If you are a tourist from the United States or Canada willing to enter Mexico and travel over 72 hours in that country, you will have to procure a Mexican Tourist Permit (FMT). A consular sheet outlining this is available at the US Mexico Travel website. It is, for all practical purposes, an informal "visa" that has to be filled out by you, and stamped by a Mexican immigration officer. Those who hold American, Australian, Canadian, British/EU Member Country, New Zealand, and Israeli passports do not need a visa to enter Mexico. It is best for holders of other passports (including those who are citizens of one of the ten new EU Member Countries, i.e., Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Cyprus & Malta) to contact their local Mexican Consulate for details of visa requirements. The Mexican passport, one must remember, should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months, no matter how long one intends to stay. The Mexican Visitor's Permit is a simple form that can be picked up from the check-in counter at the airport and filled out in the plane before you land. In case the airline you are using cannot offer you a Mexican Tourist Permit on board or at check-in, you can easily collect one after landing in Mexico and then fill it out and have it stamped by the officials at the airport. If you enter Mexico by land and travel beyond the 35km "free" zone, you are required to pay the tourist permit fee and complete the FMT Tourist Visa.

In addition to leisure tourists, the Visitor's Permit has a section for Business Travelers also. If you want to visit Mexico on business, or represent a company in Mexico, and you hold a U.S., Australian, Canadian, British/EU Member Country, or New Zealand passport, you can use the same permit as that used by Tourists and fill out the section earmarked for Business Travelers. Those who plan to work / live in Mexico for a time will need to apply for a business visit permit known as an FM3. It is valid for one year at a time and enables the visitor to live, work and do business in Mexico, provided they fulfill certain criteria. You can obtain an FM3 once you furnish a letter to the consulate from your employer stating certain facts and details about the purpose and duration of the visit. You also have to fill out a Customs Declaration Form, which the airline will give to you before you land. You can get these forms also at ports of entry.

Mexico recognizes driving licenses from other countries and international licenses. Although no vehicle permit is needed to visit Baja, you will need one to travel into mainland Mexico. You will also require Mexican insurance. As far as your medical and health insurance are concerned, you should better contact your provider to find out if they cover you there also. Mexican customs normally allows you to bring your personal luggage, personal belongings and up to US$50 of merchandise if you enter by land. There are some exemption if are traveling with your other family members.

Currently all passengers, US citizens included, must hold a valid passport for traveling to the US by air. US citizens can no longer use their birth certificate o driver's license to enter the US by air from Mexico. From Mexico, you can bring back to the US belongings that you took with you on your trip and not more than US$800 in items acquired outside of the U.S.