TiffanyLynn

or can we just use our birth certificate and license?

nolists

Travel to Mexico (presuming you are an American citizen) requires birth certificate for children and valid driver's license for adult. Birth certificates must be original or have government seal. Hospital copies do not count.

FWIW, We always bring our passports, for my kids too.

MFNYC

nolists is correct. when i doubt, check with your travel agent or the airline you are flying with.

suze

original birth certificate w/seal (not a xerox copy) + drivers license for adult US citizens OR a passport.

kaudrey

You can also bring your driver's license and a valid voter registration card.

kaudrey

I take that back. Voter registration is NOT VALID form of ID.

From the state department website:

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: The Government of Mexico requires that all U.S. citizens present proof of citizenship and photo identification for entry into Mexico. A U.S. passport is recommended, but other U.S. citizenship documents such as a certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate, a Naturalization Certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Citizenship are acceptable. U.S. citizens boarding flights to Mexico should be prepared to present one of these documents as proof of U.S. citizenship, along with photo identification. Driver's permits, voter registration cards, affidavits and similar documents are not sufficient to prove citizenship for readmission into the United States.

TiffanyLynn

Thank you all very much

Percy

TiffanyLynn

I would check just to be sure.
I am sure Mexico is more lenient that other places.
But I am not sure if you know that Costa Rica, ( starting January 1/2003) requires all American Citizens to have a valid passport which does NOT expire within SIX months of you departing from the their country!!
I am from Canada ,so I am sure it is the same for us.. so if you are thinking in the near future of going anywhere to Latin America , get a passport and it better not expire within six months of your departure.
I am in the process of finding out why this change ( for Costa Rica)
Percy

Punani

depends where you are coming from... are you mexican?

Percy

Punani

No I am not Mexican.
But I understand that does not matter, your passport has to be valid for six months after you depart the country.
It is better to know this ahead of time and NOT at the other country's custom office.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Percy

Punani

No Percy. I thought you were Mexican as you did not say that you were from anywhere so I assumed you were only travellinmg domestically. Mexicans do not need passports to visit Cancun.

In future, it is prudent to say what country you are from so people can respond correctly. Mexico, like most countries, operates different entry requirements for different nationalities.

Percy

Punani
I am from Canada.

I have friend in Costa Rica and they also tell me that effective January 1/2003,ALL American tourist need a valid passport that has not expired for 6 months at the time of their departure.

I check with my travel agent here and asked if this was true.
She said Absolutely!!!
So now I am going to renew my passport which does not expire until December 2003, but if a good deal comes along on a trip to ,say.Latin Americam, I do not want to book a quick trip and then try to get my updated passport in time .
That is like the cart before the horse.
All I am saying is that many countries are going this route of having a passport that does not expire within six month...so be Careful!!
Nobody wants trouble at another Country's Custom Office.
Thank for your reply Punani.
Percy , from Canada

Jenny33

You might already know this, and it may not be an issue, but if you don't have a passport, and you are married, you must bring your marriage certificate along with your birth certificate to show proof that your name change is valid. There was a girl in front of me in line and they would not let her into the country because she just had her birth certificate which did not match her driver license name. I do not know if they ended up letting her in or not, but they took her away to another room to discuss it. I asked the guy what was up when it was my turn and that's what he told me - I had my marriage certificate and license, and birth certificate and I was fine. Just fyi, if it's your first time down there.

Helena

Have been there many times, and although married and license & birth certificate names don't match, have never been asked for marriage license, although I always carry it with me. But finally decided to get a passport. Much easier to deal with one item than several.