This guide is reviewed against APHIS guidance. Always confirm current requirements with APHIS and your veterinarian before travel.
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Mexico's entry requirements can change. For pet dogs traveling from the United States, the current APHIS guidance says Mexico requires an NWS (New World Screwworm) Inspection Certificate for pet dogs, signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and issued no more than five days before entry into Mexico. Mexico also inspects pets at entry, and the certificate does not replace other documents or formalities that may apply. Read the current APHIS Mexico requirements.
This checklist is for dogs traveling from the U.S. to Mexico. Requirements for cats, birds, and other animals differ.
Start with your planned entry date
The certificate's date matters. Before making an appointment, write down the date you plan to enter Mexico and share it with the clinic. The required NWS inspection certificate must be issued within five days before entry.
Leave room for real life: border plans can change, clinics may have limited appointment availability, and your veterinarian may need time to review the official form.
Find a USDA-accredited veterinarian
Not every veterinarian is USDA-accredited. Accreditation is voluntary and specific to the state where the veterinarian is practicing.
- Call your regular veterinarian first. Ask whether they, or another veterinarian in the practice, is USDA-accredited in the state where your appointment will occur.
- Use APHIS's public search. The APHIS accredited-veterinarian search tool can help you find practices in your area.
- Call to confirm. APHIS notes that not every accredited veterinarian appears in the public search, so an absent search result is not a definitive no. Your regular clinic may also know an accredited veterinarian nearby.
- Confirm the travel paperwork before scheduling. Ask whether the veterinarian can complete the NWS Inspection Certificate for a dog traveling from the U.S. to Mexico within your planned timing.
- Ask your State NVAP coordinator if you need confirmation. APHIS directs owners to their state's NVAP coordinator to confirm a veterinarian's accreditation status.
What to say when you call
“My dog is traveling from the United States to Mexico. Mexico requires an NWS Inspection Certificate within five days of entry. Does a USDA-accredited veterinarian at your practice complete that form, and when should we schedule the exam?”
Bring the right information to the appointment
The official NWS certificate asks for clinic contact information, the place and date of issue, owner contact information, and details for each dog, including species, breed, identification, age, sex, and microchip number when applicable. It also includes the veterinarian's NWS inspection statement and, if treatment was needed, treatment details.
Bring or have ready:
- Your dog's current identification details, including microchip number if applicable
- Your full name, address, phone number, and email address
- Your planned Mexico entry date
- Recent veterinary and vaccination records your veterinarian asks to review
- Any relevant information about recent wounds, parasites, or treatment
- A way to carry the original certificate and any other documents required for your trip
The veterinarian—not an app or owner—must complete the official clinical inspection and certificate.
Review the certificate before you leave
Before travel, read the certificate with your veterinarian and make sure it is complete, legible, and dated for your planned entry window. Confirm the certificate includes the USDA-accredited veterinarian's name and accreditation number, and follow the current APHIS and official-form instructions for signing and carrying the certificate. Keep the required paper version with you while traveling.
Keep your copies organized
AnimalDossier can help you organize your own records and document copies. Keep your dog's identification, vaccination records, clinic contact information, and a copy of the issued certificate together so you can find them when you need them.
AnimalDossier does not issue, sign, endorse, verify, or replace the official NWS inspection certificate, an APHIS endorsement, a veterinarian's clinical judgment, or Mexico's border inspection.
Check official guidance again before travel
Review the current APHIS pet-travel requirements for Mexico shortly before your trip and confirm your individual situation with your veterinarian. Requirements, appointments, and entry procedures can change.