How to Enter Mexico in 2026: Passports, the Digital FMM, and What's Changed

Good news first: entering Mexico for a vacation has become simpler. The old ritual of filling out a paper FMM tourist card on the plane has largely disappeared at major airports — including Los Cabos (SJD). Here's what the process looks like in 2026.

What you need

• A passport valid for your entire stay (we recommend six months' validity as a buffer)
• Proof of onward or return travel, occasionally requested
• Where you're staying — have your villa address handy for the arrival questions
• No visa needed for tourism for US, Canadian, UK, and EU citizens, for stays up to 180 days

The digital FMM, explained

At major airports the paper form has been replaced by a digital process: an immigration officer scans your passport and stamps it with the number of days you're granted. That stamp is your permission to be in Mexico — check it before you leave the desk.

Some airlines and entry points still ask travellers to complete the digital form (FMMd) online before flying. It takes a few minutes on the official INM website: passport details, flight number, arrival info, then download the PDF. If you fly into a smaller airport or cross by land, you may still meet the classic paper form — filling the online version ahead saves time either way.

Three mistakes to avoid

• Don't assume 180 days — the officer decides the stay length; ask for what your trip needs and check the stamp
• Don't lose track of your stamp if you're island-hopping or crossing borders; you'll need clean entry records on exit
• Don't book with a passport that expires mid-trip

Guests of ours land, clear immigration, and find their driver waiting on the other side — the airport-to-villa handoff is part of every stay. The paperwork is now the easiest part of the trip.