Export Live Animals to Mexico

Last Modified: December 05, 2024

Electronic Signature ACCEPTED; Digital Endorsement for SOME COMMODITIES ONLY

For Accredited Veterinarians: Electronic signature ACCEPTED

For APHIS VMO: Digital endorsement for SOME COMMODITIES ONLY

USDA-accredited veterinarians can electronically issue health certificates and use VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System) to submit them to USDA for endorsement. 

Digital endorsement varies by species—see requirements on this page for details. The health certificate either bears the original ink signature and embossed seal or digital signature/seal.

Summary of Requirements

For all cattle and horse health certificates to Mexico and hatching eggs/ birds up to 3 days old health certificates to Mexico, USDA Accredited Veterinarians may issue health certificates electronically through the online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). These certificates will be digitally endorsed by APHIS once received in the system and available for printing by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian once the endorsement is completed by APHIS. 

Note: An APHIS-endorsed, printed paper copy must accompany each shipment.

For all other live animal commodities, health certificates may be submitted by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian through VEHCS; however, the APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer's ink (wet) signature with the application of the APHIS embossed seal must appear on the health certificate. To accomplish this, certificates received by APHIS through the VEHCS system will be printed and endorsed in our offices, and the hard copy will be returned when complete. This APHIS-endorsed paper copy must accompany the shipment.

Note: As of June 21, 2019, all cattle, sheep, goats, wild ruminants, and horses being exported to Mexico must have External Parasite treatment listed in the Cattle, Horses, Sheep and Goats, and Zoological Animals sections below.

Important Information for ALL Health Certificates

  • All health certificates for live animals and germplasm to Mexico must not contain any abbreviations, except for the abbreviations in the Consignor, Consignee, and Accredited Veterinarian and endorsing VMO field. This includes, but is not limited to:
    • Dates - "January" is accepted while "Jan" is not
    • States - Must be the entire word and not the two-letter abbreviation
    • Ages - "Months" or "Year" is accepted while "yrs" and "mos" are not
  • In addition, all health certificates must be typewritten, or completed using a word processor or computer.
  • All health certificates must be printed single-sided. Mexico will not accept double-sided printouts.
  • The number of the health certificate must be also typewritten or completed usaing a word processor or computer.
  • Handwritten documents will be rejected.
  • Mexico will not accept hand-made corrections, erasures, line outs, or cross outs.

Health certificates for cattle may be issued electronically by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed by the APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer through the online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). The APHIS embossed seal is not required.

Note: A printed paper copy of the completed health certificate must accompany each shipment.

Note: As of July 2, 2019, as directed by Mexico, animals treated with Coumaphos can be exported after at least 3 days has elapsed after treatment. Animals treated with Permethrin can be exported after at least 5 days has elapsed after treatment. The withdrawal time for those two products is listed as 0 days.

The health certificate (HC) for slaughter cattle is composed of two documents: a) the Slaughter Cattle Health Certificate, and b) the Addendum - List of Animals Covered by the Health Certificate.

In addition, the following two documents must accompany the health certificate:

The process to export these slaughter cattle is similar to the one used for exporting breeding cattle to Mexico.  Inspection of slaughter cattle will be done at the inspection facility at the border.  To be familiar with the export process, please refer to the Breeding Cattle Export Guidelines from the United States and Canada to Mexico (61.66 KB) to export cattle from the United States and Canada to Mexico.

Owners/exporters/importers who want to export cattle from Imperial Valley, CA and from Arizona, must obtain an import permit (HRZ) from SAGARPA's office in Mexico.  This import permit will contain the requirements to export slaughter cattle from Imperial Valley, CA and will be provided by SAGARPA upon request by the Mexican importer.

Cattle exported from Imperial Valley, CA, and Arizona must have the following documents:

Health certificates for horses may be issued electronically by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed by the APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer through the online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). Please fill out the health certificate correctly otherwise the horses will be rejected at the border. The APHIS embossed seal is not required.

Note: For horses exported to Mexico, the health certificate must state the name of the laboratory and the date that the equine infectious anemia blood sample was obtained from the horse (within 60 days prior to exportation).

Note: A printed paper copy of the completed health certificate must accompany each shipment.

Note: Mexico does not require to identify permanent and temporary entry with microchip. For horses (other than slaughter) exported to Mexico, the following methods of identification must be used: marks (silhouette), or tattoo, or microchip.

Note: As of July 2, 2019, as directed by Mexico, animals treated with Coumaphos can be exported after at least 3 days has elapsed after treatment. Animals treated with Permethrin can be exported after at least 5 days has elapsed after treatment. The withdrawal time for those two products is listed as 0 days.

Note: Even when it is not required in the protocol, slaughter horses to Mexico must be free of ticks. Horses with ticks will be rejected at the border. An affidavit and an Owners Declaration (Form 10-13) must be presented at entry along with the health certificate.

Note: Mexico has banned the importation of live birds originating from, and transiting through, states with a detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in commercial poultry. Some states with detections may be eligible for export from counties free from HPAI. Please check with your Veterinary Export Trade Services (VETS) Endorsement Office to confirm a state status for HPAI in commercial poultry.

  • Birds - Hatching Eggs - Health Certificate - March 2023
  • Birds - Three Days Old - Health Certificate - March 2023
    • Note: Health certificates for hatching eggs and three-day old chicks may be issued electronically by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed by the APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer through the online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS). The APHIS embossed seal is not required.
    • Note: Mexico only accepts updated health certificates for hatching eggs and three day old birds that have been digitally endorsed. Wet ink endorsed certificates will not be accepted.
    • Note: All shipments (by land or air transportation) for hatching eggs and three-day old chicks must have labels describing the shipment applied on all the boxes.

Shipment Description Labels:

Certificates/protocols not requiring the fillable VS Form 17-6 include the following:

Note: As of July 2, 2019, as directed by Mexico, animals treated with Coumaphos can be exported after at least 3 days has elapsed after treatment. Animals treated with Permethrin can be exported after at least 5 days has elapsed after treatment. The withdrawal time for those two products is listed as 0 days.

APHIS Registered Aquaculture Export Facility approval is required for aquatic animals (including tilapia). General APHIS facility inspection (not RAEF) meets the requirements for turtles shipped on this certificate.

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Note: The exporter must obtain a Sanitary Permit from Mexico for ruminants, swine, and horses.

  • The name of the person that is listed on the Sanitary Permit must match the name of the person listed on the Health Certificate.
  • The Health Certificate must contain the following statement for animals exported to Mexico:
    • “The animals must be transported in cleaned and disinfected vehicles, and not contact any other animals during their transport. Los vehículos utilizados para el transporte de los animales a la frontera fueron sometidos a limpieza y desinfección antes del embarque y no estar en contacto con otros animales durante el traslado.”
  • A Sanitary Permit is issued by the Division of Animal Health, Ave Mexico No.190, Colonia Del Carmen Coyocan, CP 04700, Mexico DF.
    • This permit must be obtained in advance of the importation by the importer.
    • The permit shall be submitted to the official veterinarian of The Department of Port and Border Animal Health Inspection at the port of entry.
  • The Exportation of Live Animals to Mexico by Land Ports
  • Mexican/US Border Ports - List of Sites and Animals Accepted at Ports
    • Veterinary Services has been informed that border entry points have been authorized by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Livestock, for the importation of livestock from the United States.
    • An official veterinarian of Mexico has been assigned permanently to each of these ports by the Bureau of Animal Health, Department of Port and Border Animal Health Inspection.
    • Inspection of livestock will be performed by the official Mexican port veterinarian at facilities in the United States approved by the Bureau of Animal Health. (See Mexican Border Port Facilities.)
    • Importations by air or by sea may be made under Sanitary Permit when facilities for inspection are available at the port of entry in Mexico.
  • Mexico Land Port Offices - Sister city on the U.S. side, listed in parentheses
    • The following documents are required and shall be submitted to the official veterinarian prior to the inspection of the animals:
      • Sanitary Permit for importation
      • Origin Health Certificate (VS form 17-140) or computer-generated document, duly signed, and endorsed by VS - The U.S. Origin Health Certificate must be typewritten. Mexican Port Veterinarians will reject any certificates that are handwritten.
      • Dip Certificate, if applicable
      • Registration Certificate, if applicable
      • Original and copy of the commercial invoice
      • Any additional documents to permit compliance with the requirements established in the regulations
  • The official veterinarian at the port of entry shall be notified of the pending arrival of animals at the authorized facility by the importer or his agent 24 hours in advance of the arrival of the animals.
  • Animals to be exported to Mexico will remain in the authorized facility a minimum of 24 hours and may be subjected to procedures of quarantine, clinical observation, inspection, disinfection, immunization, diagnostic tests, or application of appropriate animal health safety measures if the official veterinarian determines that the shipment does not meet all specifications.
  • Spanish Terminology:
    • M.V.Z. - Medico Veterinario Zootecnista
    • Delegado - Veterinarian in Charge
    • Garita - Building housing official offices, such as customs

If your species is not listed, the requirements for that species are not known. Exporters who want to ship livestock or germplasm whose requirements are not listed above should have the importer or buyer in the destination country apply for an import permit at the appropriate ministry. This import permit will most likely outline the specific requirements.

Need Help?

USDA-Accredited Veterinarians

Contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian for questions about your destination country's entry requirements for animals (including any needed vaccinations, tests, or treatments) and for issuance of health certificates.

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USDA Endorsement Offices

Contact your nearest APHIS Veterinary Export Trade Services Endorsement Office for questions about endorsing an export health certificate for live animals. 

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