Pet Quarantine

Will my pets have to be quarantined in Mexico, or when returning to the US?

Your pets will NOT be placed in quarantine when entering Mexico, as long as you have the necessary paperwork with you.

This does not hold true for travel in the other direction, though. According to the Pets and Wildlife Division of US Customs, all domestic pets once taken out of the US are subject to the same requirements upon returning as pets entering the US for the first time. This may involve quarantine. To find out more, read on…

How will I know if my pet is going to be quarantined?

Pet dogs and cats will be examined at the first port of entry into the US for any sign of diseases that could be transmitted to other animals or humans. Dogs and cats that are entering the US from Mexico must have a valid rabies certification.

If your pet has not been vaccinated at all for rabies and distemper within the past calendar year, it can only be re-admitted to the US if it is quarantined immediately upon re-entry at the place of your choosing. You must get it vaccinated within four days of its arrival at your final destination, but no more than 10 days after its arrival at the port of entry (border). It will then need to stay in quarantine for a full 30 days.