Passport and visa
US and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays in Mexico. The Government of Canada lists the limit as up to 180 days, but the number of days is not automatic: the immigration officer decides how long you are authorized to stay, and for a normal villa holiday you may be asked for your return flight and where you are staying.
Mexico requires your passport to be valid for the length of your stay, not six months beyond it. Airlines can apply stricter rules at check-in, so if your passport expires within six months of travel, check with the airline. US citizens need a passport book to fly; the passport card is only valid for land and sea crossings. Every traveler, including babies, needs their own passport.
The FMM tourist permit, now digital
The FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) is Mexico's record of your tourist entry. As of September 2026, air arrivals no longer fill in a paper card. According to the Government of Canada's Mexico page, an officer stamps your passport with the number of days granted or directs you to an e-gate kiosk that prints a receipt, and you then complete and download the digital form (FMMD) from Mexico's immigration institute, INM. Keep a copy on your phone and with your passport.
You may be asked to show your FMM or entry stamp when you leave. If you cannot, you may have to pay for a replacement before departure. The immigration fee for tourists arriving by air is normally included in your airline ticket. Rules have changed several times in recent years, so check inm.gob.mx shortly before you travel.
Embrace It: the Baja California Sur visitor fee
Baja California Sur charges foreign visitors a state fee called Embrace It. As of September 2026, the official portal (embraceit.bcs.gob.mx) lists the 2026 rate as 488 pesos per person, payable once per visit by foreign visitors over 12 years old who stay in the state longer than 24 hours. It is not included in your flight.
Payment is online only, and each traveler receives a QR code by email that can be requested at airports or ports of entry. Pay through the official .gob.mx portal; lookalike sites charge more. Travelers to Cabo San Lucas, San José del Cabo, Todos Santos and La Paz are all covered by the same fee.
Arriving at SJD
International flights land at Terminal 2 of Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), about 28 miles from Médano Beach. After immigration and customs you walk through a hall of timeshare and tour sellers before reaching the exit; pre-booked drivers wait outside. Have your accommodation address and your Embrace It QR code handy on your phone, and keep your passport, entry stamp or e-gate receipt and digital FMM together, because you will need them again when you leave.
Customs: what you can bring
Arriving at SJD, you collect your bags and pass through customs, where a traffic-light button decides whether your luggage is inspected. You must declare goods over the duty-free allowance and cash above US$10,000 (or the equivalent).
- Goods: declare purchases and gifts worth more than US$500.
- Alcohol (18+): up to 3 liters of spirits and 6 liters of wine.
- Tobacco (18+): up to 20 packs of cigarettes, or 25 cigars or 200 g of tobacco.
- Vapes and e-cigarettes: prohibited; customs can confiscate them and impose fines.
- Firearms and ammunition: never bring them without prior Mexican authorization; the penalty is imprisonment. Knives with blades over 6 cm are also prohibited.
- Cash: declare more than US$10,000 in cash or equivalent instruments on arrival and departure.
Traveling with children
Every child needs a passport. Mexico's minor exit form, the SAM (Formato de Salida de Menores), applies to Mexican citizen minors and to foreign minors who live in Mexico when they travel alone or with an adult who is not their parent or guardian. Foreign children visiting as tourists are exempt.
The catch is dual nationality. A child who is also a Mexican citizen is treated as Mexican when leaving Mexico, so if they travel with one parent or another adult, carry the SAM or a notarized consent letter. Even when it is not required, a consent letter from the non-traveling parent is sensible for any child traveling with one parent, because airlines and border officers at home can ask for it. Our Cabo with kids guide covers the rest of a family trip.
Driving down from the US
Driving to Los Cabos on the Baja peninsula does not require a temporary vehicle import permit (TIP); the permit only applies if you take the car to mainland Mexico, including on the La Paz ferry. You do need Mexican auto liability insurance, bought before you cross, because US and Canadian policies are not valid in Mexico. The Government of Canada also recommends an International Driving Permit.
Everyone in the car still needs an FMM: land arrivals complete it at the border or online in advance, and pay the immigration fee unless the stay is seven days or less. Expect military checkpoints along Highway 1; always stop and follow instructions.
Check advisories before you go
Both governments publish Mexico advisories by state and update them for storms and security. Read the Baja California Sur section on travel.state.gov or travel.gc.ca before you fly, and between June and November check our hurricane season guide. For timing your trip, see the best time to visit Cabo.
After the paperwork
Once the paperwork is sorted, the rest is easy: Villa 1 can arrange a private transfer from SJD on request, and the concierge can answer questions before you fly. Read about getting from the airport to Médano, or go straight to booking Villa 1 direct.
