Cabo San Lucas is a dream destination for many travelers. With its beautiful beaches, rich culture, stunning landscapes, and a wide range of family activities, this city has everything you could ever ask for. Whether you’re planning a relaxing vacation or an adventurous getaway, it’s essential to be well-informed about the legal requirements for your trip.
Do you need a passport to go to Cabo?
Yes, all non-Mexican citizens need a valid passport to travel to Cabo San Lucas. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your departure date.
Do you need any extra paperwork to visit Los Cabos?
In this post, you will find all the necessary information about passport cards, visas, and other legal paperwork that is needed for your next adventure in Cabo San Lucas. We will also include valuable advice and recommendations to have the best experience in Mexico, whether you are coming alone or with family.
Cabo San Lucas is the perfect destination
Located at the southern tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico, Los Cabos is one of the most popular touristic destinations. Every year, millions of tourist land here to enjoy the beautiful beaches, explore the underwater world of the Sea of Cortez and its varied marine fauna and discover the vibrant nightlife that the city is known for. Regardless of your age and your preferences, Los Cabos has something to offer.
If you want to enjoy Los Cabos from a different perspective, then you cannot miss the opportunity to take a cruise tour through the Sea of Cortez and its beautiful landmarks. Meet The Arch, Lover’s Beach, Neptune’s Finger, Sea Lion Colony, and more.
Visiting Cabo: Do you need a passport to Cabo San Lucas?
The most important thing to have at hand, if you are traveling to Cabo San Lucas, is a valid passport. It is by far the most crucial document among the entry requirements, and it is important to make sure that it has a validity of at least six months beyond your stay in Mexico. If you are planning your next adventure in Los Cabos, check the passport expiration date and renew it if it is needed.
All tourists, no matter their origin country, need a valid passport to enter Mexican territory. If you are flying here, it is important that is a passport book and not a simple passport card since it is an international air travel. A U.S. passport card is not valid for international air travel.
The only exception to the rule is if you are visiting from the United States or in the case of kids that don’t have passports yet.
Do you need a visa to visit Cabo San Lucas?
As for the visa requirements, travelers from many countries can enter Mexico without a travel visa for tourism purposes for up to 180 days. However, this information can change, so it’s recommended to check the official Mexican government website or the Mexican consulate in your country to confirm visa requirements based on your nationality.
If you pretend to extend your stay for more than 6 months, then you will need a visa to change your status and make it legal.
Cruise Passengers: No Visa Needed
Travelers cruising to Mexican ports enjoy visa-free entry. A valid passport or travel document is sufficient for this type of journey.
What documents do you need if you are flying to Cabo San Lucas?
Before going on your adventure, make sure to pack the following travel documents:
Passport Validity
As we mentioned, it is required that everybody has a valid passport to visit Mexico, and it is a must for international travel. Make sure that your passport is valid beyond your stay at Cabo, and if it is close to expiration, it is best to renew it before your trip.
Can you travel with a passport card? For all international travel, it is recommended to have a passport book. If you are visiting from the U.S., it is possible to travel with a passport card but it is always recommended to bring the passport book.
Tourist card (FMM)
The Tourist Card, also known as the Forma Migratoria Múltiple, is an entry permit that allows you to stay in Mexico for up to 180 days for tourism purposes. The card is provided by the airline, and you just need to fill out the necessary information. Once you arrived, Mexican immigration officials will stamp a portion of the card, which you need to keep with you until your departure.
USA and Canadian travelers do not require a visa for tourism trips lasting no more than 180 days, but need a tourist card.
Return or onward flight ticket
Mexican authorities may ask you to show proof of a return or onward ticket to your country or another country outside Mexico. This is just to make sure that you are not planning to stay and that your visit is only for tourism reasons. Remember that you only have 180 days allowed as a tourist, and in case you planned to stay longer, you will need a visa.
Travel Insurance
This is an optional requirement. It is not mandatory for entering Mexico, but it is recommended. This is just to cover any medical emergency, flight cancellations, or any inconvenience during your trip to Cabo San Lucas. Having travel insurance can make your experience much better and assure you that everything is taken care of.
Traveling to Cabo San Lucas with children and minors
Traveling with kids and minors requires additional documentation. If you are planning your next trip with the family, make sure to double-check and make sure you have the next documents. Also, keep in mind some considerations before your trip regarding the situation in which the kid is traveling.
Passport or identification
For most international traveling, kids need a passport. However, to enter Mexico, it is not necessary for minors to have a passport. Minors can enter with a birth certificate or naturalization papers. However, if you are already flying, you will probably have a passport and that will be more than enough.
Parental consent
If a minor is traveling with only one parent or legal guardian, it is recommended to carry a written permission or notarized letter of consent from the non-accompanying parent or guardian. This permission should include authorization to travel abroad and specific dates and destinations.
In cases of sole custody or legal guardianship, it’s essential to carry relevant legal documents as proof.
Unaccompanied minors
If the minor is traveling without both parents or legal guardians, then it is important to check the airline for specific documentation. Each airline might require different paperwork.
Minors can travel alone to Cabo, however, those under the age of 16, will need to present written permission signed by both parents or legal guardians. This also needs to be signed by local police, a notary, or an embassy to certify its validation.
This is also the case for minors traveling with adults other than parents or legal guardians.
Traveling with non-parent relatives
In case the minor is traveling with family but not parents, then they need to present a permission or notarized letter of consent from the parents or legal guardians with the relatives. It is also important to add valid documentation that proves the relationship between the adult and the kid.
Tourist Card (FMM) for minors
Kids also need a tourist card, which will be provided by the airline, and it should be kept safe until departing Cabo.
Vaccination requirements for kids
It is important to check if your kid needs a specific vaccine before traveling to Cabo San Lucas. Some vaccinations might be required for children to avoid regional diseases. Consult with your doctor and also with immigration to make sure your kid has all the needed vax.
Legal requirements if you are visiting Cabo San Lucas from the U.S
If you are traveling to Cabo from the United States, then you have different options to enter Mexico. The Mexican consulate always recommends traveling with your US passport book, but you can also use alternative identification papers.
This recommendation is not to enter Mexico, but to go back to the United States. As you probably know, migration policies with the Mexican border can be strict, so it is best to have your US passport book and any other real ID. Verify with relevant authorities what are the legal requirements to travel and come back before your trip so you can assure that your experience here will go smoothly as possible.
Can I go to Cabo San Lucas without a passport?
Yes, if you are traveling from the United States, it is possible to enter Mexican territory without a passport. Instead of it, U.S citizens traveling to Cabo can present the following identification papers:
- Driver’s license, or any other photographic ID that is validated by the State.
- Birth certificate
- Citizenship card
- Voter registration card
- Certificate of naturalization
For a smooth experience, keep a physical or digital copy of travel documents separate from the originals.
What documents do you need if you are driving to Cabo San Lucas?
Driving to Mexico can be an incredible and fun experience. To enter Mexico, you will need a passport or any other identification document, like a driver’s license or birth certificate. Even though entering Mexico is not a problem, you need a passport or at least one valid form of identification to re-enter the U.S., so it is always recommended to have your paperwork at hand.
Cabo is situated over 1,000 miles south of San Diego. For this, it is necessary to make a stop at an INM (National Migration Institute) for an entry permit. This permit is a Tourist Card (FMM), and you need a passport to receive it. The fee for the FMM is usually included in the airline ticket price.
Keep in mind that if you are driving, your driver’s license is only valid for up to 180 days. You can use your home country’s driver’s license, but it is also recommended to have an International Driving Permit (IDP). Not only this will give you extra identification but also will help you in case you need it at any checkpoint along your route.
Explore the Sea of Cortez with a La Isla Tour excursion
Cabo San Lucas has a lot to offer, and one of the best ways to discover it is by taking a cruise to explore the Sea of Cortez. At La Isla Tour, we have planned the best excursion to enjoy the ocean to the fullest.
If you are looking for a great family activity, you cannot miss our snorkeling tour. We will cruise around the best spots to find many tropical fishes, sea turtles, sea lions, stingrays, and more! We include snorkeling gear and paddle boards so you and your family have fun.
For a relaxing time, we have a whale-watching tour that will be an unforgettable experience having close encounters with these marvelous animals. But, if you just want to enjoy the sunset, you cannot miss out sunset cruise that navigates around the landmarks of Los Cabos.
All of our tours include snacks and drinks, so you only worry about having fun!
Plan your event with La Isla Tour and throw a party in a luxury Catamaran
If you are planning your next big event, you cannot miss the opportunity of hosting it in a luxurious sailboat in Cabo San Lucas. With us, you can plan birthday parties, weddings, vow renewals, proposals, friends and family getaways, and more! You decide what to do, and we take care of the rest.
Our luxurious boats are equipped with everything you need for your event. We include an open bar, and gourmet food prepared by a renowned Mexican chef onboard to delight all your guests. All of these while we cruise around the most beautiful places in the Sea of Cortez.
Contact us now!
