Passport cards are about the size of a drivers license, and they cost less than purchasing a passport book. You do not need a valid passport book in order to apply for a passport id card, and you can apply for either the card only, or you can apply for a passport book and a passport card at the same time. Do you need a passport book or passport card to go to mexico. Excellent form of official identification for children or nondrivers. However, the passport card cannot be used for travel by plane. If you are thinking about applying for or renewing a u. Do you need a passport to travel to canada or mexico.
If you already hold a passport book, your card will be issued with a different number. To enter the united states at land border crossings or sea portsofentry from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda, you can use a passport. The passport card is only good for land and sea travel to canada, mexico and approximately 17 islands in the caribbean. Now, they cant keep you from reentering the us if youre a citizen, but they can temporarily detain you while they verify that the idcitizenship documents you do. Note, you can use a passport card on a cruise which has a much lower application fee. Passport book or passport card cancun forum tripadvisor. Do you need a passport when travelling by road from the us. Mexico passport requirements for entry are uniform throughout the country. A passport card only applies to land or sea travel to certain locations internationally, which is noted on the back of the card. However, passport cards are valid for entering mexico only by land or sea if youre. A passport book is valid for any international travel by air, sea or land. Border countries are canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. Passport book vs passport card difference and comparison.
To enter by land or sea, you can use a passport card, which is a small card that fits in your wallet. If you plan on flying, boating or driving to mexico, you can apply for a small passport or a pass card. Mar 16, 20 the passport card is only good for land and sea travel to canada, mexico and approximately 17 islands in the caribbean. But to answer your question, no, you cannot travel legally into the interior of mexico i. You can use either the passport card or the book form for the specific trip youre looking at, but i would get the passport book since it allows you to do a lot more.
You should know that the passport card is only valid for travel by land. How a passport card differs from a passport book dmv. Feb 12, 2019 the passport card is the size of a drivers license and is used for convenience as it is smaller and cheaper than the passport book. If you re driving or cruising, however, a passport isnt your only option. A passport conventional passport book, not a passport card is necessary for absolutely everyone entering mexico by air. Travelers visiting mexico by way of land or sea crossings can apply for a walletsized passport card, or pass card. Mexico tourism is a great resource for things to do and places to stay, as well as everything you need to know before you go when planning a. If you lose your fmm, you will need to visit one of the immigration offices. Do you need a passport card or passport book to travel by.
Mar 20, 2018 as mentioned before, a valid passport is required for all travel to mexico, but you can lighten your load once you arrive. The passport card cant be used for all international travel. Passport card this is only valid if you travel by sea and land only. Differences between a passport book and passport card. However, depending on your method of entry into mexico, you may not need a passport book. Some of them report having crossed back into the usa without a passport. Travel articles do you need a passport or a passport card. As mentioned before, a valid passport is required for all travel to mexico, but you can lighten your load once you arrive. It is limited to travel between the united states and mexico, the caribbean, canada and bermuda. It may not be accepted for entry or departure by the particular country you plan to visit. Us visitors crossing into mexico by land might not need a passport or visa.
It will otherwise carry the rights and privileges of the u. You only need the passport or passport card or sentri card when entering the us from mexico. The passport card is also commonly used for travelers that wish to take a cruise but do not plan on ever traveling by plane. We compare the two to help you decide which type of id is best. The passport card can be used only to reenter the u. Jun 03, 2014 do you need a passport book or passport card. Feb 21, 2020 mexico tourism is a great resource for things to do and places to stay, as well as everything you need to know before you go when planning a trip to the country protect your passport. I follow a group of people in arizona who frequent the closest beach resort town, puerto penasco, sonora, mexico. However, you have options beyond a passport if you do not have one in your possession.
Mexico entry requirements tourist card immigration customs lone. The frontier zone is the 15 miles 30km of land thats in mexico but is kind of a. Passport book valid if you travel by air, sea and land. I do it 56 times a year and have not had to produce my paper passport since i got the cards. A passport conventional passport book, not a passport card is. Mexico entry requirements required travel documents for travel to mexico. Priscilla c, you have plenty of time to get and secure your us passport between now the beginning of june and any travel plans in july. You should know that the passport card is only valid for travel by land and sea within mexico, canada, bermuda, and the caribbean, and you can not use it for air travel or for travel to other. Entering mexico into the interior like that would make you an illegal alien as you cannot get the fmm form without a passport.
Entry by any means, for example by plane or car, is included in this. What are the benefits of the passport book vs passport card. There are specific exceptions for minors traveling by air or sea. You should know that the passport card is only valid for travel by land and sea within mexico, canada, bermuda, and the caribbean, and you can. Mar 15, 2018 passport cards are about the size of a drivers license, and they cost less than purchasing a passport book. A passport book is essential if you intend to fly to the riviera, as its the only acceptable form of identification for international air travel. Passport requirements traveling to mexico mexico bariatric. Nov 14, 2019 i follow a group of people in arizona who frequent the closest beach resort town, puerto penasco, sonora, mexico. To apply for or renew both the book and card, check the appropriate box at the top of the form to indicate that you would like to apply for both products. Passport holders from countries on mexicos no visa required list do not need to. Do you need a passport to go to mexico explorando baja. If youre a citizen of the united states, and youre thinking about traveling to mexico, but you dont yet have a passport, you might consider getting a passport card instead of a regular passport book. The passport card is only accepted at land and sea border crossings between the u.
A passport book is required for all international travel by air. If you do need the assistance of a passport expediting service, you should apply asap in order to get the best rate. You dont need a passport for domestic flights within mexico and you dont need the old fmm or whatever it is becomming with the new rules now being implemented. Although mexican immigration officials will accept a passport card as identification when you arrive in mexico, staffers in the united states wont let you board your flight without the more. June 3, 2014 by travel maestro leave a comment johns u. Mar 18, 2020 the passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. Do i need a passport to travel to the mexican rivera. The passport card is the size of a drivers license and is used for convenience as it is smaller and cheaper than the passport book. Hi sam, you shouldnt have any problem getting to rocky point as it is within mexicos border zone. Depending on where you are traveling outside of the u. Us passport book, us passport card, nexus, sentri or fast card, enhanced drivers license edl.
You can travel internationally via air, sea or land with the use of a passport book. To enter the dominican republic by air, you need a passport book. If you are flying, you both need passports the book, not the card. Citizens of the united states, canada, australia, the united kingdom or the european union who are planning a trip to mexico will need to carry a valid passport for travel by air, and if traveling by land or sea, either a passport or other whticompliant travel document such as a passport card or enhanced drivers license. You will likely need to bring a us passport with you when you travel to cancun. If youre driving or cruising, however, a passport isnt your only option. Jan 11, 2019 the passport card is only accepted at land and sea border crossings between the u. A passport book is the best travel document for cruising the waves, but a passport card is a cheaper, more convenient alternative for certain types of international travel, including cruises. If youre traveling by sea, you can use a passport card, enhanced drivers license, nexus, fast or sentri card instead.
The short answer is yes, you do need a passport to go to mexico if you are a u. If you enter mexico by land and plan to travel beyond the immediate border area approximately 12 miles into mexico, you must stop at an inm office at the port of entry to obtain an entry permit forma migratoria multiple or fmm, even if not explicitly directed to do so by mexican officials. If you re a citizen of the united states, and you re thinking about traveling to mexico, but you dont yet have a passport, you might consider getting a passport card instead of a regular passport book. You will need a passport book if you plan to travel by airplane. The passport card passport card sample, image courtesy travel.
Department of state, performs the same function of identifying the holder as a u. If you have the book, you dont need the card unless you d like to have it as a walletsized id or you plan to travel frequently by car to canada and or mexico the card gets you through quicker in those situations. If your travel plans take you to a country bordering the u. What are the passport requirements for traveling to mexico. Jun 29, 2016 if youre driving or cruising, however, a passport isnt your only option. If you are american and are just visiting the frontier zone in mexico then you dont need a passport for travel to mexico. Its important to remember, though, that the passport card cannot be used for international air travel as its not a globally interoperable travel document. The only place i ever travel is mexico and the card is much cheaper, so i am. The passport card, meanwhile, is both less expensive and less flexible. A passport card is cheaper than a passport book, and you can also use it to return to the u. It is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors under 16.
Us citizen traveling within mexico without a passport. Currently, a valid passport or passport card is required for all u. Mar 02, 20 you dont need a passport for domestic flights within mexico and you dont need the old fmm or whatever it is becomming with the new rules now being implemented. First produced in 2008, the passport card allows the holder to enter the united states only by land or sea from canada, mexico, the caribbean, and bermuda. May, 2009 you can use either the passport card or the book form for the specific trip you re looking at, but i would get the passport book since it allows you to do a lot more.
You would be required to travel to either detroit, chicago or, possibly, the location from which your cruise depart e. Per tiacoh, you can opt to keep a passport card or or drivers license. As long as youre not flying to or from canada, mexico or bermuda, you can use a us passport card including a real id at land border crossings or sealake portsofentry. A passport card is valid for travel to and from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda at land border crossings and sea portsofentry.
And the fmm form is the official forma migratoria multiple fmm visitors permit to enter mexicos interior legally. Do you need a passport when travelling by road from the us to. However, passport cards are valid for entering mexico only by land or sea if you re. These can range in cost depending on how soon you need it, but.
You can apply for both a passport book and passport card at the same time using either form ds11 apply in person or form ds82 renew by mail must be eligible. When traveling to mexico for bariatric surgery, patients will need to have a valid passport book. If you dont already have a valid one, youll have to apply for a new passport. More specifically, it can be used when entering the u. To enter the united states at land border crossings or sea portsofentry from canada, mexico, the.
If you are traveling to mexico by land, under the new rules you must have one of the following documents to reenter the united states. However, on the way back you are supposed to have a passport or a passport card, per the western hemisphere travel initiative. You and your child may use a passport book or card to enter mexico by sea. The passport card will facilitate entry and expedite document processing at u. You cant use a passport card for flying, but you can use one to enter the united states by sea and land from canada, mexico, the caribbean and bermuda. The card may not be used to travel by air outside the united states. Temporary import permits for cars registered in the united states are needed in. Passport card is only good for land and sea travels between the us, mexico, canada, and the caribbean. A valid passport book with enough blank pages for entry stamps is. Other parts of the world and when traveling to the mentioned places by air, always a passport. Commercial cruise liners require passengers to produce these documents before boarding. If you have the book, you dont need the card unless youd like to have it as a walletsized id or you plan to travel frequently by car to canada andor mexicothe card gets you through quicker in those situations.