How to Apply for a Visa to Mexico
- 1). Visit your local Mexican consulate and ask to get a tourist card. Tourist cards can also be obtained at Mexican tourism offices, border-zone airports and at border crossing points.
- 2). Present some form of accepted identification. You can use a valid passport, current driver's license or a birth certificate.
- 3). Fill out the paperwork that you are presented.
- 4). Decide how many days you would like to stay in Mexico. The card can be valid up to 180 days. Most people advise that you should have your card validated for 180 days, even if you are not sure your trip will last that long to prevent you from having to get an extension later.
- 5). Pay the processing fee. As of January 2011, the processing fee is just over $20 (225 pesos). The processing fee cannot be handled directly by Mexican officials but must be processed by a nearby Mexican bank. The bank will handle the financial portion of your transaction, and then show the receipt to a Mexican official. The bank will stamp your tourist card, which is part of the validation process.