FMM – Mexico Tourist Form
Updated September 2010
Canadian and US tourists do not require a visa or a tourist card for stays of 72 hours or less within the border zone (20 to 30 kilometres from the U.S. border). Source: Canada Foreign Affairs web site Sept 23, 2010.
The FMM form replaces the old FMT form as of May 1, 2010.
This is the form you get on the air plane as you enter Mexico or at the border when entering by other means. It has been reported that some border exits are not checked but this is likely only temporary. A valid passport is required.
It allows a stay of up to 180 days. There is a box on the form where the immigration official fills in the length of stay. Check that it is long enough for your planned stay.
There are two types “turismo” (if you are staying in mexico for up to 180 days) and “Tránsito” (if you are in Transit). The tourismo is free for up to 7 days. The Tránsito costs regardless of the duration.
The cost of the visa is about US$22.00 (July 2010) and is included in your air fare. It is not a multiple reentry visa. You need a new one each time you enter the country. There is no limit to how many times you can get one. The fee is payed at a bank any time before your exit. There may not be a bank at the border where you plan to exit so do it before you get to the border.
If it is convenient to exit and reenter the country you could theoretically live in Mexico on this visa alone. However if you want to stay more than 180 days you probably want an FM3.
The immigration officer will give you the right hand part of the form. Do not loose it as it must be returned when you leave the country. At airports that is not a problem but at some border crossings it has been reported that it is difficult to find someone to accept it. This forum discussion is both amusing and informative.
If you plan to apply for an FM3 or and FM2 then you need this form. You must make the application within 30 days of the issuance of the FMM.
There is a video here on how to fill out the form if you really want to watch details. Skip to about one third of the way through the video if you want just information for foreign tourists. The site is occasionally unavailable.
The form looks like this:
And the back looks like this:
Other resources:
The list (in Spanish) of what you can bring into Mexico is long and includes personal use items, two dogs or cats, cameras, etc etc.
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Hi, I’m not sure if this is an appropriate place to ask or if I’ll even get an answers, but my situation is this:
I’m a US citizen im 19 teen!! i flew to mexico on april 22 2011 and i got my FMM and it says i can only stay here for 180 days is there ANYWAY i can get more time here because i have pass my time here in mexico and if there is a way do i have to pay a fee?
my boyfriend wants to get married if we do would i lose my rights of going back to the US?
I got an FMM when I entered the country and had to pay the M$262 fee, at a bank, and then return to the immigration officer to get the FMM. When I lef Mexico,immigration demanded I pay aother M$262 since I couldnt prove I paid for the first one.
I read somewhere that I should have returned to the bank after I got the FMM from immigration and had them stam it paid. I dont recall getting a receipt from the bank or the immigration officer originally. Just a receipt I carried from the bank back ton immigration to get the FMM.
What is the process to prove you paid the fee?
I am not sure John so I have posted your question on the forum here: http://jaltembajalapeno.com/jaltemba_bay_forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2385
It seems to me you must have had a proof of payment from the bank that you showed the immigration office but they probably took that. Maybe you should have made a copy of that but let’s see if others have a better idea on the forum.
Can I work as language teacher for 10 weeks with the FMM – The Short-Term Non-Immigrant Visa? Or do I need to get the FM3?
Not legally. If it is volunteer work you may be OK. I have posted your question on the forum where more people will see it. Please check the link below for other responses:
http://jaltembajalapeno.com/jjforum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1380
HI A.M. I don’t think you need to bother. Strictly speaking you are in violation of the rules but I understand there are lots of border crossing where they do not bother to collect them. Just don’t bring it back to Mexico. In the future they may have a computer system that will remember that you have one but I have not heard that is active yet.
What happens if you were not able to return the FMM when returning to the US from Mexico? I drove there and on my way back I was not able to return it. Is there a penalty fee for this? Do I have to drive back to the border to return? ( I live in Houston, TX).
Thanks
Kamal: If you can give more detail I may be able to explain. I have never heard of this type of invitation….J
please i need a invitation letter from the Mexico immigration to be authorization for the electronics visa thank you for corespondent
Johnathan — get your FMM at the border. I have not crossed at San Ysidro for several years but there must be an INM office close by. Like you say they probably will not have the forms on a domestic flight and you will not arrive at the international entry point in PV so getting one there is not a very good option. You have to get it at the border. There is an INM office by the cruise ship terminal in PV but I think you will have a lot of trouble getting one there since you will be in Mexico illegally.
Hi, I’m not sure if this is an appropriate place to ask or if I’ll even get an answers, but my situation is this:
I’m a US citizen who currently lives in San Diego, CA. I just purchased air tickets to fly from Tijuana to Puerto Vallarta (cheaper than from SD AND LA and it’s only 30 min from home!). I plant to stay in PV and Nayarit for 6 months or longer if at that point i can get FM3.
The problem is this: since I’m going to be walking through the US>MX border in San Ysidro to TJ, nobody will be there to give me an FMM, or will there be an opportunity to get an FMM on the airplane or at the Puerto Vallarta airport because it’s just a domestic flight… so, what do I do? Do I run around MX without an FMM or where do I go to get one?
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
J
The difference in the new form is minimal. Truth is, every time I’ve entered (by land or air), I recieve a different form than what I had. Each land border location has (or certainly had) different forms. But the process is the same as I see it. If leaving by land and reentering, you stay as long as you want, skip over entering the INM office at the border as you cross back into the states thus avoiding paying any money (of which it only goes into the pockets of the corrupt and overpaid) and then reenter. What’s the big deal?
The “big deal” is what is likely to happen in the near future. The Mexican government is likely to figure out that folks are doing what you suggest and start collecting at the border. With the new system the money will not go into border guard pockets because you have to pay it at a bank where it gets deposited to a government account. A seven day visit is still free.