Bringing a dog or cat to Mexico

Easy for dogs and cats from every origin group the authority lists.

Difficulty from Germany
Easy
Prep time
1 week
Quarantine
None
Authority
Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA, Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural — SADER), inspecting at its Oficinas de Inspección de Sanidad Agropecuaria (OISA) in ports, airports and border crossings; customs: Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM)
Rules researched 25 Sep 2026 · 35 sources
01

Requirements

Dog from Germany · 8 steps

It depends on where you're coming from. Pick your country, or compare the origin groups the authority itself uses below.

COMING FROM
Prep time 1 week

Dog from Germany (Dogs other): 8 requirements

Open as my dated checklist
  1. 01
    Health certificate
    "Certificado de Buena Salud" on the letterhead of the veterinary clinic, no more than 15 days old, AND/OR the vaccination card (or equivalent) with the owner's name and address. Through them the vet certifies (a) rabies vaccination with its date, (b) treatment against internal and external parasites within the last 6 months, (c) clinical exam: healthy and free of external parasites. A private vet is enough — no government endorsement is asked for. A certificate issued by the origin country's veterinary authority must be signed by an official vet and, if it states no validity, be no more than 15 days old. SENASICA's traveller page (2026-08-04) describes the certificate itself as the document to present: original plus a plain copy, the vet's professional licence number printed or photocopied, names and addresses of exporter and importer (destination address in Mexico), rabies vaccination date and validity, clinically healthy at the pre-travel exam, dewormed inside and out within 6 months and free of ectoparasites. Safest: bring a certificate with all of that, plus the vaccination card.
    • At most 15 days before arrival
    Source:SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios) (opens official site: HRZ 007-35-61-DEU-DEU — dog, origin Alemania (Republica Federal de), provenance Alemania (Republica Federal de))· checked 24 Sep 2026
    Also: SENASICA (SADER)
  2. 02
    Rabies vaccination
    Vaccinated against rabies, with the date on the certificate or vaccination card. Animals under 3 months old are exempt. The sheet sets no minimum age, no waiting period after vaccination and no validity rule.
    • Only if: For pets aged 3 months or more
    Source:SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios) (opens official site: HRZ 007-35-61-DEU-DEU — dog, origin Alemania (Republica Federal de), provenance Alemania (Republica Federal de))· checked 24 Sep 2026
  3. 03
    Parasite treatment
    Treatment against internal AND external parasites within the last six months, stated by the vet.
    • At most 6 months before arrival — the sheet does not say from when the six months count
    Source:SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios) (opens official site: HRZ 007-35-61-DEU-DEU — dog, origin Alemania (Republica Federal de), provenance Alemania (Republica Federal de))· checked 24 Sep 2026
  4. 04
    Arrival inspection
    SENASICA staff at the OISA inspect the pet and ask for the documents. It must have no fresh or healing wounds. External parasites → a vet of your choice treats the pet, then it is released; ticks must all be removed. Costs are the importer's.
    Source:SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios) (opens official site: HRZ 007-35-61-DEU-DEU — dog, origin Alemania (Republica Federal de), provenance Alemania (Republica Federal de))· checked 24 Sep 2026
  5. 05
    Crate and bedding
    Present the pet in a clean carrier. Staff remove and destroy disposable bedding (pads, newspaper, sawdust, rags) and other contents, and toys, treats or objects made with bovine ingredients; the carrier is disinfected by spraying.
    Source:SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios) (opens official site: HRZ 007-35-61-DEU-DEU — dog, origin Alemania (Republica Federal de), provenance Alemania (Republica Federal de))· checked 24 Sep 2026
  6. 06
    Pet food
    The day's ration of balanced pet food per the sheet; more only in intact, labelled packs from a country on SENASICA's tourist-import list (see the rule notes).
    Source:SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios) (opens official site: HRZ 007-35-61-DEU-DEU — dog, origin Alemania (Republica Federal de), provenance Alemania (Republica Federal de))· checked 24 Sep 2026
  7. 07
    Import permit
    Zoosanitary import certificate (Certificado Zoosanitario para Importación, CZI), issued by SENASICA at the OISA on arrival once the sheet's requirements are met — no advance application. Ask the OISA staff for request form FF-SENASICA-003 (pet dog / pet cat versions; fields for the microchip number, origin and provenance, address in Mexico). Customs (ANAM) must be shown the certificate. No fee for pets (see fees).
    Source:Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM) (opens official site: Equipaje y franquicia)· checked 04 Oct 2026
  8. 08
    Non-commercial limits
    Up to three pets per passenger enter duty-free as part of the passenger's baggage, travelling with them (RGCE 2026 rule 3.2.3, in force for 2026). The sources consulted do not say what happens with a fourth pet (not researched).
    Source:Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM) (opens official site: Equipaje y franquicia)· checked 04 Oct 2026
    Also: Diario Oficial de la Federación (official gazette); issued by the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT)

Dog from Germany: 8 requirements.

In short: No permit, no titer test, no quarantine. A health certificate from any vet (no more than 15 days old) and/or the vaccination card, showing rabies vaccination and internal + external deworming within 6 months; inspection on arrival.

Always confirm with the destination's official authority and your airline before travelling.

Compare by origin group

The groups are the authority's own lists. Pick a cell to see that group's checklist above.

FromDogCat
United states
From United States: dog · cat
1 place
United States
Canada
From Canada: dog · cat
1 place
Canada
Dogs other · Cats other
Same rules from Dogs other and Cats other
From Germany: dog · cat
134 places
Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turks and Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
No sheet (every country not listed elsewhere)
From Iceland: dog · cat
Cat sheet only
From Barbados: dog · cat
9 places
Andorra, Barbados, Brunei, Ethiopia, Moldova, Namibia, Pakistan, Rwanda, Saint Lucia
Dog sheet only
From Taiwan: dog · cat
21 places
Angola, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Zimbabwe
Still deciding where to go?
See Mexico side by side with other destinations from Germany.
Compare with other destinations
02

Quarantine

None

No quarantine

Source:SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios) (opens official site: HRZ 007-35-61-DEU-DEU — dog, origin Alemania (Republica Federal de), provenance Alemania (Republica Federal de))· checked 24 Sep 2026
03

Official fees

1 official fee
CZI (zoosanitary import certificate) for a pet — exempt from the federal feeOrden Jurídico Nacional (Secretaría de Gobernación) — compiled text
MXN 0 per certificate

Official fees only. Vet, airline and courier prices are not part of the rules.

04

Going back to Germany

Moderate

Returning to Germany from Mexico: 0 weeks; a rabies antibody test is needed. Timing set by: Rabies antibody (titer) test.

Germany guide
05

Approved entry points

Not named
06

Breed bans

None named

The researched rules of Mexico name no breed ban. Airlines may still refuse flat-faced and restricted breeds.

07

Transit through Mexico

Not researched

Transit rules for Mexico have not been researched yet. Ask the authority and your airline before booking a connection with the pet.

08

Leaving Mexico with your pet

2 rules
09

Rule changes

1 dated change
  • IN FORCE · 03 Aug 2026

    Screwworm inspection: "Certificado de Inspección GBG para el Traslado (Exportación) de Perros Mascota de los Estados Unidos a México" (New World screwworm inspection certificate for pet dogs moving from the United States to Mexico), signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, dated within the 5 days before entry. In force since 3 August 2026. Cats are exempt. The bilingual form and its instructions are on the APHIS "Pet Travel From the United States to Mexico" page (pet-dogs-nws-inspection.pdf): the accredited vet inspects the dog (skin, interdigital areas, ear canals, mucous membranes) and issues the form directly to the owner — no APHIS endorsement, handwritten signature in non-black ink only, dates in DD/MM/YYYY, dogs only on the form. The vet's name and accreditation number are checked against the NVAP register at the border; an inspection date outside the 5-day window, an illegible name or a wrong number can mean refusal or a hold at the border.

    Source:SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios) (opens official site: HRZ 007-35-61-USA-USA — dog, origin Estados Unidos de América, provenance Estados Unidos de América)· checked 24 Sep 2026
10

Good to know

10 notes
11

Checklists to Mexico

20 route pages

Step-by-step route pages for the origins people move from most, dated timeline and all.

12

Traveller reports

Share your trip

No traveller reports for Mexico yet. If you have made this trip, tell the next person what was actually checked at the border.

Share your trip
13

Sources

35 official pages
Report a rule change

Every official page behind this guide, with the last day its text was confirmed unchanged.

Show all 35 sources