ER question! VISA need to visit Mexico? (Merged threads)

[yumdrey]

Hi, I am about to leave to Cancun, Mexico now, and all of a sudden, my husband is asking if we need "VISA" to visit Mexico. Do American citizens need visa? Thanks!

 

[Archie583]

E R Question

No, you do not need a Visa to visit Mexico, but you do need a valid passport.
Hope this helps you and enjoy your visit to Mexico.

 

[Pizza67]

No, you do not need a Visa to visit Mexico, but you do need a valid passport.
Hope this helps you and enjoy your visit to Mexico.

In addition, you'll receive the necessary immigration paperwork on the plane in-flight.

 

[jschmidt]

You will fill out paper work on the plane. When you go through Mexican customs they will keep part and give you part. KEEP YOUR PART! You will need it to leave Mexico. Fold it and put it in your passport or some other safe place.

(Deleted reference to VISA to eliminate future confusion.)

 

[ocdb8r]

No visa necessary....you're fine...you DO need a passport though.

 

[nodge]

If you are a belt and suspenders kind of person, here are few additional things you should do before traveling to Mexico:

Read this briefing on Mexico from the US Dept of State.

Register your travel plans with the US Bureau of Consular Affairs via https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/this link.

Make sure your AmEx/Mastercard/Visa (credit card) has at least $25,000 to $50,000 in available credit on it in case a medical emergency arises while in Mexico. Virtually all medical facilities in Mexico do not take US health insurance and require pre-payment (cash or credit) prior to initiating ANY services on foreigners, no exceptions even if you are about to die, and/or buy some cheap travel insurance now that covers medical emergencies and evac services in Mexico. Click here for an example of what happens should you find yourself needing medical treatment in Mexico without credit or insurance.

Also, bring a bunch of $20's with you to hand out to get people to do things for you that you thought they would just do because it is their job, like give you your pre-reserved Hertz rental car without incident.

Have fun on your adventure!

-nodge

 

[jschmidt]

No visa necessary....you're fine...you DO need a passport though.

To repeat.

You will required to fill out a paper before entering Mexico!

The next time you go to Mexico read the paper work that they hand out on the airplane and that you fill out with your name, address, passport number, flight number, date, etc. The customs guy stamps it and gives part of it back to you.

It's good for 6 months at which time you need to leave. If you want to stay longer, you leave Mexico and re-enter after you have obtain a new visitor's visa which will be good for the next six months. If you don't believe me, try and get into Mexico without it!

As I mentioned before, DON'T LOSE IT! You will need it when leaving Mexico.

(Deleted reference to VISA to eliminate future confusion.)

 

[pammex]

To repeat.

YES, you need a visa to enter Mexico!

The next time you go to Mexico read the paper work that they hand out on the airplane and that you fill out with your name, address, passport number, flight number, date, etc. The customs guy stamps it and gives part of it back to you.

That is a visitor's VISA. It's good for 6 months at which time you need to leave. If you want to stay longer, you leave Mexico and re-enter after you have obtain a new visitor's visa which will be good for the next six months. If you don't believe me, try and get into Mexico without it!

As I mentioned before, DON'T LOSE IT! You will need it when leaving Mexico.

You need a valid passport.....you should heed the poster above's advise in having an Amex or Visa card, be sure to let them know you will be in Mexico or they may put a hold or fraud alert on the card, which means you cannot use till you call.

The Visa...is actually called an FMT, it is a tourist card to be in Mexico. You fill it out at immigration/customs upon arrival in Mexico. They will stamp it and give you a copy. Do not lose your copy, as stated you need it to leave Mexico...if you lose it, you will be charged a fee ( last I heard it was about $40 US) to get replacement, so you can board plane to return to US.

This FMT, is nothing special, just a piece of paper or card, so make sure to realize though looks unimportant, it is very important. My friend visiting me, thre hers out, thus was charged, she thought it was trash.

Have fun in Mexico!

 

[DrRx]

Correction!!

OK. Let's set the record straight to help this poor traveler out.

1. You do NOT require a passport to enter Mexico from the US or Canada. Government ID or birth certificate is acceptable and sufficient.

2. The catch is that you need a passport to RETURN to the US, but NOT to Canada. This is US Homeland Security policy, and not binding on any other country.

3. Although the document that you fill out on the plane is indeed a visa, the poster was obviously asking whether a visa is required in ADVANCE of travels and the answer is NO.

In these matters it is better not to speculate and comment ONLY if you are absolutely sure of your information. There is too much at stake.

Relax and have a good trip. You have more documentation than you require and all will be OK.

 

[jschmidt]

The Visa...is actually called an FMT, it is a tourist card to be in Mexico.:

Pam

Wow this is becoming complicated!

Thank you for the clarification. Do you know what the abbreviation FMT stands for? What is the difference between an FMT and a Visa? Is it just the name? Does Mexico have a Visa for U.S. citizens or just the FMT? I know the piece of paper is only good for six months just like the Visas I have had when traveling to other countries.

Thanks for your help.


Yundrey

It's not really complicated. All you need to do is fill out the piece of paper they give you on the plane and DON'T LOSE your half of it while you're in Mexico.

 

[Fern Modena]

If you are planning on entering Mexico by air, which I think you are, you'll need a passport. As stated above, that is because the US requires it to come back to the US by any means other than land. Canadians need a passport as well if their flight stops in the US.

You will also need an FMT (Forma Migratoria Turista). If you are flying, you will be provided with the form sometime during your flight. Fill it out and have it ready for Immigracion when you get to the checkpoint. You won't have to pay a fee, it is included in your airline ticket. If you cross by auto you have to stop at the border to fill out the form, pay the fee, and get your card. The official will give you the FMT, which is usually just a piece of paper, not a card at all. As Pam says, you must KEEP it, as you have to turn it in at the airport before leaving for home. The agent will probably give you 180 days (the longest you can have in one shot) without asking. If he asks, always say at least 90 days, so if you get sick or something you won't run into problems.

 

[x3 skier]

Airlines usually have extras of the form at the gate to fill out before you board. I always pick up a couple since I have been on flights where the crew ran out of them. Makes those who do not get one very happy I have a spare or two.

Just fold it up and keep it in your passport(s) after Customs and Immigration.

Cheers

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

If you cross by auto you have to stop at the border to fill out the form, pay the fee, and get your card.

If they were to cross by auto, is there also not additional paperwork needed (as well as a cash or credit card deposit) to bring a vehicle into Mexico?? And, of course, they would need Mexican auto insurance.

 

[Fern Modena]

You are correct about the auto aspect. Also, when they pay the fee for the vehicle permit, they will be given a sticker which must be applied to the windshield. If, for some reason they break the windshield and get it replaced, they have to save the part with the stamp on it to turn in at the border upon leaving; otherwise they will be fined and/or not be allowed in a second time with that vehicle.

I didn't mention any of this because I believed the person was not driving to Cancun. But people do, I suppose. They certainly do drive to Mazatlan and Cabo.

Fern

If they were to cross by auto, is there also not additional paperwork needed (as well as a cash or credit card deposit) to bring a vehicle into Mexico?? And, of course, they would need Mexican auto insurance.

 

[jschmidt]

I just read up on the FMT and found out that the fee for the document is US$22. People arriving by airplane usually have the amount included in their ticket price and don’t realize that there is a fee.

I’m changing my comment above about the VISA requirement so as not to confuse future readers.

 

[pammex]

Pam

Wow this is becoming complicated!

Thank you for the clarification. Do you know what the abbreviation FMT stands for? What is the difference between an FMT and a Visa? Is it just the name? Does Mexico have a Visa for U.S. citizens or just the FMT? I know the piece of paper is only good for six months just like the Visas I have had when traveling to other countries.

Thanks for your help.


Yundrey

It's not really complicated. All you need to do is fill out the piece of paper they give you on the plane and DON'T LOSE your half of it while you're in Mexico.

Forma Migratoria Turista ( Tourist Migration Form or Tourist Visa). Some countries require you to obtain a Visa prior to traveling to their country, when I went to Brazil, that was the case, Mexico is not one of these.

Most immigration officers are now filling in 180 days on your FMT. You will fill this out on plane then show your passport and give this to officer and he will stamp, fill in ??? amount of days. If per chance they do ask you, I suggest you ask for the full 180 days just in case. My husband who flies in and out frequently always puts less and the officer always crosses it out and puts 180 days. LOL. ( the officer is always smiling when he does this LOL). This is a very simple process....get off plane, stand in line, present passport and FMT paper filled out, officer will ask why are you in Mexico and such ( vacation), he may say business of pleasure...then he stamps and hands you back your copy.....keep it in a safe place, do not lose. The price of it is included in your air plane ticket but if you lose you get charged again the $22. plus a fine, just a hassle.

It is all pretty simple, the big issue is just not to throw it out thinking it is just a junk piece of paper.

We usually keep in safe place but in reality, you are supposed to have this FMT on you. If we travel away from our area on vacation we take all our papers, passports, FMT's and others in case...but we are driving a car so very different scenario. My husband always folds his FMT and puts inside passport.

They now ask in Mexico for your passport, as well as when you leave states you should not be allowed to board without passport, so pretty much yes, you now need a passport to enter Mexico, though it is more important to you for when returning to US.

By car...it is in works that a passport will also be required....my last car trip in and out of Mexico I was asked for passport and I am on another level in Mexico not FMT ( another issue let's not confuse you). You would also need by car to fill out the FMT, show title to your car, maybe registration depending on agent and mood LOL...as well as a valid credit card in same name as car's title, or if no credit card a cash bond ( high amount), so use credit card, charge is around $38., it provides you with a temporary car permit which is applied or you apply as directed to your windshield. It clearly states that you promise to return the vehicle to the US upon the expiration of your FMT. ( The paper that the sticker is peeled off of, is also very important and should be guarded safely ) ( This part after this if driving can get complicated so we will not go there, just the car has to leave unless you change your status in Mexico or such).

Mexico does not have law for mandantory car insurance.....so it is unlikely you will be asked for that....BUT I would not even think of driving without insurance here especially as a foreigner.

Now just a tad of info....when you leave Mexico via airplane this turning in of FMT paper, shows you have left the country.....thus should you disappear or such, Mexico can display proof that you left their country...as well as if not turned in and you disappeared then it could be assumed you are still in Mexico but illegally if past the alloted number of days.

It all sounds much more complicated than it is....and the immigration officers are more than willing to help etc, should you require it. If you feel you need more clarification, please do not hesitate to PM me and I'll be happy to elaborate on your particular circumstances.

Don't worry...as long as you have your passport....the rest will fall into place. Enjoy your time in Mexico.

 

[pammex]

OK. Let's set the record straight to help this poor traveler out.

1. You do NOT require a passport to enter Mexico from the US or Canada. Government ID or birth certificate is acceptable and sufficient.

2. The catch is that you need a passport to RETURN to the US, but NOT to Canada. This is US Homeland Security policy, and not binding on any other country.

3. Although the document that you fill out on the plane is indeed a visa, the poster was obviously asking whether a visa is required in ADVANCE of travels and the answer is NO.

In these matters it is better not to speculate and comment ONLY if you are absolutely sure of your information. There is too much at stake.

Relax and have a good trip. You have more documentation than you require and all will be OK.

The OP from their profile is from US so thus a passport is required or they will not be permitted back into their country. To say a passport is not required to a US citizen will only confuse the issue....as well as I am almost positive the law has passed via air travel for passports for US citizens required to Mexico. Mexico could really care less, but they do not want you stranded in their country either.

As you stated no advance Visa is required.

I agree with the poster relaxing and enjoying their vacation at this point, they have the required paperwork. I also believe the airlines could have clarified all this info as well.

Since the poster is from US, the laws of Canada are not reflective here.

Happy vacations to all.....