Do I need a passport to enter Mexico from the U.S. ?

[Aves]

For a 5 day vacation?


I've done a Google seach and got conflicting results so I was looking for someone that has actually gone and knows.

 

[Cyberian]

I sure don't think so.
My friend in San Diego drives down to Baja all the time.

 

[notfred]

no.

 

[Aves]

<< no. >>


Any idea what type of ID is required?

License, birth certificate?

 

[Yomicron]

Short answer: No
Long answer: You might if you are traveling deep in to Mexico, like 1 or 2 hundred miles. (I think)

 

[Aves]

<< Short answer: No
Long answer: You might if you are traveling deep in to Mexico, like 1 or 2 hundred miles. (I think) >>


It's Puerto Vallarta which is pretty far in. I'll be flying there from L.A.

 

[b0mbrman]

No

 

[Heisenberg]

If you're going to someplace that is a fairly popular tourist spot, you probably won't need one. I've been to Mexico twice and didn't need one either time.

 

[chiwawa626]

You shouldnt but ive heard stories of people going and them harassing them when they do like random checks i guess....nice to carry one if u have it.

 

[Valhalla1]

hmm.. u are flying in? you might need to pass thru customs and show it, I'm not sure, I've been to mexico many times but always just driven/walked across the border and u dont have to even show ID to do that

 

[Kelvrick]

Bring a damn passport or something pretty dang similar. Birth certificate, citizenship papers, etc... It makes getting back into the US A LOT easier.

My brother's friend was stopped at the border in like the middle of the night because he didn't bring anything other then his California Driver's license. They only go a couple miles past the border too...

EDIT: You won't always have to show it, but then when they feel like being a b1tch, you'll pay if you don't have it.

 

[jadinolf]

Click

 

[QTPie]

What are you people talking about?

We went to Tijuana and when we came back, those very mean Mexican American custom police asked for passport, green card, or visa. A friend of mine just carried his Calif driver's license with him, they gave him 3 options: paid $300 fine (for some document searching, validating, etc. that we didn't know), stayed in Tijuana until his family send him his passport, and lived there in Mexico.

Conclusion, bring the passport with you, your student ID, driver license, etc. do not count.

 

[Praetor]

<< What are you people talking about?

We went to Tijuana and when we came back, those very mean Mexican American custom police asked for passport, green card, or visa. A friend of mine just carried his Calif driver's license with him, they gave him 3 options: paid $300 fine (for some document searching, validating, etc. that we didn't know), stayed in Tijuana until his family send him his passport, and lived there in Mexico.

Conclusion, bring the passport with you, your student ID, driver license, etc. do not count. >>



Exactly. When I went to Mexico, I had absolutely no problems entering or exiting the country. Well, aside from when they wanted to search my van to make sure I wasn't secretly transporting people back in with me. 😛 However, you still want to bring your passport, birth certificate, etc. just in case they stop you. Why not play it safe?

 

[jjones]

Cripes, nobody knows jack about coming to Mexico. I live here and I can tell you exactly what you need.

Either a valid passport or

a drivers' license or similar photo ID and your birth certificate. The birth certificate must have the original seal on it. It can be a photocopy of a birth certificate but it still has to have an original seal.

 

[FoBoT]

with all the "stuff" going on since Sept 11
i wouldn't step foot outside the US without my passport

 

[Pliablemoose]

If you're going to use a passport, you'd better apply now, they take a while to process...

I've always used a DL & birth certificate in the past & saved $60, nowdays, I'd suggest a passport...

State Dept

 

[Peetoeng]

They do random check & beetch. They even do random check between Arizona and New Mexico border long before 9/11; unless you look american they will ask you to get out and ask for passport.