Dog or cat from Mexico to Israel: official requirements

Dogs

1. Get ready

   1. Age ruleEntering Israel

      At least 4 months old on arrival (3 months from rabies-free countries)

      Your dog or cat must be over 4 months old on the day it arrives in Israel. Pets on Israel's rabies-free route (born and kept in, or more than a year in, Australia, Cyprus, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden or the UK) may come from 3 months old.

      Details and the official words

      “מעל גיל 4 חודשים ביום ההגעה לישראל חוץ מאלו המבקשים להגיע ממדינות נקיות מכלבת (ראה מטה).”

      “ניתן לייבא מעל גיל 3 חודשים.”

      “Dogs and cats shall be no less than 4 months of age upon arrival in Israel.”

   2. IdentificationEntering Israel

      ISO microchip (134.2 kHz), before the rabies vaccination

      Your pet needs a microchip that transmits at 134.2 kHz and can be read by a reader meeting ISO 11784 and Annex A of ISO 11785. It must be implanted before the rabies vaccination and the blood test.

      Details and the official words

      “מסומן באמצעות סימון תת-עורי בשבב אלקטרוני: שמשדר בתדר 134.2 קילוהרץ.”

      “שבב זה יוחדר לבעל החיים לפני חיסון הכלבת ובדיקת הדם.”

      “All dogs and cats must be tagged with a subcutaneous electronic chip that transmits on a frequency of 134.2 kilohertz and can be read with a chip reader that conforms to the provisions of the ISO Standard No. 11784 and of Annex A of ISO Standard 11785.”

      “Please note that the pet's microchip must be implanted before or on the same date as the rabies vaccination documented on the health certificate.”

   3. VaccinationEntering Israel

      Rabies vaccination from 3 months old, at least 30 days before arrival

      Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies at 3 months old or older, and a first vaccination must be at least 30 days before arrival. A pet that has had more than one rabies vaccination needs no 30-day wait after a booster.

      Details and the official words

      “חוסן כנגד מחלת הכלבת בגיל 3 חודשים ומעלה לא יותר משנה ולא פחות מ-30 ימים לפני ההגעה לישראל.”

      “אם בעל החיים חוסן יותר מפעם אחת כנגד מחלת הכלבת אין צורך בהמתנה של 30 יום אך לא יותר משנה או לפי הוראות היצרן.”

      “All dogs/cats require a veterinary confirmation that they have been vaccinated against rabies no more than one year and no less than 30 days prior to their arrival in Israel”

      “If primary vaccination is needed, or if booster does not occur during the period of validity of the previous vaccination, this booster should be considered a primary vaccination, and animals are required to wait at least 30 days prior to importation.”

   4. VaccinationEntering Israel

      Most recent rabies shot no more than a year before arrival

      Israel's model certificate asks for a rabies vaccination given no more than one year before your pet arrives. If your pet's most recent shot will be older than that on arrival day, give a booster before you leave (while the current one is still valid, so no new 30-day wait applies).

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      Israel's service page says, for a pet vaccinated more than once, 'not more than a year or according to the manufacturer's instructions', so a 3-year vaccine may be accepted for longer: ask the Veterinary Services. The certificate the US agreed with Israel only asks that the pet is current on its rabies vaccination, so we don't apply this to pets from the US.

      Add the date of your pet's most recent rabies shot to check this.

      “All dogs/cats require a veterinary confirmation that they have been vaccinated against rabies no more than one year and no less than 30 days prior to their arrival in Israel”

      “אם בעל החיים חוסן יותר מפעם אחת כנגד מחלת הכלבת אין צורך בהמתנה של 30 יום אך לא יותר משנה או לפי הוראות היצרן.”

      “All pets listed on this certificate are current on rabies vaccinations.”

   5. Blood testEntering Israel

      Rabies blood test (at least 0.5 IU/ml), more than 30 days after the first vaccination

      A vet takes a blood sample more than 30 days after the first rabies vaccination, and a laboratory approved by WOAH or the EU must find at least 0.5 IU/ml. The result stays valid for your pet's life as long as its rabies vaccinations continue without a gap, following the vaccine maker's instructions. There is no wait after the test, but the laboratory report goes with your request for flight approval, so leave time for the laboratory.

      Details and the official words

      A pet microchipped before its first rabies vaccination and vaccinated more than once after 3 months old may have the sample taken 14 days after its latest rabies vaccination, as long as more than 30 days have passed since the first one. Don't take the sample within 14 days after a booster.

      If this is missed: Only in exceptional cases can the blood test be done in Israel, in an approved quarantine, and the pet then needs an import licence and must meet all its conditions.

      “tested in an EU or WOAH-approved laboratory, which states that the rabies neutralizing antibody titer was equal to or greater than 0, 5 IU/ml.”

      “The sample referred to in Part V must have been taken more than 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination”

      “or in case of an animal which was vaccinated more than once after the age of 3 months and being tagged by a microchip prior to the primary vaccination the sample can be taken 14 days after rabies vaccination as long as more than 30 days passed from the primary vaccination against rabies.”

      “בדיקת הדם תקפה לכל חיי בעל החיים אם נשמר הרצף החיסוני על פי הנחיות היצרן.”

      “במקרים חריגים בהם לא נעשתה בדיקת דם לנוגדני כלבת תיבחן אפשרות לביצועה בישראל בתנאי הסגר בהסגר המאושר על ידי השירותים הווטרינריים – אך במקרה זה בעל החיים חייב ברישיון יבוא ועמידה בכל תנאיו.”

      “The sample must be taken more than 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination, and the laboratory results are valid for the life of the animal, as long as the dog/cat remains current on rabies vaccinations”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. Vet examLeaving Mexico

      Health certificate from a private vet

      A private vet examines your pet and issues a good-health certificate with its name, microchip number (if it applies), breed, coat colour, sex and age, your name and address in Mexico, and a statement that it has no fresh wounds or signs of infectious disease. It must be no more than five days old (or the validity the destination sets) when you apply.

      Details and the official words

      “de no más de cinco días de expedido o de acuerdo a la vigencia establecida por el país de destino”

   2. Vet examLeaving Mexico

      Physical exam and second stamp on the day of travel

      On the day you travel, bring your pet to SENASICA's office at the point of departure. Officials examine it and, if all is in order, give the CZE its second stamp and signature.

      Details and the official words

      “El día de tu viaje deberás llevar a tu mascota a la oficina de Senasica en el punto de salida, en donde el personal oficial realizará un examen físico, y si todo está en orden, otorgará el segundo sello y firma a su CZE.”

   3. PaperworkMexico and Israel

      Israel's veterinary certificate (Annex A), valid for 10 days

      Your pet travels with Israel's 'Veterinary certificate for domestic dogs and cats entering Israel' (Annex A), issued no more than 10 days before arrival. An official veterinarian signs it, or a vet authorised by your country's veterinary authority signs it and that authority endorses it. It confirms the clinical examination (no signs of contagious or infectious disease), the microchip, the rabies vaccination and the blood test result.

      Details and the official words

      SENASICA export certificate (CZE), first stamp: When the destination's and Mexico's requirements are met, SENASICA prepares the CZE and gives it a first stamp and signature: you don't need to bring your pet for this. It is free, and valid for 8 calendar days (the destination can set a different validity).

      If this is missed: Pets that don't meet the requirements in full are sent back, quarantined or destroyed, as the Director decides, at the owner's cost.

      “VETERINARY CERTIFICATE FOR DOMESTIC DOGS AND CATS ENTERING ISRAEL”

      “The certificate is valid for 10 days”

      “OFFICIAL VETERINARIAN OR VETERINARIAN AUTHORISED BY THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY (* ) (in the latter case, the competent authority must endorse the certificate)”

      “At the time of examination it did not exhibit any symptoms of contagious or infectious diseases”

      “תעודת הבריאות צריכה להיות מונפקת במהלך 10 ימים לפני מועד היבוא.”

      “All U.S. pet dogs and cats must be accompanied by the Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Pet Dogs and Cats from the United States of America to the State of Israel, issued by a USDA accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA-APHIS, no more than 10 days prior to arrival.”

      “Any health certificate without APHIS endorsement is not valid for dogs or cats entrance to Israel.”

      “Es gratuito y tiene una vigencia de 8 días naturales (puede variar en caso de que el país destino establezca una vigencia diferente)”

      “se elaborará el CZE y se otorgará un primer sello y firma, no es necesario presentar a tu mascota”

   4. Official stampLeaving Mexico

      Apply for the CZE at a SENASICA office

      Apply for the Certificado Zoosanitario para Exportación (CZE) at any authorised SENASICA office with the application form, the owner's official ID (plus a signed power of attorney with two witnesses if someone else applies), the health certificate, the vaccination record, a deworming record, a microchip document and lab results, when the destination asks for them. It is delivered within three working days after the working day you submit it.

      Details and the official words

      “Se te entregará en un plazo de tres días hábiles posteriores al día hábil de la fecha de entrega de tu solicitud”

   5. PaperworkEntering Israel

      Owner's declaration (Annex B): your pet for at least 90 days

      Sign Israel's owner declaration (Annex B): your pet travels with the person responsible for it, it isn't for trade, and it has been in your possession for at least 90 days before you bring it to Israel. It goes with your request for flight approval. A pet you've had for less than 90 days can't use the no-licence route.

      Details and the official words

      “Pet Owner Declaration”

      “The animals had been in my possession at least 90 days prior to being brought to Israel.”

      “The animals are not intended for commercial purposes.”

      “הכלב או החתול היה ברשותו הפיזית של הבעלים שעל הטיסה לפחות ב-90 הימים שלפני הטיסה לישראל.”

   6. NoticeEntering Israel

      Request flight approval at least 2 working days before you leave

      At least two working days before you leave for Israel, send the Veterinary Services the owner declaration and arrival notice (Annexes B and C), the health certificate and the rabies blood-test report: for Ben Gurion Airport through the online form, for the ports of Ashdod, Haifa and Eilat by email to the port's veterinary office. The service is free. Your pet may only board once you have the written flight approval from the Veterinary Services at the port of arrival.

      Details and the official words

      If this is missed: Your pet may not board without the written flight approval.

      “בעלי חיות מחמד שעומדים בדרישות לפטור מרישיון יבוא יעבירו, לפחות 2 ימי עבודה לפני היציאה ממדינת המוצא, את הטופס ואת המסמכים הנדרשים באופן הבא:”

      “הצהרת בעלים והודעה על הגעת בעל חיים”

      “דוח מעבדה של בדיקת דם לנוגדני כלבת כמפורט בתנאי הבריאות”

      “השירות ניתן ללא עלות.”

      “ניתן להעלות את בעלי החיים על הטיסה, רק לאחר קבלת אישור בכתב מהשירות הווטרינרי בנמל הייבוא בישראל (אישור הטסה).”

      “Notification on Pet Arrival”

      “e-mail: vs-airport@moag.gov.il”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. RouteEntering Israel

      Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport or the ports of Haifa, Ashdod or Eilat

      Pets can only be brought into Israel through Ben Gurion Airport or the seaports of Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat.

      Details and the official words

      “נמלי הים חיפה, אשדוד ואילת; נמל התעופה בן-גוריון”

      “לא ניתן לייבא דרך נמלים אחרים.”

Cats

1. Get ready

   1. Age ruleEntering Israel

      At least 4 months old on arrival (3 months from rabies-free countries)

      Your dog or cat must be over 4 months old on the day it arrives in Israel. Pets on Israel's rabies-free route (born and kept in, or more than a year in, Australia, Cyprus, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden or the UK) may come from 3 months old.

      Details and the official words

      “מעל גיל 4 חודשים ביום ההגעה לישראל חוץ מאלו המבקשים להגיע ממדינות נקיות מכלבת (ראה מטה).”

      “ניתן לייבא מעל גיל 3 חודשים.”

      “Dogs and cats shall be no less than 4 months of age upon arrival in Israel.”

   2. IdentificationEntering Israel

      ISO microchip (134.2 kHz), before the rabies vaccination

      Your pet needs a microchip that transmits at 134.2 kHz and can be read by a reader meeting ISO 11784 and Annex A of ISO 11785. It must be implanted before the rabies vaccination and the blood test.

      Details and the official words

      “מסומן באמצעות סימון תת-עורי בשבב אלקטרוני: שמשדר בתדר 134.2 קילוהרץ.”

      “שבב זה יוחדר לבעל החיים לפני חיסון הכלבת ובדיקת הדם.”

      “All dogs and cats must be tagged with a subcutaneous electronic chip that transmits on a frequency of 134.2 kilohertz and can be read with a chip reader that conforms to the provisions of the ISO Standard No. 11784 and of Annex A of ISO Standard 11785.”

      “Please note that the pet's microchip must be implanted before or on the same date as the rabies vaccination documented on the health certificate.”

   3. VaccinationEntering Israel

      Rabies vaccination from 3 months old, at least 30 days before arrival

      Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies at 3 months old or older, and a first vaccination must be at least 30 days before arrival. A pet that has had more than one rabies vaccination needs no 30-day wait after a booster.

      Details and the official words

      “חוסן כנגד מחלת הכלבת בגיל 3 חודשים ומעלה לא יותר משנה ולא פחות מ-30 ימים לפני ההגעה לישראל.”

      “אם בעל החיים חוסן יותר מפעם אחת כנגד מחלת הכלבת אין צורך בהמתנה של 30 יום אך לא יותר משנה או לפי הוראות היצרן.”

      “All dogs/cats require a veterinary confirmation that they have been vaccinated against rabies no more than one year and no less than 30 days prior to their arrival in Israel”

      “If primary vaccination is needed, or if booster does not occur during the period of validity of the previous vaccination, this booster should be considered a primary vaccination, and animals are required to wait at least 30 days prior to importation.”

   4. VaccinationEntering Israel

      Most recent rabies shot no more than a year before arrival

      Israel's model certificate asks for a rabies vaccination given no more than one year before your pet arrives. If your pet's most recent shot will be older than that on arrival day, give a booster before you leave (while the current one is still valid, so no new 30-day wait applies).

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      Israel's service page says, for a pet vaccinated more than once, 'not more than a year or according to the manufacturer's instructions', so a 3-year vaccine may be accepted for longer: ask the Veterinary Services. The certificate the US agreed with Israel only asks that the pet is current on its rabies vaccination, so we don't apply this to pets from the US.

      Add the date of your pet's most recent rabies shot to check this.

      “All dogs/cats require a veterinary confirmation that they have been vaccinated against rabies no more than one year and no less than 30 days prior to their arrival in Israel”

      “אם בעל החיים חוסן יותר מפעם אחת כנגד מחלת הכלבת אין צורך בהמתנה של 30 יום אך לא יותר משנה או לפי הוראות היצרן.”

      “All pets listed on this certificate are current on rabies vaccinations.”

   5. Blood testEntering Israel

      Rabies blood test (at least 0.5 IU/ml), more than 30 days after the first vaccination

      A vet takes a blood sample more than 30 days after the first rabies vaccination, and a laboratory approved by WOAH or the EU must find at least 0.5 IU/ml. The result stays valid for your pet's life as long as its rabies vaccinations continue without a gap, following the vaccine maker's instructions. There is no wait after the test, but the laboratory report goes with your request for flight approval, so leave time for the laboratory.

      Details and the official words

      A pet microchipped before its first rabies vaccination and vaccinated more than once after 3 months old may have the sample taken 14 days after its latest rabies vaccination, as long as more than 30 days have passed since the first one. Don't take the sample within 14 days after a booster.

      If this is missed: Only in exceptional cases can the blood test be done in Israel, in an approved quarantine, and the pet then needs an import licence and must meet all its conditions.

      “tested in an EU or WOAH-approved laboratory, which states that the rabies neutralizing antibody titer was equal to or greater than 0, 5 IU/ml.”

      “The sample referred to in Part V must have been taken more than 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination”

      “or in case of an animal which was vaccinated more than once after the age of 3 months and being tagged by a microchip prior to the primary vaccination the sample can be taken 14 days after rabies vaccination as long as more than 30 days passed from the primary vaccination against rabies.”

      “בדיקת הדם תקפה לכל חיי בעל החיים אם נשמר הרצף החיסוני על פי הנחיות היצרן.”

      “במקרים חריגים בהם לא נעשתה בדיקת דם לנוגדני כלבת תיבחן אפשרות לביצועה בישראל בתנאי הסגר בהסגר המאושר על ידי השירותים הווטרינריים – אך במקרה זה בעל החיים חייב ברישיון יבוא ועמידה בכל תנאיו.”

      “The sample must be taken more than 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination, and the laboratory results are valid for the life of the animal, as long as the dog/cat remains current on rabies vaccinations”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. Vet examLeaving Mexico

      Health certificate from a private vet

      A private vet examines your pet and issues a good-health certificate with its name, microchip number (if it applies), breed, coat colour, sex and age, your name and address in Mexico, and a statement that it has no fresh wounds or signs of infectious disease. It must be no more than five days old (or the validity the destination sets) when you apply.

      Details and the official words

      “de no más de cinco días de expedido o de acuerdo a la vigencia establecida por el país de destino”

   2. Vet examLeaving Mexico

      Physical exam and second stamp on the day of travel

      On the day you travel, bring your pet to SENASICA's office at the point of departure. Officials examine it and, if all is in order, give the CZE its second stamp and signature.

      Details and the official words

      “El día de tu viaje deberás llevar a tu mascota a la oficina de Senasica en el punto de salida, en donde el personal oficial realizará un examen físico, y si todo está en orden, otorgará el segundo sello y firma a su CZE.”

   3. PaperworkMexico and Israel

      Israel's veterinary certificate (Annex A), valid for 10 days

      Your pet travels with Israel's 'Veterinary certificate for domestic dogs and cats entering Israel' (Annex A), issued no more than 10 days before arrival. An official veterinarian signs it, or a vet authorised by your country's veterinary authority signs it and that authority endorses it. It confirms the clinical examination (no signs of contagious or infectious disease), the microchip, the rabies vaccination and the blood test result.

      Details and the official words

      SENASICA export certificate (CZE), first stamp: When the destination's and Mexico's requirements are met, SENASICA prepares the CZE and gives it a first stamp and signature: you don't need to bring your pet for this. It is free, and valid for 8 calendar days (the destination can set a different validity).

      If this is missed: Pets that don't meet the requirements in full are sent back, quarantined or destroyed, as the Director decides, at the owner's cost.

      “VETERINARY CERTIFICATE FOR DOMESTIC DOGS AND CATS ENTERING ISRAEL”

      “The certificate is valid for 10 days”

      “OFFICIAL VETERINARIAN OR VETERINARIAN AUTHORISED BY THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY (* ) (in the latter case, the competent authority must endorse the certificate)”

      “At the time of examination it did not exhibit any symptoms of contagious or infectious diseases”

      “תעודת הבריאות צריכה להיות מונפקת במהלך 10 ימים לפני מועד היבוא.”

      “All U.S. pet dogs and cats must be accompanied by the Veterinary Health Certificate for Export of Pet Dogs and Cats from the United States of America to the State of Israel, issued by a USDA accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA-APHIS, no more than 10 days prior to arrival.”

      “Any health certificate without APHIS endorsement is not valid for dogs or cats entrance to Israel.”

      “Es gratuito y tiene una vigencia de 8 días naturales (puede variar en caso de que el país destino establezca una vigencia diferente)”

      “se elaborará el CZE y se otorgará un primer sello y firma, no es necesario presentar a tu mascota”

   4. Official stampLeaving Mexico

      Apply for the CZE at a SENASICA office

      Apply for the Certificado Zoosanitario para Exportación (CZE) at any authorised SENASICA office with the application form, the owner's official ID (plus a signed power of attorney with two witnesses if someone else applies), the health certificate, the vaccination record, a deworming record, a microchip document and lab results, when the destination asks for them. It is delivered within three working days after the working day you submit it.

      Details and the official words

      “Se te entregará en un plazo de tres días hábiles posteriores al día hábil de la fecha de entrega de tu solicitud”

   5. PaperworkEntering Israel

      Owner's declaration (Annex B): your pet for at least 90 days

      Sign Israel's owner declaration (Annex B): your pet travels with the person responsible for it, it isn't for trade, and it has been in your possession for at least 90 days before you bring it to Israel. It goes with your request for flight approval. A pet you've had for less than 90 days can't use the no-licence route.

      Details and the official words

      “Pet Owner Declaration”

      “The animals had been in my possession at least 90 days prior to being brought to Israel.”

      “The animals are not intended for commercial purposes.”

      “הכלב או החתול היה ברשותו הפיזית של הבעלים שעל הטיסה לפחות ב-90 הימים שלפני הטיסה לישראל.”

   6. NoticeEntering Israel

      Request flight approval at least 2 working days before you leave

      At least two working days before you leave for Israel, send the Veterinary Services the owner declaration and arrival notice (Annexes B and C), the health certificate and the rabies blood-test report: for Ben Gurion Airport through the online form, for the ports of Ashdod, Haifa and Eilat by email to the port's veterinary office. The service is free. Your pet may only board once you have the written flight approval from the Veterinary Services at the port of arrival.

      Details and the official words

      If this is missed: Your pet may not board without the written flight approval.

      “בעלי חיות מחמד שעומדים בדרישות לפטור מרישיון יבוא יעבירו, לפחות 2 ימי עבודה לפני היציאה ממדינת המוצא, את הטופס ואת המסמכים הנדרשים באופן הבא:”

      “הצהרת בעלים והודעה על הגעת בעל חיים”

      “דוח מעבדה של בדיקת דם לנוגדני כלבת כמפורט בתנאי הבריאות”

      “השירות ניתן ללא עלות.”

      “ניתן להעלות את בעלי החיים על הטיסה, רק לאחר קבלת אישור בכתב מהשירות הווטרינרי בנמל הייבוא בישראל (אישור הטסה).”

      “Notification on Pet Arrival”

      “e-mail: vs-airport@moag.gov.il”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. RouteEntering Israel

      Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport or the ports of Haifa, Ashdod or Eilat

      Pets can only be brought into Israel through Ben Gurion Airport or the seaports of Haifa, Ashdod and Eilat.

      Details and the official words

      “נמלי הים חיפה, אשדוד ואילת; נמל התעופה בן-גוריון”

      “לא ניתן לייבא דרך נמלים אחרים.”

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Mexico.

The trip back asks for 5 steps: Zoosanitary Import Certificate (CZI) on arrival, physical inspection on arrival, certificate of Good Health (issued within 15 days) and rabies vaccination (recorded on the certificate) and more.