If you plan to bring your pet to Mexico, you must take into consideration the information and regulations in the country specified by some embassies and pet providers. See the information below.
Which are the basic guidelines?
1. Check out with the Consulate about regulations and documentation requested by the authority.
2. Assess the Living Environment Abroad: check out the living environment at home. Do apartments allow pets?
3. Contact Airlines: Airlines have different regulations for transporting animals internationally. Contact a company representative directly. Rules for transporting your pet may change at different stops on the travel itinerary.
4. Find a Pet Carrier: validate you have the required animal carrier for an international flight. Some airlines require the carrier to be approved by the International Air Transport Association (IATA, English).
Which animals can I bring over to Mexico?
Domestic animals should follow the requirements issued by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Offices (OISA, Spanish) located at international airports, border crossings, and international seaports. It is important to point out that only cats and dogs are considered domestic pets in Mexico.
Importing animals such as reptiles, songbirds, and ornamental birds, ferrets, and turtles, which are not considered domestic pets, will need to comply with special requirements as indicated in the Animal Health Requirements Sheet, which can be requested through the public service module of the Directorate-General of Animal Health, located at Boulevard Adolfo Ruiz Cortines 5010, Col. Insurgentes Cuicuilco, in Mexico City. C.P. 04530 P
- Operation hours from Monday to Friday: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm,
- Telephone.: 01 (55) 5905-1000 or 1 (800) 987-9879.
- Check out the requirements listed online at the following website:https://www.gob.mx/senasica/acciones-y-programas/importaciones
- For further information or suggestions about the Plant and Animal Health Inspection Service, contact to atencionciudadana@senasica.gob.mx or eqzoosan.dgsa@senasica.gob.mx
How to bring pets by land or air to Mexico?
Traveling by land: If you have your own car and transport for your pets, make sure to take sufficient supplies with you during longer road trips; especially plenty of water. Don’t leave your pets locked-up alone in the car when it’s parked on a hot day as doing so may be fatal to them, especially if you leave the car exposed to the sun.
Traveling by air: check out the requirements with the airline of your choice and consider the need to use the services of a customs agent for its release before Customs. The pet must enter Mexico in a conveyor or container, clean, without bed, without implements or accessories such as toys, treats, prizes, or other objects made with ingredients of ruminant nature. Otherwise, they will be removed for destruction. The conveyor or container will receive preventive spraying treatment by the official personnel of SAGARPA-SENASICA.
Which documents do I need before traveling with my pet?
Original and certified copy of a veterinary health certificate issued within 15 days prior to export. Health certificate must contain the following information:
- Issued by an official veterinarian of the competent authority or if it is private, on letterhead, with the printed professional identification number or photocopy of it (or its equivalent).
- Name and address of the owner/exporter (in the country of origin or origin) and if applicable of the importer (address of destination in Mexico).
- Date of application of the rabies vaccine and its validity (not a requirement for animals under 3 months of age).
- Certify that in the pre-trip inspection, the animal or animals were clinically healthy.
- That the animal or animals have been internally and externally dewormed, within the previous six months and are free of ectoparasites.
What happens if I arrive to the country without Animal Health documents?
Pets will remain at the Health Inspection Office until a Veterinarian has reviewed and certified the state of health and applied the rabies vaccine and parasite prevention treatment to continue with the import procedure. This can cause delays and costs that the owner will be required to pay for.
How many pets can I bring to Mexico?
You can import tax-free, up to 3 pets with you such as cats, dogs, canaries, hamsters, guinea pigs, Australian parakeets, nymphs, ferrets, parrots, turtles, and wild birds of small size (except predatory animals), as well as the required accessories for their carriage and cleaning.
You must submit the pet zoo sanitary export certificate issued by SAGARPA to the Customs Official. Additionally, for the case of wildlife animals, you must submit the Verification Record issued by PROFEPA, which verifies compliance with regulations and non-tariff restrictions to which they are subjected to.