Do You Need A Passport To Go To Cancun?

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Do You Need a Passport to Go to Cancun by Plane?

By far the most common way for visitors to get to Cancun is on an airplane. If you are coming from the United States or any other foreign destination, you will need to show a valid passport when you land in Cancun. 

Most airlines will check your passport before allowing you onto an international flight. Some countries require that visitors’ passports are valid for 6 months from your arrival date.

Officially Mexico does not have this requirement; however, you will sometimes hear stories about airline officials denying boarding to individuals whose passports are about to expire.

Save yourself the stress and hassle of worrying about this and if your passport is due to expire, renew it with plenty of time before your vacation. 

Once you land at Cancun Airport, you will be directed to pass through immigration.

In the past, you had to fill out a paper form called an FMM that let the immigration officer know where you were staying and how long you planned to be in Mexico.

The officer would keep part of the form and you were required to turn in the other half when you left Mexico.

Now, there are no paper immigration forms in Cancun. This is great news because you no longer need to worry about losing that paper!

You will simply tell the officer how long you plan to stay in the country and they will stamp your passport and let you continue on to immigration. 

👉🏽 Other Requirements Before Arriving at Cancun Airport

In addition to having a valid passport to fly to Mexico, you may be asked by your airline for proof of your departure from Mexico.

This is because Mexican authorities have the right to ask you how long you will stay in Mexico and proof of your departure plans.

If you bought a round-trip ticket this is very easy and the airline will automatically see your departure.

If you are leaving Mexico on a different airline than you arrived on or plan to travel through Central America by bus, you may be asked to show your proof of departure. 

In Cancun, once you pass through immigration you will need to collect your bags and go through customs. You will need to fill out a customs form and present it to the official.

Customs forms ask how much cash you are bringing into the country, whether you have credit cards, and whether you have prohibited items (including fresh fruits vegetables, and meat products).

Most airlines will give you a customs form to fill out, or you can download it and fill it out before your flight. 

Do You Need a Passport to Go to Cancun on a Cruise?

When you book an international cruise, your cruise website will probably recommend that you travel with a passport.

However, there are a few instances when United States citizens may be able to travel on a cruise without a passport.

United States citizens who take closed-loop cruises, or cruises that originate and end at the same United States port, may be able to use other documents to prove their United States citizenship.

These guests will still be allowed to disembark in Mexico and can prove their citizenship with a US state-issued birth certificate, Consular report of birth abroad, or their US certification of naturalization and a government-issued photo ID. 

Even though you can legally take a closed-loop cruise without a passport, some cruise companies’ policies are that all passengers carry a passport.

If you do not have a passport and are planning on taking a closed-loop cruise, make sure to check with your cruise operator to find out their specific requirements.

The reason some companies require a passport is in case an unexpected situation arises and a guest needs to disembark from the cruise and fly home.

If you accidentally miss your cruise in a port of call or have a medical emergency, you may need to take a flight home- which would require your passport.

These are not normal circumstances, but it is best to plan ahead and carry a passport with you on a cruise. 

⛴ Other Requirements Before Arriving at Puerto Juarez Seaport 

If you are visiting Mexico on a cruise, you do not need to worry about downloading and printing your FMM visitor visa. You will receive all the instructors to enter Mexico at your first port of call properly. 

Do You Need a Passport to Go to Cancun by Car?

In the past, you could drive between Mexico and the United States without a passport, but that is no longer the case.

You may have heard people telling you that you can cross the border with just a driver’s license, but now if you are a United States citizen you will need either a passport book or passport card to enter Mexico. 

There are two types of passports available to United States citizens – passport books and cards.

Most of the time when you read about passports, people are referring to passport books. Passport books are the traditional booklet with a page with your picture, passport number, and other identifying information.

They also have several blank pages for stamps and visas. Passport books can be used for all types of international travel- by land, sea, or air.

Passport cards are the size and shape of a driver’s license and have your picture, full name, and passport number. Passport cards also contain a radio frequency identification that lets you use special “Ready Lanes” for faster land border crossing.

Unlike passport books that can be used for all types of international travel, passport cards are more limited.

You can only use them for land or sea border crossings to specific countries, including Canada and Mexico.

Passport cards are a cheaper alternative to the traditional book but have limitations on how you can use them. 

📕 Mexico Border Crossing Requirements

If you are driving your car to Cancun, you will need a few documents in addition to your passport.

First, you will need to have a current driver’s license with you. There is an area called the Hassle Free Zone in Mexico near the border with the United States. This area includes the popular areas of Hermosillo, Puerto Peñasco, and San Carlos.

If you plan to stay in this area all you need in addition to your passport and driver’s license is your vehicle registration and Mexican car insurance.

If you plan to drive your car further into Mexico you will need to apply for a temporary vehicle importation permit.

You can apply for this before you get to the border crossing online at Banjercito and at certain Mexican consulates. Or, you can apply directly at the border crossing. 

If you plan to drive all the way to Cancun, remember, that Mexico is a big country! The closest land crossing between the United States and Mexico is around 1,500 miles from Cancun!

It is not recommended to drive on highways at night in Mexico, so if you plan to take this road trip, be prepared to spend several days on the road. 

Do Children Need a Passport to Go to Cancun?

Yes, children need a passport to travel to Cancun. Just like adults, children need a passport book to fly internationally.

They will need to present it to the Mexican authorities in order to be granted entry to Mexico (and just like adults, airline employees will ask to see their passport before boarding the flight).

Tip: United States passports for children under 16 years old are valid for 5 years only. If you are travelling with a child remember to check that their passport has not expired! 

Do You Need a Mexican Visa to Go to Cancun?

Mexico allows citizens of the United States, Canada, and the European Union to enter the country without a visa.

Visitors will be asked how long they are staying in the country and usually are allowed to stay up to 180 days without needing a visa.

If you are not from these countries or plan to reside in Mexico, you will need to apply for the appropriate visa. 

Can a U.S. Citizen Take a Domestic Flight to Cancun Without a Passport?

If you plan to travel around Mexico on an airplane, or live in Mexico and are taking a domestic flight, you might be wondering if you will need your passport.

You do not need to present a passport to fly domestically in Mexico, but you still need a valid, government-issued ID to board planes.

For most visitors to Mexico, this means that they will still need to carry their passports with them.

You will not need to scan your passport or acquire more stamps when flying domestically with your passport, but it is a government-accepted identification.

Another reason to carry your passport with you when you travel around Mexico is that you may be asked by immigration authorities to prove you are legally in Mexico.

Mexican residents can show their residency cards, but visitors will need to show a passport with a valid stamp. 

Travel Restrictions in Cancun

Mexico does not currently have any travel restrictions for visitors entering the country.

The United States constantly updates its travel warnings, and there are several Mexican states that they advise you not to travel to due to crime and kidnapping.

The United States State Department recommends you use caution when traveling to Quintana Roo, the state where Cancun is. 

Other Cancun Travel Documents You Need to Know About

Passports are by far the most important travel documents you need to have to travel internationally.

However, there are several other documents you will encounter when traveling abroad- here are the most important ones you will use when traveling to Cancun: 

🗂 What is a Passport Card?

A passport card is a passport that allows you to travel internationally by land or sea to a limited number of countries including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and other Caribbean countries.

The passport card does not let you travel internationally by air- regardless of what country you are traveling to.

It was designed as a cheaper alternative to the traditional passport book and is a good option for people who routinely make land or sea crossings. It is the size of a driver’s license and can easily fit in your pocket. 

🗂 What is an Enhanced Driver’s License  (EDL)

Enhanced driver’s licenses are state-issued driver’s licenses that in addition to allowing you to drive, prove your identity and United States citizenship.

Enhanced driver’s licenses can be used to enter the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Enhanced driver’s licenses have a radio frequency identification chip that pulls up your personal data for border control agents, making crossing the border faster.

Currently, there are only five states that offer enhanced driver’s licenses – Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, New York, and Washington. 

🗂 What is a Trusted Traveller’s Card?

A trusted traveler’s card, more commonly known as global entry, is a program that allows United States citizens to apply for faster entry into the United States.

The idea is that low-risk travelers can use global entry kiosks at certain airports, making the immigration process faster.

In order to get a trusted traveller’s card you must do a background check and in-person interview.

Tip: Some airports offer interviews that you do not need to make an appointment for you can do the interview on a long layover! 

🗂 What is an FMM Tourist Permit (Forma Migratoria Multiple)?

The forma migratoria multiple or FMM is the paper that all foreigners entering Mexico need to fill out. This paper form has two sections.

When you get your passport stamped, the immigration officer will keep the top half and return the bottom half. You will need to hand the officer the bottom half when you leave the country.

Mexico has been moving away from the paper FMM to a completely digital entry system.

Quintana Roo, including the Cancun airport, no longer requires you to fill out the form. Instead, you just hand the immigration officer your passport upon arrival. 

🗂 What is a Temporary Vehicle Import Permit (TIP)?

A Temporary Vehicle Import Permit (TIP) is the permission that non-Mexican citizens need to bring a vehicle across the border.

The area directly across the border from the United States is the free zone, where you do not need special permission to drive your foreign-plated car.

Past the free zone, you will need a TIP in order to drive your car. TIPs are only available for visitors in Mexico or temporary residents. You can get a TIP through the Banjercito agency. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts: Do You Need A Passport To Go To Cancun?

Yes, you need a passport to enter Mexico and go to Cancun. Most visitors to Cancun will arrive by air, and upon arrival, you will need to present a valid passport to Mexico’s immigration authorities.

Avoid any pre-trip stress by making sure you, and everyone you are travelling with, have a valid passport.

Remember, in the United States, children under 16 are issued 5-year passports. Give yourself plenty of time to renew any expiring passports, and then be ready to have a great vacation!