As the world closely monitors the widely talked about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), keep checking back for travel-related information and updates affecting travel to and from Mexico.
UPDATE: December 24th, 2021
Country-Specific Information:
As of December 13, 2021, 27 of 32 Mexican states are “green” in the national stoplight system. This means that there is a low risk of contagion and economic activity has resumed almost to normal levels. Face masks are still recommended, and still required to enter most establishments and to ride public transportation.Temperature checks and hand sanitizer stations are still being used at the entrance to most establishments.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
Vaccination and COVID-19 testing is not required to enter Mexico.
Proof of vaccination is required to enter the United States from Mexico via the land border if your travel is deemed non-essential (i.e. tourism). Essential workers can cross the land border into the United States without showing proof of vaccination until January of 2022. Starting in January, everyone crossing into the United States by land will be required to show proof of vaccination.
Mexican immigration officials are tightening the rules on tourism, now issuing shorter FMM visas. For many years Mexican immigration has given everyone a 180 day tourist visa when traveling to Mexico, but recently immigration officials have started checking return tickets and issuing visas only for the specific number of days of your trip. Be prepared to show your return ticket when you arrive in Mexico and go through the immigration line in the airport.
Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Requirements:
The United States requires COVID-19 tests for all air passengers age 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status and air travelers must show proof of a negative test taken within 24 hours of flying along with their printed and filled out attestation form. Travelers who have recovered from COVID-19 in the last 90 days can show their positive test result and a letter from a healthcare professional that indicates that they are cleared for travel.
Canada is requiring all travelers age 5 and older to provide a negative molecular test result taken within 72 hours of their scheduled flight. PCR, NAT/NAAT and RT-LAMP tests are accepted, while rapid antigen tests are not. Travelers must keep proof of their test results for 14-days after entering Canada.
Fully vaccinated travelers no longer have to quarantine for 14 days when arriving in Canada, but they do need to enter their travel information, proof of vaccine, and quarantine plan (in case of a positive test result) using the ArriveCAN app. Your quarantine plan will be assessed by Canadian border agents upon arrival. If they deem your quarantine plan unsuitable, you can be denied access to Canada.
UPDATE: January 13th, 2021
Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Requirements
The Government of Canada has recently introduced the entry requirement that all airline passengers aged 5 and over will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days of their scheduled departure to Canada.
The CDC has announced that starting on January 26th, 2021 all international airline passengers aged 2 and up must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before boarding flights to the United States from Mexico. The tests must be taken no earlier than 72 hours prior to boarding their flight.
Tafer Hotels & Resorts is happy to advise that we offer on-site pre-departure COVID-19 testing for a discounted rate to guests staying at our resorts in order to help travelers comply with these new mandates. Testing can be co-ordinated and paid for upon check-in.
UPDATE: April 24, 2020
Health Alert
- International commercial flight options currently exist in Mexico. U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States should make commercial arrangements as soon as possible unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. The U.S. government does not anticipate arranging repatriation flights in Mexico at this time.
Country-Specific Information:
- Mexico confirmed 15,529 positive cases of COVID-19 within its borders as of April 27. Authorities continue to investigate additional suspected cases. The Mexican Ministry of Health (Spanish) publishes daily updates on the number of cases.
- On April 21, the Mexican government announced the start of Phase 3 of the pandemic, meaning widespread community transmission, thousands of cases of infection, and increased numbers of patients requiring hospitalization.
- Please see the latest information about the status of consular operations including routine appointments and emergency services.
UPDATE: April 21, 2020
The Mexican government is implementing the following measures until May30 in most municipalities.
- The Mexican Ministry of Education has closed all schools from March 20 until May 30 in most municipalities.
- The Mexican government is implementing the following measures until May 30 in most municipalities.
- Suspension of non-essential activities in the public, private, and social sectors. Essential activities include medical services and supplies, public safety, fundamental economic functions, government social programs, and critical infrastructure.
- Suspension of meetings of 100 participants or greater.
- Practice good hygiene such as frequent hand washing and social distancing.
- Voluntary home isolation by all those not involved in essential activities.
- Strict home isolation of persons over age 60 or with high risk medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, compromised immune system, pregnant, or post-partum.
- The Mexican government will issue guidelines for staggered and regional returns to work, economic, and social activities.
- All electoral processes, censuses, and surveys are postponed until further notice.
- All measures will be implemented with strict adherence to human rights.
UPDATE: April 16, 2020
Entry and Exit Requirements: Health authorities in several Mexican border states are discouraging all visitors from traveling to Mexico over the Easter week.
- Beyond standard travel documentation, travelers to Mexico do not require any additional documentation to enter or exit.
UPDATE: April 01, 2020
Entry and Exit Requirements: Authorities of the state of Nuevo Leon are conducting mandatory health screening of travelers arriving from the United States. Travelers should expect significant delays and face the possibility of being forced to return to the United States or being kept in quarantine in Mexico.
- Authorities in Sonora began temperature checks of southbound pedestrians and motorists at the San Luis Río Colorado, Nogales, and Agua Prieta ports of entry. Such screenings might be conducted at other ports of entry for Mexico-bound travelers.
UPDATE: March 30, 2020
Quarantine and Healthcare Information:
- There are no mandatory quarantine policies currently in effect in Mexico for confirmed or suspected cases. The Mexican government encourages people experiencing the symptoms of COVID-19, fever, cough, headaches, throat pain, or constant sneezing, to stay at home for 14 days, consult with, and comply with the instructions of your local healthcare provider.
- The Mexican government recommends individuals not self-present to seek testing for COVID-19. Those with severe symptoms should seek medical attention and medical professionals will test, if needed based on travel history, contact with a known case, and the individual’s risk group. Medical professionals will prescribe actions as necessary; including medication to manage symptoms as no specific therapeutics or vaccine exist for COVID-19.
- Travelers who return from a country with local transmission of COVID-19 and develop symptoms of respiratory illness should seek immediate medical attention and share their travel history.
- The same applies to individuals who were in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and present symptoms of respiratory illness.
UPDATE: March 26, 2020
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- The United States and Mexico entered a joint initiative March 21 restricting non-essential travel along the U.S.-Mexico land border to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Non-essential travel includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.
- Mexico has implemented temperature-screening measures at some of its airports. Passengers with abnormal temperatures and travel to high-risk areas might be subject to additional health screening.
- Beyond standard travel documentation, travelers to Mexico do not require any additional documentation to enter or exit.
UPDATE: March 18, 2020
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- There are no entry or exit restrictions in place because of COVID-19.
- Mexico has implemented temperature-screening measures at some of its airports. Passengers with abnormal temperatures and travel to high-risk areas might be subject to additional health screening.
- Beyond standard travel documentation, travelers to Mexico do not require any additional documentation to enter or exit.
Local Resources:
- Health advice for travelers seeking information is available at ports of entry.
- Call the Mexican Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 hotline at 800 0044 800 for information or medical attention. English language operators are sometimes, but not always, available.
UPDATE: March 12, 2020
Country-Specific Information: Mexico confirmed 12 positive cases of COVID-19 within its borders as of March 12. Additional suspected cases continue to be investigated. Updates on the number of cases are published daily by the Mexican Ministry of Health(Spanish).
COVID-19 Information – https://mx.usembassy.gov/
We understand that COVID-19 is a big concern for travelers right now and many people are wondering how this worldwide outbreak will affect their upcoming trips. If you are thinking about cancelling your travel plans to Mexico, we would like to reassure visitors that there are currently no restrictions in place to travel to Mexico and travelers do not require any additional documentation to enter/exit beyond standard travel documentation.
For the cases of COVID-19 that have been confirmed in Mexico, the Ministry of Health has acted in accordance with the protocols established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and adheres to strict international guidelines related to the prevention, detection, and treatment of diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides travel-related advice and recommendations for postponing or canceling non-essential travel based on health risks. The CDC has so far only issued travel notices for visitors to: China, Iran, Japan, Italy, South Korea and Hong Kong.
Tafer Hotels & Resorts takes the health and well-being of all our guests very seriously and will advise you in case this situation changes, but currently there is no reason for travelers to cancel their travel plans to Mexico.
As recommended by the CDC, if you travel, take the following standard precautions to prevent the spread of this disease: avoid contact with anyone who is showing signs of coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands regularly or use antibacterial gel in the absence of handwashing facilities, and do not consume raw or undercooked meat or eggs.
More detailed information and travel safety tips can be found online at:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
If you suspect you might have the virus, you are advised to contact the COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-525-0127, seek medical attention, and self-isolate.
We hope that you stay safe and we look forward to welcoming you soon at your home away from home!
