Miss one date and Mexico can reset your pet's whole timeline. Here's the order that works.
For US-origin dogs, book the NWS inspection certificate within 5 days before entry into Mexico. It does not need APHIS endorsement. Cats follow an arrival-inspection process without this document. Check airline requirements separately.
Plan-ahead window: Days, not weeks. Where required, microchip must come before the first rabies vaccine, or the destination rejects the rabies record.
- 01Mexico dog entry: New World screwworm inspection certificate
Effective August 3, 2026, US-origin pet dogs need the NWS inspection certificate issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian no more than 5 days before entry into Mexico. APHIS endorsement is not required for this document. Count from arrival, not departure. Source checked September 28, 2026.
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- Check return-to-US requirements separately
Dog re-entry requirements are separate from Mexico entry paperwork. Review APHIS and CDC requirements before leaving the United States.
Source → - EU layovers need a transit-zone check, not an automatic certificate
If the route uses an EU or associated airport, confirm whether the pet remains in that airport’s international transit zone. Qualifying non-commercial pets that stay in-zone do not need an EU health certificate; commercial/unaccompanied movement or handling outside the zone may still require EU entry paperwork.
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Primary source: Mexico authority · verified 2026-05-17 · full source ledger →