Planning a trip to Los Cabos and not sure what travel documents you need? The short answer: yes, you need a passport. And if you’re flying, it needs to be a passport book, not a passport card. Here’s everything you need to have in order before you land at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD).
For a full overview of what to expect before you arrive, see our travel requirements and entry guide.
Passport Book vs. Passport Card
US citizens often carry a passport card for land crossings into Mexico, like driving into Tijuana or crossing at Nogales. That card is not valid for air travel. If you’re flying to Cabo, you need a passport book, full stop.
Passport cards are only valid for entry into Mexico by land or sea from the US. The moment you board a plane, the rules change. Customs and Border Protection is clear on this: air travel to Mexico requires a passport book. Check the US State Department’s Mexico travel page for the most current guidance, since requirements can change.
Passport Validity: How Much Time Do You Need?
Mexico does not have a strict six-month passport validity rule the way some countries do, but this is not an invitation to show up with a passport that expires next week. Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay, and most immigration officers and airlines want to see meaningful validity beyond your return date.
The practical advice: if your passport expires within three to six months of your travel dates, renew it before you go. Processing times at US passport agencies fluctuate, and you do not want to be scrambling for an expedited appointment two weeks before your flight to Cabo San Lucas. Confirm current validity requirements with the US State Department before booking.
The FMM Tourist Permit (Forma Migratoria Múltiple)
When you enter Mexico, you’ll be required to complete an entry form called the FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple), sometimes called a tourist card or tourist permit. As of recent years, most airlines provide a paper form on the plane, and some airports have moved toward digital processing at kiosks.
A few things worth knowing:
- The FMM allows you to stay in Mexico temporarily as a tourist. It is not a visa, and US citizens do not need a visa for tourist travel to Mexico.
- The permit specifies a maximum number of days you can stay. Do not overstay it, whatever that current limit is when you travel. Overstaying can create complications at departure and on future trips.
- The exact fee and day-limit on the FMM have changed over time and may change again. Do not rely on any specific number you read online, including here. Confirm the current terms with Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) or ask your airline before you fly.
Keep your portion of the FMM with your passport. You will need to present it when you leave. Losing it creates a minor headache at the airport on departure day, usually solvable with a small administrative fee, but it is not how you want to spend your last morning in Los Cabos.
What Happens at the SJD Airport
Los Cabos International Airport handles a high volume of US visitors, so the arrival process is streamlined for tourists. You’ll clear Mexican immigration at the passport control desks, then collect your bags and pass through customs. The customs declaration form asks whether you’re bringing in goods above the duty-free limit or items that require declaration (plants, large amounts of cash, firearms, etc.). Most tourists have nothing to declare.
After customs, you’ll walk out to the ground transportation zone. One thing worth knowing: there is no reliable Uber pickup at SJD. Book a prepaid shuttle or private transfer in advance, or arrange ground transport through your resort. The drive to San José del Cabo is about 30 minutes; Cabo San Lucas is closer to 45-50 minutes depending on traffic along the Corridor.
The airport itself has a duty-free zone, currency exchange booths, and several food and drink options past security. If you want pesos before you leave the airport, you can exchange cash there, though the rates are typically better at ATMs in town. Most resort areas accept US dollars, but paying in pesos generally gives you a better effective rate. Budget your time at the airport if you have a connection; SJD can get busy during peak season, particularly on Saturday mornings when a wave of weekly resort turnovers all happen at once.
Health Requirements and Travel Insurance
As of this writing, Mexico does not require proof of vaccination or a health declaration for tourist entry, but health-entry policies have changed rapidly in recent years and may change again. Confirm current requirements with your airline and the US State Department before you travel.
Travel insurance is not a documentation requirement, but it is a genuine recommendation for international travel. Medical costs for emergency treatment in Mexico can be significant without coverage, and evacuation insurance matters if you plan to dive, surf, or do adventure activities on the East Cape. Many credit cards include basic travel insurance, but read the policy to understand what’s covered before assuming you’re protected.
Traveling with Kids
If you’re traveling with minors, the requirements are worth a closer look. Both parents traveling together typically just need the child’s own valid passport. However, if a child is traveling with only one parent, or with grandparents or other non-parent adults, you may need a notarized letter of consent from the absent parent or legal guardian.
Mexican immigration takes this seriously. The rules are designed to prevent international child abduction, and they’re applied at the discretion of the officer. Do not assume the letter is optional. Check the current requirements with the US State Department’s Mexico page and with your airline before you fly. Requirements can and do change.
Every child, including infants, needs their own passport for air travel. There are no exceptions.
If your kids have passports but they’re approaching expiration, the same renewal timeline advice applies. Children’s passports are only valid for five years (adults get ten), so a passport issued when your 10-year-old was five is already expired. Check the expiration dates for the whole family well in advance of booking, not the week before you leave.
Dual Citizens: A Note
If you hold both US and Mexican citizenship, Mexican law requires you to enter Mexico on your Mexican passport. You’ll still use your US passport for re-entry into the United States. If you’re in this situation, carry both. US Customs and Border Protection expects to see your US passport when you return.
Before You Leave: What to Bring Home
Your passport book gets you out of Mexico the same way it got you in. Keep it with you or in your room safe, not loose in a bag on the beach. Most resort rooms have a safe, and using it is worth the habit.
You’ll also want to hold onto your FMM, as mentioned. The airline may collect it at the gate when you board your return flight, or you may hand it over at the immigration exit desk, depending on the airport setup at the time. Either way, you need it.
US Customs will hand you or email you a declaration form for the return flight. If you bought tequila, silver jewelry, or handmade goods on your trip, this is where you declare them. Each US citizen gets a duty-free exemption on goods brought back from a trip abroad; the current threshold is set by CBP and worth confirming before you load up at the Los Cabos airport shops.
Don’t Wait to Renew
Passport renewal times have ranged from a few weeks to several months depending on demand and staffing at regional passport agencies. If your passport is within a year of expiring and you’re planning a Cabo trip, start the renewal process now. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee, but it is not instant, and life gets complicated if you’re cutting it close.
Check the US State Department’s passport page for current processing times. They update regularly.
Ready to Start Planning?
Once your documents are sorted, the fun part begins. Los Cabos has world-class sportfishing, snorkeling at Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park, swimmable beaches at Médano, Chileno, and Santa Maria, and golf along the Corridor with views of the Sea of Cortez. Our Los Cabos Travel Guide covers the full picture.
If you’re still nailing down dates, the best time to visit breakdown will help you choose a window that matches your priorities, whether that’s whale watching (mid-December through mid-April), warm water for snorkeling (August through October), or dry season comfort (November through April). You’ll also want to read up on what to wear in cabo and can you drink the water in cabo before you pack.
The most important step before you do any of that: make sure your passport is valid, it’s a book (not a card), and you understand the entry form process. Entry requirements are set by governments and change. Always verify current rules with the US State Department and Mexico’s INM before you travel. This post reflects general guidance, not a guarantee of current policy.