Hello Cancunites We are due to leave in a couple of weeks for your warmer climes. Our travel agent told us we didn't need a passport to enter Mexico from Canada. We did however apply anyway. But such is the way of things we made a mistake on our applications and now they may not be ready by our departure date. About the time we found out they may not be ready we started to hear stories about it being tough to leave Mexico without our Canadian passports. Anyone shed some light on this subject?
I am positive that you will need your passport to get into Mexico, meaning that the airline will be responsible for checking it before you are allowed to board the plane. It would also make sense that Canada would want evidence of citizenship when you arrive back in Canada. I have never heard that you did NOT need a passport in your situation. Heck, Canada now even requires Mexicans to obtain a Tourist Visa in order to visit your country.
Must admit I always thought Canadians didnt need a passport for Mexico in much the same way as those from the US didnt used to, until the US brought in the new law a couple of years back. Any Canadians confirm?
myekun and Steve, I am sure that the US requirement for passports was changed to control who was arriving into the US, not who was leaving. myekun's travel agent may be right. Where are our Canadian friends when we need them? OK, I held up hitting the Submit button. Called my friend David Phelps, an American travel agent living in Cancun, and the answer is Yes, you need the passport.
And then he says: "Mexico does not require Americans to have a passport. The US requires it for re-entry. Therefore you can not leave with out it becasue otherwise you will not be able to get back into the US." Looks like the result is the same. Get it.
Here is the complete answer directly from the Government of Canada Website ------- Entering Mexico Canadians are not required to carry a passport to enter Mexico. However, in order to avoid delays and misunderstandings, we strongly recommend that you travel with a passport valid for six months after your arrival date. It is the only universally accepted identification document, and it proves that you have a right to return to Canada. Mexican immigration authorities recommend the use of a passport to expedite passage through ports of entry and Canadian citizens arriving in Mexico from a third country without a passport may be denied entry. Although a passport is not required for entry into Mexico, most airlines departing from Mexico are now refusing boarding to Canadians returning to Canada without a valid passport. We strongly recommend that Canadians carry a valid passport for all air travel to Mexico in order to ensure they may board their return flight to Canada. By plane Canadians travelling to Mexico by plane will need one of the following documents to be allowed entry: * a valid Canadian passport (strongly recommended) * A Canadian birth certificate AND one valid photo I.D. * A certificate of Canadian citizenship AND one valid photo I.D. Canadian citizens, including children, flying to or through the U.S. must present a valid Canadian passport. Please note that most airlines now require a valid Canadian passport for its passengers for direct flights between Mexico and Canada. You should verify your airline requirements prior to departure. By land or water As of June 1, 2009, if you travel to Mexico to, through or from the United States (by land or sea), you will be required to present one of the following documents at the US border: * A valid Canadian passport; or * A NEXUS card;or * A Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card; or * An enhanced driver's licence (EDL) or an enhanced identification card (EIC) from a province or territory where U.S.-approved EDL/EIC program has been implemented
Thanks Coke, so it's not a legal requirement for Canadians but may well cause problems you could do without if you dont have one.
Correct Steve, Mostly it is the airlines being "over cautious". Since if they allow a passenger to board a flight to Canada without proper entry documents the airline gets fined big time and also has to pay for the return of the rejected passenger back to the country that they originally boarded from. Technically, I believe the same scenario as above is now exactly the same for US citizens going to and returning from Mexico as well.
You WILL need one.....unless you are driving. We're flying Westjet from Toronto to Cancun and need one to travel "through" the US, even tho its a direct flight. (According to our travel agent)
Passport requirements Thank you everyone for the replies. Since my last post we received our passport application back . Not approved because we forgot one item on their checklist. Maybe the worst that can happen is they wont let us leave cancun. lol. Our only option now is to drive to Surrey B.C. (about 5 hours away) where the nearest passport center is, pay an extra 70$ per application and spend the night. We can get our passport in 24 hours that way. Or cross our fingers and toes and hope for the best. Either way 7 days left before we head south
