Entry Requirements

Mexico Visa & Entry Requirements for Cancún Airport (CUN)

Flying into Cancún? Your passport, any visa or residence card you already hold, and how you arrive decide what you need. This guide covers visa-free entry, the SAE electronic authorization, consular visas, the FMM tourist record, the Quintana Roo Visitax fee and customs rules.

Entry rules can change. Always confirm with the nearest Mexican embassy or consulate before you travel.

Up to 180 days
Officer sets your final stay
Digital FMM
Completed on arrival by air
Visitax
State fee for Quintana Roo
Vapes banned
Do not pack e-cigarettes
Start here

Find Your Entry Route

Work through these four routes from top to bottom and stop at the first one that applies to you.

Route 1: Visa-Free Passport

No visa

Who: Citizens of visa-exempt countries such as the US, Canada, the UK, EU states, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

What you need: A valid passport. Your FMM entry record is issued on arrival.

Route 2: Qualifying Visa or Residence Card

Exempt

Who: Any nationality, if you hold a valid visa or permanent residence card from the US, Canada, the UK, Japan or a Schengen country.

What you need: Your passport plus the physical visa or card.

Route 3: SAE Electronic Authorization

Online, air only

Who: Citizens of Türkiye, Russia and Ukraine arriving by air only.

What you need: An approved SAE obtained online before your flight.

Route 4: Consular Visa

Apply in advance

Who: Everyone else, including holders of expired or unsupported visas.

What you need: An in-person visa application at a Mexican embassy or consulate.

Route 1

Visa-Free Passports (Up to 180 Days)

Citizens of many countries can visit Mexico for tourism, transit or short unpaid business without a visa, for a stay of up to 180 days. Examples include:

The Americas

United States, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bahamas, Barbados and Belize.

Europe

EU member states, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra and San Marino.

Asia-Pacific & Middle East

Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Israel.

This List Is Not Complete

Rules vary by passport and change over time. Confirm your own nationality with the nearest Mexican embassy or consulate before booking.

Route 2

Exempt With a Third-Country Visa or Residence Card

If your passport normally requires a Mexican visa, you may still enter without one when you hold one of the documents below. Present the original document together with your passport. Both must be valid for your entire stay.

Valid Visa From

  • United States
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
  • Japan
  • Schengen Area (type C, multiple entry, valid for all Schengen states)

Permanent Residence In

  • United States, Canada, United Kingdom or Japan
  • Any Schengen Area country
  • Pacific Alliance members (Chile, Colombia, Peru)
Please note: an ESTA is not a visa, so it does not count as a qualifying US visa. Temporary or student residence cards generally do not qualify either. Holding a valid document does not guarantee entry.
Route 3

SAE Electronic Authorization

The Sistema de Autorización Electrónica (SAE) lets eligible travellers apply online instead of visiting a consulate, but only when flying in.

Eligible passports
Citizens of Türkiye, Russia and Ukraine
Mode of entry
Air only. Land and sea arrivals need a consular visa.
Validity
Single entry, to be used within 30 days of issue
Application
Online through the official Mexican immigration portal
Airline check
Confirm your airline participates in the SAE system before booking
Arrival
Keep the approval available for check-in and immigration
Route 4

Consular Visitor Visa: Step by Step

If none of the earlier routes apply, you must apply in person before you travel. Approval is at the consulate's discretion.

1

Book an appointment

Request a slot through your nearest Mexican embassy or consulate. Each applicant needs their own appointment.

2

Complete the application

Fill in the visa application form provided by the consulate.

3

Gather your documents

Valid passport, a recent passport-style photo, proof of financial means (bank statements or pay slips) and proof of legal status if you apply outside your home country. Requirements vary by consulate.

4

Attend the interview

Bring your originals, give biometric data and answer the consular officer's questions.

5

Pay the fee

The consular visitor visa fee is about USD 56. The fee is non-refundable if the visa is refused.

6

Collect your visa

Approved visas are placed in your passport. Processing times differ between consulates.

On arrival

FMM Tourist Record & Arrival at Cancún

The Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) is your official record of entry. It is not a visa. It is required for every foreign visitor, in addition to a visa where your nationality needs one.

By Air

Digital FMM

  • No paper form to fill in before your flight
  • The immigration officer checks your passport and sets your permitted stay
  • Your electronic record can be downloaded afterwards via a QR code
  • The fee is normally included in your airfare
By Land or Sea

FMM at the Border

  • Complete and validate the FMM at your first port of entry
  • The 2026 fee is 983 MXN (about USD 54) for longer stays
  • Keep your receipt or record until you leave Mexico
  • Cruise visitors follow separate port rules
Good to know: the officer decides how many days you receive, up to 180. Do not assume you will automatically get the maximum, and check the stay shown on your record.
Cancún specific

Visitax: The Quintana Roo Tourist Fee

Visitax is a separate state fee charged to foreign tourists visiting Quintana Roo, which includes Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres. It is not an immigration or airport charge, and it is not part of your airfare or FMM.

Amount

Reported at about 285 MXN (roughly USD 15) per person for 2026. Amounts and exemptions can change, so check the current rate before you pay.

Proof of Payment

You receive a QR code after paying. Keep it on your phone, because agents may ask to see it at Cancún Airport.

Beware of Fake Sites

Pay only through the official Quintana Roo government channel. Unofficial websites may charge extra.

At the border

Customs, Biosecurity & Allowances

After immigration you will pass through customs. Limits are for adult travellers and may change, so check the latest rules before you pack.

Category Allowance What to do
Cash Under USD 10,000 (or equivalent) Declare amounts of USD 10,000 or more
Alcohol Up to 3 litres per adult Declare anything above the limit
Tobacco Up to 10 packs (200 cigarettes) or 25 cigars Excess is subject to duties
Goods Up to USD 500 when arriving by air Keep receipts for new high-value items
Vapes & e-cigarettes Prohibited Devices and e-liquids can be confiscated
Fresh food & plants Raw meat, fresh produce, seeds, soil Declare or discard before customs
Compare

Types of Mexican Stays

Type Purpose Duration Paid work
Visitor (no paid activities) Tourism, transit, short business meetings, unpaid study Up to 180 days No
Visitor (with paid activities) Short, authorised paid assignments Up to 180 days With prior approval
Temporary Resident Living, working, studying or family stays 1 to 4 years Needs permit
Permanent Resident Indefinite stay for qualifying applicants Indefinite Yes

Resident visas must be requested at a Mexican consulate before you enter. Fees and income requirements vary by category and consulate.

Pre-Flight Checklist

Passport valid for your entire stay in Mexico
Your entry document: visa-free passport, qualifying visa or residence card, approved SAE, or consular visa
Return or onward ticket
Address of your hotel or host in Mexico
Proof of funds, such as cards or bank statements
Visitax QR code for Quintana Roo, saved on your phone
Customs declaration if carrying USD 10,000 or more
No fresh food, plants or vapes in your luggage

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

It depends on your passport. Citizens of many countries, including the US, Canada, the UK and EU states, can visit without a visa. Other travellers may be exempt if they hold a valid visa or permanent residence card from the US, Canada, the UK, Japan or a Schengen country. Everyone else needs a visa or, for eligible nationalities arriving by air, an SAE.

The FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) is Mexico's record of entry for foreign visitors. For air arrivals it is now digital and completed on arrival, so you do not fill in a paper form before your flight. The officer sets your permitted stay and you can download the record afterwards.

For air travellers the fee is normally included in the airfare. For land arrivals the 2026 fee is 983 MXN (about USD 54) for longer stays. Fees can change, so confirm current amounts before you travel.

The SAE (Sistema de Autorización Electrónica) is an online authorization for citizens of Türkiye, Russia and Ukraine arriving by air. It is a single-entry authorization that must be used within 30 days of issue. Land and sea arrivals need a consular visa.

Yes, if the visa is valid and you carry it with your passport. Valid visas from the US, Canada, the UK, Japan and Schengen countries are accepted. A Schengen visa should be type C, multiple entry and valid for all Schengen states. An ESTA is not a visa and does not qualify.

Visitors can be authorised for up to 180 days, but the immigration officer decides the exact number of days at entry. Check the stay shown on your record and plan your return date accordingly.

Visitax is a state fee charged to foreign tourists visiting Quintana Roo, including Cancún. For 2026 it has been reported at about 285 MXN per person. Pay through the official state channel, keep your QR code and note that amounts can change.

No. Visitor status without permission for paid activities does not allow you to receive compensation from a Mexican source. Paid work requires the appropriate visa and prior authorization from Mexican immigration.

Vapes and e-cigarettes are prohibited and can be confiscated. Raw meat, fresh produce, seeds and soil must be declared or discarded, and amounts of USD 10,000 or more in cash must be declared. Alcohol and tobacco have personal allowances.

Officers can ask for your passport, proof of your visa or exemption, a return or onward ticket, accommodation details and proof of funds. Keep these easy to reach, on your phone and in print.