Immigration

HOW IT WORKS | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

MIGRATION

Foreign nationals entering Mexico by air will have to obtain the  Digital Multiple Migratory Form  (FMMD for its acronym in Spanish), as a way of facilitating and expediting immigration procedures. This registration form accredits the regular migratory situation in the modality of tourist, business visitor and others. The foreign national will have 60 calendar days to download their FMMD after entering the country.

The migration agents will review and stamp the passport or travel document and will place the estimated date of departure from the country, according to the temporary period granted.

In the event that the FMMD suffers partial or total destruction, is stolen, lost or is not downloaded within 60 calendar days, a replacement process must be carried out. The foreign national will be able to view the QR codes in the immigration filters to access the following microsite:  https://www.inm.gob.mx/spublic/portal/inmex.html

For obtaining the FMMD you need to create an access account on the following internet platform:  https://www.inm.gob.mx/spublic/portal/inmex.html

Foreign nationals who wish to enter Mexico by land must fill up a FMME form which can be obtained online:   https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html  Complete this form with your individual information.

At the port of entry to Mexico, the Migration official will determine the duration of stay in Mexico of the foreign national.

The maximum stay for visitors (tourists and business visitors) in Mexico is up to six months.

The maximum stay for visitors in transit is up to 30 days.

The holder of a temporary resident visa or permanent resident visa, within the 30 days after entering Mexico, must obtain, accordingly, the Temporary  Resident Card or Permanent Resident Card  before the  Migration National Institute. 

The Mexican migratory authorities have the faculty to grant or deny entry into Mexico if the visitor does not fully comply with the immigration regulations. For additional information, please click on the following links: a)  leaflet ;  b)  requirements to enter Mexico (in Spanish )

The immigration officer will stamp the FMM form upon arrival. Please keep it in a safe place and do not lose it. You will be asked for FMM upon your departure from Mexico, in cases of visitors; or to obtain the Temporary Resident Card or Permanent Resident Card, in cases of holders of temporary resident visa or permanent resident visa.

NON-RESIDENT FEE

As many countries, as of 1999 Mexico charges a fee for the authorization of non-lucrative visitor migration stay. The resources collected through this fee are used for the promotion of tourism in Mexico and for the assistance and improvement of migratory services. This fee is updated annually. The time and manner of paying it varies according to the mode and route you use to enter the country.

When traveling by plane to enter Mexico, the fee is mostly included in the flight ticket.

For more information, you can visit the website of the Migration National Institute

https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/689464/DERECHOS_DE_INTERNACION_POR_VIA_AEREA.pdf

GOODS YOU CAN BRING INTO MEXICO WITHOUT PAYING TAXES

Depending on the means of transportation you enter Mexico, foreign nationals can bring with them merchandise without paying taxes, in addition to their personal luggage. By air the franchise is up to $500 US dollars and by land is up to $300 US dollars.

The excess to which each member of the family is entitled can accumulate if they travel together in the same means of transportation, except if they are a resident of the strip or border region.

You can demonstrate the value of the merchandise that is part of the franchise with invoices or sales receipts. In case of not having these, the customs personnel will be able to determine the value of the merchandise. With your franchise you cannot introduce alcoholic drinks, carved tobaccos, automotive fuel, except that which is contained in the fuel tank of your vehicle.

LIST OF PERSONAL ITEMS YOU CAN BRING INTO MEXICO

Goods for personal use, such as clothing, footwear, toiletries, and beauty products, if they are accordingly with the duration of the trip. They also include a bridal trousseau, baby items (a chair, a portable crib, a stroller, a walker, among others, and their accessories).

-2 photographic or video recording cameras; photographic material;
3 mobile telephones or other wireless networks; a global positioning equipment (GPS); an electronic notepad; a laptop, notebook, omni book or similar; a portable copier or printer; a DVD burner and a portable projector, with its accessories.

-2 personal sports equipment, 4 fishing rods, 3 sailboards with or without a sail and their accessories, trophies, or recognitions, if they can be transported commonly and normally by the passenger.

– A portable sound recording or reproducing or mixed device or 2 for digital image and sound recording or reproducing apparatus and a portable DVD player; a set of portable speakers, and their accessories.

– 5 laser discs, 10 DVD discs, 30 compact discs, 3 software packages and 5 storage devices for any electronic equipment.

– Books, magazines, and printed documents.

– 5 toys, including collectibles, a video game console and 5 video games.

– A device for measuring blood pressure and one for measuring glucose or mixed and its reagents. Medications for personal use (in the case of psychotropic substances, the medical prescription must be shown).

– Suitcases, trunks or any other item necessary for the transfer of luggage.

– A binocular and a telescope.

– 2 musical instruments and their accessories.

– A tent and other camping gear.

– A set of hand tools with its case, which may include a drill, pliers, wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, power cords, among others.

Passengers over 18 years of age, a maximum of 10 cigarette packs, 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco; up to 3 liters of alcoholic beverages and 6 liters of wine.

Older adults and people with disabilities, items that due to their characteristics replace or reduce their limitations, such as walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, canes, among others.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

In accordance with the “Law of General Import and Export Taxes”, the introduction of the following products into the country is prohibited:

• Firearms, except for hunting purposes, as long as the rules indicated in.
• Live predatory fish in their fingerling, juvenile, and adult stages.
• Thallium Sulfate
• Totoaba, fresh or refrigerated (fish)
• Insecticide (Isodrin, Aldrin, Heptachloro, Drinox, Endrin, Mendrino, Nendin, Hecadrin, or Leptofos)
• Frozen Totoaba (Fish)
• Turtle eggs of any kind
• Poppy seeds (Opium Poppy)
• Imide of N-phtalylglutamic acid (Thalidomide)
• Poppy seed flour (Opium Poppy)
• Marijuana (Cannabis Indica) seeds and spores, even when mixed with other seeds
• Heroin, base, or Diacetylmorophine hydrochloride
• Marijuana (Cannabis Indica)
• Medicinal preparations based on marijuana (Cannabis Indica)
• Opium juices and extracts prepared for smoking
• Medical preparations based on acetylmorphine, its salts or derivatives.
• Extracts and juices derived from marijuana (Cannabis Indica)
• Turtle or Green Turtle skins
• Mucilages and thickeners derived from marijuana (Cannabis Indica)
• Stamps printed in colors or in black and white, presented for sale in envelopes or packets, even when they include chewing gum, candy, or any other type of articles, containing drawings, figures, or illustrations that portray childhood in a denigrating or ridiculous manner , in attitudes which incite violence, self-destruction, or any other type of anti-social behavior, know as “Garbage Pail Kids”, for example, printed by any company or commercial denominations.
• The Ministry of Agriculture prohibits the following goods since they represent a great risk for the introduction of pests and diseases: earth, straw, padded containers of hay, straw decorations without processing; homemade foods; flours of animal origin; fresh, dry, canned or frozen meat and meat products, such as smoky, salted and mature sausages that have been prepared in countries under absolute quarantine (Europe, Africa, Asia and South America). For additional information please visit the website www.sagarpa.gob.mx

BRINGING MEDICATIONS INTO MEXICO FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY

Passengers traveling with medicines for personal use are allowed to enter the country (regardless of the active component) as long as they bring their prescription or a letter from their GP in which it must state the amount of the substance required by the patient during her or his stay in Mexico, the amount brought into the country and the daily dose.

At the port of entry you must declare to the customs authorities and present the medical prescription or license issued by competent authority. The former must state name of the doctor authorizing the prescription, his signature, contact details (telephone, address) and professional register. The medical prescription or license must also state the amount of the substance required by the patient during her or his stay in Mexico, the amount brought into the country and the daily dose. The medications must not exceed the amount required for your stay in the country. The prescription must be translated into Spanish.

ONLY BRINGING PETS INTO MEXICO
(Dogs & Cats)

REQUIREMENTS:

Contact SENASICA’s official personnel to obtain an import certificate for your pet.

The officer will then carry out a physical and documentary inspection to verify compliance with the following requirements:

1. Submit an original Good Health Certificate (with a non-certified copy) valid for at least 15 days after issuance and containing the following items:

• The certificate must be issued either by an official veterinarian of the competent authority or a veterinarian with private practice. If issued by the latter, the certificate must be printed in company letterhead with the printed professional license number, or a photocopy thereof (or an equivalent.)
• Name and address of the exporter (country of origin or departure) and the importer (destination address in Mexico).
• Date of application of the rabies vaccine and validity thereof (animals younger than 3 months are exempt from this requirement.)
• The animal(s) must have been found clinically healthy at the inspection before their trip.
• The animal(s) must have been dewormed/deloused within the past six months, and must be free of ectoparasites.
• In the event of noncompliance with the above, contact a veterinarian in Mexico (of your choice and at your own expense), who will apply the corresponding treatment(s) and issue the health certificate.

2. Your pet must be carried in a clean crate or container, without a bed, implements or accessories (toys, treats or other items manufactured with ruminant ingredients); Otherwise, such items will be removed for destruction. The crate or container will undergo a preventive treatment through spraying carried out by official personnel from the Secretariat of Agriculture-SENASICA. Your pet can enter with its collar, leash, etc.
3. You can carry a daily ration of balanced feed in bulk. We remind you that this type of feed is available for purchase in Mexico and is registered with and authorized by the SENASICA.
4. If you document your pet as cargo, verify the requirements with your airline of choice and consider using the services of a customs agent for processing and releasing your pet from Customs.

For more information, please check the following links:

https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/712790/If_you_travel_with_your_pet.pdf

https://www.gob.mx/senasica/acciones-y-programas/informacion-para-viajeros-193524

https://www.gob.mx/senasica/documentos/mascotas-268065?state=published

CASES IN WHICH YOU MUST PAY TAXES

– If you enter by land, you are entitled to bring up to US$75 worth of goods in addition to the goods included in your personal luggage, and that you are allowed to combine this amount with family members.

– If you enter by air, you are entitled to bring up to US$300 worth of goods in addition to the goods included in your personal luggage, and that you are allowed to combine this amount with family members.

– If you exceed this exemption or if your family’s combined amount exceeds the combined exemption, but the value of the goods does not exceed three thousand dollars, there is a flat 15% rate of duties and taxes, which is applied only to the amount exceeding the exemption (individual or combined). You must fill out a payment form, which is available at the Customs counter.

– If the value of the goods exceeds three thousand dollars (per family member) after subtracting the US$75 exemption by entering by land or US$300 by entering by air, or if any of the goods is subject to non-tariff regulations or restrictions, you must hire the services of a customs broker

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CUSTOMS

Once you find yourself in Mexican territory, you will be free to travel and circulate within or without having to fill out more migratory forms. They will only be able to request the presentation of customs declaration forms when you leave a city near a border and head for another within the same country.

Nota bene.- This information is provided as a service to the public. Therefore you are advised to verify it directly with the customs authorities by visiting the following websites:  https://anam.gob.mx/ 

Most of the information contained on this menu forms part of the manual of tourist entry prepared by the Secretariat of Tourism, National Customs Agency of Mexico, Banjercito, the National Institute of Migration, the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation and the Secretariat of Defense National. The manual of tourist entry can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Tourism.