Bringing a pet to Mexico

Last reviewed July 3, 2026

Mexico’s pet import rules are moderately strict and vary significantly depending on where your pet is travelling from. There is no mandatory quarantine for pets from low-risk countries if all paperwork and health checks are in order, but stricter requirements apply for pets from higher-risk origins. Expect to provide a valid rabies vaccination certificate, a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian, and in some cases a rabies titer test or additional documentation depending on the origin country.

Requirements for your pet

Showing requirements for a dog travelling from United States to Mexico.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate (showing vaccine administered at least 21 days before arrival)
  • Health certificate (issued within 10 days of arrival, signed by official or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed vet)
  • Microchip documentation (ISO 11784/11785 compliant)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only — microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and SENASICA.

SENASICA Mexico

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate (showing vaccine administered at least 21 days before arrival)
  • Health certificate (issued within 10 days of arrival, signed by official or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed vet)
  • Microchip documentation (ISO 11784/11785 compliant)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only — microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and SENASICA.

SENASICA Mexico

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate (showing vaccine administered at least 21 days before arrival)
  • Health certificate (issued within 10 days of arrival, signed by official or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed vet)
  • Microchip documentation (ISO 11784/11785 compliant)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only — microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and SENASICA.

SENASICA Mexico

Frequently asked questions

No. Mexico does not require a rabies titer (FAVN) test for dogs from any country. A rabies vaccination certificate showing vaccination at least 21 days before travel is sufficient.
No. Dogs entering Mexico are not quarantined, regardless of origin country. Your dog will be inspected at the border by SENASICA officials, but there is no mandatory quarantine period.
Mexico does not impose a strict numeric limit for non-commercial pet imports. However, if you bring more than 5 dogs, authorities may treat the shipment as commercial and require additional permits. For 1-2 dogs, no commercial rules apply.
No. Emotional support and service dogs must meet the same import requirements as pet dogs: microchip, rabies vaccination, and a health certificate. Mexico does not provide any exemption for these categories.
The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of your dog's arrival in Mexico. It must be signed by an official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian.
Yes, if your dog is small enough to fit in an airline-approved carrier under the seat in front of you. Weight and size limits vary by airline — typically up to 8-10 kg including carrier. Check with your specific airline for their policy.
Yes, as long as the vaccine is labeled as a 3-year vaccine and was administered at least 21 days before travel. The certificate must show the vaccine's expiration date. A 1-year vaccine is also accepted if given within the last year.

Showing requirements for a cat travelling from United States to Mexico.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate (must show microchip number, vaccine type, batch number, date of vaccination, and validity period)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel by an official veterinarian (e.g., USDA-accredited vet in the US)
  • Microchip documentation (ISO 11784/11785 compliant, 15-digit; if non-ISO, bring compatible scanner)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50 — confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

No quarantine required. No import permit needed. Cat must be at least 12 weeks old for rabies vaccination; the 21-day wait applies after the primary vaccine. Earliest entry age is 15 weeks.

SENASICA Mexico

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate (must show microchip number, vaccine type, batch number, date of vaccination, and validity period)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel by an official veterinarian (e.g., USDA-accredited vet in the US)
  • Microchip documentation (ISO 11784/11785 compliant, 15-digit; if non-ISO, bring compatible scanner)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50 — confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

Same requirements as free tier.

SENASICA Mexico

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate (must show microchip number, vaccine type, batch number, date of vaccination, and validity period)
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel by an official veterinarian (e.g., USDA-accredited vet in the US)
  • Microchip documentation (ISO 11784/11785 compliant, 15-digit; if non-ISO, bring compatible scanner)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50 — confirm current prices with a local vet and the destination agency.

Same requirements as free and low_risk tiers. Mexico does not require a rabies titer test or quarantine for cats from any origin, including high-risk countries.

SENASICA Mexico

Frequently asked questions

No. Mexico does not require a rabies titer (FAVN) test for cats from any country. A valid rabies vaccination certificate and a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel are sufficient.
Mexico allows up to 2 cats per person for non-commercial entry without an import permit. If you bring more than 2, commercial import rules apply, which require a permit from SENASICA and may involve additional fees and inspections.
No. Mexico does not exempt emotional support or service animals from standard import requirements. Your cat must still have a microchip, rabies vaccination, and a health certificate issued within 10 days of travel.
No. Mexico requires cats to be at least 12 weeks old for the rabies vaccination, and the 21-day wait period after the primary vaccine means the earliest entry age is 15 weeks (12 weeks + 21 days). A cat younger than 15 weeks at arrival will be denied entry.
Yes. The microchip must be ISO 11784/11785 compliant (15-digit). If your cat has a non-ISO chip, you must bring your own compatible scanner. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
No. A health certificate issued by an official veterinarian (e.g., USDA-accredited vet in the US) within 10 days of travel is mandatory for all cats entering Mexico, regardless of whether they travel in the cabin or cargo.
If your cat's rabies vaccine expires during your stay, you must get a booster from a local veterinarian in Mexico before departure to meet re-entry requirements for your home country. Mexico itself does not require a valid rabies vaccine for cats already in the country, but your destination country may.

Showing requirements for a ferret travelling from United States to Mexico.

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
  • Microchip proof (ISO 11784/11785)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and SENASICA.

Ferret must be individually identified by ISO microchip before rabies vaccination. No import permit needed for non-commercial entry from rabies-free territories.

SENASICA Mexico

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Not required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
  • Microchip proof (ISO 11784/11785)

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and SENASICA.

Same as free tier. No additional testing or permit required for low-risk origins.

SENASICA Mexico

Microchip
Required
ISO 11784/11785
Rabies vaccine
Required
From 12 weeks old, wait 21+ days before travel
Rabies titer test (FAVN)
Required
Blood draw 30+ days before travel
Quarantine
None
Health certificate
Required
Official government or USDA/DEFRA-endorsed veterinarian · valid 10 days before arrival
Import permit
Required

Documents checklist

  • Rabies vaccination certificate
  • Health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
  • Microchip proof (ISO 11784/11785)
  • FAVN titer test certificate (≥0.5 IU/mL)
  • Import permit from SENASICA

Rough budget

ROUGH ballpark only: microchip ~$30-50, health certificate ~$100-200, rabies vaccine ~$20-50, FAVN titer test ~$100-250, import permit processing ~$50-100. Confirm current prices with a local vet and SENASICA.

High-risk origin requires a SENASICA import permit and a FAVN titer test. Apply for the import permit at least 30 days before travel. No quarantine upon arrival if all documents are in order.

SENASICA Mexico

Frequently asked questions

No. The United States is classified as low-risk for rabies. Ferrets from the US do not need a FAVN titer test. Only high-risk origins (e.g., Thailand, Russia) require a titer test with a result ≥0.5 IU/mL.
Mexico generally allows up to 5 pets per person for non-commercial entry. If you bring more than 5 ferrets, commercial import rules apply, which require a SENASICA import permit and may involve additional fees and inspections.
No. Mexico does not exempt emotional support or service animals from standard import rules. All ferrets must meet the same microchip, rabies vaccination, health certificate, and (if applicable) titer test requirements, regardless of their role.
The health certificate must be issued within 10 days of the ferret's arrival in Mexico. It must be signed by an official government veterinarian (e.g., USDA-accredited vet in the US) and endorsed by the relevant authority.
Yes, but the rabies vaccine cannot be given before 12 weeks of age. If the ferret is under 12 weeks, it cannot be vaccinated, and you must wait until it reaches 12 weeks to vaccinate, then wait 21 days before travel. There is no minimum age exemption for unvaccinated ferrets.
Yes. For ferrets arriving from high-risk rabies countries, you must obtain an import permit from SENASICA (Mexico's animal health agency) before travel. Apply at least 30 days in advance. The permit is not required for free or low-risk origins.
You must bring your own ISO-compatible scanner. Mexico's border inspectors use ISO readers, and if they cannot read the chip, the ferret may be denied entry or quarantined until a compatible scanner is obtained. It is strongly recommended to use an ISO chip.

Good to know

All pets entering Mexico must be identified by a microchip (ISO 11784/11785 compliant) and have a valid rabies vaccination administered at least 21 days before travel if the pet is over three months old. The health certificate must be endorsed by the official veterinary authority of the country of origin and presented in Spanish or accompanied by a certified translation.

Airline rules & connecting flights

Government import rules are only half the picture — your airline sets its own pet policy on top of them: whether your petcan fly in the cabin at all, size/weight limits for the carrier, breed embargoes (many airlines refuse brachycephalic breeds like bulldogs and pugs in cargo), and seasonal heat restrictions. Check your specific airline's pet policy before booking — see IATA's Traveler's Pet Corner .

If your flight has a layover, the transit country can have its own pet rules — sometimes these apply even if you never leave the airport. If you're transiting through another country on the way to Mexico, check that country's pet-entry/transit rules separately (search "pets" on this site for that country too).

For guidance only. Pet import rules change without notice and a wrong step can mean quarantine or a refused entry for your animal — always confirm current requirements with Mexico's official veterinary/agriculture authority and your airline before travelling.