Need a Passport for Mexico???
 

Help! Do I need a passport or is a certified birth certificate still a valid form of ID to travel to Mexico on a cruise departing from LA. I was told a b.c. is sufficient, and I have heard that a b.c. is no longer sufficient. <BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>Amy

To be certain, why not ask the cruise line or the US Passport Office?<BR><BR>Even if they say a birth certificate is all you need, I personally wouldn't leave the US without a passport. It's getting back in that would concern me.

This is from the Mexican embassy site:<BR><BR>I'm planning to travel to Mexico. Do I need a passport? <BR><BR>We strongly advise all Americans traveling to Mexico to do so with a passport. In addition to providing conclusive proof of citizenship and identity, having a passport will facilitate bank and credit card transactions. You can find the location of the nearest Passport Agency on the web. <BR><BR>However, American citizens can also enter Mexico with government-issued ID together with conclusive proof of citizenship: a certified copy of your birth certificate (if you were born in the United States), a certified copy of your Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or your original Naturalization certificate. <BR><BR>American citizens do not need to apply for a tourist visa before leaving. On entering the country as a tourist, you will be given a blue tourist card that serves as your visa. This visa will indicate the length of time you are allowed to stay in Mexico--usually 90 days. <BR><BR>Americans who travel to Mexico for other purposes (such as work, study, business, religious activities or permanent residence) will need a Mexican visa. You can review visa requirements on the web page of the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C.<BR>

My brother-in-law used a certified birth certifcate to go to Mexico. No problems.

Amy - When you get back, please tell us what happened with your passport/bc experience so others can benefit. Thanks.

all you need it a birth certificate raised seal. and picture ID. A passport is not required.

Although not needed for entry into Mexico/Canada,a passport is easy to get and affordable.It lasts 10 years.It is the single best proof of citizenship.

I saw a gate agent deny boarding to a man going from US to Canada because he didn't have a passport or certified birth certificate. She said &quot;anyone can get a driver's license&quot;. I'd get the passport just to be safe.

Absolutely, a driver's license can prove identity but is no evidence of citizenship.

I'm sure that you've long since come and gone, but I wanted to add that a passport just plain makes things easier, in Mexico and the Carribean, too. Often there are separate lines upon entering the country for those with passports and those without, and the passport lines tend to be shorter and faster moving by a mile.

I realise this is long done, but I have a friend who went to Mexico to study without a passport and was not able to return to the US! For several weeks while it was worked out! I would always take a passport-its the best form of identifiation.

Hi everyone......I am going to Juarez mexico next week to have dental work done. I will be staying in El Paso. A freind of mine went in February and she said all she needed was drivers license. She said she was told that you only need a passport if you are going further than 18 miles into Juarez or staying longer than 72 hrs. I'd like to know if this is still the same. I see quite a few here have been to Juarez and am hoping someone can relieve my worries about this.....as I know I dont have time to get a passport now. We are flying out from Atlanta to El Paso next thursday. Any info would be soo much appreciated. I do have my birth certificate and marriage license as of course my name is different from birth due to getting married. I dont know if that will be good enough. Or if anyone here knows of an Official with a phone number that I could call to double check on this....that would be great.
Reading all this I do realize and would feel safest with a passport, but dont think I can get one in time. I would surely not want to get into Mexico and not be able to get back into El Paso!! Anyways, thanks for any and all advice.
Misty196264