Documents Required for Pets Entering Mexico
Please read Documents Required for Pets Entering Mexico and also read Documents Required for Pets Entering USA if you plan to return with your pet.
Effective 12/16/2019: A health certificate for dogs and cats is no longer needed to enter Mexico. Dogs and cats may be taken to the border without health certificate documentation, they will be inspected by SENASICA upon arrival. Please follow the guidance on this page.
Considerations for airline travel:
Airlines may have separate and additional requirements. Check with your airline to determine what requirements they may have, if any.
Requirements for dogs and cats originating in, and proceeding from, the United States of America to Mexico:
(Combinacion numbers 007-35-61-USA-USA and 013-08-504-USA-USA)
- Upon arrival to Mexico with the pet dog(s) and/or cat(s) in a clean cage(s)/carrier(s), travelers must visit the Mexican Animal and Plant Health Inspection Office (OISA), to contact the official personnel working with SENASICA. The official personnel will verify the following:
- That the dog(s) and/or cat(s) does/do not present signs of infectious and contagious diseases.
- The animal(s) is/are free of ectoparasites*
- The animal(s) does/do not present fresh wounds or wounds in a healing process.
*If at the physical inspection parasites are detected, the owner/user should contact a Veterinarian (anyone) in order he/she applies an appropriate treatment. If ticks are detected, the SENASICA personnel will take a sample of the ectoparasite(s) for its diagnostic at the official laboratory, and will verify that all parasites are removed from the pet(s). The animal(s) will remain at the OISA [Mexican official office] until confirmation that the parasites are not exotic/foreign to Mexico, or are not under an Animal Health Program (Campaign) in Mexico. Otherwise, SENASICA, through the Animal Health General Direction, will determine the measures to be applied. Expenses derived from such actions, should be paid by the importer.
Other requirements/information about inspection at the OISA, upon presentation of the shipment in Mexico:
B. If your pet(s) is/are under treatment due to lesions and/or infections on the skin due to mites, dermatomycosis, dermatophylosis, hairless or similar lesions, you should present to the official personnel of SADER/SENASICA the diagnostic and treatment instructed by the Veterinarian. Such information should be presented in a letterhead, including the professional registration number (or equivalent). Enclosed to the letterhead, it can be accepted a copy of the professional registration number (or equivalent).
C. Compliance of what is indicated in this document, does not exempt the importer of presenting documents, complying with applications and/or procedures requested by other authorities.
D. When the cage/carrier is dirty and/or contains bed disposable (newspaper wood – other materials) toys or edible products, a disinfection will be applied, removing all that is inside of the carrier/cage, for a proper destruction.
E. Only the portion of food used to feed the animal during the day of arrival, will be allowed.
This HRZ only applies to domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and domestic cats (felis catus).
NOTE: If you travel regularly between the U.S. and Mexico with your dog, you can request to register in the “Pet Program – Frequent Traveler”. For further information please contact the following phone numbers: 59051000 ext. 53611, 54326 and 51020, (0155) 43130154; 43130155 and 43130152.
Documents Required for Pets Entering USA
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has certain requirements that must be met before a dog can be admitted entry into the United States. All dogs must appear healthy and depending upon what country the dogs are coming from, a valid rabies vaccination certificate may be required. To learn more, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html
Contact: 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
CDCAnimalImports@cdc.gov
USDA APHIS Animal Care has separate requirements if you are bringing dogs in for the purpose of resale, such as commercial sale or adoption as pets.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may have additional entry requirements for dogs.
USDA APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) has additional requirements for dogs traveling (imported) to the U.S. from countries affected by specific diseases
Pet Travel – Bringing Cats into the US
Please check with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as they may have regulations related to importing a cat into the U.S.
Additional State Requirements
When available, you will find additional information about bringing a cat into a particular state on that state’s Department of Agriculture website. If information about traveling with a cat is not found on this site, you should contact the State Department of Agriculture or the State Veterinarian’s Office in your destination state directly to determine if there are any import requirements.
Considerations for airline travel
Airlines may have separate and additional requirements. Check with your airline to determine what requirements they may have.