Everything you need to know about moving your dog or cat from Mexico to the US: CDC requirements, the active USDA screwworm certificate, Mexico’s SENASICA export process, costs, and timeline — all in one place.
Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.
Easy
2–5 weeks
$285–$640
None required (US mainland)
Due to an active USDA classification, every dog entering the US from Mexico needs a screwworm freedom certificate — separate from and in addition to the standard CDC low-risk pathway.
Everything you need to know about moving your dog or cat from Mexico to the US: CDC requirements, the active USDA screwworm certificate, Mexico’s SENASICA export process, costs, and timeline — all in one place.
A veterinarian-issued health certificate supports Mexico's SENASICA export certificate (CZE) application. This is separate from the USDA-required screwworm certificate for dogs.
Mexican-Authorized Veterinarian
The health certificate and screwworm freedom certificate are both issued by a veterinarian authorized by Mexico’s Competent Authority (SENASICA).
Required (Dogs Only, Screwworm Certificate)
This is separate from the CDC rabies pathway — confirm current status directly with USDA APHIS before traveling, since it’s tied to an active, evolving outbreak.
8 Days (SENASICA CZE)
The SENASICA export certificate (CZE) is valid for only 8 days once issued, so departure needs to follow closely behind it. The CDC Dog Import Form itself is valid for 6 months.
Required
Bring original documentation — the CZE requires a second in-person seal at a SENASICA office on travel day, so a printed or physical copy is needed regardless.
→ Screwworm freedom certificate currently required for every dog from Mexico
→ SENASICA’s CZE export certificate is required and free, but valid only 8 days
→ A readable microchip is required, with the number matching all records
→ Cats face no CDC/USDA rabies-related requirement
→ Entry is allowed at any US airport, seaport, or land border crossing
→ Assuming the CDC rabies pathway is the only requirement
→ Assuming Mexico has no export certificate process
→ Missing the CZE’s short 8-day validity window
→ Confusing the screwworm certificate with the CZE’s supporting health certificate
→ Not considering the land border option
Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.
The active USDA screwworm certificate applies to every dog from Mexico regardless of CDC rabies-risk pathway.
Mexico's export certificate is only valid for 8 days once issued.
Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.
Roughly $285–$640 (estimated) — microchip, vaccine, crate if flying, and an airline fee. SENASICA's CZE is free.
Typical total cost
Price in USD, Estimate only.
→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt — Dogs
→ USDA Screwworm Freedom Certificate — Dogs
→ SENASICA CZE Export Certificate
→ Veterinarian Health Certificate
→ Rabies Vaccination Record — Dogs (required for CZE); Cats only if specifically requested
→ Microchip documentation
Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.
→ No. Mexico does not appear on CDC’s current high-risk country list.
→ Dogs from Mexico follow the standard low-risk pathway — no titer test, no quarantine.
→ Yes, currently, for dogs. USDA APHIS classifies Mexico as screwworm-affected due to an active outbreak.
→ It must be signed by an authorized veterinarian within 5 days of shipment.
→ It applies regardless of CDC rabies pathway, and does not apply to cats.
→ Not from the CDC directly, but two Mexico-side documents function similarly.
→ A SENASICA CZE (export certificate) and, for dogs, the USDA screwworm certificate are both required.
→ A veterinarian-issued health certificate supports the CZE application.
→ Yes — the CDC allows entry at any US airport, seaport, or land border crossing.
→ The same requirements apply either way, including the screwworm certificate for dogs.
→ Driving means no airline fee or crate requirement.
→ No, for US mainland destinations.
→ Mexico’s CDC low-risk status means the high-risk-country quarantine pathway doesn’t apply.
Our pet relocation experts are here to guide you every step of the way.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
Moving a pet from Mexico to the United States is one of the faster routes covered on this site — Mexico is CDC low-risk for dog rabies, so there’s no titer test or quarantine to plan around.
Due to an active New World Screwworm outbreak, USDA APHIS currently requires every dog entering the US from Mexico to be accompanied by a screwworm freedom certificate, signed by an authorized veterinarian within 5 days of shipment. This applies regardless of CDC rabies pathway and does not apply to cats. Because this is tied to an active outbreak rather than a stable classification, confirm current status directly with USDA before traveling.
Unlike Canada, Mexico’s SENASICA issues a Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación (CZE) for pets leaving the country. It’s free, but processing takes 3 business days and the finished certificate is valid for only 8 days — departure needs to follow closely behind it.
The CDC’s low-risk pathway allows entry at any US airport, seaport, or land border crossing — a genuinely common option given Mexico’s shared land border with the US at crossings like San Diego/Tijuana, El Paso/Ciudad Juárez, and Laredo.
Most owners can manage this route without professional help, though the combination of the screwworm certificate and the CZE’s tight 8-day validity window makes timing coordination more important here than on a simpler route like Canada’s.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel, especially given the active USDA screwworm requirement.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
