México has just recently introduced a new “Frequent Traveler Program for Pets” called Programa Mascota Viajero Frecuente. For those with pets, like us, we know there is a lot to be taken into consideration when traveling with your furry family. Especially when traveling internationally, as you may recall from a prior post, Furry Family Members – Bringing Pets into México. The aim of the program is to speed up the entry process into México for frequent visitors with pets. For now, it appears as though that only dogs and cats are eligible for the program and it is only for air travel to a select number of airports (see below).
PURPOSE
When your pets are registered in the program, you will be issued an official document (called “Registro de Ingreso”) by SENASICA which contains all the pertinent data about your pets, i.e., personal info, vaccination records, etc. Additionally, the document certifies your pet’s health every time you enter the country.
As a reminder, the Mexican government agency tasked with overseeing the importation of pets and other animals is el Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA) which falls under the Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación (SAGARPA). It’s often hyphenated as SAGARPA-SENASICA.
PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS
- Cancun airport (CUN)
- Guadalajara airport (GDL)
- Queretaro airport (QRO)
- Zihuatanejo airport (ZIH)
- Toluca airport (TLC)
- Mazatlan airport (MZT)
- Ciudad de México airport (AICM) – Terminals 1 & 2
BENEFITS
- During a period of 6 months, you will no longer have to present a new health certificate with each entry since the SENASICA staff will verify your Registro de Ingreso and ensure the rabies vaccination and treatment of endoparasites and ectoparasites are still in effect.
- Minimize vaccinations and treatments of your pets.
- Decrease your waiting time upon entry into the country.
- It will not be necessary to register any new data into SENASICA’s computer systems since this information will already exist in their system.
- You will not have to wait until the Import Certificate is prepared since it will be sent electronically to your e-mail
WHERE TO APPLY
At the current time, the Registro de Ingreso document is only being issued at the following Oficinas de Inspección de Sanidad Agropecuaria (OISA) locations:
- Cancun airport (CUN)
- Guadalajara airport (GDL)
- Queretaro airport (QRO)
- Zihuatanejo airport (ZIH)
- Toluca airport (TLC)
- Mazatlan airport (MZT)
- Ciudad de México airport (AICM) – Terminals 1 & 2
- SENASICA’s central offices in Ciudad de México
HOW TO APPLY
1) Fill out an application.
2) Attach your health certificate issued by a veterinarian authorized by SENASICA.
3) Have a record of your current rabies vaccination.
4) Have record of your treatment against ectoparasites and endoparasites (less than 6 months).
For more information, you can go in-person to one of the above mentioned locations or you can call 59051000 ext. 53611, 54326 and 51020, (0155) 43130154; 43130155 and 43130152
VALIDITY
By having the Registro de Ingreso document, you can enter the country as frequently as you want with your pets for a period of 6 months as long as all the vaccinations & treatments are still in effect and your pets are healthy
COST
The program is free of charge.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Given the relative newness of this program, information available online at gob.mx is very scarce. As information continues to become available, I will update this post with any new pertinent information.
