.......back in 2005 when I was travelling through Mexico, I had lost my tourist card.......i got to the border to leave Mexico and although they were not happy with me, the authorities let me go on my way. Now looking at planning another trip, I read somewhere that if you failed to turn in your tourist card that you will not be able to enter Mexico. Anyone else ever have this experience or know how to resolve the situation?

Thanks,

Gary

I believe you're thinking of the need to turn in your temporary import docs when you travel with your own vehicle. But I'm ready to be told I'm wrong in some as-yet unimagined way.

I didn't turn in a tourist card last spring when I entered the States, and I re-entered this fall without incident. OTOH, at the Guatemala border last week they took my current tourist card from me.

Buena suerte!

Mark

Thanks very much Mark. It looks like I'll be hoping for the best when I arrive at the border.

And yes, it was just the tourist card, the vehicle permit was turned in as per normal.

Why did they take your current tourist card away from you? I hope you won't have a problem getting another on the way back. I'm planning on travelling down thru to Panama, so will be crossing lots of borders.

Thanks very much again.

Gary

You will be okay. The tourist card rules seem to have changed slightly in that now they do seem to be taking them in when you exit Mexico at the Guatemala border.This past March they took mine in also when I left Mexico at El Ceibo. Had to spend the time and 262 pesos again when I came back north at La Mesilla.
But the good thing is that they allow you to keep your TVIP so that you do not have to pay for that a second time when you come back on the return leg of the trip.

Also know that at some of the border entries from the US they allow you to pay for the tourist card right at the border facility Banjercito but at others and those from Guatemala they issue the card but you still have to go to a bank and pay for it and get your tourist card stamped with the bank's PAGADO stamp.Actually they now issue a new computer printout page as receipt, and don't really stamp your tourist card , just more paper to carry.....but don't loose it or the guys at the exit border will have to do a computer search to see if you did pay up..
Best is to hand in BOTH tourist card and TVIP when you leave Mexico when there is no likelihood that you might come back within the remaining valid time on these permits.
Even if you have neither you can still spend time in Mexico in the border zone.

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