Flying your dog in from the US? There's a new certificate (and other pet rules)
Mexico checks pets on arrival rather than asking for permits in advance, but the rules depend on where you fly from, and dogs coming from the US now need a screwworm certificate. What SENASICA asks for, and what the airline asks for on top.
The short answer: Mexico inspects pets on arrival instead of issuing permits in advance. What you need depends on where you travel from.
From Canada: no health certificate or vaccination record, just the inspection. From the US: the same for cats, but dogs now need a screwworm inspection certificate signed by a USDA-accredited vet within 5 days of travel. From anywhere else: a health certificate issued within 15 days, with rabies vaccination and deworming. Your airline may ask for more.
Bringing a dog or cat to Mexico is simpler than to most countries: there's no quarantine and no import permit to apply for in advance. But the rules changed recently for dogs coming from the US, and the airline's requirements are often stricter than Mexico's. This guide follows SENASICA's own page (Mexico's agricultural health agency), dated August 4, 2026.
What SENASICA requires, by where you travel from
| Travelling from | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Physical inspection on arrival. No health certificate or vaccination record needed. | Same as dogs. |
| United States | Documentation of an inspection showing the dog is free of screwworm, signed by a USDA-accredited vet within 5 days before travel. No health certificate or vaccination record needed. | Physical inspection only. Cats are exempt from the screwworm requirement. |
| Anywhere else | A health certificate issued no more than 15 days before arrival, with the date and validity of the rabies vaccination (animals under 3 months are exempt), internal and external deworming within the previous six months, and the vet's credentials and address. | |
The screwworm requirement is new. It follows outbreaks of New World screwworm, a parasitic fly, and it's exactly the kind of rule that can change at short notice, so check SENASICA's page in the week you travel.
What happens on arrival
- Go to the SENASICA desk at the airport, port or border crossing (OISA, the agricultural inspection office). Ask for the Certificado Zoosanitario para Importación (CZI) form, or download it and fill it in beforehand.
- Your pet is inspected for signs of disease and for external parasites like ticks and fleas.
- If they find parasites, you have to get a vet of your choice to treat the animal before it's released, at your expense. A flea and tick treatment a few days before you travel avoids this.
The carrier: what you can't bring in
SENASICA doesn't allow beds, puppy pads, newspaper, sawdust, rags or other carrier contents into the country. Travel with a clean carrier, and expect bedding to be thrown away at the inspection. Bring only the food your pet needs for the journey, and buy the rest in Mexico.
The airline is often the stricter part
Mexico's rules are only half the trip. Airlines set their own requirements, and they're frequently stricter:
- Many want a recent health certificate even when Mexico doesn't.
- Most limit the number of pets in the cabin per flight, so book your pet's spot when you book your seat.
- Many restrict pets in the hold during hot months, or ban snub-nosed breeds there entirely.
- Carrier size and weight limits for the cabin are strict.
Ask the airline for its rules in writing before you buy your ticket.
Driving across the border with a pet
The SENASICA requirements are the same at land crossings. Stop at the inspection point when you cross, even if nobody waves you over, so you have the paperwork if anyone asks later. For the car itself, see driving in Mexico.
Going back
Coming home is a separate set of rules, set by your own country. For the US, check the USDA APHIS and CDC rules on dogs entering the US, which have tightened in recent years. For Canada, check the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Look this up before you leave, because some requirements, like microchips or rabies certificates, are easier to sort out at home.
Sources
- SENASICA, Requisitos y procedimientos para viajar a México con tu mascota (August 4, 2026).
- SENASICA, CZI application form.
Last checked October 2, 2026. Pet entry rules can change quickly, especially during animal-disease outbreaks, so check SENASICA's page and your airline shortly before you travel. This is general information. If your experience at the border was different, please tell me.
