We invite you to familiarize yourself with the basic rules of entry to Mexico for those who are planning to visit the country as a guest of the country. These rules and criteria apply to everyone who intends to visit Mexico for the purpose of tourism, visiting relatives, receiving medical care, etc., regardless of their nationality/passport, visa or electronic permit.
Required documentation
1. Valid passport. This means that your passport must be valid at the time of entry into the country. Mexico does not require that your passport be valid for the entire duration of your stay in the country. However, when purchasing tickets, most airlines require that your passport be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Mexico (if you buy a round trip ticket), and moreover, for an additional six months.
2. Visa. At the time of crossing the Mexico border you should have one of the following documents:
- Visa Mexico, received at one of the consular offices of the power abroad
OR
- Electronic permission to enter the country for tourism purposes. Its acquisition is possible only for citizens of Ukraine, Russia and Turkey. Please note that with an electronic permit you can only travel to Mexico by air.
OR
- A valid visa from Canada, the USA, Japan, the UK or any of the states that are part of the Schengen area. The law does not define the requirements for such a visa (in other words, it must be valid at the time of entry to Mexico and not necessarily previously used to enter the country of issue). But in fact, you can be allowed to stay in Mexico not for 180 days, but less if the visa expires earlier.
OR
- A document confirming permanent residence in Canada, USA, Japan, Great Britain or any of the states that are part of the Schengen area, and in addition Cho, Colombia or Peru.
You have the opportunity to request the following documentation selectively. Their absence may serve as a legal basis for preventing you from entering the country. Final decision — always behind the immigration officer.
3. Confirmation of the purpose of the visit to Mexico. They have the right to be:
- tourist voucher, hotel reservation, independent travel route around the country, etc. for travelers;
- invitation to a business partner, copies of contracts, invitation to organizers of a business event, etc. for travelers coming to Mexico by work;
- invitation from Mexican relatives or acquaintances for private visits; if the letter provides guarantees to cover living and travel expenses, proof of solvency (see below) is not necessary;
- letter of invitation from a Mexican educational institution for training courses, research projects lasting less than 180 days.
You have the right to provide everything that demonstrates your plan for staying in Mexico, or you must explain why you do not have the necessary evidence. In particular, you flew to visit a friend and will live at her house; from the friend's name and from her address.
4. Evidence of solvency. Cash, traveler's checks, bank cards, etc. Purchased tour — it is also proof of your ability to pay as it covers your basic expenses. You should have cash at first, a few dollars, plus show your bank cards and tell them the amounts that are placed on them.
In addition, it will be useful (but not mandatory) to have a certificate from a bank or a bank account statement and a certificate from your place of work, all — in English.
5. Return ticket to your country or to another destination. We dedicated a kiss article We advise you to take this question seriously.
6. Insurance — not required! If you understand that you may have health problems while traveling, arrange it yourself in your country. In a package tour to Mexico, insurance is most often already included.
7. Vaccinations — not required!
Entry with children
8. Entry of minors under 18 years of age to Mexico is possible only with their valid passport.
9. All minor children under 18 years of age traveling to or from Mexico unaccompanied by parents or accompanied by third parties (including as part of a group) are required to present an original, legally certified permission from parents + its certified translation into English or Spanish.
If the parents and the child have different surnames, you must have a copy of birth certificates with apostille + its officially certified translation into English or Spanish (this is according to the rules, but in fact it is enough to have a simple translation without certification). If one of the parents has died, you should have an apostilled copy death certificates + its certified translation into English or Spanish.
When entering with children, the standards for documents are applied rather selectively, but they exist.
The entry regulations listed above do not apply to children with Mexican citizenship, regardless of the citizenship of the parents.
Additional Documentation and Fees
10. FMM (immigration document) — when arriving to Mexico by plane from is changed, but is issued upon entry along the land border. If you are entering Mexico by land, you can get it in advance online at INM, print it out and present it to the immigration officer at the border. Or you can fill it out by hand before passport control at the land checkpoint.
Essential! FMM cannot be lost! It will indicate the date of your entry to Mexico and the permitted deadline stay. Upon departure, they will take it from you at the airline counter, and if you do not have an FMM, you will be sent to the immigration office at the airport to purchase a new one, and with a fine.
Upon arrival to Mexico by plane, the role of the FMM will be performed by the entry stamp in the passport. It also shows the date of entry and the permitted period of stay.
11. Customs declaration. To be filled out on the plane or at the airport upon arrival.
25% of passengers flying into Mexico, randomly selected, are sent to baggage screening. We recommend that you read before visiting Mexico rules import of goods for temporary stay in the country. Let us add that even if someone managed to smuggle sausage or buckwheat to Mexico, this does not mean that you will succeed.
12. Guest power fee. Currently 687 MXN ($40) (2023). It is almost always included in the air ticket price, however, if you enter Mexico via land border or by sea, you will have to pay it.
This is a complete list of documents you will need to enter the United Mexican States.
Welcome to Mexico!