Do You Need a Passport to Visit Cabo San Lucas?

Cabo San Lucas might seem close to home, but it is an international trip. For U.S. travelers, you will need a valid passport in most cases. If you are flying to Cabo, a passport book is mandatory. There are a few exceptions for land and sea travel, but a passport is by far the safest and most accepted ID to carry. This article breaks down what documents you need so you can travel without worry.

Key Takeaways

• Passport required for air travel: All U.S. citizens flying into Mexico must show a valid passport book. Airlines and Mexican immigration will ask for it when you arrive.

• Driving or cruises: If you travel by land or on a closed-loop cruise (round-trip from the U.S.), you may use other documents like a passport card or birth certificate in some cases. We strongly recommend carrying a passport anyway in case plans change.

• Children under 16: Kids under 16 can use a birth certificate at land or sea borders with a parent, but they need a passport book if flying.

• U.S. permanent residents: U.S. green card holders should carry their foreign passport and green card. They do not need to apply for a separate Mexican visa for tourist visits.

• Tourist card (FMM): Mexico requires all visitors to fill out a tourist permit form (FMM). You get it when entering Mexico, and you must keep it until departure.

Flying to Cabo San Lucas: Passport Required

If you fly from the U.S. to Los Cabos International Airport, you must have a valid passport book. You cannot use a passport card or driver’s license to fly internationally. At the airport in Cabo, Mexican immigration officers will ask to see your passport and will stamp it upon entry. Make sure your passport is valid for the duration of your trip. Mexico only requires it to be valid while you are there, but some airlines prefer at least six months validity on your passport. It is best to renew your passport before travel if it is close to expiring.

When you land in Mexico, you will also complete an entry form called the Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM). On the plane or at the airport, you fill out this short tourist card and immigration officials stamp it along with your passport. Keep the FMM slip with your passport; you will need to hand it back when you leave Mexico. Losing it can cause extra hassle and a small fine when you are departing.

Driving or Cruising to Cabo: Passport or Alternatives

Traveling to Cabo by land or sea has slightly different document rules. If you drive into Mexico down the Baja Peninsula, you can use either a passport book or a passport card at the border. A passport card is a wallet-sized ID that proves your U.S. citizenship. It is cheaper than a passport book, but it is only valid for land and sea crossings  not for international flights.

Some U.S. states also issue Enhanced Driver’s Licenses that can act like a passport card for land border entry. These are accepted for driving into Mexico if you have one, but they are not common and are only available in a few states.

If you are visiting Cabo by cruise ship, requirements depend on the cruise itinerary. For an open-loop cruise (one that begins in one country and ends in another), a passport book is required to go ashore in Mexico.

For a closed-loop cruise that departs and returns to the same U.S. port, U.S. citizens have an alternative. You can travel with proof of citizenship such as an original birth certificate (or a certified copy) and a government-issued photo ID if you are 16 or older. In this case, children under 16 only need their birth certificate. This birth certificate option is allowed because you left and came back to the U.S. on the same ship.

Keep in mind that even on a closed-loop cruise, a passport is still the most convenient document. If an emergency happens and you have to fly home from Mexico unexpectedly, you will need a passport book to board a plane back to the U.S. Without a passport, unexpected travel situations become much more complicated. So while you might not be required to have a passport on certain cruises, bringing one is highly recommended for peace of mind.

Closed-Loop Cruise Exceptions

On round-trip cruises from the U.S., the U.S. government allows a few alternate documents. Adults can re-enter the U.S. with a birth certificate and a photo ID (like a driver’s license) instead of a passport.

Children under 16 can use just a birth certificate with no photo ID needed. This rule makes it easier for families on cruises, but it applies only to closed-loop cruises. Always verify with your cruise line which documents they accept.

Remember that Mexico will still require all travelers to have an FMM tourist card when you get off the ship at Cabo, even if you did not fly in.

Below is a quick summary of acceptable documents for U.S. citizens traveling to Cabo:

Traveling with Children Under 16

Traveling with kids requires careful attention to documents. For international air travel to Mexico, every child regardless of age, must have their own passport book. That includes infants, who also need a passport if they are flying to Cabo. There are no exceptions on passports for minors when traveling by plane.

For land or sea entry, the rules are a bit more relaxed for younger children. U.S. children under 16 years old can use an original or certified copy of their birth certificate to enter Mexico and to return to the U.S. by land or on a closed-loop cruise. They do not need a government photo ID if under 16. Teens aged 16 and 17 have essentially the same requirements as adults for travel: a passport is required for them in almost all cases.

There is a very limited exception for 16- or 17-year-olds traveling with certain organized groups by land or sea (such as a school trip), where a birth certificate and a student ID might be accepted. But outside of those special situations, teenagers should have passports just like adults do.

If a minor is traveling without both parents, additional paperwork is wise to have. For example, if a child goes to Cabo with only one parent or a guardian, it’s wise to carry a notarized letter of consent from the parent who is not traveling.

This letter states that the child has permission to travel abroad with the accompanying adult. Mexican immigration or U.S. border officials may ask for such a letter to prevent disputes or child abduction concerns. It is not a passport requirement, but it is an important safety step when traveling with kids.

Remember that children also need an FMM tourist card when entering Mexico, just like adults. Parents or guardians will fill this out for the child. Keep the child’s FMM slip with your own so it does not get lost.

If You Are a U.S. Permanent Resident

U.S. permanent residents (green card holders) have a different citizenship status, but they still need proper travel documents for Mexico. If you are a U.S. permanent resident and not a U.S. citizen, you must carry a valid passport from your country of citizenship when you go to Cabo. Your U.S. Permanent Resident Card (green card) by itself is not enough to enter Mexico. Mexican authorities require a valid passport or travel document for all foreigners entering the country.

You will not need to apply for a separate Mexican entry visa for a tourist visit. Mexico waives the visa requirement for holders of U.S. permanent residency who show their valid green card along with their passport. Be prepared to present your green card at the border or airport along with your passport to confirm your U.S. residency status.

Also, make sure your green card is not expired when traveling, and always keep it with you in a safe place. You will need it to re-enter the United States. Just like U.S. citizens, you will fill out the FMM tourist card on arrival in Mexico. Your passport will be stamped, and you’ll retain the FMM form until you depart.

Passport Book vs. Passport Card

The U.S. Department of State offers two types of passports: the traditional passport book and the passport card. If you plan to visit Cabo San Lucas, it is important to know the difference. The passport book is the standard passport booklet with blank pages for visas and stamps. It is the only document that U.S. citizens can use for all international travel by air, sea, or land. In fact, airlines will only accept a passport book for international flights.

A passport card is a small plastic card that U.S. citizens can use to re-enter the U.S. at land border crossings or seaports from Mexico, Canada, and certain Caribbean destinations. It is a convenient option if you frequently drive to Baja or take cruises. Passport cards are less expensive than books (the card costs about $65 for a first-time adult, versus about $165 for a first-time passport book) They are also more compact to carry. However, they do not work for international air travel. If you try to use a passport card at an airport, you will not be allowed to board a plane to Mexico.

For most travelers, a passport book is the best choice because it covers all situations. You might use a passport card for frequent short trips by land or cruise, but if there is any chance you will need to fly or if you do not want to limit your options, stick with the passport book. The passport book is your universal travel ID, while the passport card is a handy secondary ID for specific border travel scenarios.

How to Apply for a U.S. Passport

If you do not have a passport yet, it is important to apply well before your trip to Cabo. Getting a U.S. passport involves a few steps, but it is manageable if you prepare early:

1. Fill out the application form: For first-time applicants (including children), use Form DS-11. You can download it from the U.S. Department of State website or pick one up at a passport acceptance facility. Do not sign it until an official instructs you to do so at the time of application.

2. Gather proof of citizenship and ID: You need to prove you are a U.S. citizen. Common evidence is an original birth certificate or a naturalization certificate. You also need a government-issued photo ID (like a driver’s license) to show when you apply. Make photocopies of both your citizenship document and your ID to submit with your application.

3. Get a passport photo: Passport photos must meet specific requirements (2×2 inches, color, plain background). You can have one taken at many drugstores, photo centers, or passport offices. Make sure it meets the State Department requirements (for example, no glasses are allowed in the photo).

4. Submit your application in person: First-time applicants and all children must apply in person at an authorized passport acceptance facility. This could be a post office, a library, or a county clerk’s office that accepts passport applications. Bring your completed form, your documents, your photo, and the necessary fees. The acceptance official will review everything, have you swear an oath and sign the form, and then will send your application for processing. (For a child’s passport, generally both parents should be present. If one parent cannot come, you must provide a signed and notarized consent form from that parent.)

5. Pay the fees: As of 2025, an adult passport book costs $130 in application fees, plus a $35 execution fee for the facility (total $165). A child’s passport (under 16) costs $100 in application fees plus the $35 execution fee (total $135). You will pay these fees separately: the application fee (by check or money order) goes to the U.S. Department of State, and the $35 fee is paid to the facility. If you need your passport faster, you can pay an additional $60 for expedited processing.

6. Wait for processing: Routine passport processing can take about 4 to 6 weeks. During busy travel seasons it could take longer, so apply as early as possible. If you paid for expedited service, it may take around 2 to 3 weeks. In urgent cases (if your trip is within 14 days), you can try to get an appointment at a regional passport agency for emergency service. Always check the current processing times on the official website, as they can change based on demand.

If you already had a passport but it expired, the renewal process is a bit different. Adult passports (for those who were age 16 or older at issuance) can be renewed by mail using Form DS-82, as long as your most recent passport was issued within the last 15 years and you still have it.

Renewals still take several weeks, so do not wait until the last minute if your passport is no longer valid. Also remember that children’s passports (issued under age 16) cannot be renewed by mail; you must apply in person for a new passport for the child, since minors’ passports are only valid for 5 years.

Plan Ahead and Get Passport Help

Planning ahead is key to a smooth trip. Before you book your Cabo vacation, check that your passport is valid for your travel dates. If it is your first time out of the country, start the passport application process a few months in advance. This gives plenty of time for processing and any unexpected issues. It also leaves a cushion to correct problems (like a rejected photo or a missing document) without upending your travel plans.

If you are unsure about any step, help is available. The U.S. State Department’s website has the latest details on forms, fees, and processing times. Many passport acceptance facilities will also answer questions if you call. For personalized assistance, you can use a passport expediting service or consult a travel document specialist, but be cautious of any service promising unrealistic speeds. No private company can bypass the government’s processing timeline, so avoid last-minute scrambles whenever possible.

Our passport service team is here to help you as well. We can help you understand the requirements, check your application for completeness, and make sure you have the right documents before you submit. While we cannot shorten the government’s processing time, we can help ensure your paperwork is done correctly to prevent mistakes that could hold up your application. We put people first, and our goal is to make the passport process easier and less stressful for you.

Traveling to Cabo San Lucas from the U.S. does require proper identification. In most cases, a valid passport is required. While certain exceptions exist for land or sea travel, carrying a passport is the safest way to ensure you can come and go easily. Double-check all requirements for your specific trip, prepare your documents ahead of time, and soon you’ll be on your way to enjoying the sun and beaches of Cabo with peace of mind.

Disclaimer: This article provides general travel document information for U.S. travelers visiting Cabo San Lucas. It is not legal advice or an official policy statement. Passport and entry requirements may change or vary by individual case. Always verify details with the U.S. Department of State, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or Mexican immigration (INM) before you travel.