Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa Message Board - Temporary Importation Permits for cars

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I am planning on spending several months a year in Zihua, and personally like having a car here. I also want to be able to fly to the States for a couple of weeks near Christmas.

So I have done my best to explore the rules on the Internet. Here is what I have found (U.S. Citizenship assumed):

If you enter on a tourist visa, you may stay for up to 180 days. If you bring a car, that's fine, but the car permit is technically valid only as long as your visa. This would probably mean that your permit is technically no longer valid if you fly home, because you surrender your visa at the airport.

There have been reports that people who fly out and temporarily leave a car have had to pay fines. The fine, to put things in perspective, was only $390 pesos. But who knows if this is a number than can be counted on ...

If you have a Temporary Resident visa, the rule seems to be clear that you *can* import a car. The car permit is good as long as your residency status is current. This would seem to mean that you *could* fly back under these circumstances without problem. You don't surrender your visa at the airport, so you don't run into the above technicality.

It also appears to be OK to start the temporary resident visa application in the States and bring in a car. You would then get a temporary visa allowing you to complete the application process in Mexico. The law (Article 106) seems to explicitly cover this situation, and you're allowed to keep the car when your visa status changes to Temporary Resident.

All bets are off if you are a Permanent Resident. Then you can't import a car temporarily.

I would appreciate any comments by people who have tried to jump through these hoops. I intend to bring in a car in December and get my Temporary Resident visa in Zihua. God knows I don't want to find myself in Zihua somehow afoul of the process.

Wish me luck!

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We simplified the whole process by buying our car in Mexico. Have now driven it back to the USA three times with no problems getting it in or out of either country.

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There was a through discussion of this recently enough that you can probably scroll down and find it.

Here you go: http://www.zihuatanejo.net/tablero/thread/106677.html

I have a question for you: I just posted above about our experience yesterday applying for our Permanent Residency. Is what we will get in Zihua a Temporary Residency permit, and then it changes to a Permanent Resident permit in 4 years? If so, you MUST start the process in your home country.

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Got an FM3 in Denver 10 yrs ago. FM3 eliminated, so got a Temporary Residency Card 2 yrs ago at the local Immigration office in Zihua. Expires this yr. Am now eligible for a Permanent Residency Card, but am not sure I will do so. Unless the rules have changed, I think you can do all this locally in Zihua?

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As of 2012, the process must be initiated in the persons home country.

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Since 2012: Converted my FM3 to Temporary Resident in 2014 in Zihua and have been told by local immigration office that I must convert to a Permanent Residence this yr, 2016 and can do that locally. In fact, in 2014 I was given the option to get a Permanent card that yr. Did it all locally in Zihua. Perhaps it was because I already had a FM3 for several years, acquired in Denver, when I started the whole process in '96. Rules vary throughout Mexico, but perhaps to be safe than sorry, one should start in one's home country. But I will let you know when and if I attempt to get my Permanent card in November in Zihua.

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Yes, the procedure must be started in one's home country. It is necessary to show the financial ability to live in Mexico without the government's support, and this part of the process must be completed in the your home country.

Then, when you enter Mexico, you have to get a special temporary visa upon entry saying that you will be exchanging (the Spanish word is canjear) the visa you received in the U.S. or whatever for the real deal, which is the Temporary Resident card. This final exchange (canje) has to be done in Mexico.

Beware! Don't just get the usual tourist card when you enter Mexico, or they'll reject it when you apply for Temporary Residency (as I found out by bitter experience). I'm having to repeat the process in December.

The people in imigración are sticklers for detail, IMO.

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Oswaldo told us yesterday that the visa he applied to our passports was all we needed until we went to the office in Zihuatanejo, that we didn't have to stop at the border.

Bob, where is the office in Zihuatanejo? We'll be there before you, so can't ask in person. Also, do you know what we'll have to provide there?

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Not sure if we are saying the same thing in different ways, but hope this what you need: You got a visa applied to your passport -- did you do that in the states? Then you're good to go on that end. The only thing to be careful of is when you get the tourist card when you enter Mexico, make sure the status box has the word "canje" in it. You don't want the standard six month tourist card if your intention is to get a residente temporal card.

The imigracion office is near the electric company, down the street and around the corner from La Papa Loca and Carmelita's.

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Yes, yesterday, in the states, and fortunately, for now, our vehicle is on a 10 year permit.

See you in December???

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I hope to be down in mid-December. See you then!

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Considering the hoops you have to jump through, years you have to wait and thousands of dollars you have to spend to try and get a US visa, only to be rejected in the end for a reason they do not even disclose to you, I would say Mexican Immigration is a walk in the park. As long as everything is in order and you meet the requirements you WILL be accepted. If you are missing something they will give you a concise list of what you need...So if that makes them "sticklers" so be it...

--
www.williammertz.photography

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:megusta:

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¡Bien dicho, amigo!

:megusta: :vivamexico:

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So true the process is easy compared to other countries
Our son in law from Mexico went through the process of Canadian Permanent Residency
Insanely detailed process

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Well, true enough that immigration gave me enough information that I ought to get the paperwork right on the second try. And I'm sure it's true that other countries' process can be much more difficult.

But I stand by my words: Mexico has very specific requirements as to how their paperwork is filled out, and it isn't easy to get everything right on the first try. My posts were intended to convey some of the detail that it is important to know.

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