Pet Travel & Rules for Los Cabos Airport
If you’re considering bringing your pet on your journey, it’s important to confirm with your airline ahead of time to ensure pets are allowed on your flight and that you have the appropriate crate for your pet’s safety and comfort.
Pets that are properly prepared and authorized for travel are welcomed at SJD Cabo Airport. It’s important to note that pets are not permitted to roam freely within the airport terminal, and failure to comply with this regulation could result in a citation and fine.
For information about bringing pets into Mexico, you may wish to contact the nearest Mexican Consulate, or the “Dirección General de Inspección Fitozoosanitaria” in Mexico City: Tel. 011-52-55-5571-3124.
Visiting Los Cabos with Pets
When planning to fly to Mexico with a pet other than a cat or dog, it is crucial to thoroughly check with your airline regarding their specific regulations and fees for pet transportation. Airlines may have varied rules about the types of animals allowed, the size and type of carriers accepted, and whether pets can be carried on board or must be checked in. Additionally, fees for transporting pets can differ between airlines and may depend on the size and weight of the pet and its carrier. It’s also important to inquire about any health and vaccination requirements your pet must meet to travel. Early communication with the airline will help ensure a smooth and stress-free journey for both you and your pet.
In the Terminal
Animals stay in their carriers. Pets are not allowed to roam the terminal, and letting one loose can bring a citation and fine.
Requirements last verified September 2026. Confirm with your airline and with the relevant authority before you travel.
Service Animals at SJD Airport
Service animals, particularly service dogs, are trained to perform specific tasks for individuals with disabilities, and they are generally allowed to accompany their owners on flights under various regulations. In contrast, emotional support animals, which include emotional support dogs, do not have the same legal standing on airlines. While service animals are almost universally accepted on flights due to their essential role in assisting their owners, airlines are not obligated to allow emotional support animals. This distinction is significant as emotional support animals are not trained for specific tasks related to a disability. Although not required, some airlines may choose to permit emotional support animals on their flights, but their policies can vary widely. It is always recommended to check with the airline for their specific rules regarding emotional support animals before planning your travel.
Bringing Pets to Mexico
Read information from United State on processes for exportation of animals to Mexico and other countries. In order to bring your pet into Mexico, you will need to present the following upon arrival at SJD San Jose del´Cabo International Airport / Los Cabos Airport.
To ensure a smooth and compliant entry for your pet into Mexico, please adhere to the following guidelines:
Carrier Requirements: Your pet’s carrier must be clean. Upon inspection, it will undergo a preventive treatment, including spraying by official personnel.
Prohibited Items: Bedding, implements, accessories, toys, treats, or prizes made with ruminant-origin ingredients are not allowed. If found, they will be removed and destroyed.
Collar and Leash: Pets may enter with their collar and leash.
Pet Food and Medical Treatment: If you wish to bring food or if your pet is under medical treatment, refer to the specific regulations [read the pet travel rules].
Pets as Cargo: When sending pets as cargo, check airline requirements and consider a Foreign Trade Agent for customs clearance.
Entry from Mexico, USA, or Canada
Pets will undergo a physical inspection upon arrival in Mexico. A Certificate of Good Health and vaccination card are not required for pets arriving from the USA or Canada, including entry through border strips or cruise ships for the ship’s trip duration.
Entry from Other Countries: At the entry point, present a Certificate of Good Health (valid for 15 days from issuance) to official Senasica personnel. This certificate must include:
- Issuance by an official or private veterinarian (with license details).
- Exporter’s name and address and importer’s destination address in Mexico.
- Rabies vaccine date and validity (exemption for animals under 3 months).
- Confirmation of the animal’s health and deworming status.
Lack of Documentation: Without a Certificate of Good Health or vaccination card, arrange for a private Mexican veterinarian to provide necessary treatments and issue the certificate.
Physical Pet Inspection Considerations
- For ectoparasites, seek treatment at your expense.
- If ticks are found, a sample will be sent for laboratory testing.
- Pets may be retained until lab results are obtained.
- Senasica will determine necessary measures for any detected risk, with associated costs being your responsibility.
Non-Dog/Cat Animals: For traveling with animals other than dogs or cats, consult specific information [read the pet travel rules].
Adhering to these protocols will help ensure a safe and compliant journey for your pet into Mexico.
Accepted Live Animals at Los Cabos Airport
- Amphibians
- Crustaceans
- Fish
- Insects
- Mollusks
- Reptiles (non-venomous only)
- Worms
Prohibited Live Animals at Los Cabos Airport
- Any poisonous, venomous or threatening animal
- Any and all threatened or endangered species
- Any animal on recognized endangered lists
- Arachnids
- Birds
- Crocodiles
- Snakes venomous and non-venomous
- Chupacabras (live, or as consumables or, spiritual)
In order to bring a pet (dogs and cats) into Mexico, the following documents must be presented at the Office of Animal Health Inspection (OISA) at international airports and ports of entry into Mexico :
- If the pet is less than tree months, a “Certificate of Good Health” issued by an official authority or by a licensed veterinarian provided that his or her signature is approved in the United Kingdom and issued not more than five days before the animal enters Mexico
- If the pet is older than three moths, the “Certificate of Good Health” must also states immunizations against rabies, distemper, hepatitis and leptospirosis. Any immunization must been administered at least 15 days before pet’s arrival to Mexico, but not more than one year.
At the OISA your pet will be physically checked and that office will determine if the animal is allowed immediate entry or must remain in custody for an additional inspection. In the first case, it will be issued a zoo-sanitary importation certificate, which must be carry when leaving Mexico. In the second case, If the above said authorities retain the animal, they should also give you a voucher.
If your pet is coming from a country where foot-and-month disease or risk of that disease exists, it must receive a prophylactic treatment.
Nota Bene “Not Well”
When you intend to introduce into Mexico three or more pets or any other animal species , you must fulfill the requirements established on the Zoo-sanitary Requirements Page (Hoja de Requisitos Zoosanitarios).
Animals, plants and their products may enter Mexico depending on their country of origin and country’s sanitary conditions. These procedures are to be strictly adhered to in order to prevent plagues and high risk diseases from spreading in Mexico.
Further information can be obtained on SENASICA.
Other Animals for Import or Export at SJD Airport
Those seeking permission for the import of other animals/birds/reptiles should contact your local Mexican Consulate.
Mexico City (Principal Office)
Paseo de la Reforma 305
Colonia Cuahtemoc, Mexico D.F.
C.P. 06500
Telephone: +52 55 5080-2000
Website: www.usembassy-mexico.gov
If you’re flying to Mexico it is advised to contact your airline to ask about its policies for transportation of animals that are not cats or dogs.
Service Animal Relief Areas
Every terminal at Cabo Airport is equipped with plastic bags and designated containers for the disposal of solid waste. Please reach out to your airline or an airport staff member to organize escort assistance to the pet relief stations.
Cats flying to the United States
CDC does not require a rabies vaccination certificate or an import form for cats. Your cat must appear healthy on arrival, and that is the federal bar.
Individual states set their own rules and some ask for proof of rabies vaccination, so check your destination state. Airlines almost always ask for a health certificate regardless of what the government requires.
Taking a Dog From Los Cabos to the United States
Every dog entering the United States needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The form is free, takes a few minutes online, and you can complete it on the day you fly.
Because Mexico is not considered high risk for dog rabies, that receipt is the only document CDC requires. Dogs flying home from Los Cabos skip the rabies certificates, facility reservations and veterinary paperwork that apply to dogs coming from high-risk countries.
What your dog needs
- A CDC Dog Import Form receipt, printed or on your phone
- At least six months of age on the day of entry
- A microchip readable by a universal scanner
- To appear healthy on arrival
- To have been only in rabies-free or low-risk countries for the past six months
The CDC Dog Import Form
Complete it at cdc.gov/importation/dogs. There is no fee. You will be asked about your dog’s age, microchip number and where it has been in the last six months.
The receipt is valid for six months from the date it is issued and covers multiple entries, so one form usually covers a round trip. Show it to your airline at check-in and to CBP on arrival.
A receipt is not an entry permit. It confirms you answered the questions. Your dog still has to meet every requirement above to be admitted.
What you do not need
If your dog has spent the last six months in Mexico or another low-risk country, you do not need a rabies vaccination certificate for CDC purposes, an export health certificate, a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility, or an appointment at a specific port of entry. Your dog can enter at any airport, seaport or land crossing.
CDC still recommends keeping your dog’s rabies vaccination current, and your airline or your home state may ask for proof even though CDC does not.
If your dog has been outside Mexico
The six-month history is what decides your paperwork. If your dog has been in a country on CDC’s high-risk list at any point in the past six months, a different and much longer set of requirements applies, including an approved port of entry. Check the high-risk country list before you book.
At the airport
Airline rules are separate from CDC rules and stricter in practice. Confirm your carrier’s size limits, cabin versus hold policy and pet fees when you book, not at the counter. Dogs must stay in their carriers inside the terminal.
Requirements last verified September 2026 against CDC guidance. Rules change. Confirm at cdc.gov before you travel.