Crossing the Mexico-Belize Border with a Dog: A Comprehensive Guide
We crossed Mexico into Belize via the Chetumal-Corozal border. This proved to be a friendly and not particularly complicated border crossing, but this was due to the fact that we came prepared with what was required.
In this blog post, I go over what we had to do prior to the border crossing since we were traveling with a dog. This guide covers all the essentials, from required documentation to what to expect at the border, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free crossing.
Required documentation.
For a smooth land border crossing, there are documents that are absolutely necessary.
Valid passports with more than six months before expiration
Vehicles registration
Pet health certificate and Pet Import Permit
Cash either in BZ dollars, Mx Pesos or USD
Requirements for Crossing the Mexico-Belize Border with a Dog.
1. Health Certificate:
A valid health certificate is an absolute must while crossing the border and it must be issued by a Licensed Veterinarian. We went to a veterinay office in Chetumal; Universum K9 and the vet there took care of all the paperwork. She examined our dog thrououghly and gave her a clean bill of health. We had our rabies vaccine still valid since it had been less than a year since she got it.
However without a valid rabies vaccine, we would have had to get one before crossin and wait on month before crossing the border to Belize.
It is also important to note that with the health certificate that we obtained on that day, we had to ensure that we crossed into Belize within 14 days otherwise the certificate becomes invalid.
The details of the certificate include the dog's breed, age, microchip number (if applicable), and a statement confirming that your dog is healthy and free from contagious diseases.
Moreover, with the examination, the vet suggested prophylactic treatment for internal and external parasites via medication. a
Cost of the health certificate and parasite medication came to Mx 300 (USD 17)
Microchip:
The Belize border did not require or ask for a microchip, however, a microchip is a wonderful and permanent way to identify pets incase of loss. -
2. Pet Import Permit.
With our health certificate secured, the next step was to apply for a pet import permit. This step is absolutely necessary and not doing it can cost over BZ $300 in fines. The import permit form can be found through the BAHA- Belize Agricultural Health Authority site. The site provides a form that we had to fill out and them email the form and all required documents to animalhealth@baha.org.bz.
The process can take a minimum of five workdays so it is imperative to start the process early especially given the fact that the health certificate is only valid for 14 days.
Luck was on our side and it took BAHA only one day to get back to us. Once issued, the original was sent to the respective port of entry which in our case was the Corozal border. A copy was also sent to us via email .
This permit is issued with a ninety days validity period, however we could never forget the 14 day validity of the health certificate.
The fees associated with this application were:
Import permit fee BZ$50.00
Administrative fee BZ$5.00
Quarantine Inspection (upon entry) fee is BZ$20.00
We paid the BZ $75 at the border in the BAHA office.
Preparing for the Journey
Documentation: We have always made sure we have all the documentation in a folder as well as having the copies of the original documents. The documents that we always have on hand are the health certificates as well as all the vaccination records for our dog.
What to expect at the border.
Mexican Border Control
Crossing out of Mexico was a very easy and quick process. We parked outside the large white building to the left when driving into the border area. The building has bold letter saying ‘Puerto Fronterizo Chactemal’
First, we had to get exit stamps on our passports.
We also had to cancel out TIP( Temporary Import Permit) for our van a quick and painless procedure. To cancel it, an border agent came outside with us where we had parked outside the large white building and inspected the van. He took a photo of the VIN and checked against his paperwork to ensure it was the same vehicle.
A very important tip to remember to save the Banjercito receipt that we were presented with at the entry in Tecate. This very important piece of paper assures that the border crossing agent will refund the deposit that we paid while entering Mexico. This receipt ensures that we did not overstay our visas and that we paid the deposit at the entry.
To recap while exiting Mexico:
An exit stamp on all passports is required
Canceling the TIP is a must.
Having the Banjercito receipt to receive the deposit back.
We drove across the bridge, the area referred to as ‘No man’s land’ that connects the two countries.
Belizean Border Control:
The first stop when entering Belize is to stop at the fumigation station. The station is positioned to the right hand side right after crossing the border. Ensure that all the windows are closed because we had to slowly drive through the station as they sprayed a chemical on the vehicle. The station looks some what like a car washing station.
The cost for the fumigation in Dec 2022 was BZ $12. This amount can be paid in USD, Mx pesos or BZ dollar, however, they only took cash.
Once past the fumigation, we parked in the large parking lot in front of the large blue building. There is only one building for the border crossing, making it much easier to figure out.
As soon as we walked into the large blue building, we were directed to fill our the visa forms for the four of us.
Next, we went to the window that says ‘Migracion’. The officer there revewied our forms and then stamped our passports. The questions he asked were where we had come from, which was Mexico and where we were going which was orange walk. He gave us a 30 days visa.
Next we went to the end of the building to the window that says ‘Aduana’ (cutoms).
Here we presented the vehicles paperwork, registration and licence as well as the driver’s passport. They gave us a TIP (Temporary Import Permit) for 30 days just as the visa. The cost for this in Dec 2022 was BZ$30
Next we walked towards the front door and before exiting, we went to the BAHA office that is situated to the right side if facing the front door.
There, the officer requested to inspect the dog. After a quick inspection, we presented the paperwork that we had received from BAHA and paid the BZ$75 as instructed.
Once we had the visa, TIP and pet permit receipt, we all piled back into the van and drove through another inspection. As we were leaving the border area, the officers asked us to stop and open the van. The checked to make sure we had no organic foods, no fresh fruits, vegetables or meat are allowed into the country. We didn’t have any so they waved us through but also after checking the dog’s paperwork.
The last stop was to get the required car insurance. The insurance building can be reached by taking the first right after the border gate. The insurance brokers were very friendly and gave us the option of BZ $46 for two weeks or BZ $29 for one week. We opted for the two weeks as we didn’t know how long we would be in Belize.
They gave us a sticker to place on the window to confirm that we had insurance.
It is important to note that 3rd party liability insurance is absolutely mandatory in Belize. In fact right after leaving the border area and driving south to Orange Walk, there was a police check point where they made sure we had the right paperwork.
Tips and Tricks to have a smooth crossing.
Timing
It is imperative to check the border hours before crossing. As well, it important to note that at the Belize border, they slow down at noon for a lunch break which can cause delays. For that reason, we recommend crossing the border early in the morning to avoid crowds as well buses that bring in tourists from Mexico.
It is important to not the 1 hour time difference between Mexico and Belize and important to take this into consideration when planning the crossing.
Weather
It is important to consider the weather and especially the heat, as it can affect your dog’s comfort and health. It felt instantly hotter once we crossed into Belize. This makes it very difficult to leave the dog in the vehicle while doing paperwork. That is why we opted to go early in the morning before the midday heat.
Patience and Preparation
Having all the required paperwork is very important to ensure an easier crossing. We have all our paperwork in order and easily accessible. It is also important to stay calm and patient while going through the process as border crossing days can be stressful if not properly managed.
Hydration
The heat in Mexico and Belize is no joke, add that to border crossings where you might be forced to stand in line for a while if you catch a bus with tourists ahead of you. For that reason, it is very important to stay hydrated at all times.
Conclusion
Crossing the Mexico-Belize border with a dog requires careful planning and preparation. By ensuring all documentation is in order, familiarizing yourself with the process, and keeping your dog comfortable, you can enjoy a smooth and stress-free border crossing.