Mexico entry rules

Check the visa rule

Mexico’s National Immigration Institute publishes the nationalities that require a visitor visa. A traveller who needs one must obtain it from a Mexican consulate before travel, except where an official facilitation rule applies ¹.

Official guidance lists exemptions for holders of a valid visa for Canada, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom or a Schengen country. Qualifying permanent residents are listed too. The traveller must carry the original valid document ^2,5.

FMM for air and land entry

For arrival by air, the INM no longer issues a physical FMM. The officer stamps the travel document, records the authorised departure date and makes the FMM Digital available for download after admission ³.

For entry by land, the electronic FMM process remains available. The land FMM is for one entry and can be authorised for no more than 180 days. The actual period begins when the officer validates the form ⁴.

Transit through a Mexican airport

Since 22 October 2023, a traveller whose nationality requires a Mexican visa needs the appropriate visitor visa for direct airport transit too. The official notice lists exemptions for qualifying visas and permanent residence documents ⁵.

Before travel

• Check the INM nationality list and any exemption you plan to use ^1,2.
• Carry a valid passport and the original visa or residence document supporting an exemption.
• For a land arrival, complete the official FMM process and retain the validated record ⁴.
• For an air arrival, download the FMM Digital after admission if you need evidence of the authorised stay ³.