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Pawhopper

Pet travel route

Taking a dog or cat from Mexico → Peru

What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.

We’re re-checking these rules. An official source they rely on has changed since we last verified them, so something here may be out of date. Before you book or travel, confirm the details with the official authority.

Limited official guidance. The authority for entering Peru publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. SENASA states these requirements in a press note (29 November 2024) and an older page (2020), not in a regulation we could read. They give no deadline for the certificate, no blood test, no quarantine rule and no list of accepted origin countries, and the fees quoted in them are old. Ask SENASA (viajacontumascota@senasa.gob.pe) what applies to your route. Customs (SUNAT) has its own rules for the pet's arrival.

How early to start

5 days

if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)

5 days

if it is already microchipped and vaccinated

Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.

What your dog or cat needs

  1. Vaccination

    Rabies vaccination (pets 3 months or older)

    The rabies vaccine is compulsory for dogs and cats from 3 months of age, and the vaccination must be valid on the health certificate.

    Details and the official words

    “La vacuna de Rabia es obligatoria para ambas mascotas a partir de los 3 meses de edad”

  2. Vaccination

    Valid core vaccinations on the certificate

    The export certificate must list current vaccines: for dogs canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis, leptospirosis and rabies; for cats feline panleukopenia and rabies.

    Details and the official words

    “(en perros: Parvovirus canino, Distemper canino, Hepatitis canina, Leptospirosis y Rabia; y en gatos: Panleucopenia felina y Rabia).”

  3. Treatment

    Internal and external parasite treatment before travel

    Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites shortly before travel and the certificate says so. We plan for within 15 days (SENASA's 2024 note says 30 days, its 2020 page 15).

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

    Details and the official words

    SENASA's two pages give different windows (30 and 15 days): the stricter is shown. Ask SENASA.

    “además de la desparasitación interna y externa realizada dentro de los 30 días previos al viaje.”

    “Desparasitación (interna y externa) realizada dentro de los 15 días previos del viaje.”

  4. Paperwork

    Original export health certificate from the official authority of the country you come from

    Bring the original export health certificate issued by the official authority of the country of origin. It must give the pet's current vaccines, the parasite treatment and its state of health. SENASA's notes give no deadline for how recent it must be: ask SENASA.

    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).

    “Certificado sanitario de exportación original emitido por la Autoridad Oficial del país de procedencia que consigne la siguiente información”

    “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”

  5. On arrival

    Present the documents to SENASA on arrival and pass the clinical inspection

    The owner or an agent takes an application with their details and the pet's, and the certificate, to the SENASA office at Jorge Chávez airport (or another international airport or land border post). A SENASA vet then examines the pet for signs of infectious or parasitic disease and decides whether it can continue with the entry procedure.

    Details and the official words

    “El propietario o apoderado de la mascota debe presentar en la oficina de SENASA, ubicada en el aeropuerto Jorge Chávez y otros terminales aéreos internacionales del interior del país, así como en puestos de control fronterizos (vía terrestre), los siguientes documentos:”

    “Posteriormente, se realiza la inspección clínica a la mascota para detectar la presencia de algún signo de enfermedad infectocontagiosa o parasitaria.”

  6. Vet exam

    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”

  7. Official stamp

    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”

  8. Vet exam

    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.”

Good to know

  • SENASA's 2024 note asks for the parasite treatment within 30 days before travel; its 2020 page says within 15 days. We plan for 15 days, which satisfies both: confirm with SENASA.
  • SENASICA tells you to look up the destination in its requirements module first: it shows the vaccinations or treatments your pet needs, and when they must be given. If a country isn't in the module, ask SENASICA at reqzoosan.dgsa@senasica.gob.mx.
  • If the documents are incomplete or wrong, SENASICA can ask you to complete or correct them, or refuse the request, so leave time.
  • The vaccination record must show the vaccine name, laboratory, batch number, expiry date, date given and validity period. Without a stated validity it counts as one year. The rabies vaccine counts from three months of age.

Government fees we know of

  • SENASICA export zoosanitary certificate (CZE): free of charge0 MXN

Vet, lab and courier costs are not included. The final amount can depend on how many tests or pets are on the certificate.

Common questions

Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Mexico to Peru?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.

Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Peru?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Peru?

Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.

Does my dog or cat need a microchip?

The official rules we have verified for this route don't list a microchip requirement.