Getting a Mexico Tourist Card may sound daunting, especially because most major airlines are no longer offering them onboard flights, but the process is actually easy.
Here’s what you need to know to get this key document and travel to Mexico with ease. Read our step-by-step guide, to learn more about Mexico Tourist Card.
The Mexico Tourist Card is required for all foreigners entering Mexico. It simply tells the Mexican government who is in the country and what their travel plans are while they are there. It helps them keep everyone in the country safe and secure. Therefore, if you are planning to travel, you must fill out the Mexican Tourist Card.
The Mexico Tourist Card can also help the government locate you and other travelers if they need to. If there’s an emergency, you and a fellow traveler must be notified. The tourist card provides information about where you and other visitors may be contacted, which can help expedite this process.
The Mexican government recommends applying for the Mexico Tourist Card before you plan to travel. That way, no one has to panic or worry about it at the last minute, and everyone has the documentation they need before they leave.
Fortunately, it’s an easy process. Here’s what you should expect from the application. Note that some of these items may not appear on the application in this order, as the application is subject to change.
We have listed out the requirements below so that you can successfully get a Tourist Card to Mexico.
First, the application will ask for your personal information. Note that wherever this overlaps with information on your passport, it needs to match exactly. If it does not, entry into Mexico may be denied or delayed, or you may have to reapply for the card.
The Mexico Tourist Card application asks for more information than what is on the passport. This still needs to be accurate and up to date.
The personal information on your application will include the following:
First Name. This section includes your middle name if you have one and if it is included on your passport. Informal middle names that are not on the passport should not be included here.
Last Name. If you have a hyphenated last name or long last name, then you need to take special care to ensure that this looks the same on the application as on your passport.
Minor Status. If the traveler is under the age of 18, they need to indicate here that they are a minor. Even if they are not a minor in their home country, they will be considered a minor in Mexico.
Date of Birth. You must enter your date of birth in the following order: Month/Day/Year. The year needs to be the full four-digit year.
Gender. If your gender is not accurately represented on your passports, you will need to get a new one before you can complete this form.
Nationality. This is the country where you hold citizenship or the country that issued your passport. It may be different from the country where you were born or the one where you currently reside.
Country of Birth. You should indicate the country on your birth certificate, even if it is different from your nationality or the country where you live now.
Address of Applicant. This is your current home address. You should take care to indicate your country when filling out the address, even if you don’t always use it when writing down your address at home.
Phone Number. This can be a landline or a mobile number, as long as it is a place where you can be easily reached. It should be your phone number at home, not while you are traveling in Mexico.
You will also need to enter information about the type of passport you carry. Note that this must be the same passport you can use to both enter and leave Mexico. This information also needs to match exactly what is on the passport.
Type of Passport. Both passports and passport cards (now issued by some countries) are accepted when entering Mexico. You simply need to note which one you are using on the application.
Passport Number. You need to match exactly what is indicated on your passport or your passport card.
Country of Issue. Note that this may be different from both your nationality and current country of residence. You can look in your passports to find out where it was issued if you are not sure.
Passport Issue Date. This is the date from which your passport is valid.
Passport Expiration Date. This is the date after which your passport is not valid. Note that the passport will need at least 6 months of validity in order for you to use it to enter Mexico. If you do not have this, you will need to get a new passport before you travel.
Finally, you will need to share details about your trip to Mexico. These include:
Mexico Tourist Card Type. You will need to indicate here whether you are entering Mexico via air or land. Anyone not entering via air should select “Land”.
Date of Arrival. This is the date upon which you plan to arrive in Mexico. Note that the government understands that flights may be delayed en route, etc. You don’t need to fill out another card if this date changes slightly because of unforeseen circumstances.
Date of Departure. This is the date upon which you plan to leave Mexico.
Address in Mexico. This is the address where you can be reached in Mexico. If you don’t know the exact address, you can put the name of the hotel or resort where you will be staying. You should add any information you can, like the city where the hotel is located.
Mexican State. This is the state where you will be in Mexico. If you are not sure, you can run an Internet search for the city where you will be staying to find the state information.
Reason for Trip. You need to note whether you are traveling for tourism (to visit sites, family, etc., business (to conduct basic business functions or business research), crew (to fulfill your job as an airline, boat, train, or other travel staff), or other (any other reason for visiting Mexico).
Point of Entry. This is the airport or other location where you will be entering Mexico. If you are a land traveler, you should include the name of the border crossing you plan to use. On the other hand, if you are arriving by sea, then you should put the name of your first port.
Airline Name. This is the name of the airline that provides the flight into Mexico. Any previous flights on other airlines do not need to be noted. If you are a land traveler, you may need to note the bus or tourist company. If you are a sea traveler, you should note the name of the line you will be on.
Flight Number. This should be easily available in the traveler’s flight documents. If you are a land traveler, you may note the bus or route number. Alternatively, if you are traveling by sea, you should note the name of the ship upon which you will be arriving.
Our step-by-step guide to Mexico Tourist Card will help you in filling out the form easily. If you are someone who has received the Mexico Tourist Card, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy everything Mexico has to offer. Before long, you’ll be enjoying pristine beaches, a relaxed culture, astounding food, and so much more!