Mexico entry requirements, by passport

Passport

Mexico's own rule: the passport must be valid for the whole trip (Embassy of Mexico in the US, page updated 24 Jul 2026), and the US State Dept says valid at the time of entry. Airlines may apply a 6-month rule, and the Mexican Embassy in the UK recommends 180 days (the longest tourist stay). Ireland's DFA advises 6 months beyond your last day in Mexico. Travel with 6 months to be safe. Passport cards are accepted only at land and sea crossings, not for flights. Safe standard: 6 months beyond the day you leave.

Arrival card

FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple); the digital version is the FMMD. Air: generated at immigration on arrival (a passport stamp, or a printed e-gate ticket you must keep and show when leaving). Adults can use e-gates at Mexico City, Cancún, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and San José del Cabo (Irish DFA, Oct 2026). Digital proof of entry can be downloaded from the INM portal within 60 days. Land: get the FMM online from INM (print it) or at the INM office at the crossing. The electronic FMM is single-entry, valid up to 180 days, and grants 'visitor without permission to work' status. Short visits that stay inside the border zone don't need one: the US State Dept puts the limit at 6 days or less within about 20 km (12 miles) of the US border, while first-pass sources said 72 hours. Confirm with INM. Fee: The non-resident fee (DNR) is MXN 983 (Ley Federal de Derechos art. 8-I, text as last reformed in the DOF on 7 Nov 2025). It is included in air and cruise fares. Land arrivals pay it separately unless their stay is 7 days or less (art. 11-II-a). Replacing a lost FMM or entry record costs about MXN 700 (FCDO)..

Official form

Border systems for every visitor

There is no universal pre-travel authorization. Nationals who need a visa can enter without a Mexican visa, for tourism, business or transit, if they show (a) a valid visa from the US, Canada, the UK, Japan or a Schengen country, or (b) permanent residence in one of those, or in a Pacific Alliance country (Chile, Colombia, Peru). An approved APEC card also works for business trips by air. Only visas in the passport and permanent-resident cards count. US EAD cards, I-797A, advance parole, I-20 and DS-2019 are not accepted. Since 22 Oct 2023, visa-required nationals also need a visa (or one of these exemptions) just to transit a Mexican airport (SRE press release cited by Wikipedia; the gob.mx page could not be opened). Cruise passengers of any nationality visiting Mexican ports need no visa. SAE electronic authorization (air only, single entry): nationals of Brazil (reinstated 5 Feb 2026), Russia, Turkey and Ukraine can apply online at visaelectronica.sre.gob.mx instead of getting a consular visa. Mexico's general visa guidelines (DOF 25 Jul 2025, per news reports) allow electronic visas for nationalities the government designates; no designation beyond these four was found.

Onward ticket

Immigration may ask for a return or onward ticket, along with accommodation details and proof of funds. Without them you may get fewer days or be refused.

Proof of funds

Visa-exempt visitors: officers may ask for proof of enough money for the stay, with no fixed amount. Visitor-visa applicants must show solvency. At the Washington consulate in 2026 that means an average monthly balance of at least MXN 83,640 over the last 3 months, or net income of at least MXN 27,880 a month over the last 3 months. Applicants aged 65+ visiting for tourism are exempt from the solvency test.

Travel insurance

Not required for entry.

Vaccinations

No yellow fever or other vaccination certificate required.

Cash to declare at customs

Declare more than USD 10,000 in cash or monetary instruments (or the equivalent) on entry and on exit. Declare goods worth over USD 500 arriving by air, or over USD 300 by land (US State Dept). A customs form can be filed online before travel.

Taxes, levies and fees

Federal non-resident fee (DNR): MXN 983 per visitor (Ley Federal de Derechos art. 8-I, text as last reformed in the DOF on 7 Nov 2025). It is included in air and cruise fares, and land arrivals staying 7 days or less are exempt (art. 11-II-a). VISITAX (Quintana Roo: Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Holbox): mandatory for every foreign tourist, with no age exemption in the official FAQ. Its legal basis is art. 51 octies of the Quintana Roo Ley de Derechos. Pay at visitax.gob.mx or through SATQ-authorised companies, before or during the stay, and show the QR receipt at the airport when leaving. The official site does not state the amount. Local press (Dec 2025) put it at MXN 224 per person, after a proposed rise to MXN 284 and collection through hotels were withdrawn from the 2026 budget. FCDO says a departure tax may apply at some air and land points (often in the ticket, sometimes cash only), while Smartraveller says there is no exit tax. A cruise-passenger fee was introduced in 2025 (amount not confirmed).

Medicines, vapes and banned items

E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to bring in, sell or distribute; smoking/vaping banned in public places. Firearms and ammunition need prior written authorization. Knives with blades over 6 cm are illegal. Carry medicines in original containers with a prescription; some are controlled. Exporting archaeological artifacts is illegal.

Travelling with children

Mexican minors, including dual US-Mexican and other dual nationals, need notarised written permission from the absent parent(s) or guardian to travel without them, or proof of sole custody. Mexico's own minor-exit form is the SAM (Formato de Salida de Menores), which is not re-checked on an official page this pass. Authorities have stopped minors who lacked this. Foreign minors: carry a birth certificate or other proof of relationship. Irish DFA advises a notarised parental authorisation translated into Spanish when a child travels alone, with a non-parent, or has a different surname.