Can I bring my dog to Mexico?

Yes. From the US you need a screwworm inspection certificate signed by a USDA-accredited vet within 5 days before the trip, and your dog is inspected by SENASICA on arrival. From Canada there's no certificate, only the inspection.

What vaccines do dogs need to travel to Mexico?

Mexico doesn't require a vaccine record for dogs and cats coming from the US or Canada. Keep the rabies vaccine current anyway: your airline, boarding places and Mexican law for residents ask for it.

Do I need a health certificate to bring my dog to Mexico?

Not from the US or Canada since December 2019. From other countries, yes: issued no more than 15 days before arrival, with rabies vaccine and deworming.

Can I drive into Mexico with my dog?

Yes. At the land border, stop at the SENASICA office for the inspection, with the screwworm certificate if you come from the US.

How does screwworm affect traveling with a dog?

Because of the outbreak, dogs need a screwworm inspection certificate issued within 5 days before crossing in either direction: from a USDA-accredited vet going into Mexico and from a SENASICA-authorized vet going back to the US.

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Bringing a dog to Mexico: requirements in 2026

What Mexico asks for when you fly or drive in with your dog or cat, what happens at the border and what you'll need to go back to the US. Checked against official sources on October 17, 2026.

A brown mixed-breed dog with a navy collar and a black and white cat in her carrier arrive at the door of an apartment with plants and bowls of water and food

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From the US: what you need

Screwworm inspection certificate (dogs only, since August 3, 2026): a USDA-accredited vet inspects your dog and signs the APHIS form within 5 days before the trip. It doesn't need APHIS endorsement.
No health certificate and no vaccine record are required by Mexico for dogs and cats coming from the US.
Cats don't need the screwworm certificate.
Each airline sets its own rules for pets in the cabin or in cargo, and many don't fly snub-nosed breeds in hot months: check with yours before booking.

Bring your dog's rabies certificate and vaccine record anyway: airlines, boarding, dog parks and the trip back may ask for them.

From Canada and other countries

From Canada: no health certificate or vaccine record; your pet is inspected on arrival.
From other countries: a health certificate issued no more than 15 days before arrival, with the rabies vaccine (pets over 3 months) and internal and external deworming in the last 6 months.
If you fly from Canada with a connection in the US, ask your airline which rules apply to your route.

What happens when you arrive

1. Go to the SENASICA office. At every airport, port and land border crossing there is a SENASICA office (OISA). Ask for the dog or cat import form; they issue an import health certificate (CZI).
2. Physical inspection. An official checks that your pet shows no signs of contagious disease, has no ticks or fleas and no fresh or healing wounds. If they find ticks, you pay a vet to treat it before it's released.
3. The carrier. It must be clean; they spray it with a preventive treatment. Bedding, pads, newspaper, sawdust and toys or treats made with cattle or other ruminant ingredients are removed. Collar and leash are fine.
4. Food. Bring only a small amount of food for the day you arrive: larger amounts may be taken away.

Going back to the US with your dog

Age: at least 6 months on entry.
Microchip: one that a universal scanner can read.
CDC Dog Import Form: free and online; show the receipt at the airport or border. Mexico is treated as a low-risk country for dog rabies.
Screwworm certificate: a SENASICA-authorized vet in Mexico inspects your dog within 5 days before the trip and certifies it free of screwworm.

Going back to Canada has its own rules: check the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) before you travel.

Once you live in Mexico City

Find a vet and ask for a local vaccine record (cartilla) with your pet's history.
Keep the rabies vaccine yearly: it's mandatory and free at public health clinics.
Register your dog or cat in the RUAC, Mexico City's free pet registry.
Check every wound every day while the screwworm outbreak lasts.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring my dog to Mexico?: Yes. From the US you need a screwworm inspection certificate signed by a USDA-accredited vet within 5 days before the trip, and your dog is inspected by SENASICA on arrival. From Canada there's no certificate, only the inspection.
What vaccines do dogs need to travel to Mexico?: Mexico doesn't require a vaccine record for dogs and cats coming from the US or Canada. Keep the rabies vaccine current anyway: your airline, boarding places and Mexican law for residents ask for it.
Do I need a health certificate to bring my dog to Mexico?: Not from the US or Canada since December 2019. From other countries, yes: issued no more than 15 days before arrival, with rabies vaccine and deworming.
Can I drive into Mexico with my dog?: Yes. At the land border, stop at the SENASICA office for the inspection, with the screwworm certificate if you come from the US.
How does screwworm affect traveling with a dog?: Because of the outbreak, dogs need a screwworm inspection certificate issued within 5 days before crossing in either direction: from a USDA-accredited vet going into Mexico and from a SENASICA-authorized vet going back to the US.

Related guides

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Wagori: everything for your pet, in one app

Keep its vaccine record, find vets and trusted services, and see events near you. It's free. The app is in Spanish for now.

Create your free account

Works in the browser on your phone or computer. The app is in Spanish for now.

Sources

Official requirements checked on October 17, 2026. Rules change: confirm before you travel.