New and Improved Border FAQ's

OTHER STUFF

BRINGING YOUR KIDS: (under 18)
Mexico is a great place for kids! Mexicans love them! I recommend that if you don't have any of your own, rent a couple, they are great icebreakers (just kidding).

You will need the birth certificates for all of your children. These are also needed to get back across into the U.S.

If both parents aren't traveling together, a notarized letter from the missing parent granting permission for you to take the kids into Mexico is required. A form for this is available at Parental Affidavit. Make sure you get it notarized!

BRINGING YOUR PETS:
If you are bringing a dog or cat, make sure you have a current rabies shot record (for the dogs) and a current Certificate of Health (for both dogs and cats) or you might have to leave fluffy behind when you come back to the states.

From the CDC: "A general certificate of health is not required by CDC for entry of pet dogs (or cats) into the United States, although some airlines or states may require them. However, pet dogs are subject to inspection at ports of entry and may be denied entry into the United States if they have evidence of an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans." Cats do not even require rabies certificates, but: "Dogs must have a certificate showing they have been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior to entry into the United States." Elsewhere it mentions that the Certificate of Health is for livestock.

So it would seem that you don’t need one. WRONG! A lot of the people on this forum have reported that they have been asked for one. One poster said that the officials even questioned the validity of his certificate. So get one! And if it expires while you’re in Mexico, get another one from a Mexican Vet.

Mexico apparently has some rules about health certificates, etc, also; but I know of only one person that has encountered them. And he had all his paperwork in order.

Do NOT let your pet associate with the local street dogs or they might come up with a couple of diseases that don't exist in the U.S.

So PLEASE have your dog protected from parvo, heartworm, fleas and ticks, etc. before entering Mexico. Those things can all be problems and are fairly common among the Mexican street dogs.

Don't even think about bringing your pet gerbil, hamster, pot-bellied pig, or goldfish (or any other unusual pet) unless you are willing to put them in quarantine for a couple of weeks and have something higher than an FM-T.

Pet Birds: From the USDA “Fruits, vegetables, mats, and birds taken from the U.S. to Mexico may not be allowed to reenter. Consult in advance with inspectors of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But I have friends that travel with a parrot and have crossed the border numerous times with never a problem.

BOAT PERMITS:
NOTICE! As of 1/08, the Mexican Government has terminated the requirement for Boat Permits.
The TIP requirement for boat/trailers over 14 ft is still in effect.

All Fishing Licenses boat permits are Personal and Non-transferable. Any alteration, mutilation or transfer of these documents will render them void and may result in fines or temporary seizure of your boat. HANDLE THEM WITH CARE!

Both boat and fishing permits are issued by the "Department of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries". I recommend that you get these before reaching the border. These licenses are good for 1 year from the time of issue. They are available on the U.S. side from many sporting goods stores in the border cities and from the various travel clubs.

A Boat Permit is required in Mexican waters for all inflatable, car-top, trailerable, or non-trailerable boats, as well as any dinghy or additional boat aboard the vessel, regardless of size or construction, that will be used for sport fishing and that are registered as Pleasure Boats. They will not be issued to any boat which has a commercial registration or which will be used in a commercial capacity as a sport fishing charter, commercial fishing, or sightseeing where passengers pay a fee. Do not apply for a Boat Permit if you are engaged in a commercial activity or if your boat is registered as a commercial vessel.

If a boat such as a kayak or inflatable is used only for sightseeing purposes, it is not required to have a boat permit. However, you are not allowed to have any fishing gear on-board. If so much as a stray sinker or hook is found on the boat, you will be fined for not having a boat permit and possibly have the boat confiscated.

Trailered boats over 14 ft. are subject to the same Temporary Import Permit (TIP) process as other vehicles. There is a 10 year permit available, similar to the RV permit and is available on the Banjercito website along with RV TIP's and FM-T's

HARBOR PERMITS
If you're entering by sea, or are going to moor your boat in a port, you must also have a "Harbor Permit" issued by the local Captain of the Port. This permit is not transportable, and must be obtained for every port you enter.
A copy of the current registration and your FM-T must be submitted with your application for a permit.

FISHING LICENSE
A Fishing License is required for any individual, regardless of age, who wishes to fish in fresh or salt water in Mexico. This rule applies to all people fishing out of boats or fishing underwater while skin/scuba diving. A Fishing License is not needed when fishing from land or fixed structures attached to land.

All passengers, regardless of age aboard a boat in Mexican waters that is engaged in fishing must have a Mexican Fishing License in their possession, regardless if they are fishing or not.

There ARE fishing limits! The following was taken verbatim from the flyer that is handed out with the boat and fishing licenses;

MEXICAN SPORTFISHING REGULATIONS

• In order to operate a boat that carries fishing equipment in Mexican waters, it is necessary to hold a valid boat permit, and a personal fishing license for everybody aboard the boat, regardless of age and whether fishing or not. A Fishing License is not required when fishing from land.
• Only one rod or line with hook is permitted in the water, per person, but there is no restriction regarding the number of replacement items.
• This fishing license allows the capture only fin fish. It does not allow the capture any mollusks or crustaceans, and their capture by anyone other than Mexican citizens is strictly prohibited.
• Totuava, turtles, and marine mammals are under protection of the Ministry and may not be captured at any time.
• To capture bottom fish, up to four hooks on a vertical line may be used.
• The use of electric reels is restricted to disabled fishermen only, after written authorization for the Ministry before use.

BAG AND POSSESSION LIMITS

• In ocean waters and estuaries the limit is a total of ten fish per day, with no more than 5 catches of a single specie, except of the species of Marlin, Sailfish and Sword fish and Shark, of which only one specimen of either is allowed, and which counts as five toward the overall 10 fish limit, or Dorado, Rooster fish, Shad, or Tarpon, of which only two samples of each specie are allowed, and which count as five toward the overall 10 fish limit.
• Limit on in inland bodies of water (rivers, lakes, dams, etc.) is five fish per day, whether of a single specie or in combination.
• Underwater fishing is limited to five fish per day, using rubber band or spring type harpoons, and only while skin-diving.
• There is no limit to the practice of "catch and release", as long as the fish that exceed the bag limit be returned its their environment in good survival condition.
• Where sport fishing is conducted from boats out at sea for longer than three days, the bag limit will be the equivalent of three times the amounts mentioned above.

VIOLATIONS

• It is illegal to capture and maintain alive any fish for ornamental purposes.
• It is prohibited to receive any financial gain from the product obtained through sport fishing.
• It is prohibited to dump trash, litter or substances that harm the aquatic flora or fauna, whether on lakes, river banks, shores or oceanic waters.
• It is prohibited to collect shells, corals, sea anemones and snails, or to disturb the original ecosystem environment.
• It is prohibited to practice sportfishing 250 meters or less from swimmers.
• It is prohibited to use artificial lighting to attract large quantities of fish.
• It is prohibited to discharge firearms in Mexican waters.
• Fish caught under a sport fishing license may not be filleted aboard the vessel from which it was caught
• It is requested that all unusual activities, occurrences or record catches be reported to the nearest office of the Oficina de Pesca, or to its representation in the US in order to ensure the preservation of natural resources for the continued enjoyment of all fishermen.

WE INVITE YOU TO PRACTICE RESPONSIBLE SPORTFISHING!
Oficina dc Pecsca 2550 Fifth Avenue # 15 San Diego, CA. 92103 Ph: (619) 233-4324 Fax: (619) 233-0344

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