What Is the Cartilla de Vacunación?

The cartilla de vacunación is Mexico's official national vaccination booklet, issued by the Secretaría de Salud (Ministry of Health). It documents all vaccines received from birth through adulthood and is the primary vaccination record for most Mexican nationals.

The cartilla is widely recognized by civil surgeons in the United States, particularly in Southern California and other areas with large Mexican-American populations. Civil surgeons in these areas are experienced in reading and evaluating cartilla records.

Which Vaccines in the Cartilla Are Accepted?

The Mexican vaccination schedule includes most of the vaccines required for U.S. immigration. The following vaccines documented in the cartilla are generally accepted:

• BCG — not required for immigration; does not affect USCIS requirements
• Pentavalente (DTP-HepB-Hib) — credited for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and hepatitis B components
• Hexavalente (DTP-HepB-Hib-IPV) — credited for all included components
• Triple viral (MMR) — equivalent to U.S. MMR vaccine
• Varicela (varicella) — equivalent to U.S. varicella vaccine
• Hepatitis A — equivalent to U.S. hepatitis A vaccine
• Neumococo (pneumococcal) — equivalent to U.S. pneumococcal vaccine
• Influenza — equivalent to U.S. influenza vaccine (annual)

What If My Cartilla Is Incomplete or Missing?

If your cartilla is incomplete, the civil surgeon will determine which vaccines are missing and discuss your options. For vaccines where titer testing is available (MMR, varicella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B), a positive titer can demonstrate immunity.

If your cartilla is lost or was never issued, you can try to obtain a replacement from the Centro de Salud (health center) where you received your vaccines, or from the IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social) if you received vaccines through social security healthcare.

Does the Cartilla Need to Be Translated?

In most cases, no. Civil surgeons in Southern California and Orange County are familiar with the cartilla and can read it in Spanish. However, if you are seeing a civil surgeon who is not familiar with Spanish-language records, a certified translation may be helpful. Bring both the original cartilla and a translation if you are unsure.

Tips for Using Your Cartilla at the Civil Surgeon Appointment

To make the most of your cartilla at the appointment:

• Bring the original cartilla — do not leave it at home
• If you have multiple cartillas (childhood and adult), bring all of them
• If your cartilla has been updated by a healthcare provider in the U.S., bring both the Mexican original and the U.S. records
• If any entries are unclear or faded, note them for the civil surgeon