Travelers Quarantine In Mexico: What's The Latest?

does mexico quarantine travelers

Mexico is open to visitors from around the world, with commercial flights operating in and out of the country. However, there are no mandatory testing or self-isolation requirements upon arrival. Instead, the country has implemented a four-tier colour-coded traffic light system that corresponds to the level of COVID-19 transmission in each state. The levels range from green, where COVID-19 is least severe and restrictions are at their lowest, to red, where COVID-19 is most severe and restrictions are at their highest.

While there is no mandatory quarantine for travellers, those who show signs of COVID-19 upon arrival may be asked to voluntarily quarantine. Additionally, travellers entering Mexico by land from the US may be denied admission if the purpose of their visit is considered non-essential.

Characteristics Values
Travel restrictions Mexico is open to travelers from all around the world. However, the US-Mexico land border is closed to non-essential travel until at least November 21, 2021.
Testing requirements No COVID-19 test is required to enter Mexico.
Quarantine requirements Quarantine is not mandatory for travelers arriving in Mexico.
Health screening Health screenings, including temperature checks, are conducted at airports and land borders.
Face masks Masks are required in some parts of the country.
Social distancing Social distancing is encouraged.
Travel insurance Travel insurance is not mandatory but is highly recommended.

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No quarantine or testing required for entry into Mexico

Mexico is open to visitors from around the world, and travellers can enter the country by air, sea, or land. There are no quarantine requirements for those entering Mexico, and no mandatory testing is needed to enter the country. However, the Mexican government has implemented a four-tier colour-coded traffic light system that corresponds to the level of COVID-19 transmission in each state.

Entry Requirements

To enter Mexico, travellers need a valid passport book. US citizens can use a passport card to enter the country via land or sea, but this is not valid for air travel. Passports must be valid for at least six months after the planned departure date.

Upon arrival in Mexico, travellers will need to complete a Mexico Visitor's Permit (Forma Migratoria Multiple or FMM). This can be obtained from the National Migration Institute (INM) office. The INM may permit tourists to stay up to 180 days without a visa, but tourists must confirm the specific length of the authorised stay written on the entry permit.

Health Requirements

No vaccination records are required to enter Mexico, and no negative COVID-19 test is needed. However, travellers may face health screenings at airports or land borders, including temperature checks. Anyone who shows signs of COVID-19 upon arrival may be asked to voluntarily quarantine.

Travel Insurance

Although not mandatory, travel insurance is highly recommended when travelling to Mexico. An insurance plan can cover inpatient and outpatient hospital stays, medical emergencies, prescriptions, urgent care, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, COVID-19 treatment, and more.

Land Border Restrictions

It is important to note that the land border between the United States and Mexico remains closed to non-essential travel until November 2021. Travellers entering Mexico by land from the United States may be denied admission if the purpose of their visit is considered non-essential.

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US citizens must present a valid passport

Travellers entering Mexico by land should have a valid passport book or card. If you enter Mexico by land and plan to travel beyond the immediate border area (approximately 12 miles or 20 kilometres into Mexico), you must stop at an INM office to obtain an entry permit (Forma Migratoria Multiple or FMM).

Mexican authorities can impound a vehicle that enters the country without a valid US registration, or a vehicle driven by a Mexican national who is not resident in the United States.

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US citizens can use a passport card to enter via land or sea

US citizens can use a passport card to enter Mexico via land or sea. This is a convenient and cheaper alternative to the traditional passport book. The passport card is wallet-sized and includes information such as the owner's full name, nationality, place of birth, gender, dates of issue and expiration, a unique ID number, and a photo.

To use the passport card at a US-Mexico land border, go to a lane that has the Ready Lane logo, keep your passport card in hand, display it, and go to a CBP officer.

Please note that air travel to Mexico requires a passport book.

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Mexican land border with the US closed to non-essential travel

The Mexican land border with the US was closed to non-essential travel in March 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The US government imposed the restrictions, which banned tourists, including Mexican nationals with valid visitor visas, from crossing into the US. US citizens and legal permanent residents were, however, permitted to cross by foot or by car.

The restrictions were imposed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and were extended multiple times throughout 2020 and 2021. In June 2021, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the restrictions would remain in place until at least 21 July 2021. The land border was closed for non-essential travel for over a year, causing significant disruption to businesses and individuals on both sides of the border.

On 20 October 2021, the Department of Homeland Security announced that, from 8 November 2021, fully vaccinated travellers would be able to enter the US via the land border for non-essential travel. From January 2022, all travellers, regardless of whether their travel is essential or non-essential, must be fully vaccinated to enter the US via the land border.

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US citizens need a negative COVID-19 test to re-enter the US

As of June 10, 2022, the Biden administration has lifted the COVID-19 testing requirement for air travellers entering the US from a foreign country. This means that, as of midnight on Sunday, June 12, 2022, you no longer need a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the US by air. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends that passengers take a COVID test prior to flying (no more than three days beforehand) and do not travel if they are sick.

Previously, all airline passengers aged two and older were required to provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel or documentation from a licensed healthcare provider confirming recovery from COVID-19 within the previous 90 days. This rule applied to US citizens, as well as foreign nationals, regardless of vaccination status. The CDC had also recommended that travellers get tested again three to five days after arriving in the US and quarantine at home for seven days post-travel.

The CDC will re-evaluate its decision in 90 days and, subsequently, on an ongoing basis to determine if the requirement needs to be reinstated. A Biden administration official stated: "If there is a need to reinstate a pre-departure testing requirement — including due to a new, concerning variant — CDC will not hesitate to act."

Frequently asked questions

No vaccination records are required to enter Mexico.

No, Mexico is one of the few countries in the world that doesn't require mandatory testing or self-isolation upon arrival. However, anyone who shows signs of COVID-19 upon arrival may be returned to their country of origin or asked to voluntarily quarantine.

To enter Mexico, you will need a valid passport and a completed Mexico Visitor's Permit. If you are travelling by air, you will also need a Mexican Tourist Card (FMM).

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