Customs and Immigration

Essentials for Travelers Visiting Mexico

Immigration (Migracion):

Tourist Cards and Visas:  Most visitors to Mexico must simply fill out a Mexican tourist card and carry a valid passport rather than go through the process of obtaining a formal visa prior to travel (list of nationalities not requiring visa). The tourist card or FM1 is usually given to you one at the airline desk, on the plane, or at any land border crossing, airport or seaport. Present your passport and the tourist card to the Immigration officer who will stamp it for you. The FM1 can be issued or extended for up to 180 days (six months). Try not to lose your tourist card or you may face a small fine when you leave.

Visas: Citizens of certain countries need to obtain a visa in a Mexican consulate prior to travel to Mexico (list of countries).

U.S. Passport Requirements that affect your Mexico travel: Under the WHTI (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative), U.S. Customs and Border Protection now requires all United States citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents traveling to Mexico by air to carry and present a valid passport upon their return into the country.

Customs (Aduana)

You must fill out a declaration form for customs and pay any duties on any items that are not Duty Free. You will be asked to push a button on a traffic signal. Green light means you go on, red means your belongings will be checked.

Arriving by plane or boat you may import additional articles worth up to $300 U.S. per person. Those arriving by land may import additional articles worth up to $75 U.S. per person, or $300 U.S. per person if the items were bought near the border and within a certain time limit, and you have the receipts to prove both. If you are importing goods worth over $3000 U.S. you must use a customs broker.

If you exceed the allowable amount of duty-free items but do not exceed a total of $3,000 USD worth of merchandise, and if you make a voluntary declaration of import for these items, a tariff of 15% will be levied on the amount (after deducting your personal duty-free allowance), and this amount must be paid upon arrival in the country. Voluntary declarations must be accompanied by official receipts for items being imported.

If you are caught with items not declared or exceeding their reported value without paying duties you are liable for fines based on the value of those items and they may be confiscated by the authorities.

Duty Free Items

Foreign and Mexican Residents may bring into Mexico personal items such as:

• Personal clothing, shoes and personal care items in non-commercial quantities appropriate for the length of your stay. If traveling with babies, articles for their personal care, entertainment and transport including seats, portable crib, carriage, walker, etc.
• 2 photographic or video cameras including 12 rolls of film or video cassettes; photographic material; 2 cell phones or beepers; 1 portable typewriter, 1 electronic PIM; 1 laptop computer, 1 portable copier or printer; 1 burner, 1 portable projector, with pertinent accessories.
• 2 sets of personal exercise equipment, 4 fishing rods, 3 water sports boards with or without sail, trophies or awards as long as they can be transported normally by the passenger. One walking machine and one stationary bicycle.
• 1 sound  or mixed recording device; 1 digital sound player or 1 CD player and 1 portable DVD player along with portable speakers and accessories.
• 5 laser discs, 10 DVDs, 30 CDs or cassettes for sound reproduction, 3 packets of software and 5 backup devices for any type of electronic equipment.
• Books, magazines and printed material.
• 5 toys, including collector’s items, and 1 video game console with 5 video games.
• 1 blood pressure monitor, 1 glucose or mixed monitor and accessories, plus medications for personal use. Prescription necessary for psychotropic substances.
• Briefcases, backpacks, trunks and suitcases or any other article necessary for the transport of luggage.
• Passengers over 18 may bring a maximum of 20 packs of cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco and up to 3 liters of alcohol or 6 liters of wine.
• 1 set of binoculars and 1 telescope
• 2 musical instruments and their accesories.
• 1 tent and other camping equipment.
• For the elderly and incapacitated, those articles necessary for personal aid such as walkers, wheel chairs, crutches and canes, etc.
• 1 set of hand tools and tool box that could contain such common items as a drill, pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, jumper cables, etc.

Foods

Food items that may be brought into Mexico by passengers traveling by air, sea or land, in quantities apt for personal consumption only, and when there is no risk of introduction of pests or disease: (information from the Senasica - National Service of Agro Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality – website):

• Smoking tobacco
• Dried, cooked, canned, bottled or packaged foodstuffs that do not come from quarantined countries
• Roasted coffee, packaged or bottled spices, medicinal dry herbs.
• Canned, cooked or dried fruits and vegetables.
• USDA stamped and inspected fresh, frozen, cooked, high vacuum packed, canned or processed pork or poultry meat or pate.
• Milk, cheese, and dairy products.

All  of these products must be transported in their original packaging and with their original label including the stamp of the Ministry of Agriculture from the country of origin.

Traveling with Pets

2 pets (dogs or cats) may enter Mexico as pets. If the pet is under 3 months of age, a health certificate is required. Pets older than 3 months must also have a vaccination certificate showing they were vaccinated for rabies within the past year. Both documents must be presented in the original with one copy.

The certificate of good health should be on letterhead paper and be accompanied by a copy of the professional license of the veterinary doctor issuing it, and must be dated no later than 5 days prior to entrance date into Mexico. The documents should clearly detail all your pet’s data (age, breed, color, sex, etc.) for identification purposes.

Upon arrival in Mexico, you must present the pet and documents to Agricultural and Livestock Health authorities for inspection.

• Bergan Comfort Carrier Soft-Sided Pet Carrier, Large, Black
• Bark n Bag Carrier One pet carrier

Money

Bringing money in any quantity is not a crime but not declaring it can be. You may bring $10,000 U.S. in cash or checks legally but you must declare any funds over that amount. If you bring over $30,000 U.S. you can be sent to prison for up to six years and the federal authorities keep all funds over $20,000 U.S.