Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US need valid passports to enter Mexico and to re-enter their home countries. You may also be asked for evidence of a return ticket and sufficient funds. A recent paycheck stub, bank statement, or credit card information will suffice. Returning home with an expired passport is illegal and may result in a fine.
Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US can apply for a passport at any passport office or at selected post offices and courts of law. Citizens of these countries may also download passport applications from the official website of their country’s government or passport office. All new passports and renewal applications must be filed well in advance of the departure date, though most passport offices offer rush services for a steep fee. Note, however, that “rushed” passports still take up to two weeks to arrive.
Photocopy the page of your passport with your photo as well as your visas, traveler’s check serial numbers, and any other important documents. Carry one set of copies in a safe place, apart from the originals, and leave another set at home. Carry an expired passport or an official copy of your birth certificate in a part of your baggage separate from other documents.
If you lose your passport, immediately notify the local police and your home country’s nearest embassy or consulate. To expedite its replacement, you must show ID and proof of citizenship; it also helps to know all information previously recorded in the passport. In some cases, a replacement may take weeks to process, and it may be valid only for a limited time. Consulates in Mexico can issue replacements within seven business days. Any visas stamped in your old passport will be lost forever. In an emergency, ask for temporary traveling papers that will permit you to re-enter your home country.
All persons, regardless of nationality, must carry a tourist card (FMT) in addition to proof of citizenship. Most tourist cards are good for up to 180 days; some, however, are only good for 30 days, and some for even fewer. If you need to leave and re-enter Mexico during your trip, make sure your tourist card will enable you to do so; you might have to ask for a multiple-entry permit. Canadian and US citizens do not need an FMT if they are staying in Mexico for less than 72hr. or intend to stay within the 20-30km US-Mexico Border Zone. If you are traveling into Mexico by plane, the FMT fee is included in the airline ticket price, and the tourist card will be given to you to fill out during your flight. If driving into Mexico, you will be charged US$20 at your point of entry. You can avoid any delays by obtaining a card from a Mexican consulate or tourist office before you leave.
Tourist visas are not necessary for citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, the US, most EU countries, and Latin American countries for visits under 180 days. Individuals with African, Asian, Eastern European, or Middle Eastern citizenship must procure a tourist visa from a Mexican consulate in their home country before traveling. In order to do so, a valid passport, a valid visa application, three passport photographs, proof of sufficient funds, and evidence of a round-trip ticket are necessary. The consular fee is around US$40, depending on your country of origin. Non-Mexicans under 18 who wish to exit the country must have written permission from their legal guardian(s) in the form of a notarized letter. Double-check entrance requirements at a Mexican embassy or consulate in your home country (listed under Mexican Consular Services Abroad) for up-to-date info before departure. US citizens can also consult http://travel.state.gov. Entering Mexico to study for longer than six months requires a special visa. For more information, see Beyond Tourism, .
Admittance to a country as a traveler does not include the right to work, which is authorized only by a work permit. For more information, see Beyond Tourism.
When you travel, always carry at least two forms of identification on your person, including a photo ID. A passport and a driver’s license will usually suffice. Never carry all of your IDs together; instead, split them up in case of theft or loss, and keep photocopies in your luggage and at home.
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC), the most widely accepted form of student ID, provides discounts on some sights, accommodations, food, and transportation, access to a 24hr. emergency help line, and insurance benefits for US cardholders (see Insurance ). Applicants must be full-time secondary or post-secondary school students at least 12 years old. Because of the proliferation of fake ISICs, some services (particularly airlines) require additional proof of student identity. For travelers who are under 26 years old but are not students, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC.
Each of these identity cards costs US$22. ISICs and IYTCs are valid for one year from the date of issue. To learn more about ISICs and IYTCs, visit www.myisic.com. Many student travel agencies sell the cards; for a list of issuing agencies or more information, see the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) website (www.istc.org).
The International Student Exchange Card (ISE Card) is a similar identification card available to students, faculty, and children ages 12 to 26. The card provides discounts, medical benefits, access to a 24hr. emergency help-line, and the ability to purchase student airfares. An ISE Card costs US$25; call ☎800-255-8000 (in North America) or ☎480 951 1177 (from all other countries) for more info or visit www.isecard.com.
Upon entering Mexico you must declare certain items from abroad. Mexican regulations limit the value of goods brought into Mexico by US citizens arriving by air or sea to US$300 per person; by land the limit is US$50 per person. Amounts exceeding the duty-free limit are subject to a 15% tax. Note that goods and gifts purchased at duty-free shops abroad are not exempt from duty or sales tax; “duty-free” merely means that you need not pay a tax in the country of purchase. Upon returning home, you must likewise declare all articles acquired abroad. If the items you acquired are in excess of your home country’s allowance you will be required to pay another tax. In order to expedite your return, make a list of any valuables brought from home and register them with customs before traveling; also be sure to keep receipts for all goods acquired abroad.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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