How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Pet from the USA to Mexico?
A dog or cat moving from the United States to Mexico typically runs $800 to $2,400, which makes it one of the cheapest international moves available from the US.
There is no import permit and no quarantine. Freight is a fraction of what a transatlantic route costs, and the paperwork is the lightest of any destination we handle.
Airline freight, and why the crate decides it
Airlines price live animals on chargeable weight: whichever is greater, the actual weight or a volume figure worked out from the crate. For pets the volume figure almost always wins, which is why crate size drives the flight cost more than the animal does.
The divisor is published by Air Canada Cargo at 166 cubic inches per pound. The rates come from the American Airlines Cargo public tariff, the tariff these estimates are calculated against. Current version checked July 2026.
| Crate size | Approx. dimensions | Chargeable weight | Freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (cat or toy dog) (size 100) | 21 x 16 x 15 in | 14 kg | $420 |
| Medium (size 200) | 28 x 20.5 x 21.5 in | 34 kg | $427 |
| Large (size 400) | 36 x 25 x 27 in | 66 kg | $653 |
| Giant (size 700) | 48 x 32 x 35 in | 147 kg | $948 |
These are our own calculation from the published rate and divisor, for a direct booking. A connecting routing or a carrier that quotes rather than publishes will differ.
Whichever carrier takes the booking sets its own hold conditions, crate rules and pet charges, and those vary more between airlines than the fares do. Our list of the airlines that carry pets internationally covers which carriers accept live animals out of the US, and our comparison of US airline pet policies puts the big carriers side by side. The freight mechanics on this page come from American Airlines Cargo, whose conditions are set out in full in our guide to the American Airlines pet policy.
The rest of the bill
| Cost | Amount | Who charges it |
|---|---|---|
| USDA export endorsement | $101 per certificate | USDA APHIS |
| IATA crate | $65 to $378 depending on size | Retailer |
| Health certificate and vaccinations | Set by your clinic | Your vet |
| Airline live animal processing | $150 per air waybill | Airline |
| Import permit | None | Not applicable |
| Quarantine | None | Not applicable |
No titer test is required, so the endorsement stays in the $101 band.
New since 3 August 2026: every dog entering Mexico from the United States needs an NWS Inspection Certificate for Pet Dogs, covering New World screwworm, signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within five days of arrival. It does not require APHIS endorsement, so it does not change the $101 band, but your vet will charge for the visit and the five day window is tight. Cats are unaffected. Checked against USDA APHIS in August 2026. As everywhere, it is charged per certificate rather than per pet.
Because the freight component is so much lower here, the crate and the vet make up a much larger share of the total than they would on a long haul route. Buying the right crate size matters proportionally more.
What is not included here
Your vet sets their own fees. The examination, the certificate paperwork and any blood draw are priced by your clinic and vary between practices. Ask your vet directly. Every laboratory we checked states plainly that the draw is the clinic’s charge, not theirs.
Ground transport at either end is quoted per route. Our coordination fee is included in the total we quote you and itemized on your invoice.
What moves the price
Ground transport is a genuine alternative on this route in a way it is not for most destinations, particularly for northern Mexico. For some moves it is both cheaper and easier on the animal than flying.
Heat is the main seasonal constraint, and it applies at both ends.
Crate size drives the freight, though the effect is smaller here because the per kilo rates are lower.
Figures and sources
Figures verified July 2026. Government fees change, so each links to the authority that publishes it. If you are reading this long after that date, check the source first.
- APHIS export requirements, United States to mexico
- USDA APHIS endorsement fees
- American Airlines Cargo live animal tariff
Terms used here are defined in our pet relocation glossary.
Want this priced for your pet and dates?
Send us the route, the breed and roughly when you want to travel. Request a quote and we will reply with an itemized plan, a timeline and clear next steps.
For entry rules and the full paperwork timeline, see our guide to pet shipping requirements for Mexico.
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