Mexico : Formalities

Clearance

Formalities can be time-consuming, but in the major ports there are maritime agents who will do the formalities for a fee, as will some of the marinas. On arrival in Mexico, yachts must go to the nearest Port of Entry, with the Q and courtesy flags flying. Normally, immigration must be cleared first, then customs, quarantine (not always requested) and finally the port authority (API). A fee based on tonnage is assessed by API at the first port of entry and must be paid at the port captain's office.

It is recommended yachts arrive with a Tourist Entry Form (FMT) for every crew member (or visa, if applicable). Both can be obtained in advance from a Mexican consulate or from the Immigration Office on arrival. Then, the captain should proceed to customs with the ship's papers, the Tourist Entry Forms and clearance papers. On payment of US$10 with an international credit card (or place a bond or deposit), a temporary import permit will be issued.

For cruising in Mexican waters a health permit will also be required. Health officials may inspect the yacht, or the crew may be required to visit the hospital for a health clearance.

As well as the ship's papers, six crew lists in Spanish are required. Crew list forms (in Spanish) can be obtained either before or after arrival, on payment of a fee. All officials will stamp and sign all crew lists and each official will keep a copy. When entering Mexico, it is advisable to have all possible places the yacht might visit listed on the Import Permit including the last port intended for exit from the country. It is also advisable for US flagged vessels to have a Zarpe with a notorised crew list as some Port Captains will fine them if they do not.

Once you have cleared into the country, it is no longer necessary to clear in and out with the port captain at each subsequent port, provided you log in with a local marina and the marina keeps a record of arrivals and departures.

Procedure on departure: The port captain, customs and immigration must be visited with six more copies of the crew list, and a departure clearance form obtained from the port captain. Although this document may not be requested when clearing into the next country, it is necessary have it in the event of being stopped by a Mexican Navy boat while still in Mexican waters. If wishing to stop anywhere in Mexico after clearing out, this should be put on the outward clearance by the relevant official. The cruising permit and tourist cards must be returned.

Any registered marina can clear boats in and out of port for their clients, which means that boats can be serviced during marina working hours, not just during bureaucratic hours at the Capitania and Migracion.

Immigration

Passports must be valid to the length of your stay in Mexico.

A Tourist Card will be issued on arrival as follows:-

For stays of 180 days; citizens of EU countries(except nationals of Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic and Slovenia), Canada, Japan, USA, Andorra, Argentina, Bermuda, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland and Uruguay.

For stays of up to 90 days; citizens of Australia, Iceland, Israel, Korea (Rep), Monaco, South Africa, Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic and Slovenia.

For stays of up to 30 days; citizens of venezuela.

All other countries require a visa, to be obtained in advance.

Nationals of the following countries require special authorisation before a visa can be granted: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cambodia, China (PR), CIS, Colombia, Congo (Dem Rep), Croatia, Cuba, East Timor, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Grenada, Haiti, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Korea (Dem Rep), Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of), Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia & Montenegro, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen and holders of Palestinian documents. Authorisation takes approximately three to four weeks.

If coming from Belize it is advisable to arrive in Mexico either with a tourist card or a visa obtained in advance. These can be obtained from the Mexican consul in Belize City. It is imperative that those who wish to stay longer ask immigration at the first port of entry to stamp the passport for the entire period allowed under Mexican law.

Renewal of the tourist card beyond the permitted can be done in Mexico City at the Secretaria de Gobernacion, Direccion General de Asuntos Jurídicos, Avenida Juarez 92, 2nd floor (postal address: CP06500), Tel. 535-2718. If one has proof of possessing US$500 per month of intended stay, renewal of tourist cards and visas, which can take several weeks, can be done at a local immigration office. However, in an emergency a local immigration officer can extend a card for a few days, with telephone approval from Mexico City.

A tourist card is needed to leave the country, and if lost it takes about a week to replace. Passports and tourist cards must be carried at all times.

Last updated January 2010.

Customs

The only firearms allowed in Mexico are sporting guns which must have a valid Mexican hunting licence, obtained in advance. Other firearms must have a permit, and be declared to the authorities on arrival, who will keep them in custody until departure. The penalties for having an unauthorised gun on board are severe and can lead to seizure of the yacht and imprisonment of the captain.

Although "Vessels in Transit" do not have to pay import tax on boat parts, avoiding such payment is very difficult. The correct procedure is as follows: the owner of the vessel should go with the ship's papers to the port captain of the nearest marina, who will issue a letter stating that the vessel is in transit. The sender of the parts is then instructed to send the package to the port captain, marking the name of the marina and correct address, then the boat owner's name and vessel's name. "Vessel in Transit" must appear on the package. The shipment will come directly to the port captain, thus bypassing customs and, if all runs smoothly, the goods will then be handed over to the vessel's owner without any dues to be paid. As in the case with most formalities in Mexico, things may not work out in practice, in which case the services of a customs agent will greatly simplify matters, but his fee must be weighed up against the money saved in import dues. There are reports also of shipping agents charging extra fees.

Yacht custody Leaving the yacht in Mexico for over six months is possible if it is left in an authorised marina, if the owner is a foreign national and not resident in Mexico. The owner or his legal representative must visit the yacht at least once a year to renew the custody.

Last updated February 2010.

Health

Water should be treated everywhere in Mexico. Several cruising sailors have contracted parasites either from contaminated water or food which had come in contact with such water, such as salads, fruit or ice cream.

Malaria prophylaxis is recommended if visiting rural areas.

There was an outbreak of a new virus in early April 2009, initially named "Swine Flu", that appears to have originated near Veracruz, Mexico. For more details see www.bajainsider.com.

Documents

Each person on board must have a fishing licence, and a licence must also be purchased for the yacht. For a yacht with four crew this will amount to about US$100. Spot checks are made, and simply having fishing tackle on board is considered by the Mexican authorities sufficient reason to have a licence. The licences can be obtained in advance from the Mexican Fisheries Department, 2550 5th Street, San Diego, California 92103-6622, USA or on arrival from the local Fisheries Department.

Fees

There is an immigration fee for forms and a fee for the temporary import permit from customs. Customs charge a port tax (derechos de puerto), the receipt for which must be shown to the port captain when clearing in. Overtime is charged for clearance outside of office hours.

Restrictions

Chartering of foreign yachts is only allowed if marketed through a marina or authorised third party if the marina or third party has entered into a rental agreement with the owner and is responsible for all fiscal obligations. A permit must be obtained from the Ministry of the Treasury and Ministry of Communications and Transport.

Turtles are protected and no products made from turtles are allowed to be exported.

A permit is necessary to stop at Isla Contoy, north of Isla Mujeres, which is a nature reserve. The permit can be obtained from the office of the nature reserve, located in Rueda Medina, on Isla Mujeres.

From January 2008, it is a requirement that each person involved has a finshing licence. These can be obtained via the website www.conapesca.sagarpa.gob.mx/wb (in Spanish only) and cost about USD45.

Pets

Animals require a veterinary health certificate and cats and dogs also require an anti-rabies vaccination certificate. Both certificates must be shown to a Mexican consul to obtain an import permit for the animals.

U.S. visitors to Mexico may bring a dog or cat by presenting the following documents:-

2) Pet Vaccination Certificate showing that the animal has been treated for rabies, hepatitis, pip and leptospirosis.

Certification by a Mexican consular authorities is not required for the health or vaccination certificate.

A permit fee may be charged at the time of entry to Mexico.

Spanish for Cruisers - 2nd Edition (03 Jun 2010)

Declare your Firearm or Face Jail (05 May 2010)

Entering Mexico with a Pet (Dog) (06 Apr 2010)

Huatulco: Marina Chahue (30 Jan 2010)

Sea of Cortez - Navigation Warnings (Updated) (16 Dec 2009)

Mexico - Baja California Fuel Contacts - More Information (16 Dec 2009)

Sea of Cortez and western mainland Mexico - Calling all Cruisers (13 Dec 2009)

Porto Morelos, Yucatan (02 Dec 2009)

Mexico to the Line Islands - Expected Weather in December (21 Oct 2009)

Problem Exiting Mexico - Additional Information (28 Jun 2009)

Cruising Mexico (21 May 2009)

Isla Mujeres to Florida Keys and onto Bahamas (21 May 2009)

Mexico to Galapagos (11 Jul 2008)

Galapagos to Mexico (24 Jun 2008)

Sea of Cortes - A Cruiser’s Guidebook (05 Jun 2008)

Grenada to Isla Mujeres, Mexico (14 May 2008)

Cruising Guide To Belize and Mexico’s Caribbean Coast (23 Nov 2007)

Southbounders Discussion Group (17 Sep 2007)

Question About Gulf of Tehuantepec Winds (02 Mar 2007)

Report on El Cid Marina, Puerto Morelos (05 May 2006)

A Positive Response to Cruising Mexico's Pacific Coast (07 Jan 2003)

New expanded "Cruising Ports: Florida to California via Panama" now published (07 Jan 2003)

Ida Reaches Hurricane Force Near Nicaragua (05 Nov 2009)

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Dockwise Yacht Transport Launches Super Ship (26 Jan 2007)

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New US Immigration Requirements (02 Aug 2006)

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