Passport Information for Travel to/from Mexico
Entering / Exiting Mexico
Necessary Travel Documentation
To enter Mexico you will need to prove citizenship, and a valid passport
is best for this purpose. Equally important is the fact that after December
31, 2006 all US Citizens will be required to have a valid passport to re-enter the
United States from Mexico or Canada.
Until then, in lieu of a valid passport you may present a photo ID along with a certified original (not photocopied) birth certificate for both entering and leaving Mexico. If you claim citizenship through naturalization you may use your Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship or laminated Naturalization card. Note: Some airlines/charter companies may still accept the Notarized Affidavit of Citizenship or possibly a Voters Registration Card. Travelers from other countries may need a visa.
(Please note that after December 31, 2006 a valid passport will be required for all travel to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Central and South America, and after December 31, 2007 a valid passport will be required for ALL air, land, and sea border crossing. More information on the new travel requirements can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel)
More information on obtaining a passport or visa can be found at http://travel.state.gov/passport
In addition you will need to obtain a Tourist Card (FMT), which is free and is provided by most airlines while onboard the plane, that is then validated when you land in Mexico. You may also obtain one at Customs, after proof of citizenship has been verified. You must keep the Tourist Card with you at all times when in Mexico, and it must be presented upon departure. Write down your tourist card number and keep it in a safe place, such as the hotel's safe. If the card is lost, having the number will help greatly. If you do lose your Mexican Tourist Card you can obtain a copy or permission to leave the country from the local Immigration Office.
Please Note: If you are traveling with minors (children under age 18), or your minor child is traveling alone to Mexico, please be sure to see the section below " Minors Traveling To Mexico" for information on regulations regarding minors.
Your first stop is
at Mexican Immigration (Migración) where proof of citizenship is inspected,
and tourist cards are validated. DON'T LOSE YOUR TOURIST CARD!
Next stop is at Customs (Aduana).
Mexico has instituted a European-style customs inspection system, with a twist.
Here's the way it works:
1. Visitors complete a customs declaration form.
2. Visitors choose to either declare or not declare that they are importing
items beyond their allowance.
• Those declaring items have their belongings searched, and duty is collected.
• Those not declaring items are asked to push a button on a street traffic
light that is mounted on a post inside thecustoms area. A green light allows
you to pass without inspection. A red light will signal an inspection. In the
event that items are found that were not declared, heavy fines and penalties
apply.
You are allowed to bring in any of the following:
• personal items, e.g. clothing, footwear, toiletries, all in reasonable
quantities according to trip duration.
• books and magazines
• medicine for personal use, with medical prescription in the case of
psychotropic substances.
• used or second-hand sporting equipment
• one portable T.V. set, one portable typewriter, and one VCR.
• up to 20 records or cassettes
• a musical instrument
• fishing equipment, a pair of skis, and two tennis rackets
• three liters of alcohol or wine, if carrier is over 18 years old
• 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars, if carrier is over 18 years old
• one movie camera and one regular camera, and up to 12 rolls of film
Returning to the U.S. and Canada
You are allowed to enter free of duty any purchases with a combined value
of up to $400. For Canada the amount is $500 Canadian, IF travelers
have been outside of Canada at least seven days. This allowance may
be claimed every 30 days. With a verbal declaration a returning Canadian
resident can claim duty-free entry for articles (excluding tobacco products
or alcoholic beverages) that do not exceed a total value of $20 upon return
from each trip of more than 24 hours.
For the U.S. this limit does not include items listed on the Generalized System
of Preferences List (G.S.P.), which are allowed in duty free. Contact the
U.S. Treasury Department for a detailed list (Dept. of the Treasury, U.S.
Customs Service, Washington, D.C. 20229).
Minors traveling to Mexico
In Mexico, like many other countries, any person under the age of 18 is considered a minor. There are strict regulations that govern travel by minors into Mexico. Every minor must have a tourist card, proof of citizenship and sometimes other documents listed below.
- Minors traveling with both legal parents or guardians: nothing else is needed.
- Minors traveling unaccompanied or with anyone other than their legal parents or guardians: they must obtain an original notarized letter of permission signed by both parents.
- Minors traveling with only one parent: must have notarized written permission from the other parent. (Airlines will also require the name, address and phone of the person meeting the unaccompanied minor upon arrival in Mexico.)
- In the case of deceased or divorced parents: legal proof must be carried to accept just one signature on the letter. This proof (death certificate, proof of sole custody etc.) can also be shown to a notary who can then notarize an Affidavit of Sole Custody form.
Please Note: If a minor child is flying to Mexico alone, you will need be aware of the airlines' rules and costs associated with unaccompanied minors. Most of the airlines post their rules and costs on their websites, or you may ask us at the time you book your Secrets Resorts Vacation with us.
