Texas & Mexico Customs Information
No trip to Texas is complete without a visit to our southern neighbor, Mexico. The warmth, charm, and heritage of Mexico are all ready to be enjoyed with a quick jaunt across the border. Here are a few tips regarding Texas and Mexico customs that'll make it a breeze to cross over and back.
U.S. Immigration
A valid passport from a visitor's country of origin and a visa are required for entry into the United States. Visitors who are non-immigrants must apply for temporary visas for "visitors on business or pleasure" through the United States embassies or Consulates abroad unless country of origin participates in the visa waiver program.
U.S. citizens and citizens of Canada, Mexico and Bermuda traveling by air between
the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda
are required to present a valid passport to enter (or re-enter) the U.S. Beginning
January 31, 2008, U.S. citizens traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the
Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), are required to present
a valid U.S. passport or other acceptable documentation to enter (or re-enter) the
U.S. A list of specific acceptable documents can be found on www.cbp.gov. There
will be an 18-month transition period for the new requirements, with the implementation
taking place as early as June 1, 2009.
For more detailed information on U.S. entry requirements, please visit www.travel.state.gov.
Mexico Immigration
Tourists from outside the United States and Canada may need to present a valid visa and an FMT tourist form issued by a Mexican Consulate. For more information please visit http://www.inami.gob.mx or consult a Mexican Consulate. A visa or tourist card is only required for U.S. and Canadian citizens traveling by air, longer than 72 hours or outside the border area. Tourist cards are available for a fee from Mexican consulates, Mexican border crossing points, Mexican tourism offices and airports within the border zone. A U.S. passport or a birth certificate and official photo I.D. is required to obtain a tourist card, which is issued for up to 90 days with a single entry or proof of sufficient funds, or for 180 days with multiple entries. Tourist cards must be returned before leaving Mexico.
Driving beyond the border zone requires a permit. To acquire a permit, drive to a Mexican customs office at the border and present the original, plus two copies of: valid proof of citizenship, a tourist card, valid original vehicle registration or title in the driver’s name, valid driver’s license in the driver’s name, and a major U.S.- or Canadian-issued credit card (debit cards not accepted). The vehicle’s owner must be inside the vehicle when it is driven. Drivers must return to any Mexican customs office before departing Mexico.
A stop at any Texas border city’s chamber of commerce, convention and visitors bureau, or a Texas Travel Information Center can provide useful information to first-timers crossing into Mexico.
For more information on Mexico entry requirements, please visit http://www.inami.gob.mx.