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Pet travel route

Dog or cat from Uruguay to Mexico: official requirements

Possible. There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: dogs: microchip registered with the national animal welfare institute (INBA), rabies vaccination (recorded on the certificate) and health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet and 2 more.

Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 3 official pages

In short

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 An official source they rely on has changed since we last verified them, so something here may be out of date.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.

At a glance

How early to start (dogs)

No official wait

whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated

No official wait still means appointments: dogs: microchip registered with the national animal welfare institute (INBA), rabies vaccination (recorded on the certificate) and health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet and 2 more. Book them early; lab and paperwork times are not counted.

On this route (dogs)

  • No rabies blood test
  • Import permit needed
  • No quarantine
  • Parasite treatment before travel

How early to start (cats)

No official wait

whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated

No official wait still means appointments: rabies vaccination (recorded on the certificate), health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet, internal and external deworming and certificate of Good Health (issued within 15 days). Book them early; lab and paperwork times are not counted.

On this route (cats)

  • No rabies blood test
  • Import permit needed
  • No quarantine
  • Parasite treatment before travel

Which rules apply to you

Mexico puts Uruguay in the group “Any other country”. See every group

Official name: Any other country — Certificate of Good Health (15 days)

Prefer a feed reader? Uruguay rule changes · Mexico rule changes

Uruguay → Mexico

What your pet needs

In the order you do them. Each step says whether Uruguay (leaving) or Mexico (entering) asks for it.

Dogs

  1. Get ready

    1. IdentificationLeaving Uruguay

      Dogs: microchip registered with the national animal welfare institute (INBA)

      A dog leaving Uruguay must be microchipped and registered with the Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Animal; the chip is linked to its international health certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “SI ES PERRO: Microchip y registrado en el Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Animal, el que estará asociado al Certificado Sanitario Internacional, según Resolución Nº 273 de la DGSG del 27/08/2018.”

    2. VaccinationEntering Mexico

      Rabies vaccination (recorded on the certificate)

      Your pet's rabies vaccination date and its validity must be on the Certificate of Good Health. Pets under 3 months old are exempt.

      Details and the official words

      “Date of administration of the rabies vaccine and its period of validity (animals under 3 months of age are exempt).”

    3. PermitEntering Mexico

      Zoosanitary Import Certificate (CZI) on arrival

      On arrival, ask SENASICA staff at the airport, port or border for the CZI application form for your dog or cat (you can also download it beforehand).

      Details and the official words

      “you must request the Zoosanitary Import Certificate (CZI) at our offices located at all points of entry into the country (ports, airports, and borders).”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. Vet examLeaving Uruguay

      Health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet

      Within the 10 days before you go to MGAP, an MGAP-accredited private vet issues a health certificate (with the professional stamp, inciso A: 650 pesos in 2026) showing that your pet meets every requirement of the destination, and fills in two copies of the CVI. Bring the originals and photocopies, plus any supporting documents (vaccination certificate, antibody test).

      Details and the official words

      “Un Certificado Sanitario emitido dentro de los 10 días previos por Veterinario Particular Acreditado por el MGAP (desde el 01/07/2023), con Timbre profesional inciso A. El mismo deberá reflejar que la mascota cumple con los requisitos del país de destino y deberá incluir toda la información necesaria.”

      “Dos vías del CVI prellenado por el Veterinario acreditado.”

      “01/01/26 al 31/12/26: $650”

    2. TreatmentEntering Mexico

      Internal and external deworming

      Your pet must be dewormed internally and externally within the 6 months before travel and be free of external parasites — this goes on the Certificate of Good Health.

      Details and the official words

      “That the animal(s) have been dewormed internally and externally within the six months prior to travel and are free of ectoparasites.”

    3. PaperworkUruguay and Mexico

      Certificate of Good Health (issued within 15 days)

      Bring the original and a copy of a Certificate of Good Health issued no more than 15 days before you arrive, by an official vet or a private vet on letterhead with their licence number. It must show your pet's rabies vaccination (date and validity), that it was healthy at the pre-travel exam, and that it was dewormed inside and out in the last 6 months and is free of external parasites.

      Details and the official words

      MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel: Book an appointment at an MGAP animal health office (in Montevideo: the customs building on Rambla 25 de Agosto, or the Carrasco airport cargo terminal), pay 666 pesos (BROU, Abitab or Red Pagos) and bring the accredited vet's certificate, the pre-filled CVI and proof of payment. MGAP issues the CVI within the 10 days before your trip; your pet doesn't need to come. Show the CVI at the border when you leave.

      If this is missed: You must use a private vet in Mexico to treat your pet and issue the certificate, at your cost.

      “you must present a Certificate of Good Health with a maximum validity of 15 days from its date of issuance”

      “Para salir del país con su mascota, es necesario un CERTIFICADO SANITARIO INTERNACIONAL (CVI) emitido por la Autoridad Sanitaria Oficial (MGAP) de la oficina zonal o local del Departamento donde radica, emitido dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”

      “Constancia de pago por el Certificado Oficial. Costo $666 depositado en -Cuenta Corriente BROU del MGAP 001558187-00030 o Abitab o Red Pagos en cuenta 152-0025194”

      “No se requiere la presencia del animal, debido a que el mismo se encuentra identificado con microchip y ha sido certificado por su veterinario.”

      “Presentar el CVI en el paso de frontera de egreso.”

  3. Travel day and arrival

    1. On arrivalEntering Mexico

      Physical inspection on arrival

      SENASICA inspects your pet on arrival to check its health. Pets with recent wounds or parasites need treatment first.

      Details and the official words

      “a physical inspection of your animal will be carried out to verify its health status”

Good to know

  • Mexico removes and destroys crate bedding, diapers, newspaper, sawdust, rags, toys and treats made with ruminant ingredients. Travel with a clean crate — it will be sprayed on arrival. Collar and leash are fine.
  • If parasites such as ticks are found at the inspection, you must pay a vet in Mexico to treat your pet before it's released.
  • The destination country sets the health requirements and how long the certificate is valid (in calendar days). Check them with your accredited vet and plan the certificate around your travel date.
  • If your pet entered Uruguay with a certificate and leaves within the validity stated on it, you can use that same certificate. If it has expired, or states no validity, ask MGAP for a new official certificate.

Cats

  1. Get ready

    1. VaccinationEntering Mexico

      Rabies vaccination (recorded on the certificate)

      Your pet's rabies vaccination date and its validity must be on the Certificate of Good Health. Pets under 3 months old are exempt.

      Details and the official words

      “Date of administration of the rabies vaccine and its period of validity (animals under 3 months of age are exempt).”

    2. PermitEntering Mexico

      Zoosanitary Import Certificate (CZI) on arrival

      On arrival, ask SENASICA staff at the airport, port or border for the CZI application form for your dog or cat (you can also download it beforehand).

      Details and the official words

      “you must request the Zoosanitary Import Certificate (CZI) at our offices located at all points of entry into the country (ports, airports, and borders).”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. Vet examLeaving Uruguay

      Health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet

      Within the 10 days before you go to MGAP, an MGAP-accredited private vet issues a health certificate (with the professional stamp, inciso A: 650 pesos in 2026) showing that your pet meets every requirement of the destination, and fills in two copies of the CVI. Bring the originals and photocopies, plus any supporting documents (vaccination certificate, antibody test).

      Details and the official words

      “Un Certificado Sanitario emitido dentro de los 10 días previos por Veterinario Particular Acreditado por el MGAP (desde el 01/07/2023), con Timbre profesional inciso A. El mismo deberá reflejar que la mascota cumple con los requisitos del país de destino y deberá incluir toda la información necesaria.”

      “Dos vías del CVI prellenado por el Veterinario acreditado.”

      “01/01/26 al 31/12/26: $650”

    2. TreatmentEntering Mexico

      Internal and external deworming

      Your pet must be dewormed internally and externally within the 6 months before travel and be free of external parasites — this goes on the Certificate of Good Health.

      Details and the official words

      “That the animal(s) have been dewormed internally and externally within the six months prior to travel and are free of ectoparasites.”

    3. PaperworkUruguay and Mexico

      Certificate of Good Health (issued within 15 days)

      Bring the original and a copy of a Certificate of Good Health issued no more than 15 days before you arrive, by an official vet or a private vet on letterhead with their licence number. It must show your pet's rabies vaccination (date and validity), that it was healthy at the pre-travel exam, and that it was dewormed inside and out in the last 6 months and is free of external parasites.

      Details and the official words

      MGAP international veterinary certificate (CVI), within 10 days before travel: Book an appointment at an MGAP animal health office (in Montevideo: the customs building on Rambla 25 de Agosto, or the Carrasco airport cargo terminal), pay 666 pesos (BROU, Abitab or Red Pagos) and bring the accredited vet's certificate, the pre-filled CVI and proof of payment. MGAP issues the CVI within the 10 days before your trip; your pet doesn't need to come. Show the CVI at the border when you leave.

      If this is missed: You must use a private vet in Mexico to treat your pet and issue the certificate, at your cost.

      “you must present a Certificate of Good Health with a maximum validity of 15 days from its date of issuance”

      “Para salir del país con su mascota, es necesario un CERTIFICADO SANITARIO INTERNACIONAL (CVI) emitido por la Autoridad Sanitaria Oficial (MGAP) de la oficina zonal o local del Departamento donde radica, emitido dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”

      “Constancia de pago por el Certificado Oficial. Costo $666 depositado en -Cuenta Corriente BROU del MGAP 001558187-00030 o Abitab o Red Pagos en cuenta 152-0025194”

      “No se requiere la presencia del animal, debido a que el mismo se encuentra identificado con microchip y ha sido certificado por su veterinario.”

      “Presentar el CVI en el paso de frontera de egreso.”

  3. Travel day and arrival

    1. On arrivalEntering Mexico

      Physical inspection on arrival

      SENASICA inspects your pet on arrival to check its health. Pets with recent wounds or parasites need treatment first.

      Details and the official words

      “a physical inspection of your animal will be carried out to verify its health status”

Good to know

  • Mexico removes and destroys crate bedding, diapers, newspaper, sawdust, rags, toys and treats made with ruminant ingredients. Travel with a clean crate — it will be sprayed on arrival. Collar and leash are fine.
  • If parasites such as ticks are found at the inspection, you must pay a vet in Mexico to treat your pet before it's released.
  • The destination country sets the health requirements and how long the certificate is valid (in calendar days). Check them with your accredited vet and plan the certificate around your travel date.
  • If your pet entered Uruguay with a certificate and leaves within the validity stated on it, you can use that same certificate. If it has expired, or states no validity, ask MGAP for a new official certificate.

Money

What it costs

Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Uruguay publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.

Government fees on this route

Government fees in total: 1,316 UYU (each currency separately)

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

We have no published vet or lab prices for Uruguay yet.

Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices

Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.

Round trip

Coming back to Uruguay

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Uruguay (dogs).

The trip back asks for 10 steps: dogs: microchip (ISO 11784, HDX or FDX-B), linked to the certificate, rabies vaccination, valid on arrival (21 days after a first vaccination), dogs: negative leishmaniosis test within 60 days before entry and vet examination within 10 days before the certificate and more.

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Uruguay (cats).

The trip back asks for 8 steps: rabies vaccination, valid on arrival (21 days after a first vaccination), vet examination within 10 days before the certificate, internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before the certificate and international veterinary certificate (CVI) from the official authority and more.

Every step from Mexico to Uruguay

Nearby routes

Other routes

Where this comes from

Official sources

Questions owners ask

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

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 Mexico?

Yes: On arrival, ask SENASICA staff at the airport, port or border for the CZI application form for your dog or cat (you can also download it beforehand).

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Mexico?

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

How early should I start preparing my pet for Uruguay to Mexico?

There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: dogs: microchip registered with the national animal welfare institute (INBA), rabies vaccination (recorded on the certificate) and health certificate from an MGAP-accredited private vet and 2 more.

Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake

Read next

Turn this into dates for your pet

Where from, where to, when. You get every step with its deadline and the official page it comes from.

Make a dated plan