Heading to San Felipe, Baja Mexico? FMM Details

Are you planning to visit San Felipe? Make sure you have your San Felipe Tourist Card, or FMM, which you will need to enter the infamous tourist town. San Felipe is a must-visit for obvious reasons. This seaside town is found in Baja California, two hours away from the capital, Mexicali. It draws tourists who come to explore the beautiful beaches, recreational water activities, cuisine, and more.

For the intent of this article, the San Felipe Tourist Card = San Felipe FMM = Tourist Card = FMM.  All of these phrases mean the same thing.  Officially it is an FMM but most people call it a “Tourist Card.”

You can find all kinds of accommodations and restaurants, nightclubs and entertainment venues, and hidden tranquil sceneries, making it an easy choice for travelers. Whether you are staying in your RV for a couple of days or planning a full vacation in luxury hotels, San Felipe has your needs covered. If you plan to visit San Felipe, an FMM is one of the requirements for short-term stays.

What is the difference between “Permit” and “FMM”?

The FMM replaced the FM-T tourist permit in 2010, sparking the evolution of Mexican immigration laws. Essentially, all non-immigrants, which refer to those visiting temporarily, must carry a valid tourist card that allows them to stay in Mexico for the stated period. Short-term stays require an FMM, a type of travel visa designed for tourists and other travelers visiting for six months or less.

If you are staying longer than six months, you should consider applying for a non-immigrant visa. An FMM is the permit San Felipe authorities will request when entering Baja or any other situation that requires producing your tourist permit. Here are important FMM San Felipe facts you should note:

• It is issued by the Mexico Instituto Nacional de Migación (INM) for vacation purposes.
• It can be obtained from any INM office, online, or at the border. Online documents will require stamping at the border.
• Valid for land travel throughout Mexico for up to 180 days, which is about six months.

Do not confuse this FMM Tourist Card with a Temporary Vehicle Import Permit (TIP).  Because San Felipe is in the Border Free Zone, you do not need a temporary import permit.

How To Apply For The San Felipe Tourist Card

If you visit San Felipe on your recreational vehicle, driving from the US, you will be required to produce the FMM before you enter Mexico. The document is also needed for various other stops and must be obtained before you enter the state. You can visit the INM office if there’s one near you.  

However, the quickest way is to go online here, complete the registration, print it, then hit the roads. Once at the border, all you need is stamping. Another option is to drive to the border and purchase your tourist card upon crossing into Mexico. In this case, you will pay at the offices next door. You must also produce a valid passport or passport card.

For a Visit to San Felipe is Tourist Card required?

Since 2015, visitors must purchase a tourist card (FMM) for their stay in Mexico. However, the law has been stretched to accommodate exceptions that don’t require a tourist card. For instance, you can visit Baja California from the USA without a tourist card if your stay is shorter than seven days. San Felipe is also in Baja Peninsula, a permit-free zone you can enter without the need for customs import requirements. The Mexican Free Zone allows visitors to enjoy a hassle-free experience with reduced requirements. Nonetheless, an FMM is still needed at the border.

Do You Need San Felipe FMM for Temporary Travel?

An FMM is a tourist document you need to enter Mexico for short-term visits that take less than six months. Obtaining the card is relatively easy as you can purchase it at the border. Tourists planning to visit San Felipe and stays beyond a week should buy the FMM. However, if you are only around for the weekend, or less than seven days, some exceptions allow you to cross into San Felipe without a travel card.

Nonetheless, it is only $20 per FMM, so we encourage you to get one, just if you want to stay longer. San Felipe has several attractions, stunning settings and fun activities you won’t get enough of on the weekend. Make sure you choose authorized platforms when purchasing FMM forms online.