We took our time with Mexico, and it turned out there was less to take time over than I expected. No import permit, no quarantine, no microchip requirement, no tapeworm treatment — one certificate, carried properly. Tafoukt and I crossed by land, slowly, and the only thing the inspector asked for was the paper. Sometimes the ritual is short, and that is its own kind of gift.
Pet import to Mexico is overseen by the national veterinary authority. Confirmed against an official source so far: a rabies vaccination and a health certificate. Anything else — commonly a microchip, rabies vaccination and health certificate — is not yet confirmed for Mexico against an official source, so it's flagged in the table below rather than assumed.
How Mexico handles your pet
Key points
- The CZI (Certificado Zoosanitario para Importación) is issued on arrival by SENASICA at the OISA office at your port of entry; there is no pre-travel import permit
- Pets arriving from Canada or the USA are exempt from the Certificate of Good Health and vaccination card (a physical inspection is still carried out)
- Pets from the USA additionally need a USDA-accredited screwworm (GBG) inspection document issued within 5 days — this requirement applies to DOGS only; cats are exempt
- The PMVF (Programa Mascota Viajero Frecuente) is a free optional registration for frequent travellers (>=3 entries/year) that extends health-certificate validity to 6 months
- No federal breed-import restriction is in force; some Mexican municipalities and states have local breed rules that apply within their territory
- The containers used to transport pets are inspected and spray-treated on arrival; bedding, toys, treats or any items made with ingredients of ruminant origin are not permitted and will be removed
Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.
Health & documents
Other rules
Timing chain
Day -15 health certificate issued · Day 0 arrive at customs
Mexico asks for a certificate of good health issued no more than 15 days before presentation. The window runs from the date the certificate was issued, so a vet visit arranged early in the planning expires before arrival. Book the appointment inside the 15 days before crossing and let the travel date fix the vet date.
The certificate must be presented in the original and as a plain photocopy, both together. A single original is not sufficient at presentation, and a copy alone is not either. Make the photocopy before leaving rather than at the border, since the requirement is for both documents to be handed over at the same time.
So Mexico: one certificate of good health, issued inside 15 days, carried as an original plus a plain copy. No permit, no microchip requirement, no quarantine. We took our time and found there was little to arrange — the whole file is one appointment and a photocopier. Build a personalized plan with your dates and we'll time that single appointment for you.
Glossary
- ISO chip
- ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
- FAVN
- Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
- Brachycephalic
- Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
- AVIH
- Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.