Bringing a dog or cat to Mexico
Easy: SENASICA asks for no health certificate or vaccine record for pets from the US or Canada, and other countries need only a 15-day health certificate with rabies and parasite treatment. Since 3 August 2026, dogs from the US also need a screwworm inspection document valid for 5 days. Every pet is physically inspected on arrival.
Which rules apply to you
Mexico sorts arriving pets by where they travel from. Find your group, then follow its steps.
| Arriving from | Titer test | Wait after sample | Permit | Quarantine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pets from the United States or CanadaDogs and cats born in or coming from the USA or Canada (also Mexican pets returning). | No | — | No | Only if rules not met |
| Pets from all other countriesDogs and cats born in or coming from any country other than the USA, Canada or Mexico. | No | — | No | Only if rules not met |
Step by step
Dogs from the US: get the screwworm document
Since 3 Aug 2026, dogs travelling from the US need a New World screwworm (GBG) inspection document. A USDA-accredited vet signs it (no APHIS endorsement needed). It is valid for 5 calendar days.
Check the pet for parasites and wounds
SENASICA inspects every animal on arrival. Animals with ticks, fleas, or fresh or healing wounds can be refused or treated at your cost.
Use a clean crate
Bring a clean carrier without bedding. Only enough food for the day of travel is allowed. SENASICA disinfects the crate.
Report to SENASICA on arrival
Fill in the request for the zoosanitary certificate at the OISA office at the airport, land border or seaport.
No quarantine. Pets with ectoparasites or fresh/healing wounds can be held or refused. Treatment is at the owner's cost.
Vaccinate against rabies
Pets 3 months or older need a valid rabies vaccine. Puppies and kittens under 3 months are exempt.
Treat for parasites
Give internal and external parasite treatment within the 6 months before travel and record it.
Get a health certificate
An official or licensed vet issues it no more than 15 days before travel. It includes the owner's details, the pet's identity, the rabies vaccine date and the parasite treatment, and confirms the pet is healthy. Bring the original and a copy, plus the vaccination record.
Report to SENASICA on arrival
OISA checks the documents and the animal, then issues the Certificado Zoosanitario para Importación.
No quarantine. Pets without documents are held at the OISA office until a Mexican vet vaccinates and treats them at the owner's cost.
Good to know
- Cats
- Same as dogs. The 2026 US screwworm document covers dogs (and pet birds), not cats.
- How many pets
- Not specified on official pages
- Parasite treatment
- Non-US/Canada origins: internal and external parasite treatment within 6 months before travel. All pets: inspected for ectoparasites on arrival. Dogs from the US: screwworm inspection document valid 5 days (since 3 Aug 2026).
- Arrival
- Any international airport, land border or seaport with a SENASICA OISA office.
- SENASICA advises against bringing pets directly from some places without agreed requirements (e.g. New Zealand; Senegal, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Iraq, Kosovo, New Caledonia). Ask in advance.
- Bedding is not allowed. Only food for the day of travel.
- Returning to the US from Mexico: USDA requires a screwworm-free certificate for dogs (inspection within 5 days), plus the CDC Dog Import Form. Mexico is NOT on CDC's high-risk rabies list.
- Only dogs and cats count as pets. Other animals need a separate zoosanitary requirement sheet.
What we could not confirm
- SENASICA's own gob.mx pages were not fetched directly. The rules come from official Mexican embassy (SRE) pages and USDA.
- The 5-day validity of the screwworm document comes from a secondary news source. USDA confirms the requirement but not the exact validity period.
- Whether dogs from Canada (not the US) also need the screwworm document was not confirmed.
- No official pet number limit was found. Some sources cite limits for non-commercial imports.
Sources
- Mexican Embassy (SRE) - 2026 pet FAQ annex based on SENASICA rules
- Mexican Embassy in Canada (SRE) - Viajar a México con mascotas
- USDA APHIS bulletin: Mexico NWS documents for pet dogs from the US (21 Sep 2026)
- BM Editores (secondary) - Mexico sets screwworm inspection rule for dogs and birds from the US (12 Aug 2026)
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Rules change: confirm with SENASICA (Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria), via its OISA inspection offices before booking.