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Mexico
Adventure
Your
Mexico Information Connection
Visa Requirements for Entering
Mexico
The rules for entering Mexico from the
United States and Canada are changing in the post-9/11
world. It had been
that you did not a passport to enter Mexico, but if you're
traveling by air, you (and your children) will need a passport
beginning on January 23, 2007. If you are
traveling by land or sea, you will need a passport beginning
in January 2008. You will also need an FMT
or Tourist Card.
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If you are driving into Mexico, you may obtain
an FMT (Tourist Card) at
immigration offices/booths at the border, at airports or
other points of entry. There is a fee, roughly $30 USD.
If you fly into Mexico, you will receive your FMT on the
plane.
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The FMT is the most common Visa
for those traveling within Mexico. A few tips about the
tourist card:
- Do not lose it or deface it. The card must be
returned to Mexican Immigration upon your leaving the country.
- Write down the card number and keep it separately, just in case
you do lose the original card. This will help greatly.
- The card can be validated for up to 180 days, which
is how many gringos "live" in Mexico.
- DO NOT try to stay longer than 6 months on this
visa. If you want to extend your stay, you will need a new
visa, which is as simple as going to any border, crossing it,
staying the night on the other side and re-entering Mexico the next
day. Or if you want to retire in Mexico and are 55 or older,
you can consider getting an FM-3 visa.
If you are driving across the border, the best time is
during weekday mornings. Otherwise, expect a long wait.
See our Car
Insurance page for more information about taking your car into
Mexico.
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