Passport, Customs, Immigration, Helpful Info

Travel Documents

• A valid passport should be used if you have one. Citizens or legal, permanent residents of the United States can usually cross the USA/Mexico border without difficulty or delay.
• A birth certificate may be used, but it must be an original or a certified copy and be accommpanied by a current picture I.D.
• A completed Mexican Tourist Card must be presented upon your arrival and departure.
• You will be issued this form by either the airline or your travel agent, Fill out and sign the form.
• When you arrive in Mexican Immigration, they will give you a copy to retain.
• Don't lose it! When you are leaving Mexico, you must return your copy.

Travelling with minors

• A minor travelling alone or with an adult must have the above identification.
• If the minor is travelling alone, they must also have a notarized letter signed by both parents or legal guardians giving them permission to travel.
• If the minor is travelling with only one parent, they must have a notarized letter signed by the parent or guardian who is not travelling, giving them permission to travel with the other parent or guardian.
• A custody document should be provided in the event a minor is in the custody of one parent.
• A death certificate should be provided if one parent is deceased.

Immigration

After your plane has landed and you have arrived in the immigration area, you will need to present your Mexican Tourist Card and travel documents to an immigration officer. You will need your Tourist Card to leave Cancun, so be sure to put it in a safe place. If you lose your Tourist Card while in Cancun, you may obtain a copy or permission to leave from the Immigration office located downtown.

Red light, green light

After passing through immigration, claim your luggage and proceed to the Customs area. Quite often, you will not be required to open your luggage, but be prepared to do so if asked by the customs officials. You will present your Customs form (which should have been given to you at check-in before you leave for Mexico or during your flight by an attendant) to a Customs official. Then, you will press a button at a "traffic light". Green light means go, red light means your luggage will be briefly searched. U.S visitors to Mexico may bring up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, and one (1) liter of alchohol into the country.

Luggage

Each person is allowed two pieces of checked luggage, not to exceed 70 pounds each, free of charge on most airlines. You may also take one carry-on bag that can be placed under your seat. All luggage must be properly tagged with your name, address, and telephone number. It is strongly recommended that you insure valuable items such as cameras, golf clubs, scuba equipment, etc., separately. A golf bag is considered one piece of luggage. We recommend that you carry all travel documents, air tickets, personal items, money, medications and valuables in your carry - on luggage.

TIP:  If you are planning to take advantage of shopping opportunities on your visit I advise that you pack an empty carry-on or two in one of your suitcases.  This way you can fill it with your treasures for travel back home.  Be sure to tag it!