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Oaxaca City, Mexico Many travelers don’t need a visa to visit the country – but many do. We have all the details. Raul Luna/Shutterstock
Spanning deserts, mountains, jungles and beaches on two tropical shorelines, Mexico brims with amazing places, rich culture and wonderful people. No wonder it’s such a magnet for travelers.
As the USA’s southern neighbor, Mexico understandably draws a huge number of Americans (some 35 million each year), as well as visitors from Canada, Europe and beyond. Whether you enter the country by plane or by car, it’s also a starting point for overland adventures south into Central America.
Despite Mexico’s famous hospitality, navigating tourist permits, visas and officials at ports can be daunting, for Mexicans often have their own way of doing things. Fear not: here’s everything you need to know about entry and visa requirements for Mexico.
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Can I travel to Mexico without a visa?
Citizens of the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, most EU member states and many other countries (more than 60 in total) do not require a visa to enter Mexico as tourists. The list includes some other nations in Asia and several countries in South and Central America.
The same goes for any visitor, regardless of nationality, who is a permanent resident of or has a valid visa for the US (including an H1-B visa), for visits for up to 30 days. Similar rules apply for those holding visas for Canada, the United Kingdom, and countries in the Schengen Area or Pacific Alliance.
Whether you need a visa or not, all foreign visitors need a passport with at least six months validity and a completed Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM), Mexico’s official tourist card.
Where do I get an FMM?
The paper FMM is gradually being phased out across Mexico and replaced with an online version, and it’s rare you’ll need to complete the paper version when you arrive at major airports such as Mexico City, Cancún and San José del Cabo. Still, at many if not most border crossings, international airports and seaports, you should count on filling out the FMM by hand.
If you’re flying to Mexico, the form will be provided to you on board your aircraft; the FMM form can also be completed online, printed and presented to immigration officials.
Processing an FMM costs 983 pesos, which is paid on the spot at land borders and ports, or integrated into the cost of airline tickets. If you arrive by land, the permit is free if your stay is 7 days or less.
When you enter Mexico, immigration officials will stamp the FMM or your passport, marking the number of days you’re permitted to stay. Officials can approve up to 180 days but often grant less than this, so be sure to request a duration long enough to cover your whole visit.
If you have a paper version of the FMM, you must surrender the stamped document when you leave Mexico – which means you must keep it with you during your entire trip. Keep it safe – for if you lose it, you’ll face a fine.
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Are there any special rules for arriving by land?
Some special rules apply if you’re entering Mexico by land from the the USA, Guatemala or Belize.
FMMs are free for visitors staying less than 7 days.
FMMs are not required for visitors who stay less than 72 hours in the “Zona Libre” (“Free Zone”), a designated buffer area extending 20–26 km south of the US border.
If you enter Mexico through the Zona Libre and plan to travel beyond its limits, request an FMM form when crossing the border. If you forget, you’ll be stopped when you return to the Zona Libre and made to pay for the FMM (if your trip is a week or more). If you exit Mexico from anywhere beyond the Zona Libre, you may be fined if you don’t have an FMM.
What if I do need a visa for Mexico?
If you are not eligible for visa-free entry, you’ll need to apply for a tourist visa in advance to enter Mexico. (Note that visa requirements apply for citizens of China, India, Russia, South Africa and many other large nations.) In addition to having a valid passport, you’ll need to submit the following documents in person at the nearest Mexican embassy or consulate:
A color passport photograph.
Proof of ties to your country of origin (eg, a letter certifying employment or full-time study).
Proof of economic solvency (eg, three months of bank statements or other proof of funds).
A cash fee of around US$55.
Appointments for tourist visa applications at Mexican embassies and consulates must be booked online through the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores.
At the pre-scheduled time, an official will review your submitted documents, collect biometric data (photo and fingerprints) and conduct an interview.
Once approved, a tourist visa is valid for up to 180 days. Upon entry to Mexico, travelers with tourist visas must provide an FMM.
Can I extend my stay in Mexico?
Since there’s so much to see and do in Mexico, many visitors unsurprisingly wish to extend their stay and see more. How you do that will depend on the circumstances of your visit.
If your FMM was issued for less than 180 days, you can request an extension at an immigration office within Mexico.
Be sure to apply before your FMM expires. You’ll need to provide a valid passport, a valid FMM, a valid tourist visa (if you require one) and proof of sufficient funds to cover the length of your stay in Mexico.
If your FMM was issued for 180 days and you wish to stay longer, you’ll need to leave Mexico and re-enter – thus triggering the issuance of a new FMM. Many travelers opt to visit a neighboring country for just a couple of days before returning to Mexico.
Keep in mind, though, that doing this too many times may make border guards suspicious, and you may face additional questions when re-entering.
Travelers with tourist visas should seek an extension (or apply for a new visa) at a Mexican immigration office. Be sure to start the process well before your existing visa expires, as it may take some time to process the paperwork.
Can I take a working holiday in Mexico?
Mexico offers a working-holiday visa (Visa Temporal – Vacaciones y Trabajo), which allows certain foreign nationals to accept paid work in Mexico for up to 1 year). The scheme is open to citizens aged 18 to 30 from Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, New Zealand, Peru and South Korea.
Extensions are not permitted and the visa cannot be converted into a formal work visa; other conditions (including proof of sufficient funds) apply. To obtain a working-holiday visa, schedule an appointment at your nearest Mexican embassy or consulate via the website of the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores.
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