A valid passport book is required to enter Mexico by air, and those attempting to enter at an airport with a U.S. passport card only may be denied admission.
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The U.S. passport card may only be used for international travel by land or sea between the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) accepts the passport card as ID for domestic flights. Use the passport card when entering the United States at land-border crossings and sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. Do not use it for international air travel.
Instead, they can use other WHTI-compliant documents like their passport cards, green cards, and trusted traveler cards. The documents used should show your proof of identification and U.S. citizenship. So, if you are unsure about what documents to present, you should check with Mexican authorities before traveling.
To clarify, U.S. citizens entering Mexico must present proof of citizenship (such as a certified copy of a birth certificate), photo ID and proof of sufficient funds. A passport and visa are not required of U.S. citizens entering Mexico for tourism or for transit for stays of up to 90 days.
Your passport only needs to be valid for the duration of your trip. However, you'll find it difficult to apply for the correct entry permits (FMM Card) if your passport is close to its expiry date. As a rule of thumb, it's best to ensure that your passport is valid for at least 3 months after your intended trip.
A passport card is valid identification for travel by land and sea only — and only for trips to and from certain countries, as noted by the U.S. Departement of State. It's smaller and less expensive than a passport book.
Travel destinationThere are no limitations for destinations where you can use your passport book. Passport cards, however, can only be used going through a land border or seaport in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
If you are traveling when you run out of passport pages, you will still likely be able to return to the U.S., but you won't be able to continue on to other countries. If you need to travel on to other countries and are running out of pages while abroad, you should visit the local U.S. embassy or consulate.
Answer: No, you cannot travel internationally without a valid passport. Photocopies of passports are not acceptable. If you need your passport to travel internationally and do not have time to wait for routine processing, then you can apply for expedited passport renewal. By mail, this process takes 2-3 weeks.
All citizens of the United States must present a valid passport when entering Mexican territory by any means of transportation. There are no exceptions for minors. Stays less than 72 hours within the border area, do not require an Official Entry Immigration Form (FMM).
Update: All airports have been removed from the FMM requirements. The Tourist Card (FMM) is no longer needed for visitors arriving by Air. For years, all tourists arriving in Mexico have been required to fill out their FMM form to get a tourist card.