Mexico pet travel requirements

Pack a clean carrier and only one day's food

The carrier must be clean; SENASICA staff spray it at the inspection. Bedding, pee pads, newspaper, sawdust, cloths, toys, treats and anything made from ruminant products are taken out and destroyed; a collar and leash are fine. You can bring only the portion of commercial pet food for the day you arrive. More than that must be in intact packaging, labeled in a language officers can read, with the health authority's seal, and come from a country listed in SENASICA's requirements system. Homemade food isn't allowed.

Dogs / Cats

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Rabies vaccination (pets from outside the US and Canada)

The health certificate must show the date of the rabies vaccination and how long it is valid, so the vaccine is given before the vet issues the certificate. Pets under 3 months old are exempt.

Dogs / Cats · Except when all of these apply: (Younger than 3 months on arrival) · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: US, CA)

Mexico sets no minimum time between the vaccine and travel; it must still be valid on entry.

We count the vaccine as valid for 1 year unless you enter the 'valid until' date from the certificate.

Pets under 3 months old don't need it.

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Internal and external deworming within 6 months (pets from outside the US and Canada)

The health certificate must state that the pet was treated for internal and external parasites within the previous 6 months and is free of external parasites.

Dogs / Cats · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: US, CA)

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Health certificate issued within 15 days (pets from outside the US and Canada)

Bring the original health certificate and one plain copy. An official vet issues it, or a private vet on letterhead showing their professional license number. It must give the names and addresses of the exporter and importer, the rabies vaccination date and validity, that the pet was clinically healthy at the exam before the trip, and the internal and external deworming within the past 6 months. It is valid for at most 15 days after it is issued.

Dogs / Cats · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: US, CA)

Without a certificate or vaccination record, you must hire a private vet in Mexico to treat the pet and issue the certificate; SENASICA staff or an authorized third party can then certify its health.

If the health certificate or vaccination booklet is missing, SENASICA says the owner must arrange a private veterinarian in Mexico for the corresponding treatments and certificate. An official or authorised specialist may certify health after assessment. This is an arrival contingency at the owner’s expense, not permission to travel without the required documents.

SENASICA exempts animals younger than 3 months from the rabies vaccination details; the health certificate and the other applicable entry conditions still apply. The plan evaluates this exemption at arrival using the known date of birth.

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Flying the pet as cargo: check the airline and consider a customs broker

If the pet travels as air cargo, SENASICA says to check the requirements with the airline and suggests hiring a foreign-trade (customs) agent for clearance.

Transport: Cargo

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Obtain the US-origin dog screwworm inspection document

For a dog of US origin arriving from the US, SENASICA requires an inspection document showing it is free of New World screwworm. A USDA-accredited veterinarian must sign it within the 5 days before travel. Cats are exempt from this document. Carry the original for the SENASICA arrival inspection.

Dogs · Departure countries/regions: US

This is separate from the general health certificate and vaccination-record waiver for pets of US origin coming from the US. Confirm the date and time with the accredited vet.

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Confirm both the country of origin and the departure country

SENASICA describes its Canada and US document exceptions as origin Canada/US AND coming from that same country. If your pet originated elsewhere, recently moved there, or your itinerary changes its departure country, confirm with SENASICA which documentary route applies. Do not assume that leaving from a Canadian or US airport alone gives the exception.

Dogs / Cats · Departure countries/regions: US, CA

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Get the import certificate (CZI) at the SENASICA office on arrival

At the SENASICA inspection office (OISA) at your airport, port or border crossing, fill in the application for the import health certificate (CZI); you can download it or ask for it there. Show the papers your pet needs: for a dog from the US, the original NWS certificate; from countries other than the US and Canada, the health certificate and a copy. Officers examine the pet: it must show no signs of contagious disease, carry no external parasites, and have no fresh or healing wounds. The carrier is sprayed.

Dogs / Cats

External parasites found: a vet of your choice treats the pet before it's released, at your cost.

Ticks found: samples go to an official lab and the pet stays at the office until the ticks are confirmed not to be exotic or under special control; otherwise SENASICA decides what to do, at your cost. How long this takes isn't stated.

Older official pages disagree on the threshold for 3 or more pets: a 2016 SENASICA article charges a fee above 3, while the Mexican embassy in Bolivia says 3 or more are cleared in the cargo area as a commercial import. Current pages don't say.

Pets from the US and Canada don't need to register in the Frequent Traveler Pet Program (PMVF); a registered dog from the US still needs its NWS certificate.

SENASICA's pages don't say whether to book or notify the office ahead.

SENASICA application for the import health certificate (Solicitud para obtener el certificado para importación de mercancía regulada en materia agrícola, pecuaria, acuícola y pesquera)

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Oct 21, 2026

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Source: Embassy of Mexico in Bolivia (SRE) · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Show the CZI to Mexican customs

Each traveler can bring in up to 3 pets or companion animals (such as cats, dogs or ferrets) duty-free, if they show customs the CZI issued by Mexico's agriculture ministry (SADER).

Customs doesn't say what happens with more than 3 animals per traveler.

Source: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Mexico) · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Allow for treatment and re-inspection if parasites are found

SENASICA checks dogs and cats on arrival. If external parasites are found, arrange a veterinarian of your choice to treat the pet at your expense before release. If ticks are found, officers also verify that every tick has been removed; SENASICA may impose additional measures if there is a sanitary risk.

Dogs / Cats

Source: SENASICA (Mexico's National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality) · Checked Nov 12, 2026