Pet Travel From the United States to Mexico

Requirements for Dogs Originating In and Proceeding From the United States to Mexico

(SENASICA HRZ Combinacion number 007-35-61-USA-USA)

1. Upon entering Mexico with your pet in a clean carrier, you must proceed to the Agricultural and Livestock Health Inspection Office (OISA) to contact a SENASICA official or assisting personnel, who will verify that the animal:
   • Shows no signs of infectious or contagious diseases,
   • Is free of ectoparasites,^*
   • Has no fresh wounds or wounds in the process of healing, and
   • Has an NWS Inspection Certificate for Pet Dogs Moving (Exporting) From the United States to Mexico (206.74 KB)  signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and issued no more than 5 days prior. This requirement took effect on August 3, 2026.
     • This document is to be issued directly by the USDA-accredited veterinarian and does not require APHIS endorsement. 
     • This HRZ only applies to domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris).

^* If ectoparasites are detected during the physical inspection, the owner must contact a veterinarian of their choice to administer effective treatment. If ticks are detected, SENASICA official or assisting personnel will take a sample of the ectoparasite(s) for diagnosis at the official laboratory and verify the removal of all specimens found on the pet. The pet will be held at OISA until it is confirmed that the specimens are not exotic to Mexico or subject to a specific control program; otherwise, SENASICA, through the General Directorate of Animal Health, will determine the measures to be applied. Any resulting costs shall be borne by the importer.

Other requirements to be met at the Agricultural and Livestock Health Inspection Office (OISA) upon presentation of the shipment:

• 2. Compliance with the provisions of this document does not exempt the importer from submitting documents or fulfilling formalities and/or procedures required by other authorities.
• 3. If the transport carrier arrives dirty and/or contains disposable bedding (puppy pads, newspaper, sawdust, rags); toys; or food items, disinfection will be performed and all such contents will be removed for proper destruction.
• 4. Only the portion of balanced feed intended for the day of arrival is permitted.

Note: If you travel regularly between the United States and Mexico with your dog, you can request to register in the “Pet Program - Frequent Traveler.” For more information, contact the following phone numbers: 59051000 ext. 53611, 54326 and 51020, (0155) 43130154; 43130155 and 43130152.

• NWS Inspection Certificate for Pet Dogs Moving (Exporting) from the United States to Mexico (206.74 KB)
  • This document is to be issued directly by the USDA-accredited veterinarian and does not require APHIS endorsement. 
  • This HRZ only applies to domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris).

Regarding New World screwworm (NWS), there is no change to requirements for pet cats. A health certificate or NWS inspection document is not required for pet cats to enter into Mexico. Cats may be taken to the border without health certificate documentation; they will be inspected by SENASICA upon arrival. Do not add cats to the dog or bird inspection forms, as this will render those documents invalid. Please follow the guidance below.

Requirements for Cats Originating In and Proceeding From the United States to Mexico

(SENASICA HRZ Combinacion number 013-08-504-USA-USA) 

1. Upon entering Mexico with your pet in a clean carrier, you must proceed to the Agricultural and Livestock Health Inspection Office (OISA) to contact official or authorized SENASICA personnel. They will verify that the animal: 
   • Shows no signs of infectious-contagious diseases,
   • Is free of ectoparasites,^* and
   • Has no fresh or healing wounds. 

^* If ectoparasites are detected during the physical inspection, the user must contact a veterinarian of their choice to administer effective treatment. If ticks are detected, official or authorized SENASICA personnel will take a sample of the ectoparasite(s) for diagnosis at the official laboratory and verify the removal of all specimens found on the pet. The pet will be held at the Agricultural and Livestock Health Inspection Office (OISA) until it is confirmed that the specimens are not exotic to Mexico or subject to a specific control campaign; otherwise, SENASICA, through the General Directorate of Animal Health, will determine the measures to be applied. Any resulting costs shall be borne by the importer.

Other requirements to be met at the Agricultural and Livestock Health Inspection Office (OISA) upon presentation of the shipment: 

2. Compliance with the provisions of this document does not exempt the importer from presenting documents or fulfilling formalities and/or procedures required by other authorities. 
3. If the carrier is presented dirty and/or contains disposable bedding (puppy pads, newspaper, sawdust, rags); toys; or food items, disinfection procedures will be applied and all contents will be removed for proper destruction. 
4. Only the portion of balanced pet food intended for the day of arrival is permitted for entry. 

This HRZ only applies to domestic cats (Felis catus).

Effective August 3, 2026, Mexico has allowed pet bird travel to resume according to the following requirements: 

• All pet birds traveling (exporting) from the United States to Mexico must be accompanied by an NWS Inspection Addendum for Pet Birds Moving (Exporting) from the United States to Mexico , completed and signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within 5 days prior to entry into Mexico. 
• This addendum is required in addition to the Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Pet Birds from the United States of America to Mexico, which must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and receive APHIS endorsement prior to travel. 

Health certificates may be submitted by the USDA-accredited veterinarian online through the Veterinary Export Health Certificate System (VEHCS); APHIS digital signature is accepted for pet birds to Mexico.

Important Instructions for Preparing Health Certificates When Traveling With Your Pet From the United States to Mexico

The health certificate must:

• Be comprised of the health certificate document linked to the blue “international health certificate” button below. APHIS digital signature is accepted for this certificate and species.
• Include the number of the physical seal that will be applied the bird’s container by the USDA-accredited veterinarian directly prior to departure.
• Be typewritten or completed using a word processor or computer. Documents with handwritten information will be rejected.
• The number of the health certificate must also be typewritten or in a word processor or computer.
• Except for the abbreviations in the Consignor, Consignee, and Accredited Veterinarian and endorsing VMO fields, the health certificate must not contain abbreviations. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Dates—January" is accepted while "Jan" is not.
  • States—Must be the entire word and not the two-letter abbreviation.
  • Ages—"Months" or "Year" is accepted while "yrs" and "mos" are not.
• All health certificates must be printed single-sided. Mexico will not accept double-sided printouts.
• Mexico will not accept handmade corrections, erasures, lineouts, or crossouts. 

Other Requirements

Due to the presence of New World screwworm (NWS; Cochliomyia hominivorax) in the United States, the importer must present the original NWS Inspection Addendum for Pet Birds Moving (Exporting) from the United States to Mexico , issued no more than 5 days prior, which must reference the Official Sanitary Certificate number. This provision entered into force on August 3, 2026.

• The phytosanitary and zoosanitary inspection officer shall conduct a document review and a full physical inspection of the shipment.
• Compliance with the provisions of this document does not exempt the importer from submitting documents or fulfilling formalities and/or procedures required by other authorities.
• The importer must state the destination in writing and under penalty of perjury.
• Upon inspection, the bird shall be identified by a leg ring/band or by a physical description.
• If unhealed wounds are detected upon arrival in Mexico, they must be treated with a topical larvicide; the costs incurred for this operation shall be borne by the importer.
• The importer must notify the General Directorate of Animal Health (DGSA)—by calling 018007512100 or 55-5905-1000, ext. 51242 or 51236—of any illness or death that occurs. The DGSA shall issue the appropriate sanitary measures; all costs incurred for this operation shall be borne by the importer/owner. While the animals are held in quarantine facilities, additional tests, inspections, and treatments may be performed at the discretion of the official DGSA veterinarian.
• Shipment and documentation must comply with the provisions set forth in Articles 24 and 32 and the applicable subsections of Article 89 of the Federal Animal Health Law.
• The birds shall not be moved from the destination specified in the waybill for the following 30 days—a condition subject to verification by the Secretariat; furthermore, additional tests, inspections, and treatments may be conducted at the discretion of the official veterinarian from the General Directorate of Animal Health (DGSA).
• Domestic transport must comply with the requirements established in NOM-024-ZOO-1995 (Zoosanitary specifications and characteristics for the transport of animals, their products and by-products, and chemical, pharmaceutical, biological, and food products for animal use or consumption) and NOM-051-ZOO-1995 (Humane treatment during animal transport).

Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Pet Birds From the United States of America to Mexico

NWS Inspection Addendum for Pet Birds Moving (Exporting) From the United States to Mexico

Health certificates may be submitted by the USDA-accredited veterinarian online through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS); however, the APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer's ink (wet) signature with the application of the APHIS-embossed seal must appear on the health final certificate. To accomplish this, certificates received by APHIS through the VEHCS system will be printed and endorsed in our offices, and the hard copy will be returned when complete. This APHIS-endorsed paper copy must accompany the shipment.

The health certificate must:

• Be typewritten or completed using a word processor or computer. Handwritten information will be rejected.
• The number of the health certificate must be also typewritten or in a word processor or computer.
• Except for the abbreviations in the Consignor, Consignee, and Accredited Veterinarian and endorsing VMO fields, the health certificate must not contain abbreviations. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Dates—January" is accepted while "Jan" is not.
  • States—Must be the entire word and not the two-letter abbreviation
  • Ages—"Months" or "Years" is accepted while "mos" and "yrs" are not.
• All health certificates must be printed single-sided. Mexico will not accept double-sided printouts.
• Mexico will not accept handmade corrections, erasures, lineouts, or crossouts.

International Health Certificate  

For pet travel requirements not listed, APHIS has not been officially informed by the foreign country about the requirements for your pet’s travel. We recommend that you contact a government official of the country you are traveling to for more information.

Country of Destination Contact Information

World Organisation for Animal Health: Members

U.S. Department of State: Foreign Embassies and Consulates