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Do you have to go through customs on a layover in Mexico?

Minimum layover times in Mexico City If you're flying in from the US, deplaning in Mexico City and boarding another flight to, say, Oaxaca, you'll need to pick up your luggage and take it to the next flight, as well as go through customs in Mexico City.



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Assuming that you are connecting (ie. changing planes) from an international flight to a domestic flight, you will always go through customs and immigration at your layover airport. You go through Customs at your first stop in your final country.

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Immigration and customs DO NOT care if you have to connect flights you MUST go through the procedures as any other person. Airline personnel may be able to assist you under special circumstances, please check with your airline if you think you will need their assistance.

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Do You Have To Go Through Customs During A Layover? Customs and immigration are usually required at the connecting airport for international flights. You don't always have to for domestic flights. In most cases, passengers on layover flights must clear customs and immigration at the first point of entry.

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Overall, passengers usually have to re-clear security for connecting flights, though there may be some exceptions depending on the airport and flight itinerary. To make this process easier, checking with the airline or airport ahead of time is recommended.

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You might have to go through customs during a layover, especially if your layover is in the Schengen Area (which consists of most countries in the EU). For example, if your final destination is Paris, France, but you have a layover in Madrid, Spain, you will actually go through customs in Spain, not France.

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After passing through immigration, you collect your bags and proceed to the exit. You will hand the form to the customs agent and press the button on what looks like a traffic light. A green light means “go” and red means “inspection” in which case, officials perform a quick inspection.

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If you checked a bag, you'll have to collect it from baggage claim from the international flight. You'll need to clear customs and immigration.

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A direct flight is identified by a unique flight number. A transit flight, with a connection, has two distinct flight numbers. A flight that is not direct, or connecting flight, involves a change of aircraft.

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To put it simply, having a connecting flight means you will have to change planes. You will not be flying directly from A to B, but there will also be C. You will fly from A to C, and then from C to B. Sometimes there will be more than a single stop.

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Foreign citizens traveling to Mexico must have a valid passport and complete an Official Entry Immigration Form or Tourist Card, prior to entry. The Tourist Card is generally made available to you during your flight into Cancun by the flight staff.

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Since Cancun has smashed its arrivals records in 2021, customs and immigration are experiencing some serious backups. Depending on how many flights are landing at once, you might be through immigration in as little as 10 minutes, but we've seen lineups of over 3 hours. Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.

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What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.

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