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Flying with your dog

Bringing your dog to Mexico

Here's the whole picture for taking a dog from the U.S. to Mexico: the vaccines, the certificate, a realistic timeline, and the part most people miss, the paperwork for coming home. Danny and his service dog Copper have made this exact trip; this is the process, written plainly.

Mexico at a glance

Facts verified against the official sources on August 20, 2026.

The timeline, working backward from your flight

Work backward from your departure date. The order matters more than the dates: several steps only count if the one before them happened first.

  1. ~4 weeks before: Confirm rabies vaccination is current; keep the certificate to hand
  2. 7 days before: Print recent parasite (tick/flea + deworming) treatment records
  3. 4 days before: USDA-accredited vet issues the NWS (screwworm) Inspection Certificate, no more than 5 days before arrival

A member checklist turns this into real calendar dates for your exact trip and airline, with the DOT forms pre-filled where they apply.

The rules, in plain English

Mexico dropped the required health certificate for pet dogs on December 16, 2019, but as of August 3, 2026 there is one new document: a "NWS Inspection Certificate for Pet Dogs Moving (Exporting) from the United States to Mexico," signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and issued no more than 5 days before arrival. It does not need APHIS endorsement. This came from the New World screwworm outbreak, and it is now in force, so plan one vet visit inside that 5-day window.

On arrival you proceed to the OISA (the agricultural health inspection office) where a SENASICA official checks that the dog shows no signs of infectious or contagious disease, is free of external parasites, and has no fresh or healing wounds, and reviews the screwworm certificate. Arrive with a clean carrier: dirty carriers and disposable bedding get removed and destroyed, and only the day-of portion of dog food is allowed.

You are not required to present a rabies certificate, but carry proof of a current rabies vaccination and recent parasite (tick/flea and deworming) treatment. If you can't show these and an inspector deems it necessary, they can require treatment by a veterinarian in Mexico at your expense.

The two ways dogs fly to Mexico

Dogs fly in the cabin two ways, and the Mexico rules above apply to both. A small dog can fly as a pet in a carrier under the seat: each airline sets its own size rules, charges a pet fee each way, and caps pet spots per flight. A trained service dog flies at any size with no pet fee under the ACAA, using the two official U.S. DOT forms. Not sure which door is yours? Take the 2-minute quiz.

For this destination: Standard in-cabin process; the new screwworm certificate is Mexico's rule, not the airline's.

Coming home: don't skip this part

Coming home from Mexico takes two things. First, the free CDC Dog Import Form (Mexico is not on the CDC's high-risk rabies list, so no extra CDC vaccination form). Your dog must also be microchipped, at least 6 months old, and healthy on arrival.

Second, the screwworm rule: Mexico has been considered screwworm-affected since November 22, 2024, so dogs returning to the U.S. must meet USDA APHIS screwworm requirements, certification that the dog was inspected within 5 days before returning and found free of screwworm. Ask the same vet who handles your outbound screwworm certificate how to line up the return inspection.

U.S. re-entry rules verified August 20, 2026. USDA APHIS — Pet travel to Mexico (screwworm alert) + CDC dog import pages is the final word.

Copper's been there

Danny with puppy Copper right after the rescue
Danny and Copper, days after the 10-peso rescue at the Tijuana border crossing.

Mexico is where Copper's story starts: rescued at the Tijuana-San Diego border crossing for 10 pesos, a Labrador-Beagle mix nobody planned for. He's been back since, in the cabin, with the paperwork on this page.

Pick your airline

Mexico sets the entry rules; the airline sets the cabin process (advance notice, where to submit the DOT forms, pet fees and carrier sizes). We keep a guide for every major U.S. carrier:

Common questions: dogs to Mexico

Does my dog need a health certificate to go to Mexico?
No standard health certificate. NEW since Aug 3, 2026: an NWS (screwworm) Inspection Certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, issued no more than 5 days before arrival. SENASICA inspects on arrival (OISA). A USDA-accredited veterinarian handles the certificate (not every vet is one).
How far in advance should I start preparing my dog for Mexico?
One vet visit in the last 5 days covers the new screwworm certificate; carry rabies proof.
Will my dog be quarantined in Mexico?
No quarantine. Physical inspection at the port of entry.
Can my small dog fly in the cabin to Mexico?
Usually yes, in a carrier under the seat, subject to the airline's size rules and a pet fee each way, with limited pet spots per flight. Mexico entry rules are the same whether your dog flies as a pet or as a service dog. Not sure which way your dog flies? Take the 2-minute quiz.
Do service dogs need the same Mexico paperwork as pet dogs?
Yes. Mexico's import rules (microchip, vaccines, certificate) apply to every dog. The U.S. DOT forms are separate: they cover the airline side for trained service dogs (no pet fee, any size, cabin at your feet). There is no U.S. registry or certification for service animals, and none is required by law.
What does my dog need to come back into the U.S.?
Coming home from Mexico takes two things. First, the free CDC Dog Import Form (Mexico is not on the CDC's high-risk rabies list, so no extra CDC vaccination form). Your dog must also be microchipped, at least 6 months old, and healthy on arrival. Second, the screwworm rule: Mexico has been considered screwworm-affected since November 22, 2024, so dogs returning to the U.S. must meet USDA APHIS screwworm requirements, certification that the dog was inspected within 5 days before returning and found free of screwworm. Ask the same vet who handles your outbound screwworm certificate how to line up the return inspection.
Want the exact checklist for your trip? Paws on Board turns your route, airline, and dates into a step-by-step plan with real deadlines, fills the DOT forms where they apply, and lets you ask Copper anything about Mexico. Free to join.
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Sources

Not legal advice, and not a certification of anything. Import rules change without notice: confirm the current requirements with a USDA-accredited veterinarian and the official sources above before you book. Facts on this page last verified August 20, 2026. All airlines and destinations →