A Chihuahua's Adventure: Traveling from Mexico to Scotland

Travelling internationally with a dog is a lot. Travelling internationally with a Chihuahua, across borders and time zones, is something else entirely (so worth it, though. She’s the cutest).

I’m a book editor, and I work remotely while moving between countries. My life already involves documents, deadlines, and details, so when I started travelling internationally with my Chihuahua, Mila, I didn’t realise just how much those skills were about to matter.

This post is about how I travelled from Mexico to Scotland with Mila, what worked, what didn’t, and what I wish I’d known before learning some of it the expensive way.

It’s Even Hard for Service Dogs to Fly into the UK in the Cabin

This is one of the most misunderstood parts of travelling with a dog to the UK.

Even though Mila is a registered service dog, she could not fly into the UK in the cabin. To do that, a service dog must be UK-verified, and she wasn’t.

So we still had to take the European route. If your dog is a pet or a service dog that isn’t UK-verified, you’ll almost certainly need to enter the UK via Europe and continue by ferry or land.

Leaving Mexico with a Dog: SENASICA Paperwork

If you’re travelling internationally from Mexico with a dog, you must go through SENASICA, Mexico’s animal export authority.

This step is not optional, and timing really matters.

Don’t Do This on the Day of Your Flight

I learned this the hard way. I arrived at the airport seven hours early, assuming that would be enough time to sort everything out. It wasn’t. My paperwork didn’t get completed in time, and I wasn’t allowed to board.

That mistake cost me $500.

Please don’t repeat it.

The SENASICA Process (The Easier Way)

Step One: Go a Few Days Before You Fly

A few days before your flight, go to the airport and complete the first round of SENASICA paperwork. This part takes the longest, but once it’s done, the rest is straightforward.

Step Two: Day of Travel

On the day of your flight:

• Arrive about one hour early

• Bring all paperwork, including SENASICA’s official stamp

• Go to Terminal 2

• Use the airport phone to call SENASICA

Someone will come to inspect your dog. For us, it took about 15 minutes. Once that’s done, you’re cleared to travel.

Rabies and Tapeworm Rules (Please Read This Carefully)

This is really important, because this is where I made a mistake.

Your dog must have:

• A microchip

• All vaccinations up-to-date, and the rabies vaccination given after the microchip was implanted

Mine wasn’t. Mila’s rabies vaccination had been done before her microchip, which meant it didn’t count and had to be redone. It’s an easy thing to miss, but it matters.

For entry into the UK, your dog must also have:

• Tapeworm treatment given two to three days before arrival, administered by a vet and recorded correctly on the paperwork

The timing here is strict, so double-check the window with your vet.

Flying from Mexico to Europe with a Chihuahua

Because dogs can’t arrive in the UK cabin, even service dogs, unless they’re UK-verified, the most practical route is:

Mexico → Europe → UK by ferry

Amsterdam worked particularly well for us, as many airlines allow small dogs in the cabin on flights there.

Airlines commonly used for this route include:

• KLM

• Air Mexico

Always call the airline directly, make sure your dog is approved on the booking, and recheck policies before you fly.

I actually used TUI because they recognised my dog as a service dog in the Amsterdam travel route! They were great and really friendly. So KLM and Air Mexico aren’t the only options 😊

Our Route from Mexico to Scotland

This is the route we took:

• Mexico → Amsterdam (flight)

• Amsterdam → Newcastle (DFDS ferry)

• Newcastle → Scotland (by land)

The DFDS Ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle

The DFDS ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle was honestly one of the most relaxed parts of the journey.

DFDS offers pet-friendly cabins, which you do need to book in advance. There are also designated pet areas, including a small outdoor deck space where dogs can go to the toilet.

You can find their pet-friendly cabin information here:https://www.dfds.com/en/passenger-ferries/onboard/amsterdam-newcastle/sleeping/pet-friendly-cabins

A few practical notes:

• You must book a pet-friendly cabin

• Prices change often, so it’s best to check the DFDS website directly

• After booking, message DFDS to let them know you’re travelling with a pet

They were friendly, responsive, and easy to deal with. This was actually our favourite part of the journey.

Vet Paperwork and Costs (From Mexico)

All of Mila’s vet paperwork in Mexico cost me 800 pesos in total. This included:

• Her certificate of health

• Forms completed for entry into Amsterdam

• Forms completed for entry into the UK

Prices will vary by vet, but I found this very reasonable given how much depended on it being done correctly.

UK and Amsterdam Paperwork Links

These are the forms and guidance I relied on:

UK Pet Health Certificate application:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-apply-for-a-gb-pet-health-certificate

Amsterdam / EU pet entry form:https://ivo.nvwa.nl/docs/digd012001j.pdf

Always check these close to your travel date, as requirements can change.

How Being an Editor Helped

I treated this process the same way I treat a manuscript:

• I read every requirement more than once

• I highlighted deadlines and expiry dates

• I kept printed and digital copies of everything

When you travel with a dog, you are the final proofreader.

Final Thoughts

Travelling from Mexico to Scotland with a Chihuahua is completely doable, but it requires planning and patience.

Editing books and travelling with a dog rely on the same skills: attention to detail, preparation, and not rushing the process.

In future posts, I’ll share more about:

• How I’m preparing to travel from the UK to South Africa with Mila

Slow travel with a tiny dog and a remote editing career really can work, as long as you know the rules.

Very Final Thought 

Don’t take your dog to an Argentinian asado the week leading up to you leaving, and if you do, watch them like a hawk. Mine ate something there, and I wasn’t fast enough to get it out of her mouth or stop the person giving it to her, and she got sick, bless her. We then had to travel with her having a sore tummy (which was a wee shame on her and unbelievably inconvenient for travel). Sick dog or not, take lots of puppy training pads. You can take them in the bathrooms on the plane and set them down for them to go to the toilet if the flight is too long. They’re good for layovers, too. Wipes are also a win. I highly recommend taking both!!