Pet Travel Services for Dogs and Cats in Victoria
Pet travel services in Victoria come down to paperwork, timing, and one uncomfortable fact: the rules belong to the country you are entering, not to us and not to your airline. We issue international health certificates for dogs and cats travelling from Victoria. What we cannot do is set the requirements, waive them, or guess at them on your behalf, which is why the most useful thing you can do is start reading your destination’s rules well before you book the appointment.
International Health Certificates in Victoria
The certificate records your pet’s identification, including the microchip number, along with vaccination history and the veterinary examination findings, in the format the destination requires. Our veterinarians complete and sign it. Many countries then require a further government endorsement step after the certificate is signed, and there are usually strict windows: a certain number of days before departure, a rabies vaccination given at least a certain interval beforehand, and sometimes blood testing months in advance. Miss a window and the document is not valid, however correct everything else is. Rules also change without much notice, and a requirement that was accurate last year may not be accurate now. That is one reason we ask you to check the current version yourself close to the appointment rather than rely on an older printout.
What You Are Responsible For
This part is not softened, because getting it wrong is expensive. Fees apply for this service. You are responsible for verifying your destination’s requirements, and for bringing every printed form the destination and your airline require to the appointment. We cannot complete forms we do not have in front of us. If information is missing or incorrect, a second visit may be required, and that second visit takes another slot in the diary and may not be available before you fly. Check the requirements yourself, print everything, and bring it all.
What Is an International Health Certificate?
An international health certificate is an official document completed by a licensed veterinarian confirming that a dog or cat meets the entry requirements of the destination country. Requirements differ by country and commonly cover microchip identification, rabies vaccination records, blood testing, parasite handling, and strict timing windows before departure. Timing is set by the destination, not by the practice.
Why Booking Early Matters
Timelines are the single most common thing that goes wrong. Some destinations require blood testing several months ahead of departure. Others require the certificate to be issued inside a narrow window shortly before you fly, which means booking too early is just as much a problem as booking too late. Start the conversation with us as soon as you know you are moving or travelling, even if you have no dates yet. A phone call months out costs nothing and has saved more than one family a rebooked flight. If you are on a tight timeline, say so when you call. We would rather tell you honestly that a date is not achievable than take a booking that cannot produce a valid document in time.
All veterinary services
Routine pet care visits
X-ray, ultrasound, and lab
Pet resources and links
Clinic forms and paperwork
What to Bring to the Appointment
Bring your pet, every printed form from the destination country and the airline, your pet’s full vaccination records including rabies dates and product details, the microchip number, and any previous certificates. If your dog or cat is not yet microchipped, or the chip cannot be read, say so when you book, because identification underpins the entire document. Bring your travel dates too, since the timing windows are calculated backwards from departure. If you are moving rather than holidaying, bring the address you are moving to, because some countries set different rules by region. And if you have already spoken to the airline, bring whatever they sent you in writing, since carriers set their own container, booking, and documentation rules in addition to the country’s.
Vic West Pet Hospital
526 Esquimalt Road, Victoria, BC V9A 3L4
(778) 265-4500
Hours: Monday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Tuesday to Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Saturday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Sunday: Closed. Statutory holidays: Closed. Daily lunch closure 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM.
Reviewed by the Vic West Pet Hospital veterinary team. Last updated August 2026.
FAQ
How far in advance should I book a health certificate appointment?
Contact us as soon as you know you are travelling, even without firm dates. Some destinations require blood testing months ahead, while others require the certificate inside a narrow window close to departure. The timing is set by the destination, not by us.
Who is responsible for checking the destination country's rules?
You are. Requirements are set by the country you are entering and they change. Please verify them yourself and bring every printed form the destination and the airline require. If information is missing or incorrect, a second visit may be required.
Do you issue certificates for domestic travel within Canada?
Please call and ask on (778) 265-4500. International health certificates are the confirmed service on this page. Tell reception where you are travelling and what your airline has asked for, and our team will tell you what we can do.
Moving abroad or flying with your dog or cat? Start early. Call Vic West Pet Hospital in Victoria on (778) 265-4500 to book an international health certificate appointment, and bring every printed form your destination requires with you.