Mexico's Heroes Paisanos Program: A Guide for Mexican Nationals Returning for the Holidays

Discover Mexico’s Héroes Paisanos Program: Your guide for a smooth journey home this season, covering documents, travel tips, permits, and more for the safest holiday travels!

As the holidays get closer, many Mexicans living abroad can’t wait to go home to see family and celebrate the season’s special traditions. Mexico’s Héroes Paisanos Program helps make travel easier by guiding you through entry, travel, and exit. Here’s what you need to know to plan your trip home for the holidays.

What is the Héroes Paisanos Program?

The Héroes Paisanos Program was created by the Mexican government to help Mexicans returning home, especially during peak holiday seasons. The program gives travelers important tips, support, and help so they can stay safe, informed, and ready while entering, traveling through, or leaving Mexico. It is mainly for Mexican nationals who are coming back to the country.

The program runs year–round, but it provides extra help during busy times like Easter, summer, and the December holidays.

Paisano Modules (Módulos Paisano)

Most Mexicans drive to Mexico for the holidays. That’s why Paisano Modules are set up at major border crossings, highways, and rest areas to help along the way. These modules are easy to spot with official signs and offer important services like:

• Assistance completing paperwork
• Providing needed border crossing information
• Trained immigration officers to answer questions about traveling legally in Mexico
• Updates on road conditions and safety
• Rules for bringing goods into Mexico
• Emergency help if you have travel problems

The modules are usually open 24 hours a day, so you can get help no matter when you arrive. It is a good idea to stop at these modules for up-to-date information, especially if you are traveling with children or bringing items into Mexico.

Essential Documents for Mexican Citizens

For a smooth entry, you will need to have valid identification. Here is a quick checklist of documents Mexican nationals can use to prove citizenship:

• A valid passport
• A citizen identity card or personal ID
• A certified copy of your birth certificate
• A consular registration (or Matrícula Consular Card) issued by Mexican consulates to their citizens living abroad
• A letter of naturalization or certificate of Mexican nationality
• A voter ID card issued by the Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE)

Be sure to have at least one of these documents with you before you travel.

Documentation for Children

If traveling with children under the age of 18, you’ll need additional documents to verify their identity:

• An original photo ID
• A certified birth certificate

If your children were born in the United States and lack a Mexican birth certificate, you will need an apostille birth certificate (proving the birth certificate is authentic) from the U.S. civil registry. Be sure to bring both the original documents and a copy.

If a child is not traveling with both parents, it is advisable to bring a notarized letter of consent from the absent parent or guardian. This helps avoid complications at the border and ensures smooth travel into Mexico and back into the U.S.

Missing Documents and Affidavit of Identity

If you are missing important documents, you can fill out an Affidavit of Identity (Declaración de Identidad). This form lets you confirm your identity and declare your intention to return to Mexico. Immigration officers are available to help you complete the process at Paisano Modules or Mexican consulates abroad.

To avoid delays, try to take care of any missing documents before crossing the border.

Required Visitor Permits

If you are a foreign national visiting Mexico, you must get an FMM visitor’s permit (Forma Migratoria Múltiple). The FMM is free if you will be staying in Mexico for less than 7 days. If you are staying longer, it costs $717 MXN (approximately $43 U.S. in 2024).

For visits longer than 7 days, you will also need a DNR permit (Derecho de No Residente). The DNR costs $638 MXN (about $32 U.S. in 2024) and applies if you are visiting for tourism, business, or other reasons.

These permits are separate from the Paisano Program and apply no matter how you enter Mexico, whether by air, land, or sea.

You can pay for permits at Banjercito locations or online with a credit or debit card. If you are driving, you can also purchase them at a Banjercito office near the border in Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas.

Hotline Numbers and Online Support

If you have questions about the Héroes Paisanos Program or need help with documents, you can reach out for support. Travelers can call the hotline for quick assistance:

• From the U.S.: 1-877-210-9469
• From Mexico: 800-201-8542

You can also email heroespaisanos@inami.gob.mx for more information.

Download the Full Guide

Mexico’s Héroes Paisanos Program is committed to making your journey home as easy and safe as possible. For all the details about the program and travel tips, download the official 2024 guide here.

Additional Travel Information

Duty Free Items

When entering Mexico, you are allowed to bring up to $300 USD worth of merchandise duty-free if you’re traveling by land. However, if you live in a border area, your duty-free limit increases to $500 per person.

To prove the value of your items, you can use receipts or declare their value on the customs forms. If you do not have receipts, customs officers will decide the value, which may include checking prices online.

For more details on customs rules, visit embamex.sre.gov.mx.

Temporary Import Permits (TIP) for Vehicles

If you are a permanent resident of the U.S. or Canada and your vehicle has U.S. or Canadian license plates, you will need to get a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) to bring your car into Mexico–unless you are staying in the “Free Zone.”

TIPs are valid for one year for Mexican citizens living abroad, but your vehicle can only stay in Mexico for up to 180 calendar days at a time.

Mexico Vehicle Insurance

In Mexico, every state requires drivers to have liability insurance from a Mexican insurance company. If you are in an accident, a claims adjuster will come to the scene to help negotiate and confirm you have financial coverage if you’re found at fault.

Mexpro offers a variety of Mexican insurance plans to choose from. You can compare quotes from several Mexican insurers at Mexpro.com.

Please note, Mexpro does not provide insurance coverage for vehicles with Mexican license plates.

Enjoy Your Trip Home

With these tips, you will be ready to focus on what truly matters–spending the holidays with family and enjoying the comfort of home. Have a safe journey, and ¡felices fiestas!