Entering by boat: Mexico
What to do to enter Mexico by sea: the procedures, the papers to present and the ports where you can clear in.
Check with the authorities before you leave (last checked on 28 October 2026).
Before you arrive
- Online procedure: Permis d'importation temporaire du bateau (TIP, Banjercito) + enregistrement INM — banjercito.com.mx/
The steps
- Go to the nearest port of entry, Q and courtesy flags up.
- Port captain (Capitanía de Puerto, SEMAR): arrival and port fee.
- Immigration (INM): FMM for each crew member.
- Banjercito: boat TIP (or online in advance).
- Customs / agriculture depending on port, then zarpe for the next port.
Papers to have on board
- Passports for the whole crew
- Crew list
- Boat papers (registration certificate)
- Outward clearance from the previous country
- Insurance certificate
Good to know
- Caribbean coast: since early 2026 cruisers report an agent is now compulsory (≈ MXN 7,000 in, 5,000 out) — to be confirmed.
- The TIP (10 years) must be cancelled on final departure, at a Banjercito office in a port of entry.
- A zarpe is expected for each new port captain; enforcement varies.
- A CONAPESCA fishing licence is required to fish, even trolling.
Ports of entry
The ports where you can clear in, and the services available there.
- AcapulcoCustomsImmigrationHarbour office
- ChetumalCustomsImmigrationHarbour office
- Ensenada (Cruiseport Village)CustomsImmigrationHarbour office
- Guaymas / San CarlosCustomsImmigrationHarbour office
- HuatulcoCustomsImmigrationHarbour office
- ManzanilloCustomsImmigrationHarbour office
- MazatlánCustomsImmigrationHarbour office
- ProgresoCustomsImmigrationHarbour office
- Puerto Chiapas (Marina Chiapas)CustomsImmigrationHarbour office
- Puerto MorelosCustomsImmigrationHarbour office
- Puerto Vallarta / Nuevo VallartaCustomsImmigrationHarbour office
- ZihuatanejoCustomsImmigrationHarbour office
Basse-Californie
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In the app, free: the map of every port of entry and its offices with their contacts, the crew list and the entry forms filled in for you, ready to print or send to an agent.
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This information is gathered from public sources and sailors’ experience. It does not replace the country’s authorities, whose word is final: check before you leave.