Mexico FMM
Everything you need for your Mexico FMM: requirements, processing times and answers to the most common questions.
Official Mexico government portal- Validity
- Single trip
- Maximum stay
- Up to 180 days
- Entry type
- Single entry
Overview
The FMM, the Forma Migratoria Multiple, is Mexico's official tourist entry permit, the document many English-speaking travellers call the Mexico tourist card. It is not a visa: it records a visit for tourism, business or transit and authorises a stay of up to 180 days, with the exact number of days set by the immigration officer on arrival. Most nationalities, including citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union, enter Mexico on an FMM rather than a visa for a short stay.
Citizens of a small number of countries need a Mexican visa instead, and this is flagged from your nationality before you pay. How the permit is handled depends on how you arrive. Travellers flying in usually have the entry record processed with their airline and at the airport, while those crossing a land border complete the FMM in advance or at the crossing and keep the stamped portion until they leave.
The permit is tied to a single trip and to the passport you present, so the details on it must match that document exactly. An FMM does not authorise paid work, study or residence in Mexico, which require the corresponding visa or permit from the Instituto Nacional de Migracion. It is also separate from any state tourist tax, such as the VISITAX charged in Quintana Roo, which is paid on its own.
The FMM is recorded again on each new entry, so the 180-day count starts fresh with a later trip, and it is the document you may be asked for both on arrival and when you leave. Your FMM is prepared in your own language and every answer is checked against the current immigration rules before the form is submitted.
Mexico FMM questions
What is the FMM for Mexico?
The FMM, or Forma Migratoria Multiple, is Mexico's tourist entry permit. It records your visit for tourism, business or transit and allows a stay of up to 180 days. The exact number of days is granted by the immigration officer when you arrive, so keep your permit with your passport until you leave the country.
Do I need an FMM if I fly into Mexico?
Travellers arriving by air usually have the entry permit handled with their airline ticket and processed on arrival, so a separate FMM is most often needed when you enter Mexico by land. The wizard confirms what applies to your nationality and to how you plan to arrive before you pay.
Do US citizens need an FMM for Mexico?
Citizens of the United States, Canada and most other countries complete an FMM for tourism or business visits to Mexico. A valid passport is required, and the permit covers a stay of up to 180 days. We check your details and confirm your passport number before the form is submitted.
How long can I stay in Mexico on an FMM?
The FMM allows a stay of up to 180 days for tourism or business. The immigration officer writes the exact number of days granted on your permit when you arrive, and it can be fewer than 180, so check the figure before you leave the border and keep the document safe for departure.
How much does an FMM for Mexico cost?
You pay one all-inclusive price that covers the government fee, the amount the Mexican authority charges and that is paid directly to it, and our service reviewing your form before submission. The government portion is itemised on your receipt. The government fee is non-refundable; our service fee is refundable in most denial scenarios outside your control.
When should I apply for the FMM?
Apply a few days to a couple of weeks before you travel so your permit is ready and any question can be resolved without time pressure. The FMM is tied to your trip, so there is little benefit to applying far ahead; our Priority and Urgent tiers are available when your departure is close.
What if there is a mistake on my FMM?
Check the spelling of your name and your passport number against your passport as soon as you receive the permit. If something is wrong, contact us and we help you correct it before you travel, because the details on the FMM must match your passport exactly for a smooth entry at the Mexican border.
Is the FMM the same as the Mexico tourist card?
Yes. The FMM, or Forma Migratoria Multiple, is the document many English-speaking travellers call the Mexico tourist card. It is the official tourist entry permit recorded for your visit, and the two names refer to the same thing.
Do I need a visa or an FMM to visit Mexico?
For tourism, business or transit, most nationalities, including citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union, enter Mexico on an FMM rather than a visa. A visa is needed only for longer stays or for work, study or residence.
Do children need their own FMM?
Yes. Each traveller is recorded on the entry permit, including children, and each must hold a valid passport. You can complete the details for every member of your party so that each one has a permit that matches their own passport.
How many entries does an FMM allow?
The FMM is a single-entry permit tied to one trip. It covers your stay of up to 180 days, and a new permit is recorded each time you enter Mexico, so a separate FMM applies to a later, separate visit.
Can I extend my stay beyond the days written on my FMM?
The number of days is set by the immigration officer on arrival, up to 180. An extension is requested in person at an office of the Instituto Nacional de Migracion before the permit expires, and is granted at the authority's discretion, so plan your trip around the days you are given.
Is the FMM the same as VISITAX?
No. The FMM is the federal entry permit that records your arrival in Mexico, issued by the Instituto Nacional de Migracion. VISITAX is a separate tourist tax charged by the state of Quintana Roo for visits to Cancun and the Riviera Maya, and it is paid on its own.
What address do I give for Mexico on the FMM?
Use the address where you will stay first, such as your hotel or the home of family or friends. It does not have to cover every night of your trip; it records where you can be reached when you enter the country.
Do I need to print my FMM?
Keep your permit with your passport, on your phone or printed, and carry it for the whole trip. If you cross by land the officer stamps the document on arrival, and you may be asked to show it again when you leave Mexico, so keep it safe until departure.
What passport validity do I need for an FMM?
Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay in Mexico. Because the permit is tied to the passport you present, travel on that same document, and check that its details match the permit before you set off.
Can I work or study in Mexico on an FMM?
No. The FMM covers tourism, business and transit only. Paid work, an extended study programme or living in Mexico require the corresponding visa or permit from the Instituto Nacional de Migracion, which is applied for separately and assessed on its own terms before you travel.
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