Animals > Imports > Policies / Procedures > Pet Imports  

Importation of Rodents

(Animals of the rodentia order include all types of agoutis, beavers, capybaras, chinchillas, chipmunks, coypus, gerbils, gophers, groundhogs, guinea pigs, gundis, hamsters, jerboas, lemmings, maras, marmots, mice, muskrats, pacaranas, pacas, porcupines, prairie dogs, rats, springhares, squirrels, tucotucos, viscachas, and voles.)

The information on this page is current as of  .

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency DOES NOT permit the importation of:

Rodents, other than those identified in a) and b) above, can be imported into Canada without an import permit, health certificate, or inspection⁽¹⁾.

Please note that some rodents are subject to import controls imposed by other federal or provincial government departments, for example:

• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which is administered by the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), sets controls on the international trade and movement of threatened species. Please contact CWS for information by telephone 613-997-1840, 819-953-6283 or via their Web site to determine if the rodents you wish to import require import permits.

• The Province of Alberta only permits the entry of rats (genus Rattus) under its Agricultural Pests Act, Pest and Nuisance Control Regulation, Section 11(1) which is administered by Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.

¹ Part XII of the Health of Animals Regulations applies to the transportation of ALL ANIMALS and an inspection related to humane transport may be conducted.

For further clarification of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency import policies, you may contact one of the officers listed below:

Comments or requests for additional information.