Citizens of Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK need valid passports to enter Mexico and to re-enter their home countries. Citizens of the US and Canada only need some form of valid identification (often more than a driver’s license), but a passport is highly recommended. Not only is it a more official document and useful in places like Mexican banks, but the United States also requires a valid passport for re-entry by air. You may also be asked for evidence of a return ticket and sufficient funds. 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. Any new passport or renewal applications must be filed well in advance of the departure date, though most passport offices offer rush services for a very 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. Consulates also recommend that you 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 the nearest embassy or consulate of your home government. 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. Any visas stamped in your old passport will be irretrievably lost. In an emergency, ask for immediate temporary traveling papers that will permit you to re-enter your home country. Consulates in Mexico can issue replacements within seven business days.
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 or fewer days. 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 don’t need the tourist card if they are staying in Mexico for less than 72hr. or intend to stay within the 20-30km US-Mexico border zone (depending on the city). If you are traveling into Mexico by plane, the tourist card fee is included in the airline ticket price (approximately US$20), and the tourist card will be given to you to fill out during your flight. If driving into Mexico, you will be charged the fee at your point of entry. You can avoid any delays by obtaining a card from a Mexican consulate or tourist office before you leave .
As of August 2007, tourist visas are not necessary for citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, the US, and most EU and Latin American countries for stays of up to 180 days; the tourist card is sufficient. Individuals with African, Asian, Eastern European, or Middle Eastern citizenship must procure a tourist visa from a Mexican consulate in your 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$39, depending on country of origin. Double-check entrance requirements at a Mexican embassy or consulate in your home country (listed under Mexican Consular Services Abroad, on) 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. 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.
Admission as a visitor does not include the right to work, which is authorized only by a work permit. For more information, see the Beyond Tourism chapter .
When you travel, always carry at least two forms of identification, including a photo ID; a passport and a driver’s license or birth certificate is usually an adequate combination. Never carry all of your IDs together; split them up in case of theft or loss, and keep photocopies of all of them in your luggage and at home.
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC), a widely accepted form of student ID, provides discounts on some sights, accommodations, food, and transportation; access to a 24hr. emergency helpline; and insurance benefits for US cardholders (see Insurance, ). Applicants must be full-time secondary or post-secondary school students at least 12 years of age. Because of the proliferation of fake ISICs, some services (particularly airlines) require additional proof of student identity.
The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) offers teachers the same insurance coverage as the ISIC and limited discounts. To qualify for the card, teachers must be currently employed and have worked a 18hr. min. per week for at least one school year. For travelers who are under 26 years old but are not students, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC.
Each of these identity cards costs US$22. ISICs, ITICS, and IYTCs are valid for one year from the date of issue. To learn more about ISICs, ITICs, and IYTCs, try www.myisic.com. Many student travel agencies issue 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 youths aged 12 to 26. The card provides discounts, medical benefits, access to a 24hr. emergency helpline, 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 continents) 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 and by land to 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 and pay a duty on the value of articles in excess of your home country’s allowance. In order to expedite your return, make a list of any valuables brought from home, register them with customs before traveling abroad, and be sure to keep receipts for all goods acquired abroad.
If you plan on driving into Mexico, you will need to obtain a vehicle permit at the border, a local consulate, or at the Banjercito website (www.banjercito.com.mx). Vehicle permits are needed only for travel more than 22km past the border. To acquire a permit, evidence of citizenship, title for the vehicle, a vehicle registration certificate, a driver’s license, and a processing fee are required.
Permits are around US$100 when you pay with a valid debit or credit card. Those without credit cards will have to provide a cash deposit or bond worth US$200-400, depending on the make of the car. Your deposit will be repaid in full when you return across the border, but paying the minimal fee by credit card is strongly advised. To extend a permit beyond its original expiration date and to avoid confiscation, contact the temporary importation department of Mexican customs. The maximum length of stay granted to tourists is six months. A permit is valid only for the person to whom it was issued unless another driver is approved by the federal registry. Violation of this law can result in confiscation of the vehicle or heavy fines. Despite any advice, official or unofficial, to the contrary, vehicle permits cannot be obtained at checkpoints in the interior of Mexico. Travelers should avoid individuals outside vehicle permit offices offering to the permits, even if they appear to be government officials. There have been reports of fraudulent or counterfeit permits being issued adjacent to the vehicle import permit office in Nuevo Laredo and other border areas. Regulations change frequently; for information, contact a consulate or check the Banjercito website.
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