Visa check (before you travel)
Most tourists don't need a visa — citizens of around 69 countries (US, Canada, UK, EU/Schengen, Japan, etc.) can enter visa-free for stays under 180 days. If you have a valid visa or permanent residency from the US, Canada, Japan, the UK, or a Schengen country, you can also enter without a Mexican visa regardless of nationality. If your country isn't on the exempt list, you apply for a visa at a Mexican consulate beforehand, and in 2026 appointment wait times in some cities can run 4 to 8 weeks. 

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Bringing your Pets

Anyone who intends to take their dog or cat to Mexico must acquire a Good Health Certificate for their pet. The certificate should have been signed by an official vet in the country of origin within the last 15 days and state the following:

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The FMM (tourist permit) — now digital
The old paper form is largely gone. The paper Mexico Tourist Card has been discontinued in many places — travelers now complete a digital FMM before arriving, using the official INM government website with passport, flight number, and arrival details.  Travelers simply receive a passport stamp on arrival, valid for up to 180 days, with no extra paperwork to carry. 

 

Immigration checkpoint
An immigration officer who reviews your passport and FMM info. In 2026 Mexico changed how permits are issued — instead of automatically granting the maximum 180 days, officials now generally set the stay length based on your stated plans and supporting documentation, so it helps to have your return ticket and accommodation booking ready to show.

NOTE:  If your becoming a temporary resident, be sure to show the immigration agent your passport stamp so they can mark your visa with a 30 days.

 

Customs
After immigration, you go through customs.  All travelers arriving by air must complete a Customs Declaration form, including via the streamlined electronic version now offered. You declare anything beyond personal luggage — especially cash over $10,000 USD. You must declare goods worth over $300 USD if arriving by land, or $500 USD by air, to avoid fines or confiscation, and this includes used goods and donations.

 

Also note: Mexico allows tax-free import of only one laptop or tablet per person — extra devices can incur a fee of up to 19% of their value or as much as $4,000 USD, and 

 

The random-inspection system used at Mexican airports, ports, and border crossings.

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How it works:
After you go through immigration and pick up your luggage, you walk up to a kiosk/machine and press a button (or sometimes it's automatic and just lights up based on a random algorithm). It shows either:

• Green light 🟢 — You're free to go. No inspection. You walk straight through customs with your bags.

• Red light 🔴 — You get pulled aside for a baggage inspection. A customs officer (from ANAM, the Mexican customs agency) will check your luggage, and you may need to open your bags for review.

 

Key details:

• It's essentially random — your odds aren't tied to anything you did or said. It's a security/spot-check system, not a judgment of you personally.

• It applies to everyone — tourists, residents, and Mexican nationals alike.

• If you get red, it's usually quick — they're checking for undeclared goods, cash over the limit, prohibited items (drugs, weapons, unregistered electronics beyond the duty-free allowance, etc.), not assuming wrongdoing.

• If you have something to declare (cash over $10,000 USD, extra electronics, high-value goods), you should declare it on your customs form regardless of which light you get — declaring nothing and getting flagged red with undeclared goods is worse than just declaring upfront.

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Keep your FMM until you leave
Whether it's a stamp or digital record, you need it to exit the country — losing it means extra paperwork at an immigration office before departure.

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Extra 2026 wrinkles worth knowing:​

• If you buy a local SIM card, you now must register it with your passport, or it gets suspended to emergency-calls-only. 

• Vapes are now banned from entry entirely as of 2026. 

• Passport should ideally be valid  6 months  beyond your trip (airlines often enforce this even though Mexico itself is more lenient).