Traveling to Mexico: Understanding the FMM Tourist Permit

When traveling abroad, it’s important to know which documents are required to enter your destination. In Mexico, tourists must have a valid passport (or passport card for land and sea entry) and an FMM, also called a Mexican tourist permit. The FMM is stamped and recorded upon entry and confirms your legal status as a visitor.

Mexico is transitioning to digital processing, and this has changed how the FMM is issued, especially for those arriving by air. The steps to obtain it vary depending on whether you enter by air, land, or sea.

What is an FMM?

The FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) officially serves as a record of your entry into Mexico. It is not a visa, although you will often see it referred to as such on social media. It is required for all non-Mexican citizens visiting for up to 180 days. An FMM is required for any length of travel anywhere in the country, including border towns.

Key Points:

• Valid for tourism and business visits up to 180 days
• It is not a visa; it is required in addition to a visa if your nationality requires one to enter Mexico.
• Not a work permit
• Not required for Mexican citizens or Mexican resident card holders
• Must be carried with you and shown if requested by authorities

Important: The number of days you receive is at the discretion of immigration officers. While up to 180 days is still common, officers may ask to see your travel plans and may issue fewer days based on your itinerary.

Who Needs an FMM?

You need an FMM if:

• You are not a Mexican citizen and
• You do not hold a Temporary or Permanent Resident Card.

Every traveler, including children under the age of two, must have an FMM. The FMM is free for children under two, but they still need a passport.

Do I Need a Visa Too?

Most U.S. and Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter Mexico as tourists. If your nationality requires a visa, you must obtain it before traveling. You will still need an FMM.

What Do You Need to Get An FMM?

To get an FMM, you must have a valid passport or passport card. A passport card is NOT valid for air travel.

Learn about passport card restrictions on the U.S. Department of State Website.

How Much Does the FMM Cost?

The FMM fee is set annually in January by Mexico’s immigration authority, the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM). The 2025 FMM fee is $861 pesos (approximately $47 USD). For stays of 7 days or less, the FMM is free.

• If you fly: The FMM fee is included in your airline ticket. You’ll see it as “Mexican tourism tax” on your receipt.
• If you enter by land or sea: You pay the fee at the INM immigration office at the border or port of entry, or online if you purchase online.

Official INM Fee Table: https://www.gob.mx/inm/articulos/tarifas-de-derechos-migratorios-2025?idiom=es

Three Types of FMMs are Available

Obtaining an FMM

Arrival by Land

When you drive or walk into Mexico, you must stop at the INM immigration office at or near your border crossing. Customs and immigration are separate; do not drive past immigration. If you do not know where to stop, ask an agent.

When you get there:

1. Present your passport.
2. Receive a paper FMM or present your printed FMMe (see below).
3. Pay the fee (if staying longer than 7 days).
4. Get your FMM stamped/validated.

Arrival by Sea

If you arrive in Mexico by private vessel, you must complete the immigration process at a port where the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) provides clearance for maritime entry.

Every person on board must obtain an FMM and have it stamped/validated by INM to legally enter the country.

At your first port of entry:

1. Have the passenger list and vessel details spreadsheet as required by INM.

2. Obtain your FMM. Travelers arriving by sea should purchase a paper FMM at their first port of entry and have it stamped.

INM and several Mexican consulates provide guidance for private boats. A good official overview (in English) is this consular handout for boats: https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/vancouver/images/pdf/boat.pdf

Since the INM portal can be confusing in Spanish, the California Sportfishing Association maintains an English step-by-step explanation on how to complete the online FMM process, create an INM account, register your boat, and send your passenger list: https://www.californiasportfishing.org/fmm-visitor-form

The FMMe Website Can Be Unreliable

An FMMe can be purchased on the INM website. Unfortunately, the site experiences outages and payment failures, and some INM offices do not accept it. Although I know people who have used the site without issue, most travelers find it easier and more reliable to get the FMM at the border. If you choose this option, be sure to bring your receipt as proof of payment.

Arrival by Air

When you fly to Mexico, you will no longer fill out a paper immigration form on the plane. (You may, however, still be handed a customs declaration form, which is different.)

Upon Arrival in Mexico:

• You will go through automated electronic gates that scan your passport (if available) OR
• Your passport will be stamped by an immigration officer and the number of days you are approved to stay will be written next to the stamp.

IMPORTANT:

Residents (Temporary / Permanent) and Mexican Citizens MUST NOT use e-gates. Go to an immigration agent to correctly register your status.

Those Who Have a Residency (Canje) Stamp in Your Passport If you are in the process of becoming a Mexican resident and have a Residency (Canje) stamp in your passport, you must get an FMM at your port of entry. It is free.

Follow these steps at Immigration:

• When you hand your passport to the immigration agent, have it open to the page with your visa.
• The agent will either mark the “canje” box on a paper FMM, OR Immigration will stamp your passport and give you a 30 day FMM. Download and print your FMMd for your INM appointment.

Airports with Automated E-Gates (AIF), Fall 2025

• Cancún International Airport (CUN)
• Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU)
• Guadalajara International Airport (GDL)
• Los Cabos International Airport (SJD)
• Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
• Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR)

Using Automated Gates:

• Follow signage to E-gates
• Stand on the marked spot for a facial scan
• Remove any headwear or sunglasses for the scan
• Collect the printed receipt with a QR code and keep it safe

Requirements for Using AIFs

• Must be over the age of 18
• Must hold an e-passport
• Must be entering as a tourist
• Must be from: U.S., Canada, U.K., EU/Schengen, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, and others.

The list of nationalities eligible for Mexico’s automated immigration kiosks (AIF) changes frequently. Travelers should verify via INM before travel.

Downloading Your FMMd

Within 60 days of your arrival, scan the QR code and download your FMMd using the receipt obtained. There is no need to print it, just save it on your phone. If you do not receive it or lose the QR code, you can download your FMMd online.

How Long Is the FMM Valid?

The default length of time for FMMs is 180 days, but it is not guaranteed. The length is determined by the immigration agent.

• You must leave the country before your FMM expires.
• An FMM cannot be extended or renewed.
• If you lose your FMM, visit an INM office with your passport to replace it (a fee applies).

Special Rule for Baja

If you enter Baja California by land, your FMM may be valid for multiple entries within the Baja peninsula until it expires. This rule supports frequent regional travel and tourism. If you cross from Baja to mainland Mexico, you will need a new FMM.

FMM FAQS

1. I’m only going to Mexico for the day; do I need an FMM? Yes, all foreign visitors to Mexico need an FMM regardless of the length of stay.

2. I heard that for visits of 72 hours or less, I don’t need an FMM. Is this correct? No, this is not true.

3. Do I need an FMM if I’m traveling in the Free Zone? Yes. There is NO “free zone” where an FMM is not required.

4. I have never been asked to show my FMM, why should I get it? Foreign tourists in Mexico are legally required to have a valid FMM. Without one, you can be detained and deported.

5. Do you need an FMM to fly to Mexico? Yes.

6. Do I need to do anything before flying? No. You will get your FMM at your airport destination in Mexico.

7. How do I get my FMMd? You download your FMMd by scanning the QR code on the paper given at the airport E-gate. If you lose the paper, download the FMMd online.

8. Can I get an FMM using my driver’s license? No, you must have a valid passport or passport card.

9. I only have a passport card. Can I use my passport card to fly to Mexico? No, you must have a valid passport book for air travel to Mexico.

10. Can I drive into mainland Mexico with a passport card? Yes. A valid passport card is allowed for land and sea entry into Mexico.

11. I am applying for Mexican residency; do I still need an FMM? Yes, if you have the ‘canje’ stamp on your passport. Since you are in the process of getting residency, you still must get an FMM, but it is free.

12. Can I renew my FMM from within Mexico? No, FMMs cannot be extended or renewed.

13. What if I lose my paper FMM? If you lose your FMM, visit an INM office with your passport to replace it. A fee will be charged.

14. My FMM says it is valid for less than 180 days; can I stay the full 180 days? No, your FMM is only valid for the amount of time the immigration agent gave you. You must leave the country before your FMM expires.

15. If I am only in Baja, can I still go in and out of Mexico after my FMM expires? No, even though you can go in and out of the country per the Baja Rule, you must leave the country before your FMM expires.

Ready for Fun in the Sun

Hundreds of thousands of people travel to Mexico every year to enjoy its beaches, culture, food, and sunshine. By moving to a digital format, Mexico immigration is streamlining the entry process, making it even easier for people to visit, especially those arriving by air. Whether your trip is a quick getaway or a longer stay, having a simple, straightforward FMM process allows you to focus on planning for adventures in Mexico instead of paperwork! Enjoy!

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