Customs & Immigration 

There are two forms that you should have filled out while you were on the plane or before you reach customs and immigration in Mexico. They are the Tourist Card / FMT and the Customs Declaration form.

Please familiarize yourself with these forms and customs allowances below. Procedures for Customs and Immigration Mexico are to follow.

Don’t forget to bring your own pen!!!

Tourist Card / FMT Form

This document will most likely be provided to you by the airline that you are traveling on, or from Mexican Immigration on entry into Mexico. It is permission from the Mexican Government to allow you to visit Mexico for a period of time (anywhere from the actual days you are in Mexico, all the way up to 180 days).

Do not lose or damage the bottom portion of your tourist visa which is returned to you after immigration inspection. You will need it when you are leaving the country and will have to hand it in which you check in. Without it, you may encounter hassle or delay of departure. If you lose it, depending on who you are dealing with, the process to obtain another one can be simple, difficult, or expensive. Do not lose it as you are also legally required to carry it with you and if you are ever asked to show your papers, this document can be more important than your passport. As a precaution, you might want to write down your tourist card number and keep it in a different place than your Tourist Card. Should you lose it, this will help the process out greatly. As with all travel documents, keep your Tourist Card in a safe place.

If you decide you would like to stay longer than the amount of time that the Immigration Officer granted you, you can visit the local immigration offices for an extension of up to 180 total days in Mexico.

Customs Declaration Form

One of these forms is required per family. It asks the following:

• Name & Nationality

• Residency

• Passport Number & Issuing country

• Flight Number

• Number of Relatives Traveling with you

• Pieces of Luggage

• Are you carrying more than $20,000 US or its equivalent in other currencies, cash or check?

• Are you carrying live animals, food products of animal or vegetable origin, plants flowers, fruits, chemicals, pharmaceutical or biological products of agricultural use,

•   -fire arms and or cartridges

•   -goods subject to taxes

You are allowed to bring in the following:

• Personal items within a reasonable quantity for your trip duration: clothing, shoes, toiletries, etc.

• Books & magazines

• Medicine for personal use. In the case of psychotropic drugs, make sure you bring the prescription. Note: Be careful not to bring a large quantity of your prescription medication. There have been many unfortunate travelers put in jail for violating the law concerning prescription drugs in Mexico.

• Two used or second hand sporting equipment (eg. Two rackets)

• One laptop, one VCR/DVD player, 5 DVD’s.

• 1 Camera, movie or video camera with power supply with up to 12 rolls of film or videocassettes

• A musical instrument

• Fishing equipment

• Three litres of alcohol or wine (passenger is over 18)

• Four hundred cigarettes or fifity cigars or 250g of tobacco(passenger is over 18)

• Cellular phone, a walkie-talkie, a pair of binoculars

• Tent and equipment for camping

• 20 Music discs or cassettes for personal use and not for resale.

Customs & Immigration on Arrival in Mexico

First to pass through is Immigration. Please make sure you have all the documents mentioned in our Entry Requirements page, and this page, ready.

Immigration agents will review your documents, ask you a few questions and stamp and return the bottom portion of your Tourist Visa / FMT. Remember, do not lose this portion. Keep it in a safe place as you will have to turn it in when you leave the country.

Note: If you are planning on staying longer than you had originally planned, this would also be the time to ask nicely for an extension no longer than 180 days.

Next up is collecting your baggage. You may have to show your baggage tag which was probably stuck to or attached to your boarding pass by your airline in order to prove that it is in fact your luggage.

You will then get in line to pass through customs. When you reach the customs agent, you will have to hand in your customs form and if you have nothing to declare, you will be asked to press a button. This is where you will get to experience the “red light, green light” method of inspection.

Should you get a green light, you will most likely get to pass through and exit the airport with no problem. There are some occasions where travelers get a green light and a customs agent will ask to search your luggage. This may be for no reason other then you are having a bad hair day. If you followed the rules you have nothing to worry about.

Should you get a red light, you will be asked to step aside and unlock your luggage for inspection. Most times this is a rather quick procedure and you will be on your way to enjoy your vacation soon.

Mexico Vacation Central