Shipping a dog or cat from India to Mexico rewards owners who start planning early. Expect around 6-10 weeks of lead time to line up the documents and the fixed waiting periods. No routine quarantine …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from India to Mexico
typically takes around 6-10 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The India to Mexico import process
01
First priority. Cannot be shortened
Microchip and rabies vaccination, at least 30 days before Mexico entry
Responsible: Your vet in India
02
4-6 weeks before travel
Apply to AQCS for the No-Objection Certificate
Responsible: You or your pet transport agent
03
Approximately 7 days before travel
First clinical examination
Responsible: AQCS-approved vet
04
Within 2 days of departure
Second clinical examination and AQCS-endorsed health certificate issued
Responsible: AQCS-approved vet, AQCS office
05
Before departure, ready for Mexico City
Complete the FF-SENASICA-003 import form (dog or cat version)
Responsible: You (owner)
06
6-8 weeks ahead, confirm each carrier separately
Book cargo space on both sectors of the connecting flight
Responsible: You or your pet transport agent
07
On landing, at the Agriculture Health Inspection Office
SENASICA inspection on arrival in Mexico City
Responsible: SENASICA officer
Requirements
Mexico entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard microchip, scannable by SENASICA staff on arrival.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Administered at least 30 days before entry and current within its validity period. Puppies and kittens under 3 months are exempt.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Mexico does not ask for a FAVN or other rabies titre test from pets arriving from India.
Quarantine
None for pets arriving with complete documentation. SENASICA inspects physically on arrival rather than holding animals.
Import permit
No advance import permit needed for a personal, non-commercial pet. Clearance happens at the port of entry.
Health certificate
AQCS-endorsed certificate, valid 14 days from issue under Indian rules and, separately, treated by SENASICA as valid 15 days where no expiry is stated. Plan to the shorter of the two windows. The FF-SENASICA-003 import form, separate dog and cat versions, must also be completed by the owner.
Leaving India
Export requirements
Export permit
No-Objection Certificate (NOC) required from AQCS (Animal Quarantine and Certification Service, under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying) before travel. Apply at the AQCS regional office nearest your departure city. Allow 4-6 weeks.
Health certificate
Health certificate in the format required by the destination, issued by an Indian official vet and endorsed by AQCS. Two clinical examinations are required: one roughly 7 days before travel, a second within 2 days of departure. Certificate is valid 14 days from issue.
Costs
What this route typically costs
AQCS NOC application and health certificate: INR 5,000-15,000
Two clinical examinations with an AQCS-approved vet: INR 3,000-8,000
Cargo fee Delhi or Mumbai to Mexico City via European or Gulf hub: USD 1,800-3,800 depending on crate size and routing
IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 100-350
Pet transport agent fee (strongly recommended given the two-exam process and connecting flight): USD 500-1,000
Total typical range: USD 2,400 to USD 5,500
Critical points
There is no direct flight from India to Mexico. Every route involves at least one connection, usually via a European or Gulf hub, and cargo pet acceptance must be confirmed separately on each sector.
India's AQCS certificate is valid 14 days from issue and requires two separate clinical exams, one about a week before travel and a second within 2 days of departure. Missing either exam window means restarting the process.
AQCS's second exam falls within 2 days of departure, and Mexico's own 15-day certificate window runs from issue to arrival. Plan the whole timeline against the tighter of the two constraints, not just one.
SENASICA disinfects the crate on arrival and removes bedding and toys. Pack only what's needed for the journey itself; keep the collar and lead separately.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
KLM
Via Amsterdam, generally the shortest total journey time from Delhi or Mumbai to Mexico City among the European hub options. KLM Cargo carries pets on both the India-Amsterdam and Amsterdam-Mexico City sectors, keeping the booking under one alliance.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa
Via Frankfurt. A well-established alternative connection with an experienced live animal cargo operation, sometimes with better crate size availability than the Amsterdam routing.
Cargo Only
Emirates
Via Dubai, offering the shortest layover of the common hub options from Delhi. Emirates SkyCargo carries pets as manifested cargo, with seasonal temperature embargoes during Gulf summer heat that can affect scheduling.
Cargo Only
Air India
Handles the India-side sector and cargo tender at Delhi (IGI) or Mumbai (CSMIA), where dedicated live animal cargo facilities exist. There is no Air India service onward to Mexico City, so this covers only the first leg of a connecting itinerary booked with a partner carrier.
Cabin and Cargo
What Mexico requires
Bringing a pet into Mexico involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.
Avoiding the common mistakes
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
No. There is no non-stop service from Delhi, Mumbai or any Indian city to Mexico City. Every option involves at least one connection, most commonly via Amsterdam, Frankfurt or Dubai. Confirm cargo pet acceptance separately on each sector of the journey.
It’s India’s export authorisation for a companion pet, issued by the Animal Quarantine and Certification Service under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Apply at your nearest AQCS regional office and allow 4 to 6 weeks. Two separate clinical examinations are required before the certificate is finalised.
Two. The first happens roughly 7 days before travel, the second within 2 days of departure. The AQCS-endorsed health certificate is issued after the second exam and is valid for 14 days from that point.
No advance import permit is required for a personal, non-commercial pet. SENASICA clears the animal at the airport, based on the health certificate, rabies vaccination proof and the completed FF-SENASICA-003 form.
No. Mexico does not require a FAVN or other rabies antibody titre test for pets from India. What’s needed is a current rabies vaccination, given at least 30 days before entry.
Amsterdam with KLM tends to give the shortest total journey time and keeps the booking under one cargo carrier for both sectors. Frankfurt with Lufthansa is a close alternative. Dubai with Emirates has the shortest layover but carries seasonal heat embargoes in Gulf summer months that can affect scheduling.
Airline guides
KLM
Lufthansa
Emirates
Air India
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.