Taking a Pet into Baja California

There are restrictions and prohibitions on bringing many species of animals into the United States. If you plan to take your pet into Mexico or if you plan to bring a pet back from Mexico, please get a copy of the CBP brochure Pets and Wildlife. You should also check with state, county, and local authorities to learn if their restrictions and prohibitions on pets are stricter than federal requirements. Importing animals is closely regulated for public health reasons and also for the well being of the animals. It is illegal in the United States to import, export, distribute, transport, manufacture, or sell products containing dog or cat fur in the United States.

Commercial shipments of dogs and cats:

• The animals must be accompanied by a health certificate (such as the APHIS form 7001 or old VS Form 18-1, or a State health certificate) issued by a USDA-accredited Veterinarians and endorsed by a Veterinary Services veterinarian.
• The animals were inspected and found free of any evidence of infectious diseases and parasites.
• The animals originate from kennels where no outbreaks of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis have occurred.
• The animals were vaccinated against rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus. Show date of vaccination and product used - a vaccination certificate must accompany the animals

Documentation for Bringing Dogs and Cats into Mexico:

• The animals must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian.
• Health certificates for personal pets do not need to be endorsed by a Veterinary Services Veterinarian.
• The animals must be inoculated against rabies (unless younger than 4 months old) and Distemper (dates of vaccination must appear on the health certificate).
• The health certificate must be in duplicate and bear the name and address of the owner, a description of the animal (species, age, sex) and attest that the animal has been examined and found free of any contagious disease.

Bringing Dogs into Mexico

If you plan to bring your dog into Mexico, your dog must also be free of evidence of diseases that could be communicable to humans. Puppies must be confined at a place of the owner’s choosing, which can be a private residence, until they are three months old and then they must be vaccinated against rabies. The puppy will then have to stay in confinement for another 30 days following the vaccination.
Dogs older than three months must get a rabies vaccination at least 30 days before they come to the United States and must be accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate if coming from a country that is not rabies-free. This certificate should identify the dog, show the date of vaccination, the date it expires (there are one-year and three-year vaccinations), and be signed by a licensed veterinarian. If the certificate does not have an expiration date, CBP will accept it as long as the dog was vaccinated 12 months or less before coming to the United States. Dogs coming from rabies free countries do not have to be vaccinated.

 

Bringing Cats into Mexico

If you plan to bring your cat into Mexico, your cat must be free of evidence of diseases communicable to humans when they are examined at the port of entry. If the cat does not seem to be in good health, the owner may have to pay for an additional examination by a licensed veterinarian. There is no rabies vaccination requirement for cats. Following entry into the United States, all cats are subject to state and local vaccination requirements. As a rule, both cats and dogs must be free of fleas and ticks, and have a health certificate that was issued by the country of residence.

For Complete Details on Bringing Pets into Mexico Contact APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service).