The Mexican government only requires that your passport be valid during the entirety of your trip

A tourist card is a “Forma Migratoria Multiple” (FMM) and one is not required for those under the age of two. It is required for everyone else, even in the “Free Zones”, unless you are a citizen. It allows one to enter Mexico, one time, for up to 180 days but recently, often for shorter periods. The back of the form confirms it is for one entry; however, in Baja California it may be used for multiple entries. The cost is 687 pesos.

1. When a tourist or temporary or permanent resident card holder enters Mexico at a border crossing you will normally be issued a FMM.

2. When a tourist enters Mexico at an airport, and you use the passport scanner this is what you will be issued. You are to retain this receipt for when you leave Mexico.

3. When a tourist enters Mexico at an airport and you do not use the passport scanner, normally you will have a stamp in your passport and in that stamp will be written the date you entered and the date by when you must leave Mexico. And, in this example the number 180.

4. Once pre-approved as a Temporary or Permanent resident at Mexican consulate, you have 6 months to enter Mexico. A pre-approval is for ONLY one entry, meaning you must finalize the process once you enter Mexico or you will need to start over at a consulate. When you enter Mexico, please show your passport and pre-approved visa. When entering at a border crossing, you will be issued a FMM marked CANJE, the number 30 and your pre-approved visa from the consulate will be date stamped. When entering at an airport, you will have a date stamp in your passport and written “CANJE” and “30“ as per the photo. The 30 means you have 30 days to start your visa process in Mexico at an Immigration office. But you must start your process in Mexico prior to the pre-approved visa expiration date.

For those entering at an airport with no FMM and only date stamp, the word CANJE and the number 30 in your passport, you must scan the QR code and print out the FMM. Or, you may also access the FMM portal here. Once you have uploaded a photo of your passport and you corroborated the information is correct, select “Ingresos” and next click the small ORANGE CIRCLE with a check mark. Next, select “Descargar” for the download icon. You will not be able to process your pre-approved visa at Immigration in Mexico without a FMM that has been printed and presented. You may only download it once so please do not lose the FMM you printed. For clients, I will do this for you.

5. When a Temporary or Permanent resident leaves Mexico your passport may be stamped with date and written is your visa status and the word “SALIDA”. And, as a TR or PR, when entering Mexico, your passport may be stamped with date, visa status and the word “ENTRADA”. As a TR or PR, the number of days will be blank. You may also find that there are no longer separate lines for citizens and non-citizens.

It will now be easier for Immigration to quickly see when were your last entries in to Mexico. This will limit or reduce a quick turn around for those who repeatedly and consecutively enter Mexico while seeking 180 days each time.

6. Printing Out a FMM

When entering Mexico, if the number of days allowed to be in Mexico as stamped on your passport or on your FMM are not clear or should you wish to confirm how many days have been issued, there is a QR code to check. Please, register first and then input your information. If your name is hyphenated, please leave out the hyphen and use a space.

Electronic FMM Tourist Card

There is an electronic FMME. It is available here. Complete the application form. Print the FMM and keep it with you to be validated where you enter Mexico. I do not recommend obtaining a FMM on-line. Reasons are:

1. Some web sites are fraudulent and charge as much as $50 extra.

2. A FMM is included in your airfare.

3. At airports FMM’s are no longer used.

The traditional way of obtaining the FMM at ports of entry is still available at border points of entry. It is very important to keep the stamped portion of the FMM that corresponds to the record of entry, as this is proof of your legal entry into Mexico and will be required when you leave the country.

Prior to your FMM expiration normally you return to the border. At some Immigration offices there is a temporary program called regularization. Financials are not required. Your time as a tourist must be expired. You are required to prove entry into Mexico prior to 2022 and one way to do so is with a stamp in your passport. There are 3 Immigration fees. You will be issued a 4-year Temporary Resident visa.

If your time as a tourist does expire while in Mexico, and you are flying out, please go to Immigration at the airport and pay for another period of time as a tourist prior to boarding your plane. Cost is currently 687 pesos. This is not a way to extend your time as a tourist in Mexico.

​In Mexico, as a tourist, you must carry both your passport and 

1. original FMM tourist card, or
2. show stamp in your passport indicating when you entered Mexico, or
3. printout as above from a airport scanner indicating when you entered Mexico ad by when you must leave.

All foreign visitors, regardless of their nationality, traveling to Mexico for tourism, business or in transit to another destination, are exempt from presenting a Mexican visa as long as they have a valid passport issued by any the following countries: Canada, Japan, the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any of the countries comprising the Schengen Area.

Mexico Tourist Visa Exemptions

If you are a Permanent Resident of the following countries: Canada, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, any of the countries of the Schengen Area, and any of the countries members of the “Pacific Alliance”, you do not need a visa to enter Mexico for tourism, business or transit purposes. All individuals in this category are required to present their valid and unexpired Resident Card along with their passports. Both documents must be valid during your entire stay in Mexico.

If you have a valid and unexpired visa of the following countries: Canada, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and any of the countries of the Schengen Area, you do not need a visa to enter Mexico for tourism, business or transit purposes. All individuals in this category are required to present their valid and unexpired visa along with their passports. Both documents must be valid during your entire stay in Mexico.

If you have a regular passport issued by one of the following countries, you do not need a visa to visit Mexico for tourism or business purposes for up to 180 days. You may also transit in Mexico without a visa for up to 30 days.