Bringing your dog or cat from Italy to Mexico takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. Expect about 4-8 weeks. Nothing here is unusually complex, but the deadlines matter. No …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Italy to Mexico
typically takes around 4-8 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 Italy to Mexico import process
01
At least 30 days before your intended Mexico arrival date
Confirm ISO microchip and administer or update rabies vaccination
Responsible: Your vet in Italy
02
5-9 weeks ahead. Confirm the flight is actually operating on your target week, since frequency varies
Check ITA Airways' current Rome to Mexico City schedule and book cargo space
Responsible: You, or your pet transport agent
03
Timed so it stays within 15 days of your Mexico arrival
Obtain the Italian official vet health certificate
Responsible: Italian official veterinarian
04
Before departure, ready to present in Mexico City
Complete the FF-SENASICA-003 import form (dog or cat version)
Responsible: You (owner)
05
3-4 hours before departure
Travel day: check in at the cargo terminal with all documents
Responsible: You and the cargo agent
06
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 Italy.
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
Official certificate from an Italian vet, showing rabies vaccination. Valid 15 days from issue where no expiry date is stated. The FF-SENASICA-003 import form, separate dog and cat versions, must also be completed by the owner.
Leaving Italy
Export requirements
Export permit
No formal export permit required from Italy for a companion dog or cat.
Health certificate
Health certificate or EU pet passport issued by an Italian official veterinarian, meeting the format Mexico requires for non-EU entry. Must record the microchip number and rabies vaccination date.
Costs
What this route typically costs
Vet fees in Italy: microchip, vaccination, health certificate: EUR 90-220
Cargo fee Rome to Mexico City (direct or via Paris): EUR 950-2,700 depending on crate size and pet weight
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 100-400
Pet transport agent fee (recommended given ITA Airways' variable frequency): EUR 350-1,000
Total typical range: EUR 1,400 to EUR 3,900
Critical points
ITA Airways' Rome to Mexico City service has run at reduced frequency through 2026, sometimes as little as once a week. Confirm the flight is scheduled on your target dates before setting the rest of the timeline around it.
The health certificate is only valid for 15 days up to Mexico arrival where no expiry is stated. If ITA Airways' limited schedule means booking further out, plan the vet appointment against the confirmed flight date, not the other way round.
SENASICA disinfects the crate on arrival and removes bedding and toys. Pack the crate with essentials only; keep the collar and lead in your hand luggage.
If the Rome direct service is unavailable on your dates, routing via Paris with Air France is a dependable fallback, though it adds a connection and a second cargo handling step.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
ITA Airways
Operates the Rome Fiumicino to Mexico City route inherited from Alitalia, though frequency has run reduced through 2026, roughly once a week rather than daily. Confirm current schedule before booking, as capacity fluctuates. ITA Airways Cargo carries live animals on this sector.
Cargo Only
Aeromexico
Codeshares part of the Rome to Mexico City service and also runs its own cargo operation on the route. Worth checking as a second option if ITA Airways' weekly slot doesn't match your travel date.
Cargo Only
Air France
Reliable alternative via Paris Charles de Gaulle when the Rome direct service isn't running conveniently. Air France Cargo accepts pets on the Paris to Mexico City sector.
Cargo Only
What Mexico requires
Getting a pet into Mexico is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.
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
Yes, though frequency is limited. ITA Airways flies Rome Fiumicino to Mexico City, a route inherited from Alitalia, but through 2026 it has run at reduced frequency, sometimes roughly once a week. Confirm the current schedule before booking around it.
No. Mexico’s SENASICA does not require an advance import permit for a personal companion pet. Clearance happens 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 Italy. A current rabies vaccination, given at least 30 days before entry, is what SENASICA checks.
Route via Paris with Air France Cargo, which flies onward to Mexico City and accepts pets. Aeromexico’s codeshare on part of the Rome route is also worth checking. Either adds a connection but keeps the schedule realistic.
No, provided the documentation is complete. SENASICA carries out a physical inspection rather than a quarantine hold. Incomplete paperwork, not the origin country, is what causes delays at this stage.
Airline guides
ITA Airways
Aeromexico
Air France
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.