New and Improved Border FAQ's

VEHICLES

Personal Motor Vehicles in Mexico
For the purpose of crossing the border and operating in Mexico, a personal motor vehicle is defined as any passenger car, pickup truck, or motorcycle with an engine bigger than 250cc. Depending on where you are or are going, these may need a TIP (Temporary Import Permit) ATV’s and motorcycles of 250cc or less are considered as a recreational device and are covered by the RV or towing vehicle TIP {link to TIP}

Drivers License
You will need a valid driver's license; those issued by most other countries are recognized by the Mexican Government. This is all you need to drive in Mexico (besides insurance. See my Sticky on FAQ Insurance for Mexico). Mexican driver's licenses are not issued to people with a FM-T. A FM-3 or better is needed to obtain a Mexican driver's license.

Who can drive your vehicle?
Mexican Law pertaining to who can and who cannot drive your vehicle is completely different then in the U.S. or Canada. In Mexico, for anyone else to drive your vehicle, you have to be in it! Mexican Law paraphrased says the registered owner of the vehicle must be in the vehicle at the time of an accident. One of the exceptions to the law is that a spouse who is on the registration can give the spouse whose name is not on the registration a letter of authorization allowing them to drive the vehicle without the registered spouse being in the car. This letter of authorization can also be given to immediate family members (son, daughter, mother, father, brother and sister). You cannot give this letter to an unrelated person. Should you let an unrelated person drive the vehicle, even if you gave him a letter of authorization, and he had an accident the vehicle would most probably be confiscated and if there were any injures he would be put in jail. They are very dogmatic as to who can and who cannot drive a vehicle.

Registration
You will also need a valid registration for all your vehicles. The registration must be in your name. If there are lien holders on the vehicle(s), you will need a letter from the lien holder (Pagare Letter) authorizing you to take the vehicle across the border. This includes trailers, boats, boat trailers, and ATV's & motorcycles above 250 cc. Each driver is allowed only one vehicle above 250 cc (excluding the new RV sticker; see Temporary Import permits for RV's, below). Jump to TIP.

To expand on this a little, if you have a company owned vehicle, even if it's your own company or LLC, you will need the letter! So, for you RVers with your rigs registered in a LLC, Print out a letter, on company letterhead, stating that the company will allow you to take the rig into Mexico for the period of xx/xx/xxxx to xx/xx/xxxx. Sign it as President (or whatever position you hold in the LLC) and you're set. Some go so far as to get it notorized, but I don't think that's necessary; I've never had mine notorized and never had a problem.

If you're registered in a state that doesn't show lien holders on the registration, you don't need one as far as the border officials are concerned. But your lien holder may have a different rule on that. To be on the safe side, check with them.

Insurance
You will also need insurance; see the Sticky FAQ Insurance for Mexico. I've never been able to find a Mexican Law that says that you have to have it, and I've never been asked for it when doing the border paperwork, but the signs on the walls at the Banjercito say you need it. And without it, an accident will probably put you in jail regardless of who was at fault.

Copies
You will need at least 3 copies each of the following.

• Drivers License
• Registration
• Insurance

You will be required to show for inspection the originals, and leave a copy of these at various places. Normally it is one copy for the Migración office and one copy for the Banjercito (bank). In some cases you might have to go to two different windows at the Banjercito, one for the FM-T's and one for the vehicle stickers, and both will ask for copies; hence 3 copies.

You will also need copies of the paperwork you are issued. There are copy centers co-located with the Banjercito's, where, for a nominal fee, you can get these documents copied (and any that you didn't bring copies of).

Finally, to get vehicle permits (see below), you will need a valid internationally recognized credit card. If you don't have one, you will have to post bond on all the vehicles. This is expensive and complicated, and is based on the value of the vehicle. If you're going this route, check with the local Consulate ahead of time.

Of course there are exceptions to all this "copy" stuff. Below is an example of how easy it can be.

Crossing at Reynosa

We went to Reynosa today to get our vehicle permits and our visas and what a surprise, the easiest time we ever had at any crossing. They have a nice newer building that you start at one end and go station(1) thru station(4) and exit the other end. The whole process took about 30 minutes to get our visas, and two vehicle permits, one RV and one toad. No copies of anything needed, just present your passport, DL, and registrations and they make a copy of what they need and give it to you then on to the next station, great to see such a streamlined process. Now when we head in Monday, it's across the bridge and head for Monterrey.

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Tourist Permits (FMM - Forma Migratoria Múltiples)
NOTE: Recently the FM-T has been replaced by the FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiples). Consequently this section is being rewritten. But, according to the Mexican Government, the change should be transparent to most visitors. And most of the following still applies

The Mexican government has raised the permit fee from 262 peso's to 294 peso's as of 1/3/12 (approximately $21.40 U.S as of 1/4/12) for each visitor entering Mexico. If traveling on business or as a student, contact the nearest Mexican consulate for information on obtaining a business or student visa (which is the same FMM, but filled out differently). The fee must be paid in order to have your tourist permit validated if you plan to remain anywhere in Mexico for more than 72 hours, or stay less than 72 hours and travel beyond the "border zone," defined as an area between 20 to 30 kilometers of the border with the U.S., depending on the Mexican state. See "FMM Exemptions”{link} below.

A government-issued tourist permit, commonly referred to as a visa (which it isn't) a tourist card, or an FMM, but is actually a multi-part form; is available upon presentation of proof of ID and citizenship from some Mexican consulates in the United States and Canada, or at Migración offices at official points of entry.

Prepaid permits can also be ordered (on-line) from certain travel clubs; among them are Vagabundos and Discover Baja. With these, all you need is the Migración stamp at the border (or the KM 21 equivalent).

If you're entering Mexico by land, it is advisable to obtain your tourist permit prior to leaving the United States; especially if you're driving anything that can't be parked in a passenger car parking spot. Parking any form of RV at the border stations is near impossible. However, some border crossings have a dedicated site for getting your paperwork that is about 20 - 30 km from the border. These sites have ample room for the largest rigs. When crossing at Lukeville/Sonoyta the Migración is on Mex-2, about 7 miles east of Sonoyta. At Nogales, the Migración is called KM 21 but is actually at KM 258 of Mex 15. The KM markers go down from the border.

WARNING: When traveling in Baja, Do NOT wait until you get to Ensenada to get your FMM; the official there will assess a per/day penalty for not getting your FMM at the border. I've been told that this is perfectly legal and that the official doesn't collect the money, but it is assessed when you go to the banjerito to pay for the FMM.

The tourist entry fee is paid at a branch of any bank operating in Mexico or through the Banjercito window at the border or dedicated Migración site, (a list of banks at which the fee can be paid is shown on the back of the tourist permit form). Upon payment, the tourist permit is stamped with an official "Fee Paid" designation.

Almost all large towns have a Migración office and a bank. If you're crossing at Tecate, you can park in a pay parking lot on the U.S. side, walk across and get your paperwork. Since the town of Tecate is up against the border, you can then walk 2 blocks and be in the town square. There are stores, restaurants, and a bank around the square. You can try out your ATM card at the bank and get some pesos, have lunch at one of the restaurants, and sit in the square for awhile before walking back across. Tecate is my favorite border town and the only one I would recommend doing this. I sometimes walk across just for a day trip.

The procedure goes something like this; you go to Migración and get the FMM, you take the permit to a copy office to get copies made. Then you go to the local bank (not always co-located with the Migración) pay for the permit and get the "Fee Paid" stamp. The bank may keep one of the copies. You then take the permit and the other copies back to Migración, where he will check your stamps and take one of the copies. You are now ready to go (or to start all over to get your Temporary Vehicle Permit(s) if you didn't plan ahead). See the Temporary Vehicle Permits FAQ for the area you're going to (or through).

FMM Exemptions are as follows:

• Visitors traveling by air or sea anywhere in Mexico and staying less than 72 hours
• Visitors traveling by land to destinations within the 20-kilometer (12-mile) border zone, regardless of length of stay
• Those visiting as students (as defined by Mexican Migración laws)
• Visitors traveling by land beyond the border zone and staying more than 72 hours, but limiting their visit to the following destinations/tourist routes:


Tijuana to Ensenada, B.C.;
Mexicali to San Felipe, B.C.;
Sonoyta to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), Son.;
Ciudad Juárez to Paquéeme, Chih.;
Piedras Negras to Santa Rosa, Coah.;
Reynosa to China, N.L.,
Reynosa to Presa Cuchillo, Tamps.

There may be changes to the above list, stay tuned!

Types of FMMs

The Single-entry tourist permit is valid for up to 180 days and must be returned to Mexican border officials upon leaving Mexico. These are normally what are issued when entering by air or sea. (Belive this is also the FMM but haven't gotten clarification on this)

The NEW FMM permit MUST also be turned-in when you leave the country, However you can then get a new one each time you re-enter the country as long as you haven't reached a total of 180 days in country for that year. There is still some confusion as to when the year starts. More on this as we figure it out.

If a tourist permit is not used (stamped) within 90 days of issuance, it becomes void. Carry your FM with you at all times while in Mexico. If you lose it, a duplicate can be obtained from local Migración officials.

Make sure you turn in the FMm when you leave Mexico or shortly thereafter. You can also turn it in at most Mexico Consulates. This wasn't a big deal until lately when they computerized the system. Now you run the chance of having a problem on your next trip.

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GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFICATION

You will need to prove two things, who you are, and where your citizenship is.

To do this, one of the following documents should be presented to prove both identity and citizenship.

Acceptable Documents as of January 31, 2008

• U.S. or Canadian Passport
• U.S. Passport Card (Available now)*
• Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)*
• State or Provincial Issued Enhanced Driver's License (when available - this secure driver's license will denote identity and citizenship.)*
• Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)*
• U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Document
• Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
• Form I-872 American Indian Card
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Card

* Frequent Land Border Crossers- To expedite processing into the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends using one of the above asterisked documents.

The one exception is the States that have complied with the WHTI guidelines, the drivers license from these States is also a proof of citizenship. These licenses are called “REAL ID”. Currently the only states that I know of that issues WHTI compliant driver's license are Michigan, New York, Vermont and Washington. Arizona signed the “REAL ID” Act of 2005 agreement in 2007 but I don’t believe they are issuing the REAL ID yet.

A forum member informs me that, in Washington state, you have to ask for the REAL ID, otherwise you just get the usual drivers license. It also costs more.

The way it's supposed to work, is you request the REAL ID, they process you, take whatever you are using for proof of citizenship, and issue you a temporary drivers license. The REAL ID is mailed to you in about 3 to 6 weeks. This also acts as a verification of your address.

NOTE; REAL ID is NOT valid for international air travel!

CHILDREN UNDER 18

REVISED REGULATION

Minors travelng with persons other than parents (like grandparents) need to have valid passports and letters from parents that are translated and notarized to Spanish by the Mexican Consulate.

This has to do with child abductions and child trafficing, it also applies to a child traveling with only one parent, the other parent needs to give permission and have the document translated and notarized!

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