If you’re planning to travel from the USA to Mexico, you might have heard that you need a visa before your trip begins. Traveling to Mexico. But do you really? Whether or not you need an actual visa, also known as a tourist card, depends on where you’re visiting and how long you’ll be staying.
In this article, we’ll walk through the visa requirements for traveling from the USA to Mexico with special attention paid to those areas that may surprise you when it comes to their visa policies.
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About passports and visas
The border between USA and Mexico is fully open, but if you want to cross into either country, it’s essential that your passport and any visas are up-to-date. You can also choose whether or not to carry cash.
All US banks will allow ATM withdrawals in Mexican pesos at most locations; however, in terms of physical currency, exchanging at banks instead of money changers will get you better rates. Be sure to confirm exchange rates before departing (even airports have great exchange rates!) and try converting only as much cash as you expect to spend while visiting.
The U.S. passport
There are dozens of countries around the world that participate in an agreement known as The Visa Waiver Program. Because of that, passport holders of select countries can enter and remain in another country for up to 90 days without applying for and getting a visa before they leave. If your passport is not one of those, it doesn’t mean that you cannot visit or live in Mexico (or any other participating country).
You will have to apply for one at your local Mexican consulate before you leave home. There are many factors (like your personal situation) that will determine if it’s worth doing or not. As with all things related to immigration, make sure you consult an expert if possible.
Proof of financial stability
In order to cross any international border, visitors must have adequate proof of financial stability. Since most travelers visiting Mexico don’t plan on working there (at least not legally), they’ll be asked for documentation that proves they can afford their stay and expenses while in-country.
Your best bet is to have an original copy of your bank statement showing at least USD$2000 in savings. If that’s not possible, printouts of frequent flier miles or hotel points balances will also suffice—just make sure they show enough credits for several nights’ lodging, meals, and entertainment at your chosen destination.
Mexican tourist card
A tourist card is required for citizens of all non-contiguous countries (i.e., Canada, China, Japan, Russia) when traveling through or transiting through Mexico by air. Tourist cards can be purchased at most international airports and can be used for up to 10 years.
You may be denied entry into Mexico if you do not have a valid Mexican tourist card in your possession. Currently, tourist cards are $22 and are good for up to 180 days from the date of issue.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
When traveling by air between Canada and the U.S., an eTA is an online authorization through which Canadian citizens are able to visit or transit through Canada without applying for a separate Canadian visa.
The United States introduced a similar electronic authorization called ESTA (ESTA) in 2009, however, only Americans are required to apply for it when entering via air; Canadians don’t need one when flying into America but do require an eTA when coming in by boat or land.
Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
A temporary resident permit (TRP) is not required for U.S. citizens visiting Mexico. This is true even if your visit will last six months or more. The same is true of Canadians and other non-U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico by land or sea.
The only exception is if you plan on crossing into another country while in Mexico, such as Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, or Panama; in that case, you’ll need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned date of departure from those countries as well as proof of an onward ticket out of those countries within 30 days after entering them.