FAQ – 6 – Can I bring my pet to Mexico?
In Mexico, only cats and dogs are considered pets!
If your pet is older than three months of age, it will need a Health Certificate and anti-rabies vaccination record dated within the previous year. It is very important to take the necessary precautions to have all the documentation needed, and that the information it contains fits the pet’s characteristics i.e. age, breed, color, sex, etc. If inconsistencies are detected you might face drawbacks or even the rejection of your application.
According to the U.S. Department of State’s website, “There are no quarantine requirements for pets, but they require specific documents issued by an officially recognized veterinarian and an authenticated visado by the Mexican consul with jurisdiction over the place of issue.” Your pets must be examined and a certificate must be issued to show that they are free infectious or parasitic disease. Dogs must be vaccinated against diseases such as rabies, viral hepatitis, leptospirosis and distemper. Cats must be vaccinated against rabies and feline panleucopenia, not less than 15 days before your arrival and no more than one year before your arrival.
- When arriving to Mexico, you must present your pet and all the documentation in one of the Inspection de Sanidad Aropecuaria offices (Sanitary Inspection Office), located in every airport, port and border-crossing.
- Your pet will be inspected physically by a government officer of Mexico to check for parasites or other infectious health issues.
- If your pet complies with all the requirements mentioned above, a Zoo Sanitary Import Certificate will be issued, allowing your pet to enter the country.
- When there is more than one pet, the cost of issuing the Import Certificate (approximately US$130) will have to be paid by the owner at a bank counter, (usually this counter is right next to the inspection office). The rate changes every six months, on January 1st and July 1st.
