Do You Need a Passport to Go to Mexico? (2023)

Mexico is a beautiful place with a lot of places to visit on a vacation.

It is a vibrant place with rich culture and loads of opportunities for fun.

That is probably why it is the seventh most popular tourist destination according to 2019 figures.

But if you are going from the US, you might have more than a couple of questions, one of which will be, “do you need a passport to go to Mexico”.

It’s not an unreasonable query and we will answer that and then some in this piece.

Let’s begin.

Do You Need a Passport to Go to Mexico in 2023?

Yes, as a U.S. citizen you need a passport to go to Mexico in 2023. You will need to present a valid U.S. passport book or card, in addition to the Forma Migratoria Multiple travel document (also known as “FMM”).
The Forma Migratoria Multiple is a travel permit that grants foreign citizens entry to Mexico and is issued by Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM).

The simple answer to the question, “Can you fly to Mexico without a passport?” is no.

Now, if your next question is, “Do kids need a passport to go to Mexico?”, even then the answer is yes.

American infants and children also need to have a passport to enter Mexico, age no bar as long as they are traveling by air.

Everyone who is flying into the country will need to produce their passport to the border control authorities.

Once you arrive in the country, an immigration officer will stamp it.

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Do You Need a Passport to Go to Costa Rica?
Do You Need a Passport to Go to the US Virgin Islands?

What Is an FMM, and How Can You Get One?

FMM or the Forma Migratoria Multiple is an immigration form which also has your tourist visa.

It is issued to those who enter the country from the southern or the northern border and are coming from a country that does not require its citizens to have a Mexican visa to travel to this destination.

If you are entering Mexico as a temporary or permanent resident, you will need a lot more than just the FMM.

And you will need to get it before you enter Mexico.

This rule applies to everyone who is flying in, driving or coming to the country by sea.

There are some misconceptions that people traveling to Mexico for less than 72 hours don’t have to get an FMM.

The same is claimed about those who are staying in the free zone.

Neither of those claims is true and falling for such false information will get you into trouble.

You need to get an FMM and have it processed at the border irrespective of your final destination and the time period for which you will be staying in the country.

Entering the country without an FMM is illegal and you will be subjected to fines or deportations.

The FMM is likely to cost you about $30 as of 2021 unless you are planning to stay in Mexico for less than a week.

A part of the document will be ripped off at the border by an immigration officer and the other part will be handed back to you.

You must keep this safe because you will have to give it back when you are exiting the country.

If you stay in the country even after your FMM expires, it will be considered as an overstay.

Usually, an FMM is issued for almost 6 months for tourists unless you are coming with the intention of getting a residence permit.

In that case, your FMM will last only for 30 days.

How to Get an FMM?

If you are traveling by air, you will be given the form in the flight by your airline or after arrival at the airport.

And usually, you don’t have to pay for it because the fee is typically included when you buy the air ticket.

If you are traveling by road, you must get your visa at the border or get it online before you undertake the trip.

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Do You Need a Visa to Go to Mexico?

Visitors from some countries don’t need a visa.

The US is a part of this list.

But travelers from other countries must procure a visa to enter Mexico.

If you are coming to Mexico as a tourist or for business, you don’t need a visa for 180 days if you have a passport issued by any of these governments.

The same is true if you are in Mexico for transit for 30 days.

European Union
Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Brazil
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
Hong Kong
Iceland
Israel
Jamaica
Japan
Liechtenstein
Macau
Marshall Islands
Malaysia
Micronesia
Monaco
New Zealand
Norway
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
San Marino
Singapore
South Korea
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
United Arab Emirates
United States of America
Uruguay
Vatican City
Venezuela

But you will need to get a Mexico Tourist Card which can be obtained once you enter Mexico or online before reaching the country.

What Do You Need to Drive to Mexico?

If you’re driving to Mexico, you will need to carry a few documents with you.

You will need to show an ID which means you can carry your US passport to Mexico or show a passport card or a SENTRI card.

Now, children under the age of 16 don’t need to carry a passport if they are traveling to Mexico by road or sea.

But they must have their birth certificate when they are coming back to the US.

A passport card is like a passport but not as expensive.

It has your name, photo, nationality, place of birth, date of birth, date or issue and expiry and a unique number assigned to you.

This is a compact card that can be carried in the pocket.

You can also take a SENTRI card which is a pre-approved card for those who are considered low-risk passengers entering the US.

This makes crossing the border easier when you are re-entering the US.

Also See:
Do You Need a Passport to Go to Puerto Rico?
Do You Need a Passport to Go to the Bahamas?

Things to Know before Visiting Mexico

Apart from many lovely resorts in popular tourist destinations like Cancun, there is a lot you need to know about Mexico before you get there. Here’s the low down on that.

It’s Huge

You will need a solid plan if you are planning to go to Mexico because it’s a big country.

You need to know where you are going and what areas you will cover because it is not possible to cover it all on one short trip.

This is the 14th largest country in the world in terms of area and you don’t want to plan a lot of sightseeing in a short period of time because it’s just not worth it.

That is because Mexico is a beautiful country with a rich cultural background which takes some time to soak in.

And since it is not a difficult country to visit, in terms of doing the paperwork, you can plan two to three big tourist hotspots for a short stay and come back soon enough to check out the rest.

Transport

Since it’s a big country, you must look into domestic flights if you are traveling to far away parts of the country.

There are over 50 airports in the country and the flights run regularly.

You will also find other smaller domestic airlines which means you have a lot of options and they are quite cheap too.

However, the airfare of a particular trip depends on how popular the route is and not the distance.

But it pays to remember that a flight will get you to your destination sooner and that is worth the money you spend on the ticket.

Now, if you are on a budget, you must check out their buses whether your destination is near or far away.

And it is a perfectly safe mode of transportation unlike in the past when the drivers were known for their tempers.

You can also travel by boat to travel from one port to another.

You will find smaller boats that are slightly more expensive but still in the realm of reasonable prices.

If you are more comfortable driving, rent a car.

Just familiarize yourself with the prevailing road and traffic conditions of the region.

Mexicans are also not big fans of cycling.

And since the traffic is generally such a nightmare for tourists, you are better off not trying this option also for safety reasons.

Language

If you didn’t know it already, Mexicans speak Spanish which is their official language.

It is the first language of almost 90 percent of their residents here.

But if you are only visiting extremely popular tourist destinations, you might be okay even if you don’t know Spanish.

A lot of locals in these places speak good English which will get you through your trip.

If you plan on visiting the more remote areas, you might want to pick up as many words and phrases as you can just to make life easy for yourself.

You can try using apps like Google Translate to get through.

But it is recommended that you experience the joy of learning a little bit of Spanish to make your trip more exciting.

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Do You Need a Passport to Go to Turks and Caicos?
Do You Need a Passport to Go to the Dominican Republic?

It’s Safe

A lot of people visiting Mexico are worried about their safety.

Now, even though a lot of this narrative is a curse from the movies, it is not completely unfounded.

There are a lot of stories that might scare you about a visit to Mexico.

So, as in any foreign country, it is a good idea to watch your back and take precautions.

But it is important not to stereotype the entire country.

Because Mexico is generally considered to be a safe country.

However, you will benefit from watching out for thefts in public areas.

Good news is, you can be at ease in popular tourist spots because the security there is much better now than it was in the past.

However, you must be extra careful at night especially if you are in dark alleys or generally traveling alone.

That last one is a good pointer in many countries and there is no need to single out Mexico.

Final Thoughts on Traveling to Mexico

Hopefully, all your questions about travel to Mexico without a passport have been answered.

If you want a quick recap, here’s what you need to remember.

Do you need a passport to go to Mexico?

Yes, if you are flying into the country.

You don’t need a passport if you are driving to Mexico or coming by sea.

Children under the age of 16 don’t need a passport if they are not flying in but will need to show their birth certificate while re-entering the US.

Everyone will need an FMM which is issued ahead of time or at the border upon arrival.

If you are staying in Mexico for less than a week, you can get it for free.

Otherwise, it will cost you about $30.

Related: Hotels in Mexico

Also See:
Do You Need a Passport to Go to Aruba?
Do You Need a Passport to Go to the Caribbean?
Do You Need a Passport for Domestic Flights?