Clearing into Mexico by private boat has a reputation for being complicated. In practice, it is a one-afternoon process if the boat arrives at the right port with the right documents and the working expectations in place. The guide below covers the working 2025–2026 process for the most common entry points on the Pacific coast.
Working note. Mexican bureaucratic requirements change. Fees listed here were current as of early 2026. Verify current fees and procedures at the port of entry — harbour offices can confirm whether anything has changed since this was written. The working rule for any Mexico cruise: confirm current paperwork with a current cruiser or the port captain’s office before departure.
Before leaving the US
CBP eAPIS (US requirement)
For US-documented vessels, a departure manifest must be filed with US Customs and Border Protection via eAPIS before clearing out. File online at cbp.gov at least 60 minutes before departure. No appearance at a CBP office required — just file online and keep the confirmation.
US documentation or state registration
The boat needs the original vessel documentation (USCG documentation or state registration title), not a photocopy. Many Mexican port captains will want the original, not a scan on a phone. Bring the paper.
Passports for all crew
Every person aboard needs a valid US passport. Mexican law requires a passport to enter Mexico — passport cards are not accepted by all ports. Validity at least 6 months beyond the planned departure date from Mexico.
Pre-arranged paperwork (optional)
Some cruisers pre-obtain their FMM tourist cards online before departing the US (inm.gob.mx). Not required but speeds up the crew clearance step.
The four working documents
1. FMM — Forma Migratoria Múltiple (tourist card)
The individual entry permit for each person aboard, analogous to a tourist visa. Issued by Mexican immigration (INM) at each port of entry. Cost approximately USD $25–35 per person (fees change; often collected in pesos).
- Issued per person, per entry
- Valid for up to 180 days (request the number of days needed, up to 180)
- Keep it. The card has to be surrendered when leaving Mexico. Losing it costs time and a replacement fee.
- A trip home mid-cruise and a return flight requires a new FMM on return.
2. ZARPE (Despacho)
The Zarpe is the vessel’s clearance document — the official record that the boat entered Mexico legally. Issued by the Capitanía de Puerto (Port Captain) at the port of entry.
The Zarpe lists:
- Vessel name, registration number, flag
- All crew names and passport numbers
- Entry port and date
- Intended next port
A Zarpe is required to check into every subsequent port in Mexico. Each move to a new port with overnight stay technically requires showing the Zarpe to the local Port Captain. In practice, enforcement varies — La Paz and Cabo are strict; small anchorages along the Pacific coast are not. The boat needs one regardless.
When leaving Mexico, the boat needs a Zarpe de Salida (departure clearance) from the last port before crossing back into US or international waters.
Working cost. Port Captain fees vary by port and vessel size. Budget USD $50–100 for the initial Zarpe and roughly $20–40 per subsequent port check-in.
3. TIP — Temporary Import Permit (for the vessel)
The Importación Temporal de Vehículo (TIP) is the permit that allows a foreign-flagged vessel to exist in Mexican waters without being assessed for import duties. Without it, Mexican customs could theoretically charge duty on the full value of the boat.
- Valid for up to 10 years (the cruiser chooses; most get 1 or 2 years)
- Tied to the specific vessel and to one specific person (the permit holder must be aboard or have a notarised letter authorising someone else to move the vessel)
- Do not leave a boat in Mexico without handling the TIP properly. Abandoning a boat with an active TIP can result in the permit holder being fined and banned from future TIPs.
- Must be cancelled (returned) when the vessel permanently leaves Mexico.
Where. At the port of entry, at a Banjercito (Mexican military bank) office, or online in advance at banjercito.com.mx. Ensenada, Cabo, and La Paz all have Banjercito windows.
Working cost. The TIP itself is free, but a deposit (credit card only at Banjercito) is held and refunded when the TIP is properly cancelled. Deposits range from approximately USD $50 for boats under 26 ft to $200+ for larger vessels. The exact amount depends on vessel value, age, and length.
4. Fishing licences
For any aboard who fishes — with a rod, a net, a line over the side — a Mexican fishing licence is required. Applies even to catch-and-release. The penalty for fishing without a licence is a fine and possibly vessel confiscation.
- Issued per person per year (annual) or per day
- Covers all fishing methods for that individual
- Annual licence: approximately USD $25–30 per person
- Available at CONAPESCA offices, online at conapescaenlinea.gob.mx, or through vendors in fishing towns
The vessel also needs a separate fishing-vessel permit for commercial fishing — but recreational day fishing on a cruising boat needs only the individual licences.
Where to clear in
Ensenada (recommended first stop)
Ensenada is the most-practised port of entry on the Pacific side of Baja. Marina Ensenada has a working established process: arrive, check in at the marina office, and they direct the cruiser to the Port Captain, INM (immigration), and Banjercito windows — all within a few blocks. Most boats can complete the entire check-in in a half day.
Why Ensenada first. Only 80 nm from San Diego, making it easy to arrive in daylight. The officials there see cruising boats every week and have the fastest process. Baja Ha-Ha boats typically don’t clear here (they clear in Cabo); independent boats benefit strongly from clearing in Ensenada first. See the Ensenada & Northern Baja guide.
Cabo San Lucas
The second most common entry for Pacific Coast arrivals, especially Ha-Ha boats and non-stop passages from San Diego. Marina Cabo San Lucas (IGY) handles the paperwork. Busier and slightly slower than Ensenada, but comprehensive.
Cabo has both an outer anchorage (free, a bit rolly) and the IGY marina. Check-in from the anchorage is technically possible, but marina guests get easier access to the Banjercito and Port Captain offices. See the Cabo San Lucas guide.
La Paz
Boats entering via Cabo and planning to spend the winter in La Paz do a full port check-in at La Paz’s Port Captain office. The Cabo Zarpe must list La Paz as the intended next port. Marina de La Paz and Marina Palmira are the two main marinas; both have Port Captain offices nearby. See the La Paz & Sea of Cortez guide.
The check-in process — working sequence
Working order at Ensenada or Cabo:
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Arrive and anchor or take a slip. Don’t go ashore until clearance is complete — flying the yellow Q flag signals that the boat has not yet cleared.
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Port Captain (Capitanía de Puerto). Bring vessel documents, crew list with passport numbers, and any previous Zarpe. They issue the Zarpe and charge the port fee. Bring cash in USD or pesos.
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INM (Immigration). Each crew member presents a passport. FMMs are issued and signed. Longest step if the office is busy. Bring passport photos if the office requires them (Ensenada sometimes does; Cabo rarely does).
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Banjercito (TIP). Bring vessel documents, passport, and a credit card. The TIP deposit is charged to the card. The boat receives a sticker and a paper permit.
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CONAPESCA (fishing licences). If fishing licences are needed, an office near the marina or a vendor at the dock handles it. Not always in the same building as the other offices.
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Lower the Q flag. The boat is legal in Mexico.
Common working mistakes
Arriving at a non-official port of entry. Bahia de Tortugas, Bahia Santa Maria, and most anchorages along the Pacific coast are not ports of entry. Legal clearance is not possible there. Ha-Ha participants have a special arrangement; independent boats must clear at an official port.
Not getting a Zarpe when leaving an anchorage. In theory, a Zarpe is required every time the boat moves. In practice, Port Captains in small towns may not be present or interested. But a boat that sails past a port that has a Port Captain without checking in is technically in violation. Working rule: check in when arriving at any town with a Port Captain.
Letting the TIP holder leave the boat. If the person named on the TIP flies home and the boat stays in Mexico, a notarised authorisation letter is required for the remaining crew to legally operate the vessel. This is a common scenario at the end of the rally season. Handle it before the TIP holder departs.
Overstaying the FMM. The FMM shows the number of days requested (up to 180). Staying longer produces a fine on departure. Extensions are theoretically possible but difficult in practice.
Fishing without licences. The fine is not worth it. Get the licences on arrival.
Working cost summary (2025–2026, approximate USD)
| Document | Cost per unit |
|---|---|
| FMM (tourist card) | $25–35 per person |
| Port Captain fees (entry) | $50–100 per vessel |
| TIP deposit | $50–200 per vessel (refundable) |
| Zarpe (subsequent ports) | $20–40 per port |
| Fishing licence (annual) | $25–30 per person |
Budget roughly $300–400 USD for a two-person boat’s initial entry at Ensenada or Cabo, including first Zarpe and TIP deposit.
Departing Mexico
When ready to leave:
- Get a Zarpe de Salida from the last port’s Port Captain.
- Return the TIP at a Banjercito office before leaving Mexican waters. The deposit refund goes back to the card used. Forgetting to cancel the TIP forfeits the deposit and creates problems for any future TIP application.
- Surrender FMMs at the Port Captain office or immigration office.
- File the US CBP arrival report via I-68 (if returning to the Pacific Northwest or California) or phone CBP if arriving at a small port.
Closing notes
Mexican clearance is a working bureaucratic exercise. The paperwork is real, the offices have working hours, and the fees move with politics. The boat that arrives with the documents in order, the cash for the fees, and a half day for the windows usually clears in a single afternoon. The boat that arrives without one of the working documents — or at the wrong port — adds a working day or two of unplanned bureaucracy.
Verify current fees and procedures with a current cruiser or the port captain’s office before departure. The working rule for cruising Mexico: the paperwork is part of the trip.
Related: Ensenada & Northern Baja · Cabo San Lucas Cruising Guide · La Paz & Sea of Cortez Cruising Guide · Baja Ha-Ha Sailing Rally Guide · San Diego Bay Cruising Guide