US Customs – NAFTA Permit

The FMN is a permit to enter Mexico that allows a stay of up to 30 days for U.S. and Canadian citizens.
The requirements for this visa are as follows:* Valid passport, certificate of naturalization, or an original birth certificate and a valid government-issued ID (a photocopy of the document that you present is also needed).

• Any documents that prove the applicant is engaged in international business activities in Mexico and will receive his/her income in the United States or Canada.
• Original letter on the U.S. company stationery addressed to the “Consulate of Mexico,” requesting the visa for its employee. The letter should explain the purpose of the trip in addition to stating the obligation of the employer to pay the employee’s salary and all expenses. Some of the activities covered under the FMN include but are not limited to, the following:* Training.
• Business meetings.
• Repair and maintenance personnel performing services pursuant to a warranty or other service contract incidental to the sale of commercial or industrial machinery purchased from a company outside the territory of Mexico and for which temporary entry is sought during the life of the warranty or service agreement.
• Auditing process.
  ISO process. This permit can be obtained at Mexican embassies and consulates within the U.S. and Canada, or at the port of entry with Mexican Immigration officials.

The non-immigrant fee (DNI — Derecho de No-Inmigrante) to be paid for this visa (as of March 16, 2001) is $185 Mexican pesos — approx. $19. USD.

Although an FMN can be issued as many times as needed in a year, those who decide to travel to Mexico with the FMN and wish to stay over the authorized period of 30 days should replace their FMN with an FM3 valid for one year.

If visiting different companies in the same city, a list on letterhead paper of the names of all the companies needs to be attached, as the FMN form only provides space for two companies’ names to be written.