Tijuana Border Requirements

The Mexican government may not let U.S. citizens who are driving or walking to Mexico enter the country at land border crossings if they do not have a U.S. passport book or U.S. passport card. If you are a U.S. citizen crossing into the United States from Mexico by land without a U.S. passport, you may be slowing down the lines and increasing your wait time.

Adults and children with U.S. passport cards can save time at the border by using designated Ready Lanes that read the passport card’s Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.

Quick Facts

PASSPORT VALIDITY: Passport must be valid at time of entry
BLANK PASSPORT PAGES: One page per stamp
TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: Yes, if visiting for more than 180 days
VACCINATIONS: See Travelers’ Health section
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY: $10,000
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT: $10,000

Dollar to Peso Exchange Rate – Click Here

How to use Ready Lanes with a U.S. passport card: 

• Navigate to a lane that has the Ready Lane logo,
• Keep your passport card in hand,
• Display the passport card to the RFID card readers, and
• Proceed to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer.

You can find a complete list of Ready Lane acceptable documents on CBP’s website.

Applying for a Passport Card in the United States or Mexico

U.S. citizens living along the U.S.- Mexico border can apply for their U.S. passport in the United States or Mexico. U.S. citizens living in Mexico can apply for their passport at the nearest U.S. consulate. U.S. citizens living in the United States can apply at one of more than 7,000 locations which include post offices, libraries, and clerks of court.

Learn more about how to apply here!

Driving to Mexico

Temporary import permits for cars registered in the United States are needed in order to drive beyond the border zones in Mexico.   Permits are enforced when driving approximately 20 kilometers into Mexico.  Permits are NOT needed in the Baja Peninsula.

Banjercito is the government authority that issues vehicle permits.  The process can be done online, at the Mexican border, or at certain Mexican consulates in the U.S.  The process involves leaving a monetary deposit that will be returned upon the cancellation of vehicle permit when leaving Mexico.

• U.S. citizens must present a valid U.S. passport book or card, in addition to an entry permit (Forma Migratoria Multiple or FMM) issued by Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM).
• Travelers should be sure to enter Mexico with valid proof of automobile registration, even if remaining in the border zone.  Entering Mexico with an expired U.S. vehicle registration may lead to the confiscation of the auto by Mexican authorities.

List of Consulates / Consular Agencies

(Also available at: https://mx.usembassy.gov/)

U.S. Embassy in Mexico City
Paseo de la Reforma 305
Colonia Cuauhtémoc
C.P. 06500, Ciudad de México
Phone: (01-55) 5080-2000
Fax: (01-55) 5080-2005

U.S. Citizen Services
From Mexico: 01-55-8526-2561 or 01-800-681-9374
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-Mail: AC***********@st***.gov

U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez
Paseo de la Victoria #3650
Fracc. Partido Senecú
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México C.P. 32543
Phone: (656) 227-3000

U.S. Citizen Services
From Mexico: 01-656-344-3032 or 01-800-681-9374
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-Mail: CD****@st***.gov

U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara
Progreso 175
Col. Americana, C.P. 44160
Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Phone: (01-33) 4624-2102

U.S. Citizen Services
From Mexico: 01-334-624-2102 or 01-800-681-9374
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-Mail: AC****@st***.gov

U.S. Consulate General in Hermosillo
141 Monterey Street
Col. Esqueda, C.P. 83000
Hermosillo, Sonora, México
Phone: (+52) 662-690-3262
Fax: (+52) 662-217-2571

U.S. Citizen Services
From Mexico: 01-662-690-3262 or 01-800-681-9374
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-Mail: He******@st***.gov

U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros
Calle Primera #2002
Colonia Jardín, C.P. 87330
Matamoros, Tamaulipas, México
Phone: (+52) 868-208-2000
Fax: (+52) 868-816-0883

U.S. Citizen Services
From Mexico: 01-868-206-1076 or 01-800-681-9374
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-Mail: Ma**********@st***.gov

U.S. Consulate General in Merida
Calle 60 No. 338-K x 29 y 31
Col. Alcalá Martin, C.P. 97050
Mérida, Yucatán, México
Phone: (+52) 999-942-5700
Fax: (+52) 999-942-5758

U.S. Citizen Services
From Mexico: 01-999-316-7168 or 01-800-681-9374
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-Mail: As**********@st***.gov

U.S. Consulate General in Monterrey
Ave. Alfonso Reyes #150
Col. Valle del Poniente
Santa Catarina, Nuevo León
México 66196
Phone: (+52) 81-8047-3100
Fax: (+52) 81-8342-5433

U.S. Citizen Services
From Mexico: 01-814-160-5512 or 01-800-681-9374
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-Mail: Mo**********@st***.gov

U.S. Consulate General in Nogales
Calle San José s/n
Fraccionamiento los Álamos
C. P. 84065 Nogales, Sonora
Phone: (+52) 631-311-8150
Fax: (+52) 631-313-4652

U.S. Citizen Services
From Mexico: 01-631-980-0522 or 01-800-681-9374
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-Mail: No********@st***.gov

U.S. Consulate General in Nuevo Laredo
Paseo Colon 1901
Colonia Madero, C.P. 88260
Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
Phone: (+52) 867-233-0557

U.S. Citizen Services
From Mexico: 01-867-233-0557 or 01-800-681-9374
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-Mail: Nu*************@st***.gov

U.S. Consulate General in Tijuana
Paseo de las Culturas s/n
Mesa de Otay
Delegación Centenario C.P. 22425
Tijuana, Baja California
Phone: (+52) 664-977-2000

U.S. Citizen Services
From Mexico: 01-664-748-0129 or 01-800-681-9374
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
Email: AC********@st***.gov

Consular Agencies

(Also available at: https://mx.usembassy.gov/find-your-consular-location/)

Acapulco
(An extension of the Embassy in Mexico City)
Hotel Continental Emporio
Costera M. Alemán 121 – Office 14
Acapulco, Guerrero C.P. 39670
From Mexico: 01-55-8526-2561
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-Mail: Co***************@st***.gov

Cancun
(An extension of the Consulate in Merida)
Blvd. Kukulcan Km 13 ZH
Torre La Europea, Despacho 301
Cancún, Quintana Roo C.P. 77500
Phone: (+52) 999-942-5700
E-Mail: Co*************@st***.gov

Los Cabos
(An extension of the Consulate in Tijuana)
Las Tiendas de Palmilla L-B221, Km. 27.5 Carretera Transpeninsular
San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur C.P. 23406
Phone: (+52) 624-143-3566
Fax: (+52) 624-143-6750
E-mail: Co***************@st***.gov

Mazatlan
(An extension of the Consulate General in Hermosillo)
Address: Playa Gaviotas 202, Local 10. Zona Dorada.
Mazatlán, Sinaloa, México
Phone: (+52) 81-8047-3145
Fax (+52) 669-916-7531
E-mail: Co***************@st***.gov

Oaxaca
(An extension of the Embassy in Mexico City)
Macedonio Alcalá No. 407, Office 20
Oaxaca, Oaxaca C.P. 68000
From Mexico: 01-55-8526-2561
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-mail: Co*************@st***.gov

Piedras Negras
(An extension of the Consulate in Nuevo Laredo)
Abasolo #211, Local #3, Centro
Piedras Negras, Coahuila C.P. 26000
Phone: (+52) 867-233-0557
E-mail: Nu*************@st***.gov

Playa del Carmen
(An extension of the Consulate in Merida)
Plaza Progreso, Local 33, Second floor
Carretera Federal Puerto Juarez-Chetumal, Mz. 293 Lt. 1.
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo C.P. 77710
Phone: (+52) 999-942-5700
E-mail: Co****************@st***.gov

Puerto Vallarta
(An extension of the Consulate General in Guadalajara)
Paseo de los Cocoteros #85 Sur
Paradise Plaza, Local L-7, Segundo Piso
Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit C.P. 63732
Phone: (01-33) 4624-2102
E-mail: Co**************@st***.gov

San Miguel de Allende
(An extension of the Embassy in Mexico City)
Plaza La Luciérnaga, Libramiento Jose Manuel Zavala No. 165, Locales 4 y 5
Colonia La Luciérnaga
San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato C.P. 37745
From Mexico: 01-55-8526-2561
From the United States: 1-844-528-6611
E-mail: Co****************@st***.gov