| Tourist Cards |
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Are Tourist Cards Needed?
The following info deals with what Tourist Cards are and whether or not they’re needed.
Mexico has a suggested tourist fee they charge visitors if they are staying in Mexico longer than 72 hours or traveling past the Border
Zone. The charge is 260 pesos for the Tourist Card fee (roughly $25 US dollars). The card, known as the Migratory Tourist Form,
(FMT) is valid for up to six months (180 days) with multiple entries.
In Baja California, the border zone has been extended to San Quintin (includes our area), on the Pacific side and San Felipe, on the
Sea of Cortez. Sonora state is in the process of extending it's border zone too. In mainland states along the border, this includes a 16-
20 mile zone south of the border. For those traveling in these zones, no Tourist Card is needed unless the person is staying more than
72 hours (3 days).
Whether or not you need tourist cards is a good question. The technical answer seems to be, "yes", if your stay will be over three days,
however, several years ago the Mexican government made the Northern State of Baja, a, "Free Zone". This means you can travel in
the Northern State for up to three days without a tourist card. Yet, when they established this law, they didn't put a check system in
place to verify the time factor. Some say this was on purpose because the most important thing the government wants is tourism and
money. In the years since they started this, no one to our knowledge has ever been asked for their tourist card. It appears they put it in
place to glean some extra funds if possible. They would rather have you here without a tourist card than not at all. The general sense
on the issue is that they seem to be optional.
We leave the decision up to groups on whether or not they obtain tourist cards and we remain neutral on the issue. If you choose to
obtain them, they cost about $25.00 per person and need to be obtained at the border crossing in Tijuana. You'll need a passport or a
birth-certificate and current ID.
For more go to: www.mexonline.com/visamex.htm
The following info deals with what Tourist Cards are and whether or not they’re needed.
Mexico has a suggested tourist fee they charge visitors if they are staying in Mexico longer than 72 hours or traveling past the Border
Zone. The charge is 260 pesos for the Tourist Card fee (roughly $25 US dollars). The card, known as the Migratory Tourist Form,
(FMT) is valid for up to six months (180 days) with multiple entries.
In Baja California, the border zone has been extended to San Quintin (includes our area), on the Pacific side and San Felipe, on the
Sea of Cortez. Sonora state is in the process of extending it's border zone too. In mainland states along the border, this includes a 16-
20 mile zone south of the border. For those traveling in these zones, no Tourist Card is needed unless the person is staying more than
72 hours (3 days).
Whether or not you need tourist cards is a good question. The technical answer seems to be, "yes", if your stay will be over three days,
however, several years ago the Mexican government made the Northern State of Baja, a, "Free Zone". This means you can travel in
the Northern State for up to three days without a tourist card. Yet, when they established this law, they didn't put a check system in
place to verify the time factor. Some say this was on purpose because the most important thing the government wants is tourism and
money. In the years since they started this, no one to our knowledge has ever been asked for their tourist card. It appears they put it in
place to glean some extra funds if possible. They would rather have you here without a tourist card than not at all. The general sense
on the issue is that they seem to be optional.
We leave the decision up to groups on whether or not they obtain tourist cards and we remain neutral on the issue. If you choose to
obtain them, they cost about $25.00 per person and need to be obtained at the border crossing in Tijuana. You'll need a passport or a
birth-certificate and current ID.
For more go to: www.mexonline.com/visamex.htm
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