Do you need a passport to go to Mexico? Yes! All US citizens, regardless of age, must hold a valid passport when flying into Mexico. Some instances exist where travelers may not need a passport to visit Mexico, which we cover in detail below. However, it is best practice to carry a valid passport anytime you cross an international border. You can expedite your passport in as little as 2-4 business days if needed. Here are the travel requirements for each…
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…
Attention, travelers: Mexico wants to see your passport! Passport requirements for Mexico are now being enforced at the new Puerta Este border crossing into Tijuana. You'll also need to fill out a form and get a $20 permit if you plan to stay more than a week. It's always been a good idea to carry a passport or a passport card when visiting Mexico. More than that, it's been a requirement to get back into the United States since 2009. For…
Planning a fishing trip near the coast of Mexico? There are some new passport requirements you need to know. Anglers now need a passport to fish in waters within 12 miles of the coast of Mexico, even if they leave from the United States and never step foot on dry land. To fish in the waters off Mexico, you need an FMM visa. Previously, the government of Mexico would issue these visas with just a government-issued ID, or even a…
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In our fourth post in our Trusted Traveler Program Series we are going to cover SENTRI, the program for pre-approved travelers who cross the U.S./Mexico border frequently. SENTRI users have access to specific, dedicated primary lanes into the United States. Members are issued a Radio Frequency Identification Document (RFID) that will identify their record and status in the CBP database upon arrival at the U.S. port of entry. Participants in the program wait for much shorter periods of time than…
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Most people are aware that you need a passport to go to Europe, Africa and Asia. But what if you’re staying closer to home? A decade ago, getting into Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean was as easy as saying “I’m an American citizen,” but not anymore. After 9-11, The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was enacted making it much harder to get in and out of the US without a passport. Don’t get caught off-guard if you’re heading to one of these…
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In 2009, new passport laws went into effect that changed the documents required for travel between the US, Mexico and Canada. Called the Western Travel Initiative (WHTI), the regulations required most US citizens to have either a passport or a passport card for land and sea travel to either country, with a passport book being required for air travel. Local businesses on both sides of the border have been ruing that day ever since, blaming the requirements for slowing down…
