Carrying passport/tourist visa

Anyone know the Mexican law about needing to carry my passport and/or tourist visa wherever I go?

kb9gzg wrote:Anyone know the Mexican law about needing to carry my passport and/or tourist visa wherever I go?

You're thinking like someone traveling in Arizona.    

For sure, if you having any kind of notarial work done and have to sign papers or appearing in any judicial/court/administrative government setting where you are a participant or witness of any sort.
Of course, entering or leaving the country, and if you are a foreigner working in Mexico, it's not a bad idea to carry your papers on the job in case INM makes a visit....it would save a lot of hassle.

Shopping at Walmart......naaahh

What is your immigration status? If you have a temp / perm visa get a Mexican driver license so you will always have Mexican ID to carry around where if it is lost or stolen the consequences are slim in comparison to losing your visa or passport. Carrying certified copies of your visa and passport in your car is a good idea. You only need to show the originals to immigration officials if they request it or if you are traveling out of the country.

Thanks, everyone. I'm just visiting for three months; no car, and no need for Mexico driver's license. We walk or ride the bus. Was thinking that I read somewhere that we should always carry passports or a photocopy. Consensus seems to be that's it's no big deal just for wondering around.

it isn't. carry it and loose it and then it becomes a real big deal.

If you are visiting then carry a copy of your passport and tourist visa.

Muchas gracias, again!

Where/how do you get a certified copy?

Notario Publicos do certified copies, cost is usually 50 or 60 pesos a page. You will need to bring original document.

Thanks Spencer!

About two weeks ago, while staying in a friend's apartment in Morelia, I heard loud knocks at the door. It was from two, uniformed INM agents. They were looking for someone I don't know. They courteously asked to see my passport (U.S.) and my visa card (RP). Then they photographed those documents. After some discussion of why we were there, they told me that they had no issues with us, and we shook hands and bid each other goodbye.

A couple of years ago, while returning by bus from Mexico City to Pátzcuaro, we stopped next to the Zinapécuaro toll plaza. Tho INM agents boarded and inspected all the passengers' documentation.

I was glad to have always carried my passport and visa card with me. (I keep them tucked away in a secret pouch.)

If you are a US citizen, when you renew your passport you can now get the regular book passport and also, for an extra $40 I think, you can get a wallet-size passport card, which I carry all the time, as I like to have my ID on me "just in case."

JayBear wrote:If you are a US citizen, when you renew your passport you can now get the regular book passport and also, for an extra $40 I think, you can get a wallet-size passport card, which I carry all the time, as I like to have my ID on me "just in case."

Thanks, I just renewed my passport so I can come to lake Chapala and am now glad I bought the passport card you mentioned. Still waiting on receiving my passport, should be soon! Bill

BILLBOGEY wrote:

JayBear wrote:If you are a US citizen, when you renew your passport you can now get the regular book passport and also, for an extra $40 I think, you can get a wallet-size passport card, which I carry all the time, as I like to have my ID on me "just in case."

Thanks, I just renewed my passport so I can come to lake Chapala and am now glad I bought the passport card you mentioned.  Still waiting on receiving my passport, should be soon!  Bill

Finally got the Passport and Passport Card. It seems easy to just carry the Passport Card. BB

Don‘t forget to carry your visa, too.

RVGRINGO wrote:Don‘t forget to carry your visa, too.

Thanks, I guess I can just make a black and white copy to carry?

Officials will not accept copies unless they are notarized by a Mexican Notario.   DO NOT make color copies, which are considered counterfeiting and can result in serious trouble.

We always carried our visa cards in our wallet. They are the only true official ID for an expat/immigrant.  A tourist really should have his FMM handy near where he is staying & his passport if he is not very close to his digs.

That is generally the case anywhere in the world.

BILLBOGEY wrote:

RVGRINGO wrote:Don‘t forget to carry your visa, too.

Thanks, I guess I can just make a black and white copy to carry?

No it must be done by a notary and have stamp and such stuff on back of copy of visa to be useful as an ID. Without notary stamp its a piece of paper.