BRINGING A DOG FROMUnited States to Mexico
Dog · Moving
Bringing a cat instead?No quarantine when the paperwork is in order. Needs screwworm inspection, 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
Inspection on arrival only. Since 3 August 2026 dogs (not cats) also need a New World screwworm ("GBG") inspection certificate signed by a USDA-accredited vet, no more than 5 days old. The sheets list no health certificate, rabies vaccine or deworming for pets from the USA.
"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.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
"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.
inspection and issue date within the 5 days before entry into Mexico
Source:SENASICA (SADER) (opens official site: Requisitos y procedimientos para viajar a México con tu mascota (SENASICA traveller page))· checked 04 Oct 2026+2 more
Go to the SENASICA office (OISA) at the point of entry with the pet in a clean carrier. Staff check that it shows no signs of infectious disease, is free of external parasites and has no fresh or healing wounds. If external parasites are found, a vet of your choice must treat the pet; ticks are sampled and removed and the pet waits at the OISA for the lab result (see quarantine). Costs are the importer's.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
Go to the SENASICA office (OISA) at the point of entry with the pet in a clean carrier. Staff check that it shows no signs of infectious disease, is free of external parasites and has no fresh or healing wounds. If external parasites are found, a vet of your choice must treat the pet; ticks are sampled and removed and the pet waits at the OISA for the lab result (see quarantine). Costs are the importer's.
A dirty carrier, or one with disposable bedding (pads, newspaper, sawdust, rags), toys or food, is disinfected and everything inside is removed and destroyed.
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A dirty carrier, or one with disposable bedding (pads, newspaper, sawdust, rags), toys or food, is disinfected and everything inside is removed and destroyed.
The sheet allows the ration of balanced (commercial) pet food for the day of arrival. More food is allowed only in intact, labelled packs (Spanish, English or another understandable language) from a country with an MCRZI combination — for dry or wet dog/cat food one 50 lb / 22 kg bag per family, the USA being a listed country — per SENASICA's food page and 2026 tourist-import list (see the rule notes).
DETAILS +DETAILS −
The sheet allows the ration of balanced (commercial) pet food for the day of arrival. More food is allowed only in intact, labelled packs (Spanish, English or another understandable language) from a country with an MCRZI combination — for dry or wet dog/cat food one 50 lb / 22 kg bag per family, the USA being a listed country — per SENASICA's food page and 2026 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).
- 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)
- Cats from the USA: inspection only — the cat sheet (published 2024-06-27) lists the same checks as the dog sheet but no screwworm certificate. — SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios)
- Only for pets that ORIGINATE in the USA. A pet of another origin travelling from the USA has its own sheet (e.g. Canada → USA → Mexico, Thailand → USA → Mexico), mostly without the screwworm certificate.
- Cats from the USA need neither a health certificate nor the screwworm document (APHIS, SENASICA). Do not add a cat to the dog form — it invalidates the form. — USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
- Mexico does not require a microchip (the NWS form's microchip field is optional). A microchip is still needed for the return to the USA (CDC) and by most airlines. — USDA APHIS (bilingual form; Spanish title "Certificado de Inspección GBG para el Traslado (Exportación) de Perros Mascota de los Estados Unidos a México")
No quarantine when the paperwork is in order
If the pet does not meet the rules: If ticks are found, the pet is held at the OISA until the lab confirms they are not exotic to Mexico; if they are, SENASICA decides the measures. Costs are the importer's.
Timeline
Working out your dates…
Documents
One paper per requirement above; carry originals. 0 of 1 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 United States
Easy for a returning pet (no separate returning-resident rule; standard import rules apply), about 1 week of preparation. No quarantine.
Full checklist for a dog from Mexico to United States
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 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: screwworm inspection, arrival inspection, crate and bedding, pet food, which origins the rule covers, quarantine, entry points, this route · checked 24 Sep 2026 · document dated 2026-07-17
- Requisitos y procedimientos para viajar a México con tu mascota (SENASICA traveller page) (opens official site)SENASICA (SADER) · used for: screwworm inspection, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-08-04
- 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: screwworm inspection, notes, this route, leaving with the pet · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-09-21
- NWS Inspection Certificate for Pet Dogs Moving (Exporting) from the United States to Mexico — form and instructions (PDF) (opens official site)USDA APHIS (bilingual form; Spanish title "Certificado de Inspección GBG para el Traslado (Exportación) de Perros Mascota de los Estados Unidos a México") · used for: screwworm inspection, notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-09-18
- 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
- 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 013-08-504-USA-USA — cat, origin Estados Unidos de América, provenance Estados Unidos de América (opens official site)SENASICA — MCRZI (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios) · used for: notes, this route · checked 24 Sep 2026 · document dated 2024-06-27
- Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries (opens official site)U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · used for: return trip · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2024-07-22
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