Due to the rising number of visitors to Mexico with pets, the Ministry of Tourism has implemented the Frequent Pet Traveler program at several major airports around the country.
The Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) has set up two specialized terminal areas inside the Benito Juarez International Airport at Mexico City, in addition to similar accommodations at airports in Guadalajara, Queretaro, Toluca, Mazatlan, Zihuatanejo and Cancun.
The Mascota Viajero Frecuente (Frequent Pet Traveler) program has been set up to make entering the country with pets easier. For instance, Sectur has a special application that is attached to a pet’s health certificate issued by an approved veterinarian that details the animal has current rabies, ecto- and endoparasites shots less than six months before entering the country.
When a pet is registered in the program, owners are provided with an official document issued by Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA), which contains the general data of the traveler and pet, vaccination and deworming record as well as a certification of health of the pet every time he enters the country.
With the registration, visitors can enter the country for a period of up to six months as long as the anti-rabies vaccination and deworming are valid and the animal is healthy.
To receive the document that certifies the entry of pets to the country, it is necessary to present a certificate of good health of the animal, valid for 15 days after being issued by an official veterinarian, on letterhead with the doctor’s medical certificate. Travelers also need to provide the name and address of the country of origin, the place where both the owner and their pet will arrive, and the date of application of the rabies vaccine.
To enter the country the pet must do so in a conveyor or container, clean, without bed or toys, in addition to having a leash or collar.
The program will minimize waiting time, since it is not necessary to register the data every time since that information will exist in a permanent database. Travelers will only need to prove the validity of the vaccine and deworming prior to travel. The travel certificate is sent to the pet owner via email.
The registration process for the program is available only in the Agricultural Health Inspection Offices (OISA) of AICM T1, AICM T2 at Mexico City. Travelers in Guadalajara, Querétaro, Zihuatanejo, Toluca, Mazatlán and Cancun will need to visit SENASICA‘s central offices to register with the program. There is no cost to register with the Mascota Viajero Frecuente program. For more information, contact 59051000 ext. 53611, 54326 or 51020 or (0155) 43130154, 43130155 or 43130152.
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