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I.- VALID FOR TOURIST SERVICE PROVIDERS:
FAQ:
1.- Are there any laws or principles regulating tourist services?
State:
a)STATUTE ON TIME-SHARED REGULATIONS AND PROMOTION IN
SONORA: “Approval by COFETUR for the procedures required for
the establishment of time-shared in the state.
b)STATUTE ON TOURIST PROMOTION IN THE STATE OF SONORA: (in
process)
Federal:
a)Federal Law on Tourism and its Regulations.
b)Coordination agreement between the Federal Government, via
SECTUR, and the State Government, to decentralize the
verification tourists’ obligations by service providers.
c)The following Mexican Official Regulations:
= NOM-01-TUR/2002: Prepaid foliated forms to make complaints
and suggestions regarding tourist services in relation to
accommodations, travel agencies, food and beverages, and tourist
service trade companies.
= NOM-05-TUR/1998: Security requirements for scuba diving
promoters in order to guarantee the service.
= NOM-06-TUR/1998: Minimum hygiene and security for the
services providers in trailer parks and camping areas.
= NOM-07-TUR-1996: On the elements that regulate the civil
responsibility insurance that the accommodation providers must
acquire for the protection and security of tourists and users.
= NOM-08-TUR-2002: On the elements that regulate the general
guides.
= NOM-09-TUR-1997: On the elements that regulate the
specialized -guides in specific activities.
= REGULATION-10-TUR-2001: On the requirements for the
agreements celebrated between the service providers and the
tourists-users.
= REGULATION-011-TUR-2001: Security, information and operation requirements for the adventure-tourism service providers.
II.-VALID FOR VISITORS:
FAQ:
2.1 Which documents do I need to enter in Mexico?
a) If you are foreigner, you need your passport and the FMT form; if
you are Mexican living in another country, you must provide evidence of your citizenship by presenting any of the following documents: passport, birth certificate, military service book, consular matriculation, or Mexican citizenship certificate.
If you have another nationality but you were born in Mexico, you can enter or exit Mexico as Mexican, and the immigration authority will ask you to fill and submit the FME migratory form, which will be provided to you at the access to Mexico.
2.2 What is the non immigrant right (DNI)?
It is a fee that must be payed by foreigners who enter the country as tourists, businessmen or transmigrates in order to be authorized their status as non immigrants. This fee is, at present, of $200 pesos per person.
2.3 How and where do I pay for DNI?
If you are a foreigner and you travel by plain, you pay it when you purchase your plain ticket; if you travel by car, you can pay it at any bank presenting your passport and the migratory form FMT.
2.4 Who does not apply for the DNI non immigrant right?
People born in Mexico or naturalized as Mexicans, foreign individuals immigrated to Mexico, foreign individuals living in Mexico with a FM2 or FM3 migratory forms, political refugees, honor visitors, refugees, local visitors and foreign tourists staying in the country during less than 7 days in the tourist destinations of Sonoita-Rocky Point, Nogales, Magdalena, Guaymas-San Carlos, as well as the diplomatics or people with a special-service visa.
2.5 What is customs and what do I have to do?
In Mexico, customs is the authority responsible for the tax payment of goods and vehicles that enter and exit the country, and one of their duties is to inform you about the taxes you must pay in order to bring goods, money, or vehicles inside the country.
As you go through customs, you must declare if you bring with you any goods other than your personal belongings so you can pay the resultant taxes.
2.6 Which goods are part of my personal belongings?
Your cloths, shoes, personal hygiene products new or used, a camera, a video camera with batteries, 12 films or video cassettes, binoculars, cell-phone, pager, typewriter, computer new or used (laptop, notebook, omni book, or similar), and portable printer, new or used.
You may also bring in as part of your luggage a camping tent and gear, 4 fishing canes with accessories, two used sports equipments that you can carry on your own, a water surf board with or without sail, a portable or mixed sound reproduction equipment, 5 laser discs, 5 DVD and 20 CDs or audio tapes.
Also considered part of your personal luggage are a music instrument that you can carry by yourself, books and magazines in such a number that it would not seem they are for sale, 5 toys that you can carry, pharmaceuticals for your personal use (in case you need psychotropic drugs a written medical prescription is required).
Handicapped individuals may bring any personal goods they use to help them diminish their disability; adults 18 years old and older may also bring up to 20 cigarrette cartons, 25 cigars, 200 grams of tobacco; as well as 3 liters of wine, beer or liquor.
2.7 What is a “franchise” and how much am I entitled to?
Is the benefit free of taxes for goods you introduce into the country. If you arrive to Mexico by plane or ship, you may introduce one or several articles apart from your luggage, up to 300 U.S. dollars, or its equivalent in other currencies.
If by car or bus, the franchise is of 50 U.S. dollars per person, including under age, as long as they travel in the same vehicle.
This franchise does not include additional alcoholic beverages, tobacco or additional gasoline for your vehicle.
2.8 How much do I have to pay for goods additional to the personal belongings and franchise?
If the cost of your goods exceeds the franchise but is under 1000 U.S dollars or its equivalent in other currencies, you must pay 17% of the total value, and fill in the “foreign commerce contribution payment” form.
If the cost of your goods excluding the franchise is over 1000 U.S. dollars or its equivalent in other currencies, you must hire the services of a custom broker, for the importation procedures. (ask at customs where to find it).
2.9 How do I go by inspection at customs?
If you arrive by plane, ship or bus, you will press the “fiscal stoplight”; if the light is green it means you are free of inspection; on the other hand, if the light is red then the customs personnel will inspect your luggage and your customs declaration form.
It is very important that you declare any relevant objects before pressing the stoplight button.
2.10 What is not allowed to bring into Mexico?
You must not bring into the country, in your vehicle or among your personal belongings, fire weapons, bullets, explosives, and related chemical substances.
Also forbidden are recreational drugs, narcotics, psychotropic and other illegal substances or vegetables.
You must be aware that the elaboration, preparation, sale, purchase, supply, transportation, introduction or removal from the country of any of the previous products is a crime punished with 10 to 25 years in prison.
2.11 What is forbidden to remove from Mexico?
Removing archeological treasures, documents, and historic objects belonging to the national patrimony, and wild plant and animal life without the appropriate authorization is forbidden.
2.12 How much money in cash or checks can I bring into Mexico?
Bringing any amount of money is not a felony, and you do not have to pay any taxes. However, if you bring more than 10,000 U.S. dollars, but under 30,000, or its equivalent in other currencies, you must declare it at customs. If you neglect this action, you will be penalized by paying 20% to 40% of the amount in excess of 10,000U.S. dollars; if the amount not declared is over 30,000U.S., dollars you will be turned to the appropriate authorities.
2.13 What is the temporary vehicles importation?
In order to bring a vehicle into Mexico with a license, permit or registration from other country you need a temporary importation permit, that will allow you to stay and use your vehicle in Mexico for a limited time.
2.14 Where can I carry out this procedure?
You can do it at the border, in office of the temporary vehicle import and internment center (CIITEV), operated by BANJERCITO. However, if you live in the U.S.A., you can do it in the Mexican consulate up to 6 months before your trip.
2.15 Which documents do I need for the “temporary importation” of my vehicle?
If you are a foreigner, you will need your passport and your current migration status, granted by the Mexican authorities (migration tourist form, transmigrate, business or FMT), the ownership title, its current registration, and current driving license.
If the vehicle belongs to the company you work for, you must present the property title and demonstrate your working relationship with the company; if it is a rented vehicle your name must be on the leasing contract and the serial number (vin) must match the vehicle you are bringing in; if you are paying for it, an invoice from the company that sold it to you must be presented.
If you are Mexican living in another country, you must present a written prove of your residence in another country, foreign citizenship certificate, or a one-year visa that entitles you to work in another country and certifies the property of the vehicle in some way.
2.16 How much do I have to pay for the temporary importation permit of my vehicle?
At the Nogales border (kilometer 21) you pay $29.70U.S. dollars; at the consulate you pay $35.20 U.S. dollars using an international credit or debit card: “Visa” “MasterCard” or “ American express” are accepted; you may also pay in cash, but only at the border offices.
Also you will have to leave a deposit that will depend on the type and year of the vehicle, and that will be refunded as soon as you bring the vehicle back, before the permit expires.
2.17 Which are my responsibilities when I receive the temporary importation permit of my vehicle?
To stick on the windshield of the vehicle the hologram, and keep it there undamaged until your return; keep in mind the date you have to return, do not sell, lend or give away your vehicle, and do not use it for freight transportation or for commercial or business activities.
Only your wife, offspring, parents, or siblings may drive your vehicle, as long as they can prove the relationship and legal residence in another country. Anyone can drive the car as long as you are inside the vehicle.
The temporary importation permits are only cancelled at the border, not at the consulate.
2.18 What do I have to do when I leave Mexico?
You must present your vehicle at any of the CIITEV offices, operated by BANJERCITO, in any of the borders you choose to exit, in order to get your cancellation receipt and collect your deposit refund as soon as you present the original receipt.
2.19 What are the multiple entrance and exits?
If you already have the temporary importation permit, you should use the multiple entrance and exits form and save time during the procedures in your next visit.
When completing the procedure for the temporary importation of your vehicle, BANJERCITO will give you an hologram, the related permit, and an importation card with an expiration date, which will be 180 days later; you must give back this document when you exit Mexico, and in return BANJERCITO will give you a partial return receipt.
In your next visit, show the person in charge of BANJERCITO the permit and the vehicle, which must be the same you used in your previous visit, who will only read the hologram information and give you another importation card, but only for the remaining time beyond the original 180 days you are entitled in a year.
2.20 Which documents must I bring along when driving?
If you are Mexican living in another country, bring the current temporary importation permit of your vehicle, with the hologram attached to the windshield, your driving license and, if you are from another country, you must also bring the documents that prove your migration status.
2.21 What do I have to do in case of an accident?
Protect the vehicle using the night or day signs as required; if the vehicle is on the highway, get out and move to a safe place. When the vehicle interferes with with traffic, place the signs, and if possible, ask someone else to warn the other vehicles going on the highway.
Notify the authorities immediately to the toll-free phone 01 800-440 3690; they will assist you promptly and without any charge. In case of injuries, ask for medical assistance and do not move the injured unless absolutely necessary due to the traffic or fire hazard and wait for the ambulance.
If you have your temporary importation permit for your vehicle, you have five days after the accident to notify by writing the nearest customs office. You have to present the notfication or a copy of the accident report.
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