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Decades of first hand Mexico tourism information from me, "Mexico" Mike Nelson.

Bringing Pets to Mexico

Dog in Mexico taking Siesta

Pets To Mexico – No Problem

Though seldom enforced, there are rules about taking your dogs or cats to Mexico. Taking your pet birds to Mexico is extremely difficult, but not impossible.  Some great customers who consulted with me about moving to Mexico gave me the contact person with the USDA and contacts with Mexico that will help you import your birds if it is possible. Some species are still prohibited. Any species native to Mexico, even if yours was born in New Jersey, cannot be imported. Period.

Reptiles are prohibited (though someone read this and said he takes his pet turtle, but that is the official stand). 

Dog and cat health requirements

After getting a puppy from the shelter who had Parvo, I can’t emphasize enough for you to vaccinate your young dogs against this killer. Nero Wuff is a Parvo survivor, but it was touch and go and expensive. 

 The all-in-one vaccination is DHLP-P for dogs. For cats, you should have both FVRCP-P as well as feline leukemia shots.

Mexican Spanish for pets is mascotas.

Regulations for Dogs and cats changed in 2021. You used to need a health certificate from a US veterinarian stating that your pet was healthy and proof of vaccinations. Now a Mexican agriculture department official (SENASICA) will  will examine your pet and pronounce him/her healthy enough to visit Mexico with you. Animals must be in carriers with NO bedding. They will be rejected for open sores or any signs of illness. The inspector checks for ticks and worms. If they are found, the animal will be detained or refused entry. Customers have note of these officials, unlike the old days when they were just a myth. rs has. So when you get your immigration papers, as where the by SENASICA  office is por los mascotas and follow the yellow brick road to try to hunt him or her down. Let me know if you have an encounter of the by USDA-APHIS SENASICA kind. If it’s no trouble, go ahead and get a letter from your vet, but don’t make a special trip. But you DO have to have proof of vaccinations. Here is a link to the official Mexican government website with details  .SENASICA.

 

Pet Birds

All birds will be quarantined for two weeks. Some species, native to Mexico (even if they were born in New Jersey) cannot be imported. No way. No how. You will encounter agricultural inspectors at each state line. I don’t recommend driving your bird to Mexico. You should both fly, preferably in an airplane. See below for details.

Flying’s A Different Ballgame

There is a legal limit of three pets per person. More you can bring by paying a fee of over 2,000 pesos. Is it enforced? Although I know a woman who was in animal rescue and brought 32 dogs and cats, a number of goats and a few horses with her when she moved back to Guadalajara, I suspect she was lucky. I also know a gringa in Pto. Vallarta who spent $2,000 and a lot of heartache trying to get her 3 cats (originally from Mexico) back with her when she flew back from Canada. Some customs officers say you can only have one pet per person. What do you do? You pay a fee for a permit. Choose which story you want to believe.

Bringing Pet Birds Into Mexico

Taking some birds to Mexico is, doable, but I personally don’t recommend it. I met my wife because of this issue. (No, that’s not the reason I don’t recommend it). You have to have patience. This changes now and again.

Birds that are native to Mexico (parrotlets, Amazons, some macaws [military, scarlet for sure] some parakeets, toucans, and maybe some others) are not allowed.

Things have been more difficult since Oct. 14, 2008, when a law was passed so that no birds native to Mexico may be imported. Period. If you want to know more, read on. A source for the Mexico official info is: The Secretary of the Interior’s Office: 011-52-555-905-1013 or 011-52-555-905-1020.

A Success Story About Importing Birds to Mexico

Bringing Pet Birds Into Mexico Taking some birds to Mexico is, doable, you just have to have patience. This changes now and again. Birds that are native to Mexico (parrotlets, Amazons, some macaws [military, scarlet for sure] some parakeets, toucans, and maybe some others) are not allowed. Things have been more difficult since Oct. 14, 2008, when a law was passed so that no birds native to Mexico may be imported. Period. If you want to know more, read on.A source for the Mexico official info is: The Secretary of the Interior’s Office: 011-52-555-905-1013 or 011-52-555-905-1020.

Here is the story of my clients who brought their African Grey to Barra de Navidad: Contact person: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Inspector Jose Blanco 220 W.Hillside Laredo, TX 1-956-401-5133

Bringing our bird to Mexico was a complete success. Our papers were in order & checked 3 times, everything was good. Jose Blanco was a very nice man with US Fish & Wildlife in Laredo,1-956-286-9961 or 1-956-726-2234. He knows the protocol. Good Luck, Paula Greve.

The first step to bringing a bird to Mexico is to obtain the cites permit from fish & wildlife us side. This can take up to 90 days. It took us about 45 days, but the Xmas holidays were in progress. Jose Blanco can fill you in on that, I think that comes from Washington. The title is Cites Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. I’m not sure if this is any help to you. Thanks, Paula

We used the web site for the bird www.aphis.usda.gov. We got his [their bird’s] cita from aphis, which took about 45 days & then had testing for influenza etc. Then I took that to Austin. You should get the cita first & USDA approval 10 days prior to leaving the country. You also have to have the bird & paper work inspected in Laredo. I think it’s this side with fish & wildlife. You need to make an appointment 3 days before traveling with Jose Blanco. We are relying on his instructions as well as aphis & USDA We have triple checked everything but will do another check to be sure. 

The one thing that bothers me about taking our birds to Mexico is getting them back into the USA. If you got your birds into Mexico, find out the current regulations about bringing them back to the USA.

If you really want to bring your bird to Mexico, flying seems to be the best option. Driving just gives you more opportunities for someone to notice a “T” not crossed or an “i” not dotted.

It is because my wife and I did not want to subject our birds to quarantine or to be at the whim of two governments that might change their laws at any moment, that we chose not to move to Mexico with them.

To get your dog or cat back into the USA, you need for their vaccinations to be up-to-date. If they are not, most border crossings have the names of local vets you can call to come and make a ‘house call.’ In reality, I have never had a tag checked. You can get rabies and other vaccinations in Mexico for practically nothing.

Transporting reptiles within Mexico is quite illegal, so even if your pet serpent is from the USA, you cannot take snakes south of the border. However, the turtle man wrote me and said turtles were okay. Who knows? Maybe the deal is: tortugas, Sí, culebras, ¡No!

PUerto vallarta dog boarding

Lo de Marcos. I respect the people who operate Beach Dog Boarding and Salon in Lo de Marcos, Nayarit (near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco), and their work with animal rescue in Mexico. 

Their pet-boarding services are mainly for residents, but tourists might need to board their dog or cat for a while too. You never know what might happen in someone’s trip, so knowing that the option is there is a good thing. Beach Dog Boarding and Salon is cool and run by cool people.

Anyway, even if you don’t need to board your pet while on your trip, go and visit these nice folks anyway and maybe donate to the animal rescue and spaying and neutering programs they support. If you think animal rescue in the USA is hard, you can’t even imagine how hard it is in Mexico. They need all the help they can get.

If you have a quality dog and or cat boarding facility or work with an animal rescue organization in Mexico,  please put it in the comments below!  We need to help those who are helping.

Animal rescue clinics

For animal lovers, one of the most difficult challenges of traveling in Mexico is the large number of stray dogs roaming the countryside, towns, and cities. Even more disheartening is the way many people treat their “pets.” These are great reasons why Animal Rescue in Mexico is imperative. One Mexican woman explained it to me like this: The Church teaches us that animals have no souls, so we should not devote love to them. Of course, not every Mexican feels that way, but it is common.

But you know, there is a lot of animal neglect and abuse in the USA too, so we should not point fingers – just offer to help hands.

That is interesting. Catholic churches in the USA seem to take the opposite view. So I guess it is a regional difference.

Spaying and neutering are not common. Thankfully, some foreigners and Mexican citizens do what they can to improve the quality of life for dogs and cats. I will list a few spay and neuter programs or animal rescue organizations here. If you know of any legitimate ones, please pass them on and I will list them. Then, those who come to this site can perhaps donate, or when they come down, visit and help or bring supplies.

Isla Animals – operated by Jeff and Allison Sawyer with the help of many Isla Mujeres local volunteers. They have been rescuing animals on Isla Mujeres formally since 1999. They are a 501(c)3 organization in the States. They are upbeat and could use your help. Go visit when you are down there.

Snipsisters – The spay and neuter program was organized by two Canadian women for the Huatulco, Oaxaca area. Volunteer-supported, they work with vets from Pto. Vallarta and Jalisco provide free surgeries to residents. How can you not love a group with a sense of humor about their name? Anyway, visit their site to see how you can help, and if you are heading to Huatulco, Oaxaca, maybe you could lend a hand (or a paw).

Rebekah with her Dog in Mexico

Rebekah's experience bringing her dog to mexico

Traveling with my pet in Mexico has been a very eye-opening experience. This was the first time I brought my dog out of the country and a lot of thought went into making that decision.   Before when I was traveling without my dog, I always missed her. Belle is 11 years old and I have had her for 9 of those years. She has been through so much with me and I am grateful for her companionship. However, my love for her and my love for travel often come to a crossroads. There are several things I consider when traveling with her, such as document requirements, mode of transportation, accommodation, temperament, and the particular trip.

Documentation Requirements for Pets

First, I had to make sure I had all the documentation necessary to get my dog across the border. The current limit is two dogs or two cats. If you want to travel with more animals, then you will need to contact your Mexican consulate or embassy for more information. Additionally, pets must be at least 3 months old and in good health. Pet’s cannot have any parasites, diseases, or injuries.  It is also important to have vaccination records. Just in case your furry friend needs medical attention, it’s a good idea to have their health records on hand. You do not need a certificate of health any longer. 

When returning to the United States, pets will be checked. The U.S. requires your dog to be current on their rabies vaccination. Cats do not have to have a rabies vaccination, but it is encouraged. If your pet is not up to date on vaccinations, he/she will be required to get vaccinated within 4 days of arrival and quarantined for 30 days in a location of the owner’s choosing.  For updates on requirements for returning to the USA with a pet check here. 

Transportation Around Your Destination

Another thing to consider is once you are at your destination, you may use different modes of transportation like a ferry or a taxi. While riding the ferries, I always have to sit on the open rooftop with my dog as opposed to the enclosed air-conditioned cabin. One company required me to muzzle my dog, which I was pretty surprised by. 

Taxis have been pretty flexible with our dog. I always ask if she is allowed to ride with them. She is about 25lbs so the drivers seem to be more open to her because she is small. Sometimes the taxi driver will ask me to hold her or to put her on the floor, so she doesn’t get hair on the seat, which I believe are reasonable requests. 

Traveling with Pets in Mexico:  Accommodations

Accommodations have been the trickiest part of traveling with a pet. When I look on Booking.com, I see so many options for accommodations, when I select the “pet-friendly”  filter, and it will be narrowed down to 3 or 4 options. This makes it difficult because I basically have to accept whoever will let me in. I don’t get to have many other preferences like bed size or facilities. Depending on what hotel you are staying at, they can have a long list of rules about what your pets can and cannot do. For example, being in the hotel alone, lying on the furniture, or where your dog can use the bathroom. Although these rules are not always strictly enforced, it is important to be aware of them. Airbnbs have been much more flexible with our dog. If they say they are pet friendly, they usually do not have very strict rules as long as your pet does not cause any damage or disruptions. One more thing to consider is where you can walk your dog. If you are staying in the city, it can be hard to find a patch of grass for your dog to use the bathroom. My dog is very picky and will not use the bathroom anywhere other than grass which is good and evil. With that being said, sometimes we have to walk quite a distance to find some grass to walk her. 

Your Pet’s Temperament

Your pet’s temperament plays a significant role in being a good travel companion. For example, how much time do they need outside? Some cities are very dog friendly and allow dogs on the beach and in restaurants. Will your dog be ok in the hotel alone? While you are out exploring the city or out to dinner, will your pet be ok in the room?


Another major thing to consider is whether your dog gets along with other dogs. There are so many street dogs around wherever you go and from my experience, they have been pretty submissive.  This is something to consider when you think about how your dog interacts with other dogs. My dog does not get along with other dogs, so it is difficult to walk around in a city or take her to dog-friendly locations because she herself is not dog-friendly. 

Traveling with Pets in Mexico for a Special and Unique Trip

Every trip is unique and several factors play into deciding whether or not to bring your dog with you. First, how long is your trip? Since my trip is extended, I did not want to leave my dog with my parents in the US. What are you going to be doing on your trip? If you plan on having an action-packed trip, you might want to leave the dog at home. For example, we did our scuba course where we were diving two times a day for 3 days. In that case, it would be best to leave your baby in a kennel or at home with a sitter. If you plan on hanging out on the beach or hiking, it might be the right trip for your dog.

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Comments:

  • August 30, 2022

    Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads
    up. The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Chrome.
    I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to
    do with web browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know.
    The layout look great though! Hope you get the problem
    solved soon. Thanks

    reply...
  • September 1, 2022

    Yes! Finally something about fafaslot.

    reply...
  • September 2, 2022

    Everything is very open with a clear explanation of the challenges.
    It was definitely informative. Your website is useful.
    Thank you for sharing!

    reply...
  • Lorna Mutzbauer

    November 7, 2022

    You stated that all pet birds need to be quarantined for two weeks upon entering Mexico. Would this quarantine be in a facility, or a home quarantine. There are many different entry airports in Mexico. I’m trying very hard to find out how we can retire in Mexico, but our African Grays need to come with us.

    reply...
    • November 10, 2022

      Hi Lorna,
      I understand completely. That is what kept my wife from moving to Mexico. You don’t abandon your children.

      The quarantine would be at a government facility and it would be unpleasant for the bird, except on those rare occasions where the offical is also a birder lover.

      Not to give you false hope, but you could get in touch with a bird vet (a rare breed) who might have some insight I don’t. Good luck.

      reply...
  • Marina

    May 18, 2023

    Hi Mike. Do you know which airlines will let you take your pet parrot International (from New Jersey y to Guatemala) I called United and American Airlines and they informed me they don’t do this. Not sure how accurate this is.

    reply...
  • Leanna

    October 25, 2023

    Hello I have a pet Indian Ringneck(parakeet)
    And I am wondering if I can bring him to Puerto Vallarta Mexico by plane from Toronto Ontario Canada with me?
    Can you give me some updated information please?

    reply...
  • Teresa

    October 31, 2023

    I read on this website that birds are difficult to take to Mexico, but there was no explanation of why. I have an Amazona Finschi, or lilac crown Amazon parrot, that is native to Mexico and on the Schedule I endangered list. After numerous emails to SENSICA and SEMARNAT, I learned that while CITES allows for exceptions to a Schedule I animal if they were bred in captivity and not for commercial purposes (which would allow me a CITES permit), CITES also allows a country to have stricter laws, which Mexico does. Article 60 Bis 2.- No specimen of bird corresponding to the family Psittacidae or psittacidae, whose natural distribution is within the national territory, may be subject to extractive exploitation for subsistence or commercial purposes. Hope this helps and provides more details for anyone looking to take a psittacidae to Mexico.

    reply...
  • Lynna

    March 11, 2024

    Did I understand if you fly with your Cockatoo to Mexico there is no quarrentine?? It’s only if you drive?

    I’d like to move to Baja California.

    reply...

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