UPDATE: New travel regulations for Mexico are in effect. See this article on passport requirements for Mexico for up-to-date information!
Right now, whether or not you need a passport to go to Mexico depends on two factors: how you’re getting there and when you’re planning to go. Passports are already required for travel to Mexico if you are traveling by plane. However, currently land and sea travelers can cross the border with state-issued ID (like a driver’s license) and proof of American citizenship (like a birth certificate).
On June 1st, the rules will change as the final phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative becomes effective. After June 1st, everyone will need a passport to go to Mexico, whether you’re flying, sailing or walking across the border. The only groups of people who will still be able to cross the border using birth certificates after this date will be children under 16 traveling with family and children under 18 if they are on an organized trip with a school, church or sport group.
These exceptions only apply for children traveling by land or sea. Everyone flying to or from Mexico will still need a passport, regardless of age. As a safety precaution, it’s best that all travelers to Mexico have a passport in case they need to fly home unexpectedly.
If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, it’s important to apply for a passport at least 6 weeks and preferably several months in advance. Since the rules are about to change, the wait time for a US passport may get longer as the deadline approaches.
If you need a passport to Mexico in a hurry, you should consider using a private passport expediting service to submit your passport application. With an expediting company, your application will be processed more quickly, bypassing the normal wait times. With RushMyPassport.com, you can have your passport processed in as little as 24 hours!
Click here to view our passport processing options, and order your passport to Mexico the easy way!
Tags: Mexico, travel requirements, US passport, WHTI
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