| Driving to Mexico | Driving in Mexico | Road Hazards | Immigration and Customs | Duty Free Items |
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| Click here for more information on the States of Mexico |
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Visiting Mexico: Essentials for Travelers
Immigration:
Tourist Card:
Visitors to Mexico must fill out a tourist card or visa. This is usually given to you one at the airline desk, on the plane, or at any land border crossing, airport or seaport. Present your passport (Canadian and U.S. citizens may use a birth certificate, voter registration card or other proof of nationality) and the visa to the Immigration officer who will stamp it for you. The visa can be issued or extended for up to six months. Try not to lose your visa or you may face a small fine when you leave.
 U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico - read this important note about new travel document (passport) requirements... |
Customs (Aduana)
You must fill out a declaration form for customs and pay any duties on any items that are not Duty Free. Then you will be asked to push a button on a traffic signal. Green light means you go on, red means your belongings will be checked.
If you are caught with items not declared or exceeding their reported value without paying duties you are liable for fines of 1 to 3 times the value of those items and they can be confiscated by the authorities.
Arriving by Plane or boat you may import additional articles worth up to $300 U.S. per person. Those arriving by land may import additional articles worth up to $50 U.S. per person, or $300 U.S. per person if the items were bought near the border and you have the receipts to prove it. If you are importing goods worth over $1000 U.S. you must use a customs broker.
If you wish to bring your vehicle to Mexico, Click Here.
Tips about driving in Mexico - and watch out for Mexico's road hazards
Free Spanish Lessons - learn the language before you go...
Liberally translated by John Murphy from Guia Oficial Programa Paisano October 1998 Ed.
These rules were still in effect as of October, 2000.
For more information than you ever wanted on traveling in Mexico see TIPS FOR TRAVELERS TO MEXICO published by the US State Department
