Getting Passports For Mexico Travel

It used to be that you could travel to Mexico with just a valid driver’s license and a birth certificate. That’s not the case anymore. U.S. citizens are now required to present a valid passport in order to visit Mexico.

There is one exception. No passport is required if you are traveling on a closed-loop cruise. A closed-loop cruise is one that begins and ends in the same U.S. city. Note, you may need a passport if you visit any country other than Mexico that requires a passport for entrance.

Travelers to Mexico have the choice of either obtaining a passport book or passport card, depending on the form of transportation they plan to use. A passport card can be used for land and sea travel. A passport book is required if you travel by air.

It takes 4-6 weeks to get your travel document unless you expedite the application. In this case, you can get it in 2-3 weeks. In emergency situations, you can get a passport as quickly as the same day. Just apply at a regional agency or through a professional passport expediting service.

Requirements for a new passport include a completed application form, evidence of U.S. citizenship, proof of identity, a copy of the identification document and two identical photos that are 2X2 inches in size. There is an application fee that is paid to the State Department and an execution fees that is paid to the acceptance agent. There is another fee for expedited service.

You made the hotel reservations, purchased the tickets and brushed up on your Spanish. You eagerly await the departure date for your trip to Mexico. But did you get your passport? If not, you should do it as soon as possible.  A passport for Mexico travel is not an option.