Travel to Mexico
Helpful reminders about traveling to Mexico:
1. Effective January 2008, all U.S. citizens need a valid U.S. passport to reenter the United States, whether traveling by air or by land.
2. Effective May 2010, U.S. citizens need a passport to visit Mexico. The FMT visa has now been replaced by the FMM visa and will be good for 180 days. The cost of your visa will be included in your airfare, or if traveling by land, payment is made at the Mexican immigration office near the border. Current cost is approximately $25.
3. Your U.S. health insurance is not valid in Mexico. Travelers to Mexico should purchase trip insurance which includes medical coverage and emergency evacuation benefits. (Southern Baptist volunteers working on IMB related mission trips are required to purchase trip insurance and provide proof of purchase before entering Mexico.)
4. Your U.S. auto insurance is not valid in Mexico. You must purchase short-term Mexican insurance for your vehicle if driving into Mexico. Depending on your final destination, you made be required to purchase a temporary vehicle importation permit from Mexican customs office near the border.
5. There are no “shots” required for visiting Mexico, but you should consult your physician or the website of the Centers for Disease Control for recommended innoculations. Sonora (being desert) is not located in a malaria zone.)
6. Before traveling to Mexico, you should consult the website of the U.S. State department for the latest travel advisories. Some outbreaks of violence have occurred in northern Mexico and caution should be taken while traveling. Travelers are encouraged to stay on the main highways, not travel at night, and not get involved in any illegal activity. Certain areas are considered high risk and should be avoided entirely, if possible.
