BRINGING A CAT FROMNetherlands to Mexico
Cat · Moving
Bringing a dog instead?No quarantine. Needs health certificate, rabies vaccination, parasite treatment, arrival inspection, crate and bedding, pet food, import permit and non-commercial limits.
Always confirm with the destination's official authority and your airline before travelling.
Entry requirements
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.
"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.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
"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.
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.
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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.
- · For pets aged 3 months or more
Treatment against internal AND external parasites within the last six months, stated by the vet.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
Treatment against internal AND external parasites within the last six months, stated by the vet.
the sheet does not say from when the six months count
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.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
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.
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.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
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.
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).
DETAILS +DETAILS −
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).
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).
DETAILS +DETAILS −
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
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).
DETAILS +DETAILS −
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).
- No documents? The sheet says you must then have a vet of your choice cover points a)–c) (rabies vaccine, deworming, health). Where and how quickly this can be done at the point of entry is not stated — do not rely on it. — SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios)
- Without a health certificate, SENASICA official or assisting staff may certify the pet's health (point c) after assessing it. — SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios)
- Frequent travellers: a valid SENASICA "Programa Mascota Viajero Frecuente" (PMVF) registration can be shown instead to prove health, rabies vaccination and deworming. — SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios)
- Certificate from the origin country's veterinary authority — must be signed by an official vet; no more than 15 days old if it states no validity. — SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios)
- SENASICA's 2026 list of products allowed for tourist import is more generous than the sheet: one bag of up to 50 lb (22 kg) of packaged, labelled dry or wet dog/cat food per family, in one or more packs, from Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, South Korea, Costa Rica, USA, Ecuador, Spain, France, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Indonesia, Malaysia or New Zealand (loose food: the day's ration only); packaged treats of animal origin without ruminant content up to 10 lb / 5 kg per person or family from a shorter list. SENASICA's food page reconciles the two: the day's ration is always allowed; more only in intact, labelled packs from a country with an MCRZI combination (no home-made or loose food). — SENASICA — Dirección General de Inspección Fitozoosanitaria
- Food beyond the day's ration must be in intact packs, labelled, with the health authority's seal, and come from a country with an MCRZI combination; home-made ("artesanal") products are not allowed. — SENASICA (SADER)
- Sheet dates differ by country (2017-07-13 to 2026-09-17) but the text is the same; the wound-statement variant is used for the origins that need a wound statement. A few countries have minor variants; check the sheet for yours.
No quarantine
Timeline
Working out your dates…
Documents
One paper per requirement above; carry originals. 0 of 4 ready.
Official fees
Fees the authorities publish for this route, in their own currency. Vet and airline charges are not included.
- CZI (zoosanitary import certificate) for a pet — exempt from the federal fee
- MXN 0 per certificate
Entry points
Where a pet may enter Mexico, per the rules.
- List as of 2026-09-24Every dog/cat sheet says "Todas las OISAS" (98 offices in the July 2026 directory: airports, seaports, land crossings) except the sheets for Lebanon (dogs, cats) and Indonesia (cats): AICM air-cargo customs only (see the port of entry steps).SENASICA's traveller page says the same — offices at every point of entry, ports, airports and borders.
Airlines
Airline rules are separate from entry rules and change without notice — confirm in writing when you book. Only what the carriers' own pages say, read 25 Sep 2026. All airlines
- Lufthansa LHCabinYesHoldYesSnub-nosedHold: no · Cargo: restricted
- Emirates EKCabinNoHoldYesSnub-nosedCargo: only Nov – Apr
- CabinNoHoldYes, up to 45 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: not 1 May – 31 Oct
- Qantas QFCabinNoHoldCargo onlySnub-nosedNot stated
- CabinYesHoldNoSnub-nosedHold, cargo: no
- KLM KLCabinYes, up to 8 kg incl. carrier46 × 28 × 24 cmHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: no
- Air France AFCabinYes, up to 8 kg incl. carrier46 × 28 × 24 cmHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: no · Cargo: restricted
- CabinNoHoldCargo onlySnub-nosedCargo: restricted
- CabinNoHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: restricted
Return trip to Netherlands
Moderate for a returning pet, no lead time. No quarantine.
- Rabies antibody (titer) test — the blood draw must happen before you leave, so plan it into the outbound trip: Favourable rabies antibody titer test done before leaving the EU and recorded in the EU passport. The 90-day wait that applies to the animal health certificate route does not apply.
Source:European Commission (EUR-Lex) (opens official site: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 — animal health requirements for non-commercial movement of pet animals)· checked 04 Oct 2026+1 more
Full checklist for a cat from Mexico to Netherlands
Leaving Mexico with the pet
- Leaving Mexico with a pet (SENASICA export certificate, CZE) was not researched.
- Dogs going (back) to the USA: since 2024-11-22 the USA treats Mexico as screwworm-affected, so every dog entering the USA from Mexico — including a U.S. dog returning from a holiday — needs the APHIS screwworm inspection certificate (inspection within 5 days before travel; a SENASICA-authorised clinical vet, "MVRA", may sign it — SENASICA publishes a directory). CDC rules apply too.
What they actually checked at the border
Reports from people who made this trip, read by a person before publishing.
No traveller reports here yet. If you have made this trip, tell the next person what was actually checked at the border.
Share your tripSources
Every requirement above comes from one of these pages. Last researched 25 Sep 2026. Seen a change? Tell us.
- HRZ 013-08-504-DEU-DEU — cat, origin Alemania (Republica Federal de), provenance Alemania (Republica Federal de) (opens official site)SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios) · used for: health certificate, rabies vaccination, parasite treatment, arrival inspection, crate and bedding, pet food, quarantine, notes, this route · checked 24 Sep 2026 · document dated 2017-07-13
- Requisitos y procedimientos para viajar a México con tu mascota (SENASICA traveller page) (opens official site)SENASICA (SADER) · used for: health certificate, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-08-04
- Equipaje y franquicia (opens official site)Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM) · used for: import permit, non-commercial limits, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-04-20
- Reglas Generales de Comercio Exterior para 2026, regla 3.2.3 (equipaje de pasajeros — mascotas) and transitorio Primero (opens official site)Diario Oficial de la Federación (official gazette); issued by the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT) · used for: non-commercial limits, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2025-12-27
- MCRZI — all HRZ combinations for "Perro" and "Gato mascota", with publication date and text variant (derived index) (opens official site)SENASICA — Módulo de Consulta de Requisitos Zoosanitarios para Importación (index compiled by the researcher) · used for: which origins the rule covers, this route · checked 24 Sep 2026
- Ley Federal de Derechos, artículo 86-A (certificados zoosanitarios) (opens official site)Orden Jurídico Nacional (Secretaría de Gobernación) — compiled text · used for: official fees, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2024-04-23
- Listado de productos y subproductos agroalimentarios permitidos para importación turística — productos para consumo animal (PDF) (opens official site)SENASICA — Dirección General de Inspección Fitozoosanitaria · used for: notes, this route · checked 24 Sep 2026 · document dated 2026-04-17
- Productos para consumo animal (page linking the tourist-import food list) (opens official site)SENASICA (SADER) · used for: notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-04-27
- HRZ 007-35-61-USA-USA — dog, origin Estados Unidos de América, provenance Estados Unidos de América (opens official site)SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios) · used for: entry points, this route · checked 24 Sep 2026 · document dated 2026-07-17
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 — animal health requirements for non-commercial movement of pet animals (opens official site)European Commission (EUR-Lex) · used for: return trip · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-03-27
- Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (Animal Health Law), Part VI — non-commercial movements of pet animals (opens official site)European Parliament and Council (EUR-Lex) · used for: return trip · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2021-04-21
- Pet Travel From the United States to Mexico (USDA APHIS export page; SENASICA's HRZ USA-USA in English) (opens official site)USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) · used for: leaving with the pet · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-09-21
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