Do You Need a Passport to Go to Mexico?

Mexico Passport Requirements at a Glance

The passport document you need depends primarily on your method of transportation.

The U.S. Department of State confirms that a passport card is intended for land and sea travel involving Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean destinations and cannot be used for international air travel.

Need a new U.S. passport before your Mexico trip? My Passport Hub provides optional step-by-step assistance preparing Form DS-11 before you submit your application to the government.

Start Form DS-11

Requirements for Flying to Mexico from the U.S.

If you are flying to Mexico from the United States, you need a valid U.S. passport book. A passport card, driver's license, or REAL ID is not a substitute for a passport book on an international flight.

This rule applies to adults as well as children and infants traveling by air.

Mexican immigration authorities currently issue a digital Forma Migratoria Múltiple Digital (FMMD) at international airports, rather than requiring travelers to complete the traditional paper FMM for land crossings.

How long does your passport need to be valid for Mexico?

For U.S. citizens, your passport must be valid at the time of entry into Mexico. A general rule requiring 6 months of remaining validity does not apply to U.S. tourists entering Mexico.

Before traveling, check that:

• Your passport is still valid
• Your passport is not damaged
• The name on your airline reservation matches
• Every child traveling with you has a passport

If your passport is expired or you qualify for renewal, My Passport Hub offers optional assistance preparing Form DS-82 for passport renewal. Eligible travelers can also prepare and submit their renewal directly through the U.S. Department of State.

Crossing the US-Mexico Border by Land

For travel to Mexico by car, U.S. citizens can use a valid passport book or passport card as evidence of citizenship at the land border. The same general passport rules apply if you cross on foot.

A passport card is particularly useful for people who frequently drive across the U.S.-Mexico border because it is smaller than a passport book and can be used in qualifying Ready Lanes when returning to the United States.

Do you need an FMM when driving to Mexico?

Land travelers may also need a Mexican immigration document called the Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM).

Travelers entering Mexico by land generally apply for an FMM online or through Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM). An exception applies when you remain within approximately 12 miles (20 kilometers) of the border for 6 days or less.

Applicants using its land-entry FMM process must hold a current passport or qualifying passport card, subject to applicable immigration requirements.

Driving beyond the border zone

Your passport is not necessarily the only document involved in a longer road trip. If you take a U.S.-registered vehicle beyond Mexico's designated border zone, you may need a Temporary Vehicle Import Permit.

The vehicle permit is separate from your passport and immigration documentation.

Do Children Need a Passport to Go to Mexico?

Children flying to Mexico need their own valid passport book, regardless of age. A parent's passport does not cover a child, and a birth certificate does not replace a passport book for international air travel.

The rules are more nuanced for land and sea travel.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allows U.S. citizen children age 15 and younger returning to the United States by land or sea from Mexico to present certain citizenship documents instead of a passport. These may include:

• Original or copy of a U.S. birth certificate
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Naturalization Certificate

However, this CBP exception concerns entry back into the United States. Families should not assume that a birth certificate by itself satisfies Mexico's separate immigration requirements for entering Mexico or obtaining an FMM.

For that reason, carrying a passport or appropriate passport card can provide clearer documentation for a child's full round trip.

What if a child travels to Mexico with only one parent?

When a child is traveling internationally without both parents or legal guardians, additional consent documentation may be advisable depending on the circumstances.

The U.S. Department of State recommends carrying a consent letter when a child is not traveling with both parents. Requirements can vary based on custody arrangements, nationality, destination, and the travel provider, so parents should confirm the documentation required for their particular trip before departure.

Children under 16 who need a new U.S. passport normally apply using Form DS-11, and they must apply in person with the required parental or guardian documentation. My Passport Hub offers optional assistance preparing the child passport application form.

A passport card can make sense if your international travel is limited primarily to driving across the U.S.-Mexico border. A passport book provides more flexibility because you can also use it for international flights.

That flexibility can matter if your plans unexpectedly change. For example, a traveler who enters Mexico by land with only a passport card cannot use that card to take an international flight home.