Passport to Mexico?

[shopgirl]

Do I need a passport in order to travel to Mexico?

The only place I’ve traveled to out of the country was the two times I flew into Toronto. I didn’t have a passport then and I had no problem. I’m just wondering if the same applies to travels to Mexico and if a passport is needed.

I don’t have one and we are looking into taking a vacation in the next month or so.

Thanks!

[lml41981]

As of 2.5 years ago (on our honeymoon), one did not need a passport to go into Mexico. I think it is still the same.

eta: I looked it up...you don't need one now, but you will have to have a passport by December 31, 2007 in order to get back *in* the US.

[emmjay]

You don't need a passport for Mexico/Canada/parts of the Caribbean until 2007. It is much easier if you do have one, but it isn't required.

Edited to fix typo.

[ellidew]

You do not currently need a passport to travel to Mexico. However, at the end of the year things are going to change as follows:

On 9/2/05, the U.S. State Department revised the original proposed "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative." The proposed rules will require ALL U.S. and Canadian Citizens to carry a passport (unexpired) for travel to or from certain countries/areas that were previously exempt. This includes children and infants.

The proposed implementation is as follows:

* December 31, 2006 - Passport required for all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

* December 31, 2007 - Passport required for all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

You may print a passport application or get additional information from the government on this subject by visiting: http://travel.state.gov/passport

[shopgirl]

So, I can travel with just an ID? Like driver’s license?

Just want to be clear before I start booking any vacation plans!

Thanks for all your responses!

And I didn't realize we had a travel board! :)

[emmjay]

I believe you need a photo ID to prove who you are, and your birth certificate to prove citizenship.

I don't know what happens if you're married and your name is changed from your birth certificate - maybe you have to bring your marriage license? :confused:

If you wanted to you could get a passport within a month - you would have to pay extra to get it expedited but you would avoid all of this confusion.

[Asha]

i believe emmjay is correct that if you don't have a passport than you need to bring your birth certificate. though, when i traveled to mexico i wasn't traveling, so i needed a student visa, so i think the requirements were a little more stringent since i needed a student visa.

[isobel]

I think you will need your orginal (or certified) birth certificate as well. My husband had to go to Canada last month for his grandmother's funeral and couldn't find his passport. His parents had to go that morning to city hall in Tulsa to get a certified birth certificate. And it was a struggle to get him on the connecting flight to Dallas where he could meet them and pick it up before flying to Vancouver.

[fuzzy]

I think you will need your orginal (or certified) birth certificate as well.

Yup. That's what we were told while going through customs on our Mexican vacation this past January.

[rosa727]

I just went to Mexico with no passport (it was in the mail and did not come in time). I had an official (with the raised seal) birth certificate, my marriage certificate, and my license. It really was no big deal. It didn't take any longer with me than with my DH who had a passport.

You should be fine until the end of next year.

[shopgirl]

Problem: I have no birth certificate. I wasn’t born in the U.S.

[emmjay]

Do you have your naturalization certificate? The original? You can use that instead of a birth certificate.

ETA - that is assuming you are a US citizen. I don't know if you are a citizen or a resident.

[Asha]

Problem: I have no birth certificate. I wasn’t born in the U.S.

are you a citizen? if not, i would check the rules regarding entry into mexico bc they are probably different than the rules for u.s.' citizens. my dh is from another country and he had to get a visa when we traveled to peru whereas i didn't have to have a visa to travel in peru bc i am a u.s. citizen.

[Asha]

call the mexican consulate. consulates are a pita to get though to, so i would check to see if they have a website.

[rosa727]

I just went to St. Lucia with my step-father who was born in Italy and is not an American Citizen (he is a permanent resident). He was able to use his Italian passport without a problem. I am not sure if you have a passport from another country? Hmmm... I guess you said you have NO passport. I would definitely check into it with the government before going.

[Shapsgrl]

According to the State Dept website, you won't need one until 1/1/08

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States.

I traveled to Mexico last year using by birth certif & ID (Couldn't find my passport :rolleyes: ) and while I did not have a problem, the airlines did mention that I would need soon if I did not have one. I would recommend getting one - just so that you have it.

[angelmia]

check this website www.sre.gob.mx They tell you which country needs what to enter the country.

[Lisam618]

I went to Cabo in Jan and needed a passport is was required!

[AmyE]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't travel overseas using your naturalization certificate - not even to Mexico or Canada. please please please

I know, I know - lots and lots of people do and it works out great, but if it gets lost, stolen, damaged, eaten by a wayward washing machine at the laundromat...you could be stuck for days until there is some way to confirm your citizenship. Or longer. DHS has a huge problem confirming that you are in fact naturalized over the computer systems, and sometimes their records are incomplete. This is especially true for people who travel soon after they were naturalized. The US consulates sometimes cannot confirm that the people were in fact naturalized, and have to ask people to have family FedEx school records, job stuff, etc etc. Huge hassle and uncomfortable for everyone. Nat Certs aren't easy to replace once you get back to the U.S., either. (And photocopies aren't valid for ID or citizenship, even certified notarized ones.)

Passports, on the other hand, are all scanned into a database, and the consulate can pull up your previous application - complete with color picture and signature - almost immediately. Then you can get an emergency passport or travel letter issued almost same day.

End PSA. We now return to our regularly schedule program.

[Mrs. M.]

I don't know why anyone (who could get one) would not get a passport for international travel :confused: It makes stuff so much easier!

[Clearwaterhottie]

All you need is a birth certificate and photo ID.