Mexican Immigration: Entry Requirements for Visitors to Mexico
Immigration requirements for entry into Mexico can change at any time and vary depending on your country of citizenship. This information is a guide for tourists who are citizens of countries that do not require a VISA to enter Mexico. Be sure check with a Mexican Consulate to verify which documents you will need to enter Mexico.
Immigration Checklist for Tourists Visiting Mexico
- Have your Proof of Citizenship document(s) ready
- Complete the Mexican Tourist Permit Form (Forma Migratoria para Turista - FMT)
- Enter through the Immigration checkpoint
- Carry your FMT while in the country
- Return your FMT when you leave
Proof of Citizenship Documents
Mexican Flag over Cancun
Everyone entering Mexico must show Proof of Citizenship, for most countries this is in the form of:
- A Valid Passport (an expired passport is not acceptable)
Citizens of the United States, Canada and Japan may show Proof of Citizenship in the form of:
- An Original Birth Certificate AND a Government Issued Photo ID, a driver's license is acceptable. A "Certified Copy" of your birth certificate and a Government Issued Photo ID is also acceptable.
- Travellers entering Mexico with a valid passport experience the shortest time in Immigration. If you enter with a birth certificate and an ID your processing time will be longer.
Legal Resident Aliens of the United States and Canada may enter Mexico with:
-
A U.S. or Canadian
Permanent Resident Card AND a Valid Passport
from
their home country (country of citizenship).
- or - - A U.S. or Canadian Naturalization Certificate AND a Valid Passport from their home country.
Complete the Mexican Tourist Permit Form - FMT
Tourists entering Mexico are required to fill out a Tourist Permit called an FMT (Forma Migratoria para Turista). The English version of the form has errors and is confusing, be sure to read it carefully. An improperly completed form will delay your entry into Mexico.
- Fill out ONLY the WHITE areas of the top AND bottom portions of the form.
- For the top section fill out items 1 through 13.
- For the bottom section fill out items 1 through 4.
- Do NOT write in the space, at the bottom of each section, marked "DAYS". Leave this blank.
- Be sure to sign the FMT twice on the back in the two boxes labeled "Foreigner Signature".
Enter through the Immigration Checkpoint
When you reach the Immigration booth, have your Proof of Citizenship ready to show the Agent. Be polite and courteous. The Agent is looking for people who are likely to stay inside the country illegally. He or she is not interested in preventing tourists from entering. The agent may ask where you plan to stay, how much money you are carrying, and what your travel plans are. He or she may also ask to see your return ticket, if you arrive by airplane.
After approving your entry into Mexico, the Immigration Agent will stamp your FMT and grant you a specified number of days to visit the country. Agents have full discretion to grant you from 1 to 180 days and do so depending on your travel plans, your country of citizenship, the origin of your trip, your appearance, and your demeanor. The best advice is to be attentive and pleasant. Remember that you are a guest.
Note: Should you need more time than the agent grants you, you may apply to extend your stay (up to a total of 180 days) at any Immigration office in the country.
Carry your FMT while in Mexico
After approving your entry and stamping your FMT, the agent will give you the bottom half of the form to carry with you. Your FMT is your proof that you have legal permission to be in Mexico. You should carry it whenever feasible. A simple traffic stop by the police could become very unpleasant if you cannot show that you have permission to be in the country.
Return your FMT when you leave Mexico
When you leave Mexico you will be asked to surrender your FMT, so don't lose it. If you lose your FMT you may be significantly delayed in leaving the country.
Please Note: Mexican Immigration rules change regularly. The information provided here comes from the Mexican Immigration Service. Please check with a Mexican Consulate to be sure of your own entry requirements. We are committed to providing accurate information but are not responsible for mistakes in this document.
Additional Resources:
Additional Information for Americans visiting Mexico:
- US State Department - Mexico Information
- US State Department - Passport Services Office
- Consular Section of the U.S. Mexican Embassy
Additional Information for Canadians visiting Mexico:
Mexican Government Sites (in Spanish):
Updated February 2005 - Source: Instituto Nacional de Migración
