Updated August 2021
Whether you are driving or flying to Mexico, traveling with dogs to Mexico is easy.
In 2020 the Mexican government – the OISA (part of SAGARPA-SENASICA) – dropped the requirement to provide a Health Certificate from a veterinarian. HOWEVER only
…IF you are coming from Canada or the United States.
Jump Ahead To:
What Changed: Requirements and Processes For Bringing Pets to Mexico
Mexico no longer requires your pet to have a health certificate from a veterinarian.
Mexico no longer requires proof of the rabies vaccine for your dog or cat. (The U.S. does require a rabies certificated to enter)
When flying into Mexico with your pet, a staff member of OISA (part of SAGARPA-SENASICA) will perform a brief physical inspection of your pet.
At the airport the OISA office will verify:
- That there are no signs of infectious and contagious diseases
- That it is free of ectoparasites = fleas, ticks, mites, and lice
- That there are no fresh or healing wounds
The OISA offices are at the international airports, not at the border crossings between the U.S. and Mexico.
What has not changed:
- Only a small amount of dog food is allowed to be brought into the country. (another words, don’t bring several months worth of food)
- Any type of disposable bedding the dog was transported in, must be thrown away. For example, newspapers or sawdust or rags (pertains to dogs flying in a crate)
Notice from the USDA about the requirements for traveling to Mexico with pets.
Driving to Mexico from the U.S. and Canada
If you are driving to Mexico with your dog, you do not need to spend the money to go to a veterinarian and get a health certificate.
You do not need to have a veterinarian provide proof that the pet has had parasite prevention.
You do not need to provide a rabies certificate for your dog or cat. (You will need a rabies certificate to enter back into the U.S.)
Note: Please refer to the section regarding entering back into the U.S. with a pet and the new process.
As a side note, the Mexico border agents are not OISA officers and are not part of the SAGARPA-SENASICA.
OISA offices are not at the U.S. border crossings. There is no one who will ask to inspect your dog at the border.
The OISA offices are at the airports.
NEW Airline Process For FLYING To Mexico With A Pet
Flying from the U.S. and Canada (only) into Mexico with a pet, the airlines have stopped requiring a health certificate to bring your pet on board the airplane with you. Note: if your is dog is flying in cargo, it still needs a health certificate.
The airlines – Delta and United – do not clearly state on their website whether or not a Health Certificate is required.
Alaska Airlines does clearly state that a health certificate is not required. Kudos to Alaska Air for documenting this on their website.
I called Delta and United directly (was on hold for over an hour) and when I finally was able to speak to someone, they could not find any documentation stating a health certificate was required. Therefore, they concluded a health certificate is not required to fly on their airline.
Aeroméxico does require a health certificate and rabies certificate in order to fly on their airline. I would also like to point out that the airline has recently updated their ESA policy and now require a medical certificate from a psychiatrist (not psychologists).
More information about Aeroméxico can be found here:
A rabies certificate is required when flying into the United States. So, make sure you bring this with you before flying anywhere with your pet.
Click on my link above “New Process For Entering Back Into The U.S. With A Pet” for more information.
If you are interested in understanding the difference between Service Animals and Emotion Support Animals please read my article here.
What Happens Upon Landing At An Airport in Mexico?
Once you land at the airport, the airport officials will direct you to the OISA office inside the airport.
Now, instead of handing them paperwork to review, they inspect your dog for good health. That is it!
This only applies to pets originating from the U.S. and Canada. If you are flying in from any other country to Mexico, a health certificate is required.
Also, as of 2021 U.S. airlines no longer allow Emotional Support Animals.
Rabies Certificate
The rabies vaccination certificate must include all of the following information:
- Name and address of the owner
- Breed, sex, date of birth, color, markings, and other identifying information for the dog
- Vaccine product information – name, lot number
- Date of rabies vaccination
- The date the vaccination will expire
- Name, license number, address, and signature of the veterinarian who administered the vaccination
Check the rabies certificate to make sure it does not expire while in Mexico!
If it does, this is a reason your dog may be turned away at the airport.
It’s always a good idea to ask the veterinarian for several original copies of the rabies certificates.
Returning Home With Your Pet
Bringing your dog back to the U.S. from Mexico
UPDATE June’21: Although Mexico no longer requires proof of the rabies vaccine for your dog or cat you will need to bring the up-to-date rabies certificate with you in order to enter back into the U.S. with your pet.
Reason: On July 14 2021, the CDC put a temporary suspension on dogs entering the U.S. from countries that have a high risk of dog rabies.
113 countries are on this list – Mexico is NOT on this list. View list
However, when you enter the United States, they will ask where your pet is coming from. At this time you will provide a verbal statement that your dog(s) lived in a country that is NOT high risk for at least 6 months.
They will probably ask to see your airline ticket and passport for proof.
More from the CDC on bringing your pet to the U.S.
As always… Safe Traveles!
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Mexico City – 5 Pet-Friendly places to visit in CDMX
Thinking of moving to Mexico? Check out the new 2021 Immigration Guide from Mexperience.
Pet Friendly Excursion: Visit one of Mexico’s Famous Ghost Towns – Real de Catorce
Analysis on just how pet friendly some Airbnbs really are! Review on 10 Pet Friendly Airbnbs in Mexico
HI!
I adopted a pup in Mexico last year and brought her to NYC. I now want to bring her back to Mexico with me in December. She is too big to carry on. I would put her in cargo, as I did when we came to NYC, but it seems as if NO airline is taking pets in cargo any more… do you have any insights as to how I can get her to Mexico with me for the winter months? Thanks a million!
Hola Amanda! Have you contacted Aeroméxico? I did a search on their website and it seems to me they accept dogs in the cargo area. Link here: https://aeromexico.com/en-us/travel-information/checking-your-pet I know that Aeroméxico has direct flights out of JFK to Mexico City, Cancun and Guadalajara. If either of these are not your final destination, maybe one of these airports will get you close enough so that you can drive with your dog to your final destination. Just a thought. =8-) A word of precaution… if you are able to fly with your dog in cargo, be sure to tell the pilot… Read more »
thank You!!!
Hello,
Thank you for all the excellent information here. I am flying with my dog with Aeromexico from Amsterdam to Mexico City, then Vallarta. He is registered as an emotional support animal, which is still allowed by Aeromexico.
The Aeromexico website says that I need a Zoosanitary Export Certification issued by the SAGARPA-SENASICA, but I assume this is only needed when flying out of Mexico?
I will obtain the health certificate, including rabies vaccination details, from a vet in Amsterdam. I don’t think anything else is required?
Thank you so much!
Hola Wouter!
You are correct… a Zoosanitary Export Certification is a heath certificate. You will need one to come in to Mexico and one to leave Mexico on Aeroméxico. Make sure your veterinarian includes any/all parasite and deworming information for your dog.
You may already be aware that Aeroméxico Recently updated their ESA policy and now require a medical certificate from a psychiatrist (not psychologists).
There is an online form you must complete in order to request bringing an ESA on board the airplane.
https://aeromexico.com/en-us/travel-information/service-and-emotional-support-animals
Enjoy PV and the sunny weather! =8-)
Hi I have some questions about flying with my 7 month old puppy from Guatemala to Mexico City, from Mexico City to California. I am in the process of getting him registered as a service dog with the UnitedServiceDog.com. Can you tell me what information is needed on my flight from Guatemala to Mexico City, to have him in the Cargo with me? I believe if I get the Service animal documentation all I will need is a health certificate. My plan is to fly into Mexico City and go to the vet there ask for “certificado international de salud… Read more »
Hola Mariah I can understand the predicament you are in with trying to get your dog from Guatemala to California. There are a couple of obstacles you need to be aware of. In order to answer your questions properly – some more information needs to be provided. =8-) Which airline are you planning on using to get from GUA to CDMX (Mexico City)? Check with them on their pet policy. Each airline has their own pet policy. To enter Mexico from Guatemala you will need a Health Certificate and a M.A.G.A. Export Certificate from a licensed veterinarian in Guatemala. This… Read more »
Hello,
I’m planning on bringing my 55lb dog to Mexico City for a few months. I will be flying from Denver on AreoMexico. From everything I’ve researched they still take ESA. I was planning on having her on board with me. I was wondering if I needed to submit paperwork to SENASICA before I fly. My spanish is not the best, so it’s been challenging to find info.
Hola Linda, There is no mechanism to submit any paperwork to SAGARPA-SENASICA ahead of time because a health certificate is not required for dogs coming from the U.S. or Canada. All they require is that your dog undergo a physical inspection at their OISA office at the airport. Keep in mind that Aeroméxico is one of the few airlines that requires a health certificate for your dog when flying to Mexico, even though the Mexico government does not. That paperwork will have to be submitted (uploaded) ahead of time to the airline. Just make sure you call Aeroméxico to have… Read more »
Hello, thanks for helping with info on traveling with pets. We are flying aeromexico to Chile from the United states, with a layover in Mexico City. I see we need a Zoosanitary export certificate (required by airline) but I am unable to find out more information on how to obtain that. I have read many different things, some saying I need a health certificate then to take that to an office (with no info on offices) to obtain the zoosanitary export cert and some say this is done at the airport in the United States. Do you have any info… Read more »
Hola Allison! Are you flying with your pets in the cabin with you? I am assuming “yes”. To be clear… you are flying on Aeroméxico from the U.S. then changing airplanes at the CDMX (Mexico City) airport and then traveling on to Chile, correct? Since you are starting out in the U.S. – Mexico does not require a health certificate, however the final destination is Chile so you will need to meet their health requirements in order to bring your pets into Chile. Basically, you need to have the International Health Certificate for Chile completed and signed by a USDA… Read more »
This is awesome thanks so much! The only issue I’m having is that a lot of USDA accredited vets still say they have to send in the documents and it could take 2-3 days. We travel on a Monday and are at a hotel so was really hoping to find one that uses the online system but haven’t had any luck yet. By chance do you know of any in the Chicago area? I’m going to keep calling tomorrow to try and find one but figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. Thanks again, I was worried about the no pet… Read more »
Hum… it doesn’t help that the link to find a USDA vet that use VEHCS is down! How about contacting the local National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) Coordinator: Meagan Roth / Dr. David Barber in Springfield, IL. I would think they are VEHCS users or can help you find a USDA Vet in the Chicago area who is. Here is the link to get their contact info: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/nvap/nvap-coordinators
Best of luck! Would love to hear if everything works out OK. =8-)
Hi I am bring my service animal with me flying on Alaska airlines from U.S. to Cancun Mexico for 12 nights. According to your article I don’t need to bring anything with me anymore? Here are my questions… 1. How much food is a little food and can I check a bag that has all of her food? 2. Do I need to bring any paperwork with me to enter Mexico and come back to Seattle with my dog? 3. Is the inspection to and from or just when I enter Mexico? 4. She is 10lbs and always travels with… Read more »
Hola Maryssa! First, if your dog is a certified service animal (not an emotional support animal) it will be allowed on the airplane with you. You need to call the airline asap and let them know that you are bringing a service animal with you. There is a limit to the number of service dogs/pets allowed on the airplane at one time. Be sure she wears her service vest so the flight attendants do not confuse her as a “pet” and insist she goes under the seat in front of you. Here is Alaska Airline’s link regarding flying with a… Read more »
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know about this information! I didn’t know which website to trust. If you don’t mind me asking how do you know so much about this and where do you get your information?
I am happy to read you find this information helpful. =8-)
Most of my information comes from personal experience and doing a lot of research.
Before I started this website, I had a hard time finding answers to my questions about traveling with dogs in Mexico and Guatemala. I decided that there must be others with the same questions as me. So I began to document our experiences about traveling with dogs in hope that others found it useful. =8-)
We are from Canada and have been in Mexico since January 2021 and are now having our friends sell everything in our Canada house so we can permanently relocate to Mexico. We are trying to find an international pet travel service to bring our Cat down to Playa Del Carmen where we are living but we can’t seem to find anyone who will offer this service. Is any company open that can do this? Maybe a fight to USA and then a flight to Canada?
Hi Andria! I know of a international pet transport company that maybe able to help you. They are Pacific Pet Transport. https://www.pacpet.com/. I tried contacting them but have not heard back yet. I will mention that some pet transport companies are very expense and could take a few days for your pet to arrive. It may be more economical to buy a round trip ticket for a friend and have them transport your cat. Since your pet most likely will fit under the seat in front, it will be less stressful for the cat and more direct! =8-) Hope this… Read more »
All I derive from the content in this blog is that nothing’s change save for the anxiety of getting the USDA forms to Gainesville for signature and return before we leave the US as we’ve been doing for years now. United has been our airline of convenience to Puerto Vallarta hence I can’t imagine anything different in the documentation we’ve been presenting heretofore. We’ve routinely had an exit exam done in Mexico on returning to the USA, hence we’ll continue same, and I trust USDA will look for the rabies validation as customary.
Hola Dr. Rosenstock – The airlines still require a health certificate and a rabies certificate. Both. Mexico does not require a health certificate or rabies certificate. Contact United Airlines for the information on the health certificate form they will accept. The USDA no longer uses the general APHIS7001 form. This APHIS7001 was the same form the airlines used as their health certificate requirements. Now the USDA has country-specific forms. This means the USDA has a health certificate form that is specific to each country (Guatemala, Costa Rica, etc..). Mexico no longer requires a health certification for a pet traveling from… Read more »
Have a 4 month old puppy that has had 2 sets of rabies shots Fully dewormed; all other vaccines complete Going to fly from TJ to La Paz on Wednesday, April 14 Using Cross Border Express (TJ/US border) Paid for the puppy to travel in cabin on Volaris Approved soft airline carrier for him with appropriate measurements Bringing all of this stuff from the information provided on your site (like 40 pages worth!) Getting a health check here in US the day before travel (April 13) Will have the vet fill out the silly APHIS7001 form Do we need to… Read more »
Hola SWG… Regarding your return trip on Volaris and needing a 2nd health certificate and not getting a clear answer from Volaris. Unfortunately, the agents you speak to on the phone are just reading from a script. If the script does not provide the answer, oh well. The answers are with the check-in agents. I have been in your shoes and not gotten an answer over the phone (or website). So, I went down to the airport and asked the check-in agent my questions. And I got the answers I needed! When you check-in, I suggest you ask the agent… Read more »
Do you know if the Leptospirosis vaccine is required to fly to Mexico? Our dog will have the first vaccine 16 days before travel, but a booster is required 2 days before we leave.
Hola Sarah…Thank you for the interesting question! I must admit I have never heard of the Leptospirosis vaccine, so I had to Google it. To date, no airline has specifically asked that my dogs be vaccinated for the Leptospirosis disease. The airlines are very focused on making sure all animals in their transport be vaccinated against Rabies. Therefore, my short answer is no, the airlines do not require a Leptospirosis vaccine. As always, double check and call the airline. I’m curious if they even know what it is. I want to thank you for bringing the Leptospirosis disease to our… Read more »
Thank you! I have chosen to vaccinate when the vet has the vaccine available as we have been living in areas with coyote, skunk, raccoon and gophers in our yard and not knowing what all they might leave behind! It has proven difficult for our current vet to keep the vaccine in stock. Where do you find your Next Guard Spectra in Mexico at a great price?
We have been able to get NextGard Spectra from a veterinarian each time. Some had it in stock while others had to order it. Now that we are back in the U.S. we have to order it from Australia! Thanks for all your great questions and info!