MéxicoImmigration and travelFederalVerified on October 3, 2026
Mexico entry requirements and tourist visa rules
Bring a passport valid for your whole trip and check whether your nationality or another qualifying document exempts you from a Mexican visitor visa. INM checks your documents and purpose of travel at the border and decides whether to admit you.
Step by step
- 1
Check your passport's expiry date.
The Mexican consular guidance requires your passport to remain valid throughout your trip. Check boarding requirements with your airline as well. Read the passport question in «Preguntas Frecuentes/FAQ» (Frequently asked questions) on the official page.
Read consular guidance (Spanish) ↗What you will see
The «Visas» page, «Países que requieren Visa» (Countries requiring a visa), and a passport-validity question in «Preguntas Frecuentes/FAQ».
- 2
Check the visa list for your nationality.
Look for your nationality on INM's list of countries that require a visa. The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom are not on that list. If you need a visa and have no qualifying exemption, contact a Mexican consulate before travelling.
Check INM's visa list (Spanish) ↗What you will see
A list of countries requiring a visa, a section on alternative documents, and the documents checked at immigration.
- 3
Check whether another document exempts you.
For a tourist visit, INM lists valid visas from Canada, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom or a Schengen country as alternatives to a Mexican visa. It also lists proof of permanent residence in those countries or in Chile, Colombia or Peru. Bring the qualifying document with your passport.
- 4
Prepare evidence of your visit.
Have your accommodation booking, return ticket and itinerary ready. INM also lists your address and length of stay in Mexico, residence abroad, activities and how you will leave as information it can check. Its checklist includes means of support during the stay, with an exception for holders of Mexican visas.
Read INM's entry checklist (Spanish) ↗ - 5
Complete immigration at your point of entry.
Present your passport and any required visa or qualifying document. For land entry, present the completed FMM. At international airports, INM generates the immigration record on arrival; you do not need to fill in or carry a paper FMM. Answer the officer's questions about your visit.
- 6
Check your authorized stay.
Read the period granted in your entry record. A visitor's maximum of 180 days is not a promise that every traveller receives that amount of time. Plan your departure around the authorization you actually receive.
Requirements
- A passport valid throughout the trip.
- A valid Mexican visa when required, or the document supporting an applicable visa exemption.
- A completed FMM for entry by land; the immigration record is generated on arrival at international airports.
- Trip details and supporting documents for immigration checks, including accommodation, return travel and itinerary.
This guide covers tourist visits. INM distinguishes visits without permission for paid activities from work and residence categories; check the relevant immigration route if your purpose is different.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mexico require six months of passport validity?
The Mexican consular page says the passport must be valid throughout your trip. It does not set a general six-month rule for entry to Mexico. Check separately with your airline about boarding.
Can I visit Mexico with a US Green Card?
INM lists proof of permanent residence in the United States as an alternative to a Mexican visitor visa. Bring that proof and your valid passport. Immigration still checks whether you meet the entry requirements.
Can I visit Mexico with a valid US visa?
INM lists a valid, unexpired US visa as an alternative to a Mexican visa for a tourist visit. Your passport and the other entry requirements still apply.
Is admission guaranteed if I have the documents?
No. INM checks your circumstances at the point of entry and can refuse admission. Completing an FMM or paying a fee does not guarantee entry.
Sources
- SRE · Mexican consular visa and passport guidance · accessed on October 3, 2026
- INM · Countries requiring visas and alternative documents (in Spanish) · accessed on October 3, 2026
- INM · Visa-exempt countries and entry checklist (in Spanish) · accessed on October 3, 2026
- INM · Electronic FMM conditions · accessed on October 3, 2026
- INM · FMMD and the period authorized on entry (Spanish PDF) · accessed on October 3, 2026
Information verified on October 3, 2026. Always check the official source before starting your procedure.