zootsi

We are flying to Cancun on 3/3 and returning on 3/10. Our passport expires on 3/14. I thought this would not be a problem, however the US customs travel site states that to enter Mexico a passport must have an expiration date 6 months out from your travel date. I just spoke to the Mexican counsulate in Boston, and they said just as long as you have a vailid passport, there should be no problem. I don't know who to believe. To renew our passports at this late date would involve driving 120 miles to the nearest US passport office, and paying an extra $70 for expedited processsing. Anyone enter Mexico with a passport with a passport close to expiration date?

Percy

Interesing question.

I am sure if they let you in...they will let you out.
Boy your sure shaving it close.

Now if you get sick or injured in Mexico...and end up in the hospital, your passport will have expired.
Good Luck. I just got back from Cancun last week

baldone

Ouch.
Here's what the Mexican tourist guide page says: Al llegar a México sólo deberás presentar tu pasaporte en regla y la Forma Migratoria de Turista. Basically, it says all you need is a valid passport and an FMM, or tourist visa. Maybe call your airline as well?
Just the same, I think I'd start driving. Why risk ruining a vacation at the cost of a few hours and $140?

MmePerdu

I know it's no consolation, but at least, presumably, you won't have to rebook and lose money on flights, too.

It depends on your stress threshold and whether you can cope with not knowing exactly what may happen. I know what I'd do - pay up and get the new passports. But that's me and my priorities.

The rest of the story may be, what happened to someone on the forums may be entirely different than what may happen in your case. You can't count on someone else's experience being applicable.

jamie99

The problem is with the airline and whether or not they will let you board rather than Mexican Immigration. I've read on other forums of people who have been refused boarding so I am in the get driving category. Take a copy of your plane ticket or itinerary or whatever with you so you can get same day turnaround.

hopefulist

I wouldn't risk it, either - met 2 families in Central America last summer that left family members behind in the US when the airline wouldn't let them board, even with months left on their passport (but less than 6 months). You might get lucky but - with only a few days extra - I wouldn't count on it. Sorry!

suze

I always thought you need a passport valid for 6 months in the future for entering Mexico, or more importantly returning to the US!

NoFlyZone

Too many risks ... bite the bullet and renew your passports. Chalk it up to life lessons learned.

JeanH

Since there are many countries, though Mexico isn't one of them, that do require six months left on your passport, some of the airlines have apparently decided they'll just enforce it for all countries.

I'd be off yesterday to renew.

vjpblovesitaly

I went to Mexico last month. While at Charlotte Airport waiting to board the flight to Cancun, each passenger had to show his/her passport at the boarding gate. He made a point of telling each of us when the passport expires (mine is 09-2015 for the record).

zootsi

oddly Jetblue said it wouldn't be a problem, but US Air said it would. We decided to bite the bullet and do the 130 mile drive in the snow to get the passports renewed. Thanks for all the feedback!

RAC

Good call. I wasn't allowed to board a plane to Honduras because I had only two months on my passport. Two weeks would almost certainly have created issues.

baldone

Right decision, and I'm sure you'll sleep better having made it. I do now remember a couple of years back our passports were within a month of expiration when we flew out of Mexico en route to the states. The US immigration agent in Houston didn't hassle us about the dates, but rather, grilled us about where we had our photos taken! But that flight originated in Mexico, not the states. All that said, while you may not have had any problems, there have been some changes in Mexican immigration laws in the last couple of years that at times seem subject to local interpretation. Have a good trip!

NoFlyZone

US citizens returning to the US can use the passport right up to the expiration date. This because there's no chance of them overstaying their visit for obvious reasons.

cabron

It's a US regulation, not a Mexican one, if you're on a US carrier they won't let you board. for example someone flying from England direct to Mexico City would not have to worry about this.

Elainee

Friend not allowed to board since his passport expired one day less than 6 months from his return flight date.

hopefulist

Yeah - we applied for new passportsa year or 2 ago with a week less than 6 months left; I hated to 'waste' that time but didn't want to chance it.

janisj

>>It's a US regulation, not a Mexican one, if you're on a US carrier they won't let you board. for example someone flying from England direct to Mexico City would not have to worry about this.<<

That is not true. Various countries have their own rules re how much passport validity is required to <u>enter</u>.

Mexico requires 6 months. The reason the airline is involved is because they would be responsible for your return to the States IF the mexican authorities denied you entry. That is why they won't let you board if there is a question re passport length/validity

The UK allows folks to enter as long as the passport is valid for the length of the visit.

Brazil only requires a passport to be valid on the date of entry.

Iceland - Three months

Turkey - Eight months

and so on. None of these have anything to do w/ US regulations.

Fra_Diavolo

"Mexico requires 6 months. "

True now, although prior to the "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" in 2010 US citizens didn't even need a passport to visit Mexico, or to reenter the country.

Sometimes things don't get better, just harder!

cabron

"Mexico requires 6 months. "
only if travelling from the USA