New Requirements for Flying Pets Out of Mexico

Introduction:

New Requirements for Flying Pets Out of Mexico

Over the years, we’ve written a lot of articles about flying with your pet, but recently an expat noticed that the requirements had changed for flying your pets out of Mexico. So, those of us at Expat Insurance thought it would be a good idea to update you on the new requirements for flying pets out of Mexico.

Expats Have Been Outraged

New Requirements for Flying Pets Out of Mexico

People have been commenting in expat groups that it’s become more difficult to fly out of Mexico with your pet. One woman wrote:

WARNING. Traveling with pets from MEX. DF..... After traveling with my dog back and forth 20 plus times, I thought I knew the ropes. Showed up 4 hours prior to my flight with my documents. Nope. Now they require you to go downstairs to the SAGARPA office. There were 8 people already there. The people at the front of the line warned the rest of us they had already been there 4 hours. Long story short, it’s a 6-page application with multiple copies of various documents required to accompany, including the vet’s medical license. As each application is a two-to-three step process, each takes a minimum of one hour. Today, there was one person doing all the paperwork, so it was taking HOURS per person. Four of us missed our flights to Europe. It was unbelievable. It is NOT the fast process coming in. This is way different and requiring the hologram seal, computer checking, and about 16 pages of papers. I last flew out of Mexico in Feb 2022, this didn’t exist then, and my airline did not alert me. [Practically] no one in line knew (half Mexicans, half foreigners). The ones who knew were coming in the DAY BEFORE to do the process since it can take from 1 to 4 hours, to avoid missing a flight the next day, and then the variable of how many people are in line. BE AWARE.

The Senasica Website:

New Requirements for Flying Pets Out of Mexico

Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (Senasica) is the government authority in charge of flying pets out of Mexico. The Senasica website lists the new requirements, however it doesn’t seem as complicated a scenario as expats in forums have made it out to be (not that we’re doubting them). These are the requirements as listed on the website, but there may be more to it than what’s listed on the website:

• Current Rabies vaccination
• Health Certificate stating that the pet is healthy
• Must be listed on the letterhead of your veterinarian
• With the veterinarian’s professional license number
• Your address
• The address where you will be traveling

*For more information and to see the Senasica website, click here.

Our Advice

New Requirements for Flying Pets Out of Mexico

1. The first thing you want to do is contact your airline. They should know the exact requirements for your airport—and how long it will take to process the paperwork.

2. The airline can probably get you the number for the SAGARPA office in the airport that you’re flying out of. Calling them is probably one of the best ways to find out exactly what paperwork you need from your veterinarian.

3. You might want to take care of this paperwork a day or two before you travel so you aren’t in danger of missing your flight.

Additional Information:

• Click here for a .pdf put forward by the Mexican government, listing every Senesica office in every state in Mexico—including the airports.

• Here’s the phone number for the Senesica directory: 55 4313 0152

Conclusion:

New Requirements for Flying Pets Out of Mexico

We know how important your pet is to you. They’re family. That’s why it’s so necessary to find out what the requirements are when you’re flying pets out of Mexico. In this case, take care of a few paperwork details ahead of time and you should be fine.