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Immigration
Entering Mexico
Your first stop is at Mexican Immigration (Migración) where proof of citizenship is inspected, and tourist cards are validated. DO NOT LOSE YOUR TOURIST CARD COPY!
Visitors need three items to enter Mexico:
A Photo I.D. (such as a Driver's License)
A Tourist Card
A Valid Proof Of Citizenship
TOURIST CARD
This two part document is your 'permission' from the Mexican government to visit Mexico. It is available free of charge, though sometimes difficult to obtain in large quantities. Rest assured, the airlines always have an ample supply upon check-in. Here are a few words of advice about tourist cards:
Do not lose the blue (used to be pink) copy returned to you after the immigration inspection. It must be returned to Mexican Immigration upon departure. Tip: write down your tourist card number and keep it with your travel documents. If the card is lost, having the number will help greatly.
Keep your tourist card and travel documents in a secure place; do not carry them with you everywhere you go, unless traveling extensively from your point of arrival.
You can ask to have your card validated for more time than you will actually need. Up to 180 days can be granted.
Do not mutilate or deface your copy; it must be surrendered upon leaving the country.
PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP
(Note: information regarding entry requirements is subject to change without notice, and should be reconfirmed with the airline being used for international travel.)
U.S. CITIZENS
Current Passport- this is the most recommended document; secure and convenient.
Original Birth Certificate- hospital copy is not acceptable; must have an official stamp from the state of birth. A notarized copy of the official document is also acceptable. NOTE: married women with a different last name should carry a marriage license or notarized affidavit with their married name.
Notarized Affidavit of Citizenship-O.K to enter Mexico, but not recommended due to possible problems with U.S. Immigration upon return.
U.S. Naturalization Papers- certificate or laminated card (must be an original; photocopy not acceptable).
 
CANADIAN CITIZENS
Canadian versions of the above documents are acceptable; notarized affidavits must be executed in Canada.
MEXICAN CITIZENS
Here the rules are a little more lenient, though Mexican nationals must have some official document proving Mexican birth. Any one of these documents should suffice:
Current Passport
Birth Certificate (Acta de Nacimiento): must be an original.
Consular Registration Form (Matricula Consular).
Military Service Card (Cartilla Militar): must be an original.
Voter's Registration Card (Cedula de Empadronamiento).
If none of the above are available refer the customer to the nearest Mexican Consulate from the list.
Remember, Alien Residents must have proof of U.S. residency to return to the United States.
OTHER NATIONALITIES
Contact the Mexican Consulate or airlines serving Mexico for details. These regulations change periodically. At a minimum, foreign citizens will need a valid passport. Some nationalities are required to obtain a consular visa from the Mexican Consulate.
 
FOR STUDENT VISAS AND BUSINESS VISAS
Contact the Mexican Consulate in your area.
MINORS
Any person under 18 years of age is considered a minor. Very strict regulations govern travel by minors into Mexico.
If traveling alone, the minor must have a notarized consent form signed by both parents.
If traveling with only one parent, the minor must have a notarized letter of consent signed by the parent not traveling.
If traveling with only one parent and the other parent is deceased or the child has only one legal parent, a notarized statement must be obtained as proof.
Airlines will also require the name, address and phone of the person meeting the unaccompanied minor upon arrival in Mexico.
EXCEPTION: Mexican children often will have a stamp in their passports that says 'Articulo 421.' This allows the child to travel with only one parent and without a notarized statement.
©Copyright SECTUR 2006
DEAR PASSENGER:
When making use of this airport, avoid carrying the following articles: knives, weapons, cartridges, explosives, batteries, needies, aerosol products.
BESIDES.- We notify you that:
When arriving to the Mexico City International Airport, you can be subject to the following prerequisites depending on your country of origin.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
The international sanitary bureau carries out brief interviews to passengers arriving from risk zones of cholera, yellow fever and plague subject to international surveillance, determined by the World Health Organization. We ask for your cooperation with the sanitary authorities which are competent and will try to cause you the least trouble possible.
If during your stay in Mexico you were to get sick, please go to the nearest health Center, call the sanitary Department at 571 32 85 or 740 02 05 or the Consulate of your Embassy in Mexico.
MIGRATION
Every time you come to our country and arrive to an migration office, you have to prove your nationality by presenting one of the following documents: passport, birth certificate, consular registration, or military record; likewise you will have to fill out a Statistical Migratory From (FME) that you will be given free of change in the migration office.
MIGRATORY TOURISM
This migratory document is for foreigners who come to Mexico for recreation, health reasons or to participate in non-lucrative or sporting activities.
It has a maximum six month validity period which can not be prolongued. It can be obtained at tourism offices, airlines or in the migration office.
You only have to fill out an application and present your passport; some contries require a Consular Visa permit to enter, or a previous permission, there ask the Mexican Consulate in your country or the airline your are traveling with.
To get any information in Mexico, call the Instituto Nacional de Migración: 91 (5) 626 72 00 or come to the migration office (mezzanine No. 78) at the Mexico City International Airport 571 32 31, 571 30 20 and 762 50 59.
P.G.R. (General District Attorney´s Office)
The personnel of the Procuraduría General de la República carryout detailed inspection to avoid the introduction of drugs and weapons to National Territory.
We ask for your cooperation with these officials. Inform us about any irregularities to the following telephone numbers:
PHYTOZOOSANITARY INSPECTION
Animals, plants and by products in general could be, depending on their country of origin and their sanitary conditions, the best source to transmit plagues and high risk diseases to Mexico.
The phytozoosanitary authorities, after identifying themselves and in the appopiate zone could review your luggage in general to verify what you answered in the custom declaration form an if you are transporting one of these products, they will can or cannot enter the country. If a product were be confiscated, be sure to ask for a receipt. If you want more information on restrained products or the requirement for introducing them call 536 69 45, 636 2747 and 687 84 53 in Mexico City.
CUSTOMS
You have the right to import in franchise up to 300 U.S dollars, in one or more articles or up to 50 US dollars, when the departure airport is in the Bordeline Region within a 26 miles area along the border with the Mexico National Territory.
Fill out your customs declaration form and push the inspection button. If you get the green light you will not be subject to inspection, if you get red light you will. You can also ask before pushing the inspection light for the surveillnace of the articles you have already paid for in your customs declaration. If you have aditional merchandise to the allowed limit, you must declare it and pay your taxes. If the declared merchandise valued at more than 1000 US dollars it will be necessary to contract the service of a custom agent.
SECODAM ( Contralor lipand Administrative Development Ministry)
The Secretaría de la Contraloría y Desarrollo Administrativo, needs to your reports and complains regarding the services of the Mexican officials at the Paisano stands, mezzanine offices 66 and 140 of the international lounge of this airport and the NATIONAL CITIZEN TELEPHONE SERVICE (SACTEL) 604 12 40 or 91 800 00148.
D.G.A.C. (The Ministry of Communications and Transportation)
The Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes through the Dirección de Aeronautica Civil (Civic Aeronautic Office) regulates the aeronautic services of efficiency and security. If any irregularity were to occur please refer to the commanders office, mezzanine No. 42 or phone number 571 30 30 and 762 77 62 where we gladly see to your needs