Visitor Requirements in Mexico
Effective June 1, 2009, the US government has implemented the full requirements of the land and sea phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. These rules require US citizens entering the US at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or other travlel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.
For more information visit ……http://www.GetYouHome.gov
In Baja California, US and Canadian citizens visiting the immediate border zone in Tijuana or the city of Ensenada, can do it without the need to obtain a tourist card or any documents, provided the length of the stay does not exceed 72 hours. Simply drive across the border (as almost 180,000 people do each day). For travel beyond Maneadero on the Pacific coast or south of Mexicali on HWY 5, a tourist card is officially required for each individual visitor, regardless of age. THIS IS CALLED AN FMT. They are availalbe at Mexican consulates, Mexican border crossing areas, Mexican tourism offices, airports within the border zone, and most airlines serving Mexico.
If you are not a Mexican citizen & you intend on staying more than 7 days, in any region of Mexico, you are obligated to pay a non-immigrant fee (D.N.I.) which costs 210 pesos ($20.00 dollars), which can obtained easily at any immigration office and payable at any Mexican bank. Bring proper photo identification!!
US citizens need only proof of citizenship, such as copy of birth certificate or passport, to re-enter the US.
WHAT CAN I BRING INTO MEXICO? As you approach the border, there will be multiple lanes. 4 or 5 usually depending on which border you are crossing. I generally like to stay right in the middle lane. This is because sometimes the far right or left lanes will end up merging into the middle lanes. Then you have to wait till some nice motorist lets you in front of them. As you get closer to the crossing area, you will see sings that say “Nothing to declare” or “Declaration lane” . Even with a car full of stuff from the states, I go through the “nothing to declare lane” unless of course I happen to be driving an open pickup full of furniture say for example. Chances are you will be seen.
NOTHING TO DECLARE LANE: this lane is used when you are bringing, as a tourist on FMT, the value of $75 dollars or less. Your personal luggage and other merchandise is exempt up to $75 per person. 2 people, the exemption is $150 and so on. You will be required to show reciepts if stopped to qualify for exemption.
PERSONAL ITEMS ALLOWED:
new or used items such as clothes, shoes, toiletries not for resale.
2 cameras or video cameras
2 cell phones, walkie talkies
laptop, notebook etc
2 sporting good equipment
dvds, cds, cassettes, etc
2 dogs, cats, pets
2 cartons of cigarettes
strollers, baby walkers
2 musical instruments
1 set of binoculars, telescope
tent and camping equipment
crutches, canes, wheelchair
tools such as hand drills, wire cutters, wrenches, screwdrivers, cables, etc.
bedding sets
up to 3 liters of liquor, 6 liters of wine
books, magazines
up to $10,000 in US currency or equivalent in other currencies
medicine for personal use
Basically nothing that will make you look like you are going to resell the things you are bringing in to Mexico. I bring in groceries from the states all the time, in the “nothing to declare” lane, I put it in my trunk and I dont ever have a problem. Once I got stopped, they searched through my trunk for a few minutes, and then i was free to go. I wonder if they dont weigh each vehicle as it goes through? X-ray? Im really not sure.
DECLARATION LANE ($75-$1,000) If you are bringing in more than $75 U.S. worth of merchandise per person, but not more than $1000, you may declare it by driving into the customs facility through the declaration lane. There you will be able to fill out the proper documents and pay any duty or tax. Tax can be anywhere from 15 -25 percent of the declared value.
GUNS ARE ILLEGAL. If caught you will be put in jail even if you are unaware of the mexican law. If you are bringing in more the $10,000 in US currency you must declare it. Otherwise it is a crime. Amounts over $1000 require the use of a Mexican Broker.
WHAT CAN I TAKE HOME? You can take home US $800 duty free merchandise per person, per month, including 1 liter of liquor.
