Crossing into Mexico with Pets
The rules are simpler than most people think. Here’s what Mexico actually requires for your dog or cat (very little), what’s worth bringing anyway, and what really happens at a land crossing.
Dogs & cats coveredWhat Mexico Requires for Pets
Mexico simplified pet entry in 2019, then tightened it again for dogs in 2026. As of December 16, 2019, cats arriving from the United States and Canada need no veterinary health certificate — that still holds, and you can drive a cat to the border with no paperwork at all. Dogs are different since 3 August 2026 and now need a screwworm inspection certificate.
Dogs: New World Screwworm certificate required since 3 August 2026. In response to screwworm detections in the United States, Mexico now requires a New World Screwworm (NWS) inspection certificate for every pet dog entering the country. A USDA-accredited veterinarian must examine your dog and certify it free of screwworm, external parasites and open wounds.
It must be dated within 5 days before you cross — book the appointment for the week you travel, because one issued earlier will not be accepted. Unlike most export paperwork it does not need APHIS endorsement, so your vet hands you the finished document. It does not replace the SENASICA inspection on arrival.
Cats do not need it. Pet birds need an NWS inspection addendum. Ferrets are currently refused entry to Mexico altogether, and rabbits have been refused since 2010.
Your pet may still be inspected by SENASICA — Mexico’s national agricultural health service (Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria) — on arrival. In practice, though, inspections are uncommon at land borders. They’re more likely if you fly in. Many travelers drive across with their pet and are simply waved through.
Most of this guide focuses on dogs and cats, since they’re the common case. Other animals — birds, small pets, and exotic species — follow different rules, covered in Bringing Other Animals below.
Also Worth Carrying
Beyond the screwworm certificate for dogs, Mexico doesn’t require documents for your pet — but it costs nothing to have a few things on hand. They can smooth things over if you’re inspected or questioned, and some are useful for re-entering the US.
Bringing Other Animals
Dogs and cats are the simplest case, but Mexico also accepts a range of other small pets for personal travel. Commonly accepted as personal pets are canaries, parakeets, cockatiels, parrots, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, tortoises, and small wild birds.
Predatory birds are not permitted, and the rules for anything beyond the common-pet list are stricter — and change more often — than the dog-and-cat rules.
For exotic species, reptiles, larger or wild birds, or any protected species, you’ll typically need an export permit from your home country and an import permit from Mexico, and some species are banned outright. Don’t assume — clear it in advance with SEMARNAT (Mexico’s environment ministry) and your nearest Mexican consulate before you travel.
What Actually Happens at the Border
For most people driving across, the answer is: not much. There is no document to hand over, and an inspection is the exception rather than the rule. If you are directed to SENASICA, here’s the process:
You may be directed to SENASICA
If asked at the checkpoint whether you have anything to declare, you can mention your pet. If there’s an inspection that day, you’ll be pointed to the SENASICA area — otherwise you simply continue.
Show what you have
If you’re bringing a dog, hand over your New World Screwworm certificate. Present your vaccination records or proof of ownership if asked — beyond the screwworm certificate the officer is mainly confirming your pet looks healthy.
Brief visual check
A quick visual look to confirm the animal appears healthy and isn’t showing signs of disease. This is not a full veterinary exam.
Any fee, if one applies
If a fee is charged for an inspection, it’s set by SENASICA and paid on the spot — bring a little cash just in case. Many travelers pay nothing because they’re never inspected.
What travelers tell us: people regularly drive across — at Laredo and other land ports — with their pet and paperwork ready, and are never asked for anything. The steps above are the official process; in practice, a land crossing with a healthy dog or cat is usually uneventful.
Don’t drive past an inspection if you’re directed to one. SENASICA procedures and any fees can change and vary by port — if an officer points you to the inspection area, stop and complete it. Trying to skip it only turns a quick check into a problem.
Common Mistakes
Relying on a guide written before August 2026
Most pet-travel guides still say Mexico dropped its certificate requirement in 2019 and that nothing is needed at a land crossing. That is still true for cats — but since 3 August 2026 dogs need a screwworm inspection certificate, and it must be dated within 5 days of crossing. Getting it too early is as much of a problem as not getting it at all.
Assuming the rules for flying apply to driving
Air arrivals see far more inspections than land crossings. Don’t let stories from people who flew in convince you that a long, document-heavy process awaits at a road border — it usually doesn’t.
Carrying nothing at all
Documents aren’t required, but having none can complicate things if you happen to be the one who gets inspected. A vaccination record and proof of ownership weigh nothing — bring them.
Forgetting the harder part is coming home
Re-entering the US with a dog became more involved in 2024. The Mexico side is easy; plan the US re-entry side in advance (see below).
Frequently Asked Questions
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