Mexico entry for private flyers: the paperwork

A private flight to Los Cabos is an international trip in every legal sense. The aircraft needs permission to fly the charter, the passengers need to enter Mexico properly, and everyone has to clear US customs on the way home. Entry rules change from time to time, so we confirm the current requirements with your operator for every trip. What follows is the shape of it.

The part the operator handles

Before your flight, the operating carrier arranges the permits Mexico requires for a foreign charter flight, files the flight plan and sends passenger and crew details where they are required. It also books a local handler at SJD, who meets the aircraft and walks you through the arrival formalities. None of this needs anything from you beyond accurate passenger details, sent early.

This is one of the quieter reasons to fly with an established operator. A carrier that flies to Mexico regularly knows the permits, the handlers and the timing, and a trip that might be complicated for a newcomer becomes routine.

Passports

Every traveler needs a valid passport book. That includes babies and children. The US passport card, which works for some land and sea crossings, is not accepted for international flights. Check expiry dates when you book, not the night before: a passport that has expired or is about to can stop the trip, and there is no quick fix on a Saturday morning.

Send each traveler's full name as it appears in the passport, date of birth, nationality and passport number to your advisor. Spelling matters. A name that does not match the passport can cause delays on arrival.

Mexico's entry record

Visitors entering Mexico receive a record of their entry and the length of stay they are allowed. In recent years this has moved from a paper form toward digital records and passport stamps, and practice can differ by airport. At SJD your handler will tell you what applies and help with anything that needs completing. If you are given any paper, keep it with your passport until you leave the country.

Customs

Holiday luggage is routine. What needs care is the unusual: large amounts of cash must be declared above the legal threshold, goods brought in for sale are taxed, and some items are restricted outright. Never carry firearms or ammunition into Mexico without the proper Mexican permits. Medication is fine in sensible quantities; keep it in the original packaging with a copy of the prescription.

Children

Children need their own passports. If a child is traveling with only one parent, or with grandparents or friends, carry a signed letter of consent from the absent parent or parents. It is often requested and takes five minutes to prepare at home.

Pets

Dogs and cats travel to Cabo regularly on private aircraft, subject to the operator's approval. Animals are inspected on arrival in Mexico, so bring their health and vaccination records. The bigger hurdle is often the return: dogs entering the United States must meet current US import rules, which have become stricter in recent years. We check those requirements with you before the trip, not at the end of it.

Coming home

The return flight lands first at a US airport where Customs and Border Protection can clear private aircraft. Your operator sends passenger details in advance, and an officer checks passports and declarations on arrival, usually at the FBO. Keep receipts for purchases and check current allowances on cbp.gov.

Names, spellings and late additions

The details you send become the passenger list that the operator files. If a name is spelled differently from the passport, or a guest joins at the last minute, the list has to be corrected and the paperwork may need to be refiled. That is rarely a problem with a day's notice and can be a real delay on the morning of departure. Send the final list as early as you can, and tell your advisor straight away if it changes.

Sports gear and valuables

Golf clubs, fishing rods and surfboards are part of most Cabo trips and are normal personal luggage. Expensive equipment you bring for your own use is generally fine; equipment that looks commercial, or new items still in their boxes, can attract questions. Keep receipts for valuable items you take with you, which also helps when you clear US customs on the way home.

If something is missing

Discovering a problem on the morning of the flight, such as an expired passport or a missing consent letter, is the one situation where private flying cannot help much. The operator cannot carry a passenger who will be refused entry. The fix is simple: check documents when you book, and let your advisor know about anything unusual early enough to sort it out.

Staying longer or coming back often

Owners of homes in Los Cabos, and anyone staying for weeks rather than days, should check how long their entry record allows them to stay and keep it safe for the departure. If your plans change while you are there, your advisor can rebook the return flight, but the length of your permitted stay is a matter for the immigration authorities, not the operator.

A one-minute checklist

• Passport books for everyone, valid well beyond the trip.
• Passenger details sent to your advisor, spelled exactly as in the passports.
• Consent letters for any child traveling without both parents.
• Prescriptions in original packaging; nothing restricted.
• Pet records, and a plan for the dog's return to the US.

With those in hand, entry at SJD is a short formality at the start of a good week.