🛂 General Travel Documents
Land Border Crossing Checklist
✔ Valid Passport (Ensure at least 6 months of validity)
✔ FMM Tourist Permit (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) (Required for all visitors entering Mexico)
✔ Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Trusted Traveler Card (For U.S. re-entry, if applicable)
🚘 Driving Into Mexico
✔ Valid Driver’s License (U.S. or international)
✔ Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit (TIP) (Required for travel beyond the border zone)
✔ Mexican Auto Insurance (U.S. policies are not recognized)
✔ Vehicle Registration & Title (Original + copies)
✔ Letter of Permission (If the vehicle is leased or financed)
🚦 Returning to the U.S.
✔ U.S. Customs Declaration (Declare all goods purchased in Mexico)
✔ Vehicle Inspection Readiness (Prepare for possible inspection at CBP checkpoints)
💰 Money & Payments
✔ Mexican Pesos for Tolls & Gas (Some places may not accept U.S. dollars or credit cards)
✔ Credit/Debit Cards (Check international transaction fees)
🐶 Traveling with Pets
Entering Mexico:
✔ No health certificate required (as of 2019)
✔ Pet must be inspected upon arrival
✔ Free from diseases & parasites
Returning to the USA:
✔ Dogs:
- Rabies vaccination certificate (Required for re-entry)
- Microchip (ISO-compatible)
- CDC Dog Import Form Receipt (For certain breeds)
- Screwworm certificate (Required for re-entry)
✔ Cats:
- Although no rabies certificate is required it may be subject to inspection.
🏡 Choosing the Best Border Crossing
✔ San Ysidro (San Diego, CA – Tijuana, BC) – Busiest but fastest processing times
✔ Otay Mesa (San Diego, CA – Tijuana, BC) – Less congested alternative to San Ysidro
✔ Laredo – Juarez-Lincoln Bridge (TX – Nuevo Laredo, TAM) – Major commercial crossing
✔ El Paso – Paso del Norte (TX – Ciudad Juárez, CHIH) – Convenient pedestrian crossing
✔ Nogales – DeConcini (AZ – Nogales, SON) – Recommended for Arizona travelers
🚨 Emergency & Useful Contacts
Mexico:
📞 INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración): +52-55-5387-2400 (inm.gob.mx)
📞 SAT (Customs & Vehicle Importation): +52-55-6272-2728 (sat.gob.mx)
📞 Banjército (Vehicle Permits): +52-55-5326-2669 (banjercito.com.mx)
📞 Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire): 911
United States:
📞 CBP (Customs & Border Protection): 1-877-227-5511 (cbp.gov)
📞 CDC (Pet Travel Regulations): 1-800-232-4636 (cdc.gov)
📞 U.S. Embassy in Mexico: +52-55-5080-2000 (mx.usembassy.gov)
Final Land Border Crossing Checklist Tips:
Check road conditions, fuel up before crossing, and allow extra time for wait lines at the border. Safe travels!
