A Mexican Tourist Permit (FMM, or Forma Migratoria Múltiple) is a migratory form that allows foreigners to legally enter and stay in Mexico for up to 180 days for tourism or other short-term purposes. Foreigners arriving by air receive a digital FMM (FMMd) and can also get a paper version or a digital one online. For land border crossings, an FMM can be completed online in advance. It is crucial to keep the FMM (or its digital record) and surrender it upon exiting Mexico.
Important: You must surrender the FMM when you leave Mexico. Mexican Immigration electronically records your entry into Mexico. If you leave Mexico without turning in your FMM at the border, they may be fined for the number of days from the date of expiration and the date of return, which can be costly.
Losing the form can cause problems and you should carry proof of your exit date, like plane tickets.
Key facts about the FMM
Purpose: It is a temporary immigration document, not a visa, that allows for stays of up to 180 days, depending on the immigration authority’s decision.
Who needs one: Most foreign visitors who are not Mexican citizens or permanent residents need an FMM. Short stays (six days or less) by land may be exempt.
How to Receive an FMM
By Air: You receive a digital FMM (FMMd) after your passport is stamped at the airport, and you can access it online later. Your airlines automatically adds a $35 fee to all incoming passengers, which the airlines pays to Mexican Immigration. While this is seen as excessive for both returning Nationals and foreign residents who should not have to pay for re-entry, there is currently no recourse.
By Land: You can complete an electronic FMM online up to 30 days before your arrival, or you can enter the Immigration office at the border and pay for your FMM.
There are No FMM Extensions
Visitors Permits (FMM) cannot be extended or renewed. You must leave Mexico within the time frame given to you by the official at the entry port. If you overstay the time you were granted on your visitors permit, you will need to visit an immigration office, or the immigration kiosk at the airport, and pay a fine before you can leave the country.
Note: Due to the immigration problems brought about by the current USA administration and the Conservative Project 2025 Agenda many Mexican Immigration officials are biased toward retaliation. The comprehensive, nearly 1,000-page Project 2025 policy agenda is an operational blueprint for a future conservative presidential administration. Led by the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation and involving over 100 other conservative organizations, its central goal is to expand presidential power, “dismantle the administrative state,” and implement a sweeping ultra-conservative policy vision across the federal government. The agenda calls for mass deportations, ending birthright citizenship, dismantling the asylum system, and increasing funding for a border wall between Mexico and the USA.
The amount of the fine depends on how long you have overstayed and is completely at the discretion of the Immigration official. Normally, it is calculated on a per-day basis beginning at $600 pesos and upwards to approximately $6000 pesos. There have been reports by USA citizens paying a much higher fine to leave Mexico or face deportation. The exact amount can differ based on individual circumstances and the specific immigration office you deal with at your departure airport, so it’s best to go to the immigration office at the airport with enough time to pay before your flight. You will likely have to pay the fine in cash.
