In order to get through the border (each way) more easily Mexpro has. Citizens planning on driving to Mexico should carry a valid driver's license at all times. It is available at Mexican consulates, Mexican border crossing points, and. 5 Things You Need Before You Drive to Mexico. American citizens planning on driving to Mexico should carry a valid driver's license at all times. US driver's licenses are valid in Mexico. Mexican law requires that vehicles be driven only by their owners, or that the owner be inside the vehicle. It is available at Mexican consulates. Apr 13, 2018 - You may use a driver's license and birth certificate to cross back into the U.S. If you will only cross the border between the U.S.

• Crossing Mexican Border With Drivers License

Here are some things you need to know when you decide to drive across the Mexican border. It’s easy when you know how.

Whether you are driving or flying into Mexico, you will need:

• Proof of citizenship
  • As of 2007 you need to have a valid passport to enter Mexico (exception – there is a 25-mile area close to the border where this isn’t necessary). As of January 23, 2007, ALL PERSONS traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport to re-enter the United States so you will also need the passport to get back into the United States.
• With proof of citizenship, you will be able to obtain your Visitors Visa (FMM)
  • If you are flying, you will receive the FMM form to fill out from the flight attendant just before you land which you will show when you pass through customs (aduanas) at the airport, along with your proof of citizenship. They will stamp it and give it back to you.
  • If you are driving, you will get the FMM at the immigration check-point after your cross the border.
• Do not throw it away—you need it to leave the country. Keep it with your Passport.

Permit for Your Vehicle

In addition to obtaining the FMM (Visitor’s visa) at Immigration when you cross the border, you will also need to obtain a permit for your vehicle. Note! Make absolutely certain that you stop at and obtain your vehicle permit, otherwise your car will not be legal.

• You will require the following (Originals plus 2 copies you can make copies there but faster to bring your own):
  • Vehicle Registration or Title document
  • Credit card
  • Your card will be charged a fee of $27 U.S. (as of Jan 06) for the permit, but it also guarantees you will take the vehicle out of Mexico before or at the time of expiry.
  • Drivers License
  • Picture ID (We recommend you bring your Passport. You don’t need to get into Mexico, but you do need it to get back into the United States)
  • IMPORTANT! All documentation MUST be in the same name.
  • Once you obtain the vehicle permit, they will place or give you a hologram sticker for the windshield of your car which is proof that your car is legal.
• Then you will need to stop at the Aduanas office (25 km in from the border crossing at Laredo crossing). This is where you get the red or green light. Good luck!
• If you are coming into Mexico on an FMM, your vehicle permit will be valid ONLY for six months, the maximum length of time you can obtain a Visitor’s Visa. It is not possible to extend the FMM and you will need to leave the country after the allowed 180 days.
• If you plan to stay longer, you should go to the Mexican consulate closest to where you live and obtain a pre-authorization for a Temporary or Permanent resident visa. Once approved they will stamp in your passport. The pre-authorization is good for 180 days with 1 entry to Mexico allowed. Once you enter Mexico, during that 180 day period, you have only 30 days from the date of entry to attend at the Immigration Office at your destination and apply for your resident visa card. As long as you are legal in Mexico, your vehicle is legal.

Important NOTE! On occasion people accidentally drive all the way to Lake Chapala with just a Visitor’s Visa for themselves and no permit for the car. We have heard several stories where these people drove all the way back to the border (two days drive there and two days drive back) to get the vehicle permit so their car would be legal during their stay in.

Crossing the Mexican Border & Customs

It’s a game of chance!

What to Expect at Mexican Immigration and Customs

You will get either a green light to pass without inspection or a red light, which means a customs officer will inspect your luggage and may ask if you have firearms, drugs, certain electronics and other items that are not allowed or cannot be imported duty-free. Don’t worry. It is a simple procedure.

Many people are intimidated at the prospect of going through an inspection and therefore are paranoid about getting the red light. You guessed it. If you are focused on not getting the red light, invariably you will get red.

Our advice – think green and be calm. In our years of living in Mexico, we have traveled a lot, both by air and car and perhaps only once or twice have we got the red light. We think green and it works.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ATTEMPT TO BRING GUNS OR DRUGS INTO MEXICO. There is ZERO TOLERANCE.

Visitor’s Permit – FMM Fee

• Mexico charges a fee to all tourists and business visitors arriving in the country. The fee is approximately US$22, and the money collected is handed to the Tourism Ministry to promote Mexican tourism.
• Airlines normally collect the permit fee on behalf of the Mexican government and include the cost within the total airfare (under ‘taxes and surcharges’) so in the majority of cases, there will be no need for you to pay the fee separately.

Although it is not difficult to drive into and through Mexico once you know the correct procedures, many people prefer to fly in the first time and learn all the nuances and then they feel more comfortable driving the next time. Of course, we will be the first to tell you the best way to get all the accurate information and total peace of mind is to first take the Focus on Mexico program, after which you’ll feel very confident knowing you have all the information, knowledge and experience to handle most any situation, plus you’ll have our personal phone number to contact us should you run into trouble along the way.

(Note! If you have already booked on our program and plan to drive down, please let us know and we can send you travel information in advance. Email us at info@focusonmexico.com

Happy Traveling!

The Different Types of Border Crossing Documentation

American and Canadian Passport

A passport is a small booklet issued by all countries for international travel. It is the most universally accepted type of documentation proving your identity and country of residence. It is frequently the only piece of documentation you require for short term travel to another country. Both American and Canadian passports are typically blue in color and are valid for 10 years. Most passports now contain RFID chips which electronically transmit the same information as on the passport’s picture page, including a digital version of your passport photograph. American passports have RFID-proofing built into their covers so they can only be scanned when opened.within the passport.

In the U.S., you can apply for a passport in person at your local post office or another type of passport acceptance facility. If you already own a passport you can renew by mail, although there are a few exceptions so make sure you read the instructions carefully.

It generally takes 3 – 6 weeks for a U.S. passport application to be approved. There is less demand in winter months so processing is much quicker then. It can be longer than 6 weeks in the spring as travel season approaches. Make sure you apply early enough to receive it before you want to leave. We have a separate page if you need an expedited passport or visa for travel.

Normal turn-around time for a Canadian passport is typically 4 weeks. For and additional fee you can use an expedited process which will complete in around 2 weeks. We have a separate page with information on renewing or getting a passport plus how to get an expedited Canadian Passport.

In 2012 Canada began issuing electronic passports called ePassports. They look like the older passports but have an electronic chip inserted into it. The chip holds your family name, sex, birth date, as well as birth location and a digital image of the passport holder’s face. The new passports are issued for 10 year terms although there is a cheaper version available for only 5 years. The older non-chip passports will remain valid until their expiry date.

Canadian Passports for children under 16 are good for five years.

U.S. Passport Card – People Access Security Service (PASS)

The passport card looks similar to a driver’s license. Like passports, they are issued by the U.S. Department of State and are valid for 10 years. This card lets you travel between by land or sea between the US, Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, but it is not valid for travel by air or to any other international location. The card is less expensive and more portable than a full passport.

If you already have a valid passport you may apply by mail. Otherwise, you must apply in person at your local post office. Make sure you apply at least six weeks before travel – especially just before heavy travel periods such as summer.

See the United States Department of State website or call the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778 for more information.

Enhanced Drivers License / Enhanced Identification Card / Enhanced Tribal ID Card – EDL / EIC

These three types of enhanced identification cards look just like a regular license but contain a magnetic strip and a microchip that will give the border protection officer access to your file on their computer systems automatically. It is a form of “trusted traveler” documentation that will speed up your border crossing because you are “pre-qualified”.

These ID’s will speed up your travel by land or water into Canada, the United States, Mexico or the Caribbean. Like a passport card, they are NOT valid for travel by air, or to anywhere else in the world. Be aware of this if you are travelling across the border by car but then returning by air – or if you are going through another country along the way!

Like NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST cards, the Enhanced ID cards contain a radio frequency Identification (RFID) chip that transmits a number as much as 30 feet away. The RFID chip is read as the vehicle queues for inspection at the border and pulls up your biographic information, a photo, and the results of terrorist/criminal checks. The border protection officer can look at the results quickly instead of entering information which enables faster processing.

To obtain an enhanced identification card you will undergo a background check by the issuing authority. Typically, you will need to pay a fee and submit items such as your Social Security card, proof of date of birth, proof of U.S. or Canadian citizenship and proof residence in the issuing jurisdiction. Not all states or Canadian provinces will issue an enhanced ID.

You can obtain an EDL / EIC for:

• Washington State
• Michigan
• New York State
• Vermont
• Minnesota

• British Columbia
• Ontario
• Manitoba
• Quebec

Information on how to obtain an EDL or EIC from any of these jurisdictions can be found at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Website or the Canadian Border Services Agency.

NEXUS Card

NEXUS is another “trusted traveler” program that is designed to speed your drive across either the U.S. or Canadian border. It can also be used for flying into certain airports and for marine travel. This card is typically used by commuters who cross the border on a frequent basis.
NEXUS members avoid wait times at border crossings by using dedicated lanes which are open at various hours of the day. We have seen reports claiming NEXUS members saved an average of 30 minutes at land crossings.

NEXUS applicants pay a fee and voluntarily undergo a background check, in-person interview and fingerprinting. A criminal check done by NEXUS will turn up any criminal activity regardless of whether you were found guilty. If you have been fingerprinted for a criminal charge your NEXUS application will most likely be rejected although there is an appeal process.

To get a Nexus pass you can submit an online application at the Global Online Enrollment System (GEOS). You may also go to the nearest enrollment center and fill out an application form. For more information on the application process call 1-866-NEXUS26 (1-866-639-8726) from both the U.S. and Canada.

NEXUS Notes:

• Border officers conduct random inspection of NEXUS users to catch those who try to smuggle goods across the border. You will have your NEXUS card revoked if you violate any border crossing rule. In addition, the revocation will be permanently a part of your record and may complicate all future border crossings.
• Many card holders lose their rights because they bring prohibited goods across the border. Given that the U.S. and Canada have different rules on what is permissible, it is not uncommon for users to face revocation because of honest mistakes such as bringing groceries or garden plants home with them. Make sure you understand what is permitted and what is not!
• Going through a NEXUS lane with passengers who do not have NEXUS cards can cost you your card. Remember that all children must also have a card to use the lane.
• NEXUS users must not have any commercial goods in their possession or in their baggage when entering the US.
• We have seen some advice from travelers that Nexus holders should still carry a passport to avoid unexpected issues.
• The card is an accepted form of identification for crossing the U.S. / Canadian border in either direction at non-NEXUS locations.
• The card is for use only between the U.S. and Canada. Travelers still need a passport to travel to other international destinations such as Mexico.
• This is an accepted form of ID for Ready Lanes.
• Children 17 and under may apply for their NEXUS Card at no cost so you may want to get them one while you apply for your own.

Global Entry

Like NEXUS, Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved travelers when you arrive in the United States. This program differs from NEXUS in two ways: it applies to travelers from countries other than Canada, and it allows expedited entry into the U.S. only – it cannot be used for entry into Canada or any other country. NEXUS is therefore a better bet for U.S. / Canadian commuters or others making frequent trips between the two countries. Global Entry is good at many airports, and land and sea borders.

As with all trusted traveler programs, you must be pre-approved for the Global Entry program. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and interview before enrollment. You can get more information at the Global Entry website. To apply for Global Entry, go to the Global Online Enrollment System (GEOS).

FAST – Free and Secure Trade

The FAST card is another “trusted traveler” card similar to NEXUS. FAST is designed for carriers of commercial goods and provides dedicated border crossing lanes and expedited clearance to truckers at the U.S. border with Canada and Mexico.

FAST members reported saving an average of 27 minutes when entering the United States and 18 minutes when entering Canada. The card may be used in either a FAST lane or other land border crossings. However, the card cannot be used to enter the US in a Sentri or NEXUS lane. To use a FAST lane all persons in a vehicle must possess a valid FAST Commercial Driver card and the vehicle must be transporting eligible goods.

Government officials are envisioning that within 10 to 15 years the border will be completely electronic for carriers and that all carriers, drivers, and manufacturers will need to be a trusted partner” of CBP. If this comes about all data about all parties will be available online, so there will be no need for drivers to stop and identify themselves or explain their loads.

To obtain a FAST card, drivers, carriers, and importers must undergo a risk assessment. For more information on FAST go to the Canadian Border Services Agency or the U.S. CPB website.

VISA

Visas are not required for American or Canadian tourists visiting either country for stays of up to 180 days. Visitors from other countries should review our links for Canadian Visa information or United States Visa information.

Canpass

A Canpass card is issued by the Canadian Border Services Agency to facilitate border clearance for individuals wishing to cross the border into Canada in the following remote areas:

• from Pigeon River through to and including Lake of the Woods
• the Canadian shore of Lake Superior
• Cockburn Island
• Sault Ste. Marie (upper lock system)

It is not a substitute for a passport or other necessary documentation.

SENTRI – Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection

Crossing Mexican Border With Drivers License

SENTRI is a land-border crossing program that expedites CBP processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers along the U.S.-Mexico border. SENTRI members can use the NEXUS lane when entering the United States from Canada, but cannot use the SENTRI card to enter Canada via the NEXUS lane.