8. IMMIGRATION and BORDER CROSSING

If arriving by air, an FMM should be issued on the plane — carry a pen and complete the form while on the plane. If an FMM is not issued on the plane, forms are available inside Cancún airport — complete it before approaching the Immigration counter. The FMM can also be completed on-line, and then printed so it can be carried with you. Here’s the link to the on-line form (complete it within 30 days of your travel date)…https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html

At Cancún airport, hand the completed FMM and your passport to the Immigration Officer. The Officer stamps them and keeps one half of the FMM. The other half is returned and should be kept with your passport because it must be handed back to Immigration upon departure from Mexico. If you lose your half of the FMM, a fee must be paid.

If arriving by air, a Customs form must also be completed (except at Terminal 4 where it is no longer required). The form is usually handed out on the plane; if not, forms are available inside Cancún airport. Customs forms are one form per family living at the same address.

It can be completed online within 3 days of your arrival date in Mexico. Print it and bring it with you. One form per family living at the same address. There is no fee to get or complete the form online. If you land at Cancun Terminal 4, you won’t need the Customs form. Be aware that the on-line Customs form has not always been accepted at some airports.

If arriving in Mexico at a land border, FMM forms are available in the Immigration building. The form can also be completed on-line (use the above-mentioned link).

The FMM allows a maximum stay of 180 days, but it depends on the type of travel, i.e. tourist, transit, work, business, student, etc. The Immigration Officer will write in the actual number of days a visitor can stay. Visitors who check the Tourist (Turismo) box on the FMM should get 180 days. Visitors who check the Transit (Tránsito) box might get fewer days. Note: the form has changed from the image below.

Front & back of the FMM (click on image to enlarge)

>

Payment of the DNI Fee
A fee known as Derecho de No Inmigrante (DNI) or Non-Immigrant Right is associated with the FMM, and in some circumstances it must be paid before leaving Mexico. It’s also known as the Mexican Tourist Tax. The tax is currently 558 pesos or approximately US$25 to $30 (February 2019).

According to the Embassy of Mexico in Belize, all foreign nationals who enter Mexico must pay the DNI fee in three different cases:
1. Visitors who enter Mexico and stay more than seven consecutive days.
2. Visitors who enter Mexico and transit through to a third country regardless of the number of days in Mexico.
3. Visitors who enter Mexico with a Forma Migratoria de Visitante Local (FMVL) border card and stay more than three consecutive days.

Visitors who are exempt from paying the fee include:
1. Visitors who enter Mexico, stay for seven days or less, and return to the country of origin.
2. FMVL border card holders who stay less than 3 days.
3. Residence holders (formerly known as FM2 and FM3).

Most visitors who fly to Mexico don’t have to be concerned about the tax because it is collected by the airline and included with the airfare (so nothing to pay at any airport). For proof of payment, get an itemized receipt from the airline and look for the Mexican Tourist Tax listed with a number of other fees & taxes (airport fees, security fees, sales tax, baggage fees, fuel surcharges, etc.). The Tourist Tax is identified with a “UK” code reference. The list of fees & taxes should also show the Mexican International Airport Departure Tax.

The exception is TUI (formerly Thomson), a charter service in the United Kingdom. TUI does not include the Tourist Tax and the International Airport Departure Tax as part of the airfare, so TUI passengers must pay these taxes as a lump sum at the airport upon departure from Mexico. Beginning in May 2019, TUI will include the taxes with the airfare.

Visitors who enter Mexico at a land border, and need to pay the DNI, must pay it sometime before leaving Mexico. It can sometimes be paid at the border when entering Mexico (make sure a receipt is issued), or at a bank in Mexico (in my experience, it’s only possible with another piece of paper showing the amount), or at the airport before checking-in for a flight departing from Mexico. Currently, when entering Mexico from Belize at the land border, the DNI is paid to a cashier (not an Immigration officer), and a receipt is stapled to the FMM. When checking-in for a flight from Mexico, show the receipt proving that the tax has been paid.

Here are two other points from the website:
QUOTE
3. For entries by land or sea of tourists, intransit travelers and businesspersons, when there are no banking institutions or when it is not during regular working hours or days, the payment of fees is made directly to the immigration authority who should issue the form known as “Comprobante” (a receipt) which is proof of payment.
6. The payments does not have to be done exclusively at BANJÉRCITO but it is the only banking institution that has a branch at the points of entry borders.
UNQUOTE

>

CROSSING THE BORDER FROM CHETUMAL TO COROZAL
On the Mexican side of the border, the crossing location known as Subteniente López is located about 12 km from the centre of Chetumal, and there are now two crossing points each with its own Immigration/Customs buildings and bridge. At the original crossing point, the Immigration booth is less than a couple hundred metres from the original bridge over the Hondo River. A bank Banjército is located at the Mexican Customs compound on the opposite side of the road. In May 2014, new Immigration/Customs buildings were opened about 2 km from the original crossing. The new bridge is a few hundred metres west of the original bridge. International buses use the new crossing. Taxis will probably drop passengers at the new crossing unless told otherwise. Chetumal buses stop at the original crossing point. Check Google Earth for satellite images of the crossing points.

Visitors leaving Mexico must first stop at Immigration. Bus passengers get off the bus, without luggage, and present their passports with FMM to the immigration officer. The Officer will keep the FMM, and stamp & return the passport.

Whenever I have crossed, the Immigration officer has always asked for money. Years ago, it was only 100 pesos or US$10, but now it’s 558 pesos. Beware! This could be a scam. If you know that you have already paid the DNI fee, then there is nothing to pay at the border, and here’s where you have to show the receipt from the airline or bank. THERE IS NO DEPARTURE/EXIT FEE — this has been confirmed by the Embassy of Mexico and the Mexican Honorary Consul in Corozal. Visitors who know that the DNI fee has been paid but can’t prove it, can try arguing (sometimes it works), but I just get back on the bus and continue to Belize. For a laugh, try asking for a receipt. Visitors who have not already paid the fee, will have to pay it at the border.

Proceed across the bridge to Belize. With luggage, enter the Immigration & Customs building. Citizens of Canada, USA and many other countries do not pay any fees when entering Belize, and their passports are stamped allowing a maximum stay of 30 days. Citizens of some countries require a visa which sometimes can be arranged at the border. If not, it must be obtained before entering Belize. Continue to Customs, and then exit the building. Turn right to find buses waiting in the parking area. If you need to change money, several money changers wait near the Immigration Building.

Visitors who want to stay in Belize for more than 30 days can get an extension in Belize. On the last working day before the 30 days is up, go to the nearest immigration office (there’s at least one in each District of Belize) and ask for another 30 days. The passport will be stamped again, allowing a stay for another 30 days. There is a fee for the new stamps; I think it’s currently BZ$50 (US$25) per stamp for the first 6 months, and BZ$100 per stamp thereafter. Some visitors have been asked to show a return or onward ticket. After 12 months, you might be told to leave the country, or asked if you intend to apply for permanent residency. Note that each stamp requires a half page of the passport.

>

CROSSING THE BORDER FROM COROZAL TO CHETUMAL
On the Belize side of the border, the crossing location known as Santa Elena is located about 12 km from Corozal. Buses stop in front of the entrance of the Immigration Building. Visitors leaving Belize enter the Immigration building, without their luggage, and present their passports to Belize Immigration. Visitors who have been in Belize for more than 24 hours must pay a fee of BZ$40.00 (US$20.00), payable in BZ$ or US$ (it`s actually the total of 3 separate fees). This website explains the departure fees:http://www.bmabz.com/

Exit the building, turn right and look for the bus in the parking area. Visitors not returning to Belize should get rid of their Belizean currency because it is difficult to exchange outside Belize — look for the money changers. Passengers re-board the bus and proceed across the bridge over the Hondo River.

The next stop is Mexican Immigration. Visitors get off the bus with their luggage, get an FMM form and complete it. The completed FMM with passport is handed to an immigration officer who stamps them and keeps one half of the FMM. The other half is returned and should be kept with the passport because it must be handed back upon departure from Mexico. Visitors who intend to stay in Mexico for 8 days or more must pay the DNI/Tourist Tax at a separate cashier window — a receipt is issued and stapled to the FMM. After your documents are returned, exit the immigration building, and walk ahead to Customs. After Customs, re-board the bus.

Hi, I have a question: I am going to Belize from Mexico. I want to stay in Belize for a week and then go to Tikal in Guatemala. When I go back to Mexico, I go through Belize. So do I need to pay 2 times the exit fee? After this I only have a couple of days left in Mexico (maybe 4 or 5) before flying back to Europe (flight from Cancun stop over in USA). So I do not have to pay for the FMM fee? Thanks for the information!

When you leave Mexico, you’ll probably have to hand in your FMM tourist card.

No fees to enter Belize, but you pay the departure and PACT fees when you depart (total: BZ$37.50).

You’ll probably be asked for money when you enter & leave Guatemala. I don’t know if these fees are valid, but it’s only a few dollars.

When you re-enter Belize, nothing to pay, but you have to pay the BZ$30 departure fee when you leave. If your time in Belize is less than 24 hours, you don’t have to pay the BZ$7.50 PACT fee.

When you re-enter Mexico, you’ll get a new FMM, but tell the Immigration Officer that your stay will be less than 6 days. Don’t pay the fee at a bank. At Cancun airport, you might or might not be asked to pay the fee.

Visitors to Mexico must pay the Tourist Fee of 295 pesos. Airlines from Canada & USA include the fee with the airline ticket price, but I don’t know about all airlines from UK — you’ll have to find out if the fee is included.

Crossing from Mexico to Belize…
There is no exit fee. If you can’t show that you’ve paid the tourist fee, you might be asked to pay at the border. Even if you have evidence of payment, corrupt immigration officials might try to extort money from you.

Hi, I would travel from Belmopan to Tulum this weekend, but the bus that I want to take will drop me off in Santa Elena. Is there an easy bus at the border to catch to drive me to Chetumal?? Thanks a LOT!

Although the schedules might say the Belizean buses go only to Santa Elena, they should actually terminate at the New Market in Chetumal. The ADO terminal is less than 1 km away from the Market.

If you do get dropped at the Santa Elena border, there is a bus that runs between The border and Chetumal. It looks like the Chetumal City bus shown in Section 7, except coloured white and yellow (if I remember correctly). The fare to Chetumal is 10 pesos.

The bus terminates near the Library (a few blocks east of the Maya Museum). Get a taxi to the ADO terminal for 20 pesos — it’s too far to walk.

Hi there! Just to let you know that chicken bus from Chetumal to Corozal and vice versa cost 20 pesos MX or $4 belizean. Thats official price they charge. I paid more only because didnt know the prices. On the way to Belize you will be asked to pay exit fees 295 pesos unles you can proof you have enter Mexico via plane and paid the exit fees with your plane ticket – print the ticket stating that cost. I showed the printed ticket and didnt pay the exit fee.
That was straightforward.
On the way back again the same price 20 pesos or $4 belizean. Immigration in Belize said that because i wasnt 72hrs in Belize they will have to cancel my visa unles I pay $100 US for paperwork. I obwiously refused giving these bastard a bribe and returned to Corozal for an extra day. I assume that if I pushed it and ask why and on what ground they are concern about 72 hours they would let me go but was too shocked that a supervisor lady with a mole on her face asked me for money.
Day after same trip 20 pesos and this time no questions asked by same belizean immigration fat guy officer. I didnt say a word he didnt say a word – I am sure he rocognised me as he sent me to his supervisor a day before.
Mexican immigration officer gave me 180 days visa without any queston, I didnt pay any fee for my FMM card. Straightforward again.
Just be aware of greedy belizean immigration – otherwise Belize is nice and laid back country – really nice people! made this trip 20-24 of September 2014.
Good Luck!!

I’ve been on the Corozal- Chetumal bus many times and never paid BZ$4. There are official bus fares in Belize, but seldom used. On various trips between Corozal and Chetumal, I’ve paid BZ$2, BZ$2.50 or BZ$3.00 — seems to be whatever the conductor will take.

That Mexico “exit fee” scam has been going on for years. There is no departure fee, but there is tourist fee (now 306 pesos) and I’ve always advised travellers to have proof of payment of the fee to avoid the border scam. When you re-enter Mexico, you get a new FMM at the border, but you will still have to pay the fee sometime before you leave Mexico — either at a bank, or at one of the international airports when you leave.

That’s the first I’ve heard of that sort of scam at Belize Immigration though I’ve experienced some odd questions at the border and heard of some other odd situations from other travellers. Belize Immigration & Customs have always been fair & honest, but it appears things might be changing.

I will be going to Belize from Mexico next week. I have my 180 Tourist Visa and came to Mexico by plane. How do I prove I paid the tax? My form say’s I arrived via a U.S. Carrier and that should be that right? Or will they try and screw me when I leave?

That FMM form/card SHOULD be enough proof that the fee has been paid because Immigration knows that the fee is included with the airline ticket price. But, those border officials still ask every visitor for money.

I carry a copy of the airline receipt — it shows the list of fees & taxes paid. The tourist fee is shown as a “UK” code. I give a copy to Immigration and they stamp my passport and throw it back at me, angry because they didn’t extort any money out of me.

I am leaving San Pedro, Belize by boat to Chetumal Mexico. They now want 28USD when you get there. I was just there, by boat, last month. they only wanted 22USD. So, do they just charge what ever they feel like? I just can not believe the deceit and corruption. Does anybody care? Really makes it hard to want to come here again.

What was the US$28 for? Was it for the water taxi fare, or the departure fee, or something else? I don’t know what you paid or who you paid so I can’t answer your question.

All I can say is that the water taxi company charges the fare for the boat, and they add a “port fee” (I thought it was about BZ$10 but maybe it’s US$10) and don’t ask me what that’s for. I don’t think a receipt is issued for the port fee and I don’t know if it is even a legitimate fee.

When leaving Belize, all visitors must pay fees amounting to BZ$37.50 (or US$18.75) — it’s broken down into the BZ$30 departure fee plus the BZ$7.50 PACT fee. This is a legitimate fee, and at other border crossing points, these fees are collected by Belize Immigration officials.

Did the water taxi company collect the departure fees? If so, it looks like they might have collected the departure fee plus a US$10 port fee for a total of US$28.75, or maybe they just rounded it to US$28.

If you paid only US$22 on your previous visit, that looks like the US$18.75 departure fee plus a lesser port fee to round the total up to US$22.

I sometimes hear of Belizeans who quote prices simply as “dollars”, so an American assumes US$ but the Belizean really meant BZ$. Therefore the American has paid double.

And yes, some people charge whatever they can get away with. There’s no accountability, so why not! Some people do care and complain but nothing gets changed so you have to wonder…

Yea. they are corrupt at the Mexican Border going in and out. I was told to forget the departure tax (There is no departure Tax) because they were going to arrest me for over staying my VISA by 1 day and then deport me to the USA. However, they were willing to forget about it and stamp my U.S. Passport if I paid them a fine of $76. I told them I was tired of traveling so go ahead and deport me but first I have to call the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City to advise them. I also said I only fly “First Class” and stay at 5 Star Hotels. They looked at each other and we bargined until the fine was $25. I asked for a receipt and they laughed. It was 6:00 a.m. and I wanted to get going to Belize City. I have been all over the World and most countries have honest immigration personal. Just figure if you run into a situation like this play it like your buying a used car……….Another Chapter in my life on the road………….

i am from Ghana and am currently in belize city as a tourist i want to also go to mexico as a tourist can i take the bus at the border and i will like to know weather i have to go to the mexican embassy in belize to get the visa

Good evening, I am a Nigerian and i currently Study here in Belize and i have been doing my student permits and extension to make sure i remain legal here in Belize….I plan on going to Mexico to visit a friend for christmas holidays and i want to know if i will be allowed to come back into Belize through the border without any problems as i will still have a valid student permit when i return

Hi Timothy,
Hello Timothy, I am fellow Nigerian living in Nigeria. Please I have difficult getting plane to Belize. Can you tell me the airline you took from Nigeria to Belize?? There is trouble passing through the U.S.A . I will appreciate your response.
Gabriel

i am from Ghana and am currently in belize city as a tourist i want to also go to mexico as a tourist can i take the bus at the border and i will like to know weather i have to go to the mexican embassy in belize to get the visa .

What do you mean by “temporary boarder permit”?
Where are you coming from?
Where are you going?
What is your nationality/passport?

I assume you will be entering Belize? Citizens of many countries (for example Canada, USA, EU, and more) are allowed to enter Belize without applying for a visa before coming to Belize. Citizens of some countries must apply for a visa before coming to Belize and there is a fee for that visa.

Assuming you do not need a visa… when you go through Belize Immigration, your passport will be stamped allowing a stay of 30 days maximum. No fee. That’s it.

Hello Gabriel you have two good options….you can either apply for a US transit Visa in Nigeria which will allow you pass through Houston Texas then to Belize…….OR…. you can Apply for a Mexican Visa…..Mexico is one of the border countries to Belize….What i did was i applied for a German Transit A Visa (Schegen) and then Mexico Transit Visa and then to Belize……I used Lufthansa (German Airline) to Frankfurt……..Then from Frankfurt i took Condor Airline to Cancun Mexico (The 2nd closest city to Belize) and you can take bus from Cancun Mexico to Belize cheaper or you can take Tropic airline 1 hr 30 mins to Belize…………………….Note: German Transit A Visa (1 week Visa) will not allow you enter the secton where you can claim your baggage…..so your baggage might be hard to claim but the Mexico Transit Visa will allow you free access even into the city……(6 months Visa)

Thanks again brother, I don’t know if we can share personer information here. I would love to chat with you over phone , email or Whatsapp to know more about Belize . If possible then let me with info I can use to reach you

I am sorry bro this is a public forum so i cannot leave my personal contact details if you have any questions in your regards to travelling just post here i will get a confirmation on my email…and i will reply as best as i can if you already have the Belizean Visa remember it is only 3 months and you have to do your best to travel as soon as possible

Basically, every time you leave Belize, you must pay the departure fee. But wait, there’s more!

Leaving Mexico: Mexican Immigration will probably ask for money. If you flew to Mexico and have an itemized receipt from the airline, you might be able to avoid that payment (500 pesos) because the airline has already collected the fee. It is shown as the Mexican Tourism Tax (with a “UK” code reference).

Entering Belize: Nothing to pay.

Leaving Belize: The fees have amounted to BZ$40 or US$20 (it’s actually the total of 3 separate fees), but the government has approved an increase to the fee — I don’t know when the increase will take effect.

Entering and leaving Guatemala: You might be asked to pay a few quetzales to the Immigration man — don’t know if that’s valid.

Re-entering Belize: nada.

Leaving Belize: This time you must pay the Departure Fee of BZ$30 (unless the increase has taken effect), but because you will be in Belize for less than 24 hours, you don’t need to pay the PACT fee of BZ$7.50. Don’t know about the Border Improvement Fee of BZ$2.50.

Re-entering Mexico: You get a new FMM tourist card, and must pay the fee (don’t pay at the border). You can pay the fee at Cancun airport before checking-in for your flight. If your time in Mexico is less 7 days or less, you might not have to pay the fee — it depends on what the check-in person decides.

Hi, thank you for answering everyones questions.
I also have a question. Our family of 5 is going to be catching an ado bus from Tulum and we are making our way to San Pedro for 2-3 nights. We’ll catch a water taxi from Do they normally try and charge these rediculous fees per person or 1 big fee for whole family.
I’m kinda getting freaked out and not really wanting to go now.
Also since the water taxi goes from Chetumal to San Pedro, where exactly do we go through customs as Chetumal water taxi terminal still officially in Mexico.
Thanks heaps in advance for your advice. 🙂

Mexican Immigration always tries to scam tourists by asking for money. There is a valid Tourism Tax, and if you entered Mexico by flight, the airline ticket price probably includes the Tourism Tax (Thomson of the UK do not collect the tax) so nothing to pay when you leave Mexico. If you have a copy of the airline receipt, the list of miscellaneous fees & taxes shows the payment of the Tourism Tax. I always carry a copy of the airline receipt and show it to Immigration to avoid the scam. If you can’t prove that you’ve already paid the tax, you can argue as long as you want and see if they give up. The Tourism Tax is per person, but if you have already paid through your airline, you can try to negotiate a lower amount (since it will be a scam in that case).

Mexican Immigration is at the water taxi pier in Chetumal. No Customs to go through when exiting Mexico.

When you enter Belize, Immigration & Customs is at San Pedro.

When you leave Belize, each person must pay departure fees. Up until April, it was BZ$40 (or US$20) per person, but a new government budget increased the fee. Let me know how much you pay.

When you re-enter Mexico, Immigration & Customs are at the water taxi pier. Each visitor gets a new FMM, and each person must also pay the Tourism Tax again. They might ask for it at the water taxi pier, if not, you can pay at Cancun airport.

Hello Question, I am a belizean american. Wanting to go to Merida from Corozal, Belize. I have an american passport, but Belizean Social security. Should I leave on my Belizean SS, but return On my American passport? Also As a Belizean, do I not need a permit to travel into mexico?

I’m not an expert with all immigration issues, but if you are a Belizean citizen, you should obtain a Belizean passport. I don’t think a SS card permits you to travel to Merida. You might be able to go to Chetumal without a passport, but maybe not Merida.

You might be able to use the American passport for the trip, but some countries, for example Australia, have a law which states that citizens of Australia must use an Australian passport for travel out of and in to Australia. You should check Belizean law.

You can use the American passport for entry to & departure from Mexico.

I met a woman who was living in Playa del Carmen — she went to the border, paid some money to Mexican Immigration and got a new FMM without leaving Mexico (she said it was 2000 pesos).

Others usually come to Belize, stay for 1 to 3 days and then re-enter Mexico.

Another person who tried the visa run was not allowed to enter Belize by Belize Immigration. She returned to Mexico and got a new FMM, but it wasn’t for 180 days. If you want to stay in Belize, and don’t want any problems with Immigration, prepare an itinerary with a list of things to do and some hotel/hostel names.

Hello,
we will arrive to Cancun, then we will go to Belize, Guatemala and back to Mexico.
I am confused from the borders fees. So where and how much will we pay? Are there any opening hours on the borders between Mexiko – Belize (Santa Elena), Belize – Guatemala (Melchor en Mencos), Guatemala – Mexiko (La Mesia)

Visitors to Mexico must pay the Mexico Tourism Tax. If you fly to Mexico, airlines (except Thomson of the UK) collect the tax as part of the airfare, so nothing to pay upon departure from Mexico (Thomson passengers must pay the tax when they leave Mexico). Check your airline receipt to see if you have paid the tax.

The Mexico-Belize border is open 24 hours. When you go to Mexican Immigration, they will ask for money — they don’t care whether or not you have already paid the Tourism Tax, and there is no Departure Tax. You can show your airline receipt as proof of payment, and argue as long as you want until someone gives up. Many people just hand over 500 pesos, and continue on their way.

Many visitors do not need a visa to enter Belize. I don’t know your nationality, so can’t say for you. If you don’t need a visa, there’s nothing to pay upon entry, but when you leave, the departure fees amount to BZ$40 (or US$20). Pay at the border. The Belize-Guatemala border is open 24 hours.

When entering & leaving Guatemala, you might be asked for money. I don’t think these are legitimate fees, but at least the amounts are small and most people pay.

When you re-enter Mexico, you will get a new FMM tourist card. You should not have to pay anything at the border when you enter Mexico, but you will have to pay the 500 pesos Tourism Tax when you leave.

Many thanks, so is my understanding well that we should pay 1500 pesos to Mexico (500 pesos after arrival if this amount is not included in boarding pass, another 500 pesos on the border Mexico – Belize, another 500 pesos on the departure because we will have new tourist card FMM).
We are czech nationality. So I think no visa in Belize.
Thank you, Tereza

If the fee is NOT included in your airfare, you must pay it when you leave Mexico — that would be at the Mexico-Belize border in your case. And that’s all you would have to pay at that time. When you re-enter Mexico, you have to pay the fee again at Cancun airport (if that’s where you’re departing from). So a total of 1000 pesos.

If the fee is included with the airfare, you should not have to pay again at the border, but Mexican Immigration will ask for money — this is a scam IF you have already paid the fee. I carry a copy of my airline receipt as proof of payment. When you re-enter Mexico, you have to pay the fee again at Cancun airport (if that’s where you’re departing from). So a total of 1500 pesos unless you avoid the scam at the border.

Correct about the visa for Belize — not required. You just get a stamp in your passport at the border.

Hi there. I found this great article and discussion and want to ask some more things before we make our first trip to Belize from Mexico. We will have a rented car from Mexico, going down for 3 nights and need to know if you have any advice how it works when we enter with a car? I know I need to pay the car insurance for Belize and get the car fumigated or whatever it is called. Now which border is better and less stressfull, less corrupted? The new one west of the town or the old one from the small town? I still can´t picture it in my head how exactly the border looks like and where to stop with my car. I have some very bad experiences crossing borders in central america even without a car. The other thing I need to know if Belize has any official limit of a minimum stay in their country as I have heared some stuff lately that gets me nervouse and the belizean immigration officers are pretty strict. My greater fear is when returning back to Mexico if they let us in. Thanks.

I think both points are equally corrupt, but the original crossing point gets less traffic (trucks & buses are not allowed to use that crossing). At that location, immigration is located in a small booth of the right side of the road. There’s a larger immigration building farther on, on the left side of the road (that’s for visitors entering Mexico). Then the bridge.

The new crossing is very modern looking.

The best way to avoid the scam fee is to bring a copy of your airline receipt which shows the payment of the Tourism Tax, otherwise you can argue as long as you want until someone gives up.

I don’t know your nationality, but visitors from many countries get 30 days when they enter Belize. It’s just a stamp in your passport.

Friends have had problems with Belize Immigration. Some were denied entry because Immigration didn’t think they were bona fide tourists, i.e. they were coming to Belize for a few days in order to return to Mexico for a new FMM. After preparing itineraries of activities and accommodation, they were allowed to enter. If your trip looks like a “visa/border run”, you may be denied entry into Belize. This happened to one friend, and she returned to Mexico immediately, but was given only 30 days on her new FMM.

Hi, thanks for the help in answering my queries a few weeks back. But I was wondering if you can also help me with another. I wanted to do a day trip tour for the Tikal ruins. I was wondering if at border officers at the Guatemalan border will be able to issue just a day trip visa/entry access to Guatemala just for the ruins? I only have tourist visa for Mexico and Belize. I am a Philippines passport holder. Thank you.

I don’t know about immigration requirements for Guatemala, but I wonder about something else.

Since you need a visa for Belize, if you leave Belize, will your visa be cancelled, and then you’ll have to pay for another visa when you re-enter Belize? Plus the departure fees to pay when leaving Belize.

Thank you very much for this very informative article. I took a Thomas Cook flight which according to the article means I won’t have paid the DNI. However, on the flight receipt, under taxes, is the information: UK MXN 558.00. Does this not demonstrate that I have paid the fee? Or is it referring to something else?

All visitors to Mexico must pay the DNI, and most airlines, including Thomas Cook, include the tax with the airfare. That “UK MXN 558.00” is proof that Thomas Cook has collected the tax, so you have paid.

You said, “I took a Thomas Cook flight which according to the article means I won’t have paid the DNI.” You have to pay the DNI, but you don’t have to pay at the airport like TUI passengers have to pay because TUI doesn’t include the tax with the airfare. Your DNI payment is included with the airfare.

Currently, it’s only TUI (formerly Thomson) who do not include the tax with the airfare, so only TUI passengers have to pay at the airport upon check-in for the departure flight from Mexico.

Perhaps there’s some misunderstanding with the term “exit fee”. Mexico does not have a departure/exit tax/fee, and the DNI is not a departure/exit tax/fee.

That amount on the receipt is the DNI or Mexican Tourist Tax — it’s not a departure/exit tax/fee. The “UK” code is proof that it’s the DNI/Tourist Tax.

So, I guess TC said the “exit fee” isn’t included with the airfare because there is no exit fee. There is something called the Mexican International Airport Departure Tax, and that is always included with the airfare (except with TUI). If you have a ticket to fly from Mexico, you should see that listed on the receipt.

When you leave Mexico at the land border (I assume with Belize), Mexican Immigration will ask for money. Since you have already paid the DNI, you do not have to pay anything at the border — there is no exit fee. If they ask for money, it’s a scam. You can try showing the airline receipt — it has worked for me in the past, but Immigtation scammers are ignoring receipts now. I’ve refused to pay, and left Mexico with my half of the FMM and no stamp in my passport. I don’t think some bus passengers even got off the bus (obviously aware of the scam).

When you re-enter Mexico, you get a new FMM at the border and will have to pay the DNI fee somewhere. When entering Mexico from Belize now, the tax is paid to a cashier at the border and a receipt is stapled to the FMM. I don’t know the procedure at the Mexico-Guatemala crossing, but if you don’t pay at the border, you pay at the airport before checking-in for your departure flight.

Great, thanks for the information. Just to clarify, I don’t currently have a flight to return to Europe from Mexico, and was considering leaving through the northern border to the US- please let me know if this changes anything.

So if I just get back on the bus without an exit stamp, or even stay on the bus, no one will stop me from doing so? Might this not complicate my return to the country?

Not having a flight from Mexico really won’t change anything except if you don’t pay the DNI when you enter Mexico, you’ll pay at the border when you leave.

On the way to Belize, the bus driver might want you to get off the bus because I think he gets a cut from the immigration scammers. When the bus stopped at Belize Immigration, I saw the driver counting a large stack of pesos.

Belize Immigration might ask about the missing Mexican stamp. I’ve just said they don’t always give a stamp.

When I returned to Mexico, Immigration aked about the missing stamp, and I just said the officer didn’t give me one. They asked if I had paid the fee, and of course I answered yes — and that’s not a lie because the tax was paid as part of the airfare.

OK, I see. The risk of problems returning to Mexico does worry me, so I will have to decide in the next couple of days if I want to take that risk. Damn them all for this ugly practice. I never experienced this sort of corruption before and it’s a stain on Mexico’s reputation.

Thank you for the update about the Belizean buses from Chetumal. Last year, the buses stopped crossing the border because of vehicle insurance issues — looks like those issues have been sorted out, and the buses have resumed going to Chetumal.

The other things you mentioned have already been mentioned on this website. I’ve crossed at both border crossing points.

Me and a friend took a taxi to the border with a print out showing the UK code for the tax payment. As expected, the man at the roadside cubicle told us we would have to pay him the fee, so we protested quite forcefully that we already had. He invited us to go on ahead and leave but he wouldn’t stamp the passport, knowing we both wanted to return. My friend spoke good Spanish but this didn’t make a difference.

We then walked around the corner to see a bus load of tourists happily shelling out their 558 pesos, and spoke to another guy. He also began by telling us we would need to pay, but we didn’t let up and took us across the road to an office where he eventually stamped our passports, and we got back in the taxi to the Belize side.

So, the moral of the story: be persistent! Find the UK code on your flight ticket, and show that you know what it means. The satisfaction of beating the corrupt little trap they’ve built is reward in itself!

Thanks for sharing your experience — it’s exactly what I’ve been saying for years.

You had one advantage though. Because you were travelling in a taxi, you had the time to stay as long as it took. Some bus passengers don’t have that opportunity, and some have reported that the bus left while they were still inside arguing.