Equine Infectious Anemia) test within 180 days of entry. This document must be completed and signed by your veterinarian and endorsed by a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) or USDA veterinarian.
All horses require a Veterinary Health Certificate stating that the horse has been examined within 30 days of entering the country and is free of contagious disease. The document must be completed and signed by your veterinarian and endorsed by a CFIA or USDA veterinarian.
Canadian Health Certificate form HA1964 is used for individual horses permanently or temporarily entering the U.S. and form HA1963 is used for multiple horses in a consignment for permanent entry to the U.S. U.S. Health Certificates are VS17-145 for individual horses and VS17-140 for multiple horses whether a permanent or temporary entry is being made into Canada.
Foals less than 6-months-old and at the foot of a mare that was EIA tested prior to foaling do not need to be tested, as long as the mare's test has not expired.
Should the foal be at foot when the mare is tested, the foal must be tested for EIA regardless of age.
The mare's health certificate must indicate if the EIA test was performed prior to the birth of the foal. Any foal at the side of a mare is required to have their own Health Certificate that identifies the foal as belonging to the mare.
Moving Horses for 30 Days or Less
No veterinary inspection is required at the border for horses entering Canada or the U.S. provided the horse returns within 30 days of the date of entry into either the U.S. or Canada on a temporary basis.
Proper brand inspection documents are not a livestock manifest. A current Health Certificate and a current EIA test must accompany all horses.
Horses may enter/re-enter at any port of entry. A duty or sales tax will not be assessed if a horse is entering Canada or the U.S. temporarily.
Moving Horses Permanently
Horses may only enter the U.S. or Canada permanently at a port of entry that offers animal inspections - see list below.
Contact the port of entry for business hours and when a veterinarian will be on duty to perform the required inspection. After hours inspections are subject to additional services charges. When nearing the port of entry, contact the federal veterinarian and give an estimated time of arrival, especially if you will be arriving after hours.
Stop at the U.S. and Canadian customs office on entering or leaving Canada to complete the required papers. Please note that any paperwork, i.e. Canadian GST declaration forms, that you receive when leaving/entering may be necessary for future re-entry, in some cases.
It is recommended that you keep the original laboratory results from the EIA Test with you. Customs have been requested not to collect Veterinary Health Certificates, but they may make copies.
If a Canadian horse was in the U.S. for 60 days or more, the horse is then considered an American Horse. A private American veterinarian and USDA veterinarian must then issue an American Health Certificate to the horse. Please note these health papers will be easier to obtain if the horse.s EIA test is still valid, and you have proof of the EIA test laboratory results. If the EIA test has expired, then another blood sample must be obtained from the horse for a new test.
If a Canadian horse is transported to the U.S. for a sale and is then purchased by a Canadian and will be returning to Canada, the original Canadian Health Certificate is no longer valid. Once a sale transaction occurs in the U.S., the horse is considered an American Horse, and an American Health Certificate must be issued before the horse can re-enter Canada.
If a horse is purchased and imported to Canada, Canada Customs will assess GST on the value of the horse in Canadian dollars. Assessment of GST is based on the bill of sale.
Exceptional Circumstances Requiring Veterinary Inspection into Canada
Certain circumstances require that horses receive a veterinary inspection before entering Canada:
- Horses originating from another country other than Canada or the U.S. and horses in transit to other countries other than Canada (i.e. the horse will be spending less than 60 days in Canada).
- Horses that have been exposed to or traveling through/from an area with a federally reportable disease (e.g. Vesticular Stomatitis). Notice of federally reported diseases can occur and change at any time. In some cases, horses may have to be quarantined.
- Horses destined for a slaughter facility operating in Canada.
U.S. Transportation Regulations
Some U.S. states have permit regulations. Check with state agricultural authorities to obtain a permit before entering the state.This permit can be obtained by telephone in many cases.
In the U.S., interstate trucking laws require that all drivers of units over 26,000 GVW or 6-horse trailers, etc., must have a commercial driver's license. For guidelines and information, contact the U.S. Deptment of Transport at (703) 276-6876. Contact state brand inspectors before leaving to ensure that you have all the required documentation - requirements vary from state to state and are subject to change.
More Tips
Only certain border crossings have veterinarians on duty on a regular basis. When a federal veterinarian (CFIA or USDA) is needed to process the health paperwork or to inspect horses at the port of entry, individuals crossing the border after hours are required to make arrangements with the veterinarian in advance. There will be an extra charge, and the veterinarian is not obligated to serve you outside normal working hours.
The current Canadian charge for this service is a minimum rate of $120.00 or $47.00 per hour, whichever is greater.
Ports of Entry
Veterinarians are available at eight border crossings in Western Canada and the U.S. (The numbers by the port names indicate the corresponding Canada/U.S. port i.e. 1 Emerson and 1 Pembina are the corresponding Canada/U.S. ports). Be sure to phone ahead to confirm when veterinarians are on duty when inspection is required. Some ports maybe available by appointment only and hours vary.
| Canadian Ports of Entry |
| 1 | Emerson, MB | (204) 534-6288 |
| 2 | Boissevain, MB | (204) 534-6288 |
| 3 | North Portal, SK | (306) 927-2255 |
| 4 | Coutts, AB | (403) 344-3808 |
| 5 | Kingsgate, BC | (250) 424-5311 |
| 6 | Osoyoos, BC | (250) 495-6531 |
| 7 | Abbotsford, BC | (604) 854-8029 |
| 8 | Pacific Hwy, BC | (604) 541-3364 |
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U.S. Ports of Entry |
| 1 | Pembina, ND | (701) 825-6262 |
| 2 | Dunseith, ND | (701) 263-3364 |
| 3 | Portal, ND | (701) 926-4281 |
| 4 | Sweet Grass, MT | (406) 335-2142 |
| 5 | Eastport, ID | (208) 267-2396 |
| 6 | Oroville, WA | (509) 476-2635 |
| 7 | Sumas, WA | (360) 988-5715 |
| 8 | Sumas, WA | (360) 988-5715 |
When importing horses from Alaska that require a veterinary inspection, the importer may be asked to present the horse for veterinary inspection at Dawson Creek, BC (250) 782-5682 as there is no veterinarian service at the Canada/Alaska border.
For information on ports of entry in central and eastern Canada, contact:
Guelph (519) 837-9400
Montreal (514) 283-8888
Moncton (506) 851-7400
For further information on health requirements, contact:
Local Canadian Food Inspection Agency District Office. See the Government of Canada blue pages in the telephone directory.
Prepared by:
Les Burwash
Horse Industry Section
Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
Source: Agdex 460/843-1. Revised September 2003.
The contents of this page are no longer available.
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