Updated information as of June 1, 2009:
Passports are required for all air travel to and from Mexico. For travel by land or sea, adults should have a passport, passport card, enhanced driver’s license or a trusted traveler card like NEXUS, FAST or SENTRI. Children under the age of 16 may travel with only a birth certificate, as may children under the age of 19 who are traveling with an organized group like a school, church or sports group. However, keep in mind that Mexican regulations typically require US citizens to have a passport if they travel beyond the “border zone” into the interior of the country.
Instead of a passport, passengers on closed-loop cruises, which begin and end in the US, may cruise with a state-issued photo ID and birth certificate or naturalization certificate.
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!
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Tags: Mexico, travel requirements, US passport, WHTI
how do i get a pass port in mexico for my niece who is a US citizen and has lived there since she was 4. so how can she get back now that she is 18?
June 10th, 2011 at 5:03 pmHi Larae,
Contact the nearest US Embassy and they should be able to help you. Have a great day!
June 11th, 2011 at 3:07 pmdo I need my passport valid 6 months after I visit Mexico (if I visit in September does my passport have to be vaild to March?
July 12th, 2011 at 1:20 pmHi Sue,
Not unless you’re staying until March.
For Mexico, it just has to be valid for the length of your stay. Have a great trip!
July 13th, 2011 at 8:07 pmwhat if i have already gone to mexico and did not take a passport and i want to go again without one what will happen im a us cizitien
July 22nd, 2011 at 10:20 pmYou won’t be able to fly in to Mexico without a passport book. If you’re traveling by car, you really should have a passport book or a passport card. Customs officials can’t keep you from re-entering if you’re a US citizen, but they can detain you and are more likely to do so if you have a history of trying to cross without a passport. You really should at least get a passport card.
August 4th, 2011 at 11:16 amWhat if its a child that needs to come back for school and his passport is in progres is there any way he can come back without it. He has a WI Id. Will they let him on a plane with his Id and birth certificate.
August 30th, 2011 at 5:24 pmHi Mary,
It’s highly unlikely that they’ll let him on the plane without a passport. However, he can cross the border by land with his ID and birth certificate. Or, contact the nearest US Embassy and see if they can help him get his passport more quickly. Good luck!
August 31st, 2011 at 7:51 pmWill you clarify, June 1st of what year?
November 9th, 2011 at 3:32 pmHi Martha,
The regulations went in effect June 1st, 2009. Hope this helps!
November 15th, 2011 at 3:46 pmdo you need a passport to stay in mexico if you marry in mexico?
November 28th, 2011 at 10:27 pmWell, as long as you’re a US citizen you should keep a valid passport on hand if you’re living overseas, so that you can return to the US if necessary. You can renew yours at a US Embassy in Mexico. As far as what Mexico requires a US citizen married to a Mexican citizen to have, you’ll need to check with their Immigration department.
November 30th, 2011 at 9:16 pmMy sister and niece want to go to Mexico but my niece’s passport expired. She is a US citizen. She is barely going to renew so she won’t get it in time for when I leave next week. We are driving over. What can she do?
December 16th, 2011 at 2:18 pmHi Jose, How old is your niece. If she’s under 16, she just needs her birth certificate. If she’s older, she is supposed to have a passport or a passport card to get back into the United States from Mexico. I would recommend either making an appointment at the nearest Passport Agency Office (call 1-877-487-2778) or give us a call and we’ll be happy to help!
December 16th, 2011 at 10:39 pmhi i am trying to plane a trip with my niece she is underage US citizen (5 years old) what would i need to travel with her
December 29th, 2011 at 10:20 pmIf you’re traveling to Mexico, she needs a passport and you need a notarized letter signed by both of her parents granting permission for the trip.
January 1st, 2012 at 5:30 pmMy son is 17 and going on a cruise with friends and their family. the cruise leaves from long beach stops in ensenda and return to long beach. does he need a passport card or can he use his dl and birth cert?
January 8th, 2012 at 8:30 pmMy wife has a passport but it is in Michigan.She wants to go to Mexico from Arizona. She has a birth certificate and driver’s license. Will she be okay to re-enter the U.S.
January 9th, 2012 at 7:35 pmHi Tom,
If she’s driving, she’ll be okay, since Customs can’t keep a US citizen out of her own country. However, they may detain her temporarily while they verify that her documents are legit, so she should allow extra time at the border just in case. She probably would not be allowed on an airplane to/from Mexico without her passport, though.
Good luck!
January 11th, 2012 at 10:47 pmHi Kari,
He’ll be fine with his birth certificate and driver’s license.
January 11th, 2012 at 10:53 pmMy friend is having a birthday party in Mexicali with her family there and is inviting friends from the U.S. to go with her. I do not have a passport and don’t think I should go. I don’t want problems coming back over the border.
January 23rd, 2012 at 11:11 pmHi Sandra,
That’s understandable. If you’d like to go without investing in a passport, as long as you’re driving you can apply for a passport card for $55. This no good for air travel but will get you through if you’re traveling by land or sea. Hope this helps!
January 25th, 2012 at 9:16 pm