Dear Seasoned Traveler,
This page will help you at the Mexico border crossing.
As you may suspect (or have even experienced), the reality is that it’s typically much easier to cross the border into Mexico than to cross the border into the U.S.—even if you are a U.S. citizen.
You most certainly know it’s crucial to have the right documents and avoid transporting illegal items into or out of Mexico. BUT you probably also know that a majority of the time the horror stories of traveling across the border into the U.S. even with its more stringent border security protocols are dramatized. The problems are often due to people being unprepared or uneducated. The truth is millions of people have traveled to and from Mexico safely and have crossed in and out of the U.S. legally without hassle. That’s why you’re here. You plan to be one of those millions without issue.
You want to be prepared with everything you need going in either direction for every extreme situation. That way, in the unlikely event you are questioned or searched, you have everything you need. Then, you and your traveling buddies can continue on seamlessly.
We have put together this guide for all the relevant issues that most often arise at the border. Remember the old Boy Scout motto and you’ll be in good shape. Be prepared.
Happy Trails,
The MexInsurance® Travel Team
P.S. MexInsurance® strives to make your overall experience in Mexico (not just your insurance) a quality one. We keep this page up to date (we’ve been doing that for 17 years now). You can return here before each Mexico border crossing to make sure you have exactly what you need for your border crossing experience.
P.P.S. To be ultra-thorough we have links to all the relevant government sites where you can get up-to-the-minute updates on border crossing requirements for those days Border Patrol beats us to the punch. (Spoiler alert: We, too, occasionally leave the office to enjoy a trip to Mexico. We try to maintain our expertise in that department as well… it’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.)
Mexico’s Border Patrol requires the following items for all persons visiting Mexico:
(Click on each item for a more detailed description of each item.)
Visitors to Mexico need a VALID passport book with a blank page for each crossing. More information on obtaining or renewing a passport can be found here.
For more information on passports and passport cards click here.
Click here to go to Banjercito Site for online permit processing.
Click here for more information on the Temporary Import Permit (TIP)
Click here for the Free Zone Map where the permit is not required.
Current law states that pet owners may drive into Mexico with pets that are older than 3 months. The Certificate of Good health (77-043) is no longer required as of 2020.
Click here for more information on bringing pets into Mexico.
Upon arrival in Mexico, business travelers must complete and submit a form (Form FM-N) authorizing the conduct of business. This does not include employment. The term is 30-days.
If you are traveling from the U.S. to Mexico and then back to the U.S., it is assumed you have all of the above recommended items for border crossing. In addition to the above items, you should note the tips below for a seamless return to the United States.
If you are travelling from Mexico to the U.S. and then back to Mexico, you will want to note the tips listed below for a smooth border crossing, but you will also want to gather the applicable items listed above for your return to Mexico.
(Click on each item for a more detailed description of each item.)
For more information on U.S. passports and the online application click here.
“Take what you need. No more. No less.”