Read this first. Regulations change without notice and avian influenza zones can change with little warning. This page is guidance, not authorisation. Confirm every requirement with CFIA, APHIS, USFWS and ECCC before you travel — contact numbers are at the bottom of this page. Do not book a flight or drive to a border on the strength of this page alone.
Whether you need a CFIA import permit for your pet bird comes down to two things: where the bird is coming from, and whether it’s a personally owned pet. From the United States, a personally owned pet parrot or songbird needs no permit — only an owner declaration at the border, under section 13 of the Import Reference Document, the text incorporated by reference into the Health of Animals Regulations.
From anywhere else, it can only be imported under a Ministerial permit. Here’s how to tell which applies to you, and what the application actually involves.
In this guide
- Do You Even Need A Permit?
- The US Route: When A Declaration Is All You Need
- Every Other Route: The Ministerial Permit Under Paragraph 12(1)(A)
- What To Expect Once You Apply
- The Border Inspection Fee Is Separate From The Permit Fee
- If The Permit Is Refused, Or Your Bird Doesn’t Pass Inspection
- US Route Vs. Everywhere-Else Route, Side By Side
- While The Permit Is In Progress
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Guides In This Series
- Who To Call Before You Travel
- What We Can And Cannot Help With
- Corrections
Do You Even Need A Permit?
This is worth settling before anything else, because the answer changes everything downstream. Under section 13 of the Import Reference Document — a document incorporated by reference into the Health of Animals Regulations, so it carries the force of law rather than being informal guidance — a personally owned pet parrot or song bird arriving from the United States needs no Ministerial permit and no veterinary health certificate.
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The owner brings the bird to the border and makes a declaration to a Customs Officer. That’s the entire paperwork requirement.
Section 13(3) of the same document draws the line for everyone else: parrots that aren’t pet birds under section 13 — which, in practice, means every parrot arriving from any country other than the USA — “may only be imported in accordance with paragraph 12(1)(a)” of the Health of Animals Regulations. That’s a Ministerial permit. There is no low-risk-country shortcut here either: Part III of the same document states plainly that “the world is an undesignated area for regulated animals,” meaning no country currently qualifies for reduced requirements on this front.
The US Route: When A Declaration Is All You Need
If your bird qualifies under section 13, the requirement is narrow and specific, not a general “pet birds from the US are fine” rule. The declaration must state, for each bird, that:
- it is the owner’s personal pet and is not for sale;
- it has not been in contact with other birds; and
- it has been in the owner’s personal possession in Canada or the United States for the 90 days immediately preceding the date of entry.
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Two conditions trip people up. First, the importer must be the owner and must personally accompany the bird — a spouse or family member can’t bring the bird across on the owner’s behalf under this section. Second, there’s a household limit that’s rarely published anywhere: no member of the importer’s household may have imported a bird under section 13 in the 90 days before this entry. In effect, this route allows roughly one pet bird per household every 90 days. If you’re moving with more than one bird, or a household member already used this route recently, you may not qualify — plan accordingly. Our walkthrough of the Canada-US crossing covers this route step by step.
Even under this simpler route, admission isn’t automatic. If a border inspector has reason to believe the bird isn’t in good health, they can refuse it entry — or, if it’s already been admitted, order it removed from Canada or destroyed. There’s no quarantine requirement written into section 13 itself; the document specifies quarantine explicitly where it applies elsewhere (30 days for swine, for example), so its absence here for pet birds is a deliberate omission, not an oversight.
Every Other Route: The Ministerial Permit Under Paragraph 12(1)(A)
If your bird is arriving from anywhere other than the US, or doesn’t meet the personal-pet conditions above, it falls under paragraph 12(1)(a) — you need a Ministerial import permit before the bird can enter Canada. This is the route almost every international relocation (as opposed to a US-Canada move) will need, and it’s the reason this article exists: the permit application, not the border crossing itself, is where the process actually takes time.
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Worth checking: exactly which application form, CFIA portal (e.g. My CFIA) or process is currently used to apply for a paragraph 12(1)(a) live-animal import permit for a pet bird — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (1-800-442-2342) before you rely on it.
What To Expect Once You Apply
Because this is a Ministerial permit rather than a fixed checklist, CFIA reviews each application on its own facts — species, country of origin, and the bird’s health history all factor in. That also means some elements of what you’ll be asked for and what conditions might be attached are genuinely case-by-case rather than published in advance.
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- Worth checking: the current service standard or typical processing time for this permit application — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the Canadian Food Inspection Agency before you rely on it.
- Worth checking: whether a single permit covers more than one bird, and whether it’s valid for one entry only or for repeat use — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the Canadian Food Inspection Agency before you rely on it.
One thing the Import Reference Document does confirm: there’s no blanket quarantine rule for this route the way there is, say, for swine. Any quarantine condition on a non-US bird would be attached to your individual permit, set case by case — not a published number of days you can plan around in advance. Worth checking: whether your species and circumstances are likely to carry a quarantine condition on this application — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the Canadian Food Inspection Agency before you rely on it.
The Border Inspection Fee Is Separate From The Permit Fee
Even once your permit is in hand, budget for a second, distinct charge at the border. CBSA collects fees for food, plant and animal inspections carried out by border services officers, and it states plainly that these fees increase annually and are updated every year on 31 March.
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The authoritative current list is the CFIA Fees Notice, not any third-party page — which is why the figure below is the one CFIA publishes rather than one lifted from a pet-travel blog. For consideration of an import permit application in respect of an animal, the CFIA Fees Notice gives $43.12 for single use and $73.90 for multiple use as of 31 March 2026. Any specific fee you find quoted on a blog post is very likely stale by the time you read it.
GST and other applicable taxes may also apply to inspection services, and CBSA is explicit that these fees and taxes cannot be claimed under a traveller’s personal exemption — this is a genuine out-of-pocket cost on arrival, not something a duty-free allowance absorbs. And if you don’t see your situation listed on CBSA’s own schedule, that doesn’t mean it’s free: CBSA states that items absent from its schedule are either handled by a CFIA inspection instead, or not inspected at all. Either way, “not on the CBSA list” is not the same as “no charge.”
If The Permit Is Refused, Or Your Bird Doesn’t Pass Inspection
The Import Reference Document is direct about what happens when things don’t go to plan. An inspector can refuse admission if they have reason to believe the bird isn’t in good health, or order it removed from Canada — or destroyed — if it’s already been let in.
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Separately, Part IV of the document sets out that where an animal doesn’t qualify for import, the importer will be ordered to remove it from Canada under section 18 of the Health of Animals Act within a specified period, and must comply. Worth checking: whether there is a formal appeal or reconsideration process for a refused 12(1)(a) permit application, and the current timeline for it — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the Canadian Food Inspection Agency before you rely on it.
US Route Vs. Everywhere-Else Route, Side By Side
| Personally owned pet bird, from the USA (s.13) | From anywhere else (paragraph 12(1)(a)) | |
|---|---|---|
| Permit required? | No — owner declaration only | Yes — Ministerial import permit |
| Vet health certificate? | Not required under s.13 | Not confirmed — ask them |
| Who can bring the bird in? | Only the owner, accompanying the bird | Not confirmed — ask them |
| Application fee | None | Not confirmed — ask them |
| Processing time to plan for | Not applicable — assessed at entry | Not confirmed — ask them |
| Quarantine | No blanket requirement in s.13 | Case-by-case condition of the individual permit |
| Border inspection fee | May apply — see CFIA Fees Notice | May apply — see CFIA Fees Notice |
While The Permit Is In Progress
Some relocations line up cleanly with a move date; a lot don’t, and a Ministerial permit application is exactly the kind of step that can stretch a timeline out past what you’d budgeted. To be clear about what we can and can’t help with: Bird Sitting Toronto doesn’t file permits, complete applications, liaise with CFIA or CBSA, or give immigration advice — the information above is exactly that, information, and every unconfirmed figure should be checked directly with the agency before you rely on it.
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What we do offer is somewhere stable for your bird to live while that process runs, whether that’s weeks or months, with daily update videos so you can see how they’re settling in from wherever you are. If that’s useful, you can get a boarding quote. For the wider picture of relocating with a bird, our complete guide to moving abroad with a pet bird and our plain-English guide to bringing a bird into Canada cover the surrounding steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need A CFIA Permit To Bring My Pet Bird Into Canada From The US?
If the bird is your personal pet, you’re the owner and you’re accompanying it, section 13 of the Import Reference Document generally means you need only an owner declaration at the border — not a Ministerial permit. Confirm your specific situation against the current text before you travel.
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What If I’m Bringing My Bird Into Canada From A Country Other Than The US?
Then section 13 doesn’t apply, and your bird falls under paragraph 12(1)(a) of the Health of Animals Regulations — you need a Ministerial import permit before it can enter Canada.
How Much Does The Import Permit Cost?
The CFIA Fees Notice sets it out: for consideration of an application for an import permit in respect of an animal, $43.12 for single use and $73.90 for multiple use. Those are the amounts in the column headed “Fee as of March 31, 2026”, and CFIA re-indexes its fees every 31 March against the Consumer Price Index, so check the current Notice before you budget. This is the fee to have the application considered — it is separate from any inspection charge at the border.
How Long Does The Permit Application Take?
Not confirmed — this varies by circumstance and CFIA’s current service standards. Worth checking: current processing time for a paragraph 12(1)(a) permit application — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the Canadian Food Inspection Agency before you rely on it.
Will My Bird Be Quarantined After I Import It?
Under section 13 (the US pet-bird route) there’s no blanket quarantine requirement. Under a paragraph 12(1)(a) permit, any quarantine would be a condition set case by case on your specific permit, not a published fixed period — check with CFIA when you apply.
Is There A Separate Fee At The Border, On Top Of The Permit?
Possibly. CBSA collects fees for animal inspections at the border, and these increase every year on 31 March, with GST and other taxes potentially added on top. The authoritative current figures are in the CFIA Fees Notice, not on any blog.
Can A Family Member Bring My Bird Into Canada For Me?
Not under the section 13 pet-bird route — the importer must be the owner and must personally accompany the bird. Worth checking: whether the same restriction applies to a permit issued under paragraph 12(1)(a) — we could not confirm this from an official source. Ask the Canadian Food Inspection Agency before you rely on it.
Can I Bring More Than One Bird In On The Section 13 Declaration?
Watch the household rule, not just the per-bird one: no member of your household may have imported a bird under section 13 in the 90 days before your entry date, which in effect limits this route to about one bird per household per 90 days.
Related Guides In This Series
- Importing a Pet Bird to Canada: The Complete CFIA Guide (2026)
- Moving Abroad and You Can’t Take Your Bird: Board, Rehome, or Wait
- Long-Term Bird Boarding While You Relocate: 30, 60 and 90+ Days
- Taking Your Bird from Canada to the United States: Driving vs Flying
- Two Unsettled Questions About Taking a Parrot to the US (and How to Get an Answer in Writing)
- Does Your Bird Need a US Import Permit, Health Certificate or Quarantine? (From Canada, Usually None of Them)
- Students and Work-Permit Holders in Canada: Your Bird and Your Status
Who To Call Before You Travel
Confirm every requirement below with the agency itself. These are the people who can actually authorise your bird’s movement — we cannot.
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Every number below was checked against the agency’s own website on 27 July 2026. Government phone numbers and web pages still change without notice. If one does not connect, find the agency through its own official site rather than trusting what is printed here.
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) — import and export of live birds, health certificates, permits: 1-800-442-2342 from Canada and the US, or 1-613-773-2342 local and international, 8 am to 7 pm EST Monday to Friday except holidays. CFIA names services related to travelling with pets as something its area offices handle — for the GTA that is the Mississauga animal health office, 289-247-4100, 8 am to 4 pm
· inspection.canada.ca - Environment and Climate Change Canada — CITES permitting — export and import permits for CITES-listed species, and what documents exist for repeat crossings:
1-855-869-8670
· cites@ec.gc.ca - Canada Border Services Agency — what happens at the border itself, declarations and inspection fees: 1-800-461-9999, Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm local time. Press 0 to reach an agent; CBSA’s published service standard is to answer within 20 minutes
- USDA APHIS — the US pet-travel hub, with separate paths for import, export and interstate movement, and the list of which birds count as pets at all:
aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel - US Fish & Wildlife Service — CITES and Wild Bird Conservation Act permits, applied for through the ePermits portal at fws.gov/permits. The agency contact centre is 1-800-344-9453
· info@fws.gov
What We Can And Cannot Help With
We cannot help with paperwork. Bird Sitting Toronto is a bird boarding and care business. We are not a customs broker, an immigration consultant, a veterinary practice or a legal adviser. We do not file permits, complete applications or deal with any agency on your behalf, and we cannot guarantee any outcome at any border. Everything on this page is information only.
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There are two things we can do. If your bird cannot travel with you — because the paperwork is still in progress, the airline will not carry it, or the timing simply does not work — we can board your bird in the GTA for as long as you need, including by the month. And if it becomes clear the bird genuinely cannot come with you, we can help you rehome it to a good home rather than leaving you to sort that out alone.
We publish this guide because our boarding clients ask us about it constantly, and because the answer is genuinely hard to assemble from the primary sources.
Corrections
Where we have found a material error on this page — a wrong fee, day-count, phone number or country status — we fix it and record the fix here rather than editing quietly.
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- 27 July 2026 — We had listed 1-800-358-2104 as the US Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement number. That number is widely repeated online but does not appear anywhere on the current fws.gov, so we have replaced it with the contact route the agency does publish — the ePermits portal and its agency contact centre. Every other number in that section was re-checked against the agency’s own website the same day, and CBSA’s border information line has been added.
- 27 July 2026 — This page said twice that we had no confirmed figure for the import-permit application fee and would rather leave it blank than guess. We have it now, from the CFIA Fees Notice itself: $43.12 for single use and $73.90 for multiple use, in the column headed “Fee as of March 31, 2026”. The blanks have been filled and the “unconfirmed” flags on that specific question removed.
