Change description : 2023-06-22 11:24:00: Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages. [Guidance and regulation]
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to:
The state of Chihuahua except:
The city of Chihuahua
The border crossing in Ciudad Juárez (accessed by federal toll road 45)
Federal toll road 45D connecting the cities of Chihuahua and Ciudad Juárez
The Copper Canyon rail route to/from Chihuahua and towns immediately on this route including Creel
The road from Creel via San Juanito to San Pedro
State highway 16 from San Pedro to Chihuahua
The state of Sinaloa except:
The cities of Los Mochis and Mazatlán
Road 32 that runs between El Fuerte and Los Mochis
The 15D federal toll road that runs the length of the state
The Copper Canyon rail route to/from Los Mochis/El Fuerte and the towns immediately on this route
The state of Zacatecas except:
Zacatecas City accessed by air
The state of Tamaulipas except:
The border crossing at Nuevo Laredo accessed by federal toll road 85D from Monterrey
The state of Colima except:
The city of Manzanillo reached by sea or air via the Manzanillo-Costalegre International Airport
The state of Guerrero except:
The city of Acapulco accessed by the 95D federal toll road
The town of Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa accessed by air
The town of Taxco accessed by the 95D and 200D federal toll roads
The state of Michoacán except:
The city of Morelia accessed by federal toll roads 15D, 126 and 43
The town of Pátzcuaro accessed by federal toll roads 14D and 15 from Morelia.
The 15D toll road
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) also advises against all but essential travel to the following areas within these states:
In the state of Baja California:
the city of Tijuana, except
Airside transit through Tijuana airport
The Cross Border Xpress bridge from the airport linking terminals across the Mexican-US border.
The federal toll road 1D and Via Rápida through Tijuana to the border
the city of Tecate in Baja California (including roads between Tijuana and Tecate)
(Note: FCDO does not advise against all travel or all but essential travel to any part of the state of Baja California Sur.)
In the state of Guanajuato:
the areas south west of the road 45D
In the state of Jalisco:
the areas south and southwest of Lake Chapala to the border with the state of Colima
the northern municpalities of Hostotipaquillo, San Martin de Bolaños, Chimaltitán, Bolaños, Totatiche, Colotlán, Santa Maria de los Ángeles, Huejúcar, Villa Guerrero, Mezquitic and Huequilla el Alto
If you are considering travel to any of these areas please see our Safety and security section for more detailed information on the risks present
Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for Mexico’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.
The hurricane season normally runs from June to November and affects both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Be aware that effects of tropical storms and hurricanes can span hundreds of miles from the centre of the storm, causing flooding, landslides and disruption to local services, including transport. You should follow the advice of the local authorities. See Natural disasters
It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.
If you enter Mexico through the visa on arrival scheme, your passport will be stamped to show how many days you have been granted entry for. Check the ‘Temporalidad’ section of the visa stamp for this information. You do not have an automatic right to the 180-day maximum stay length. If you stay longer that you have been granted, you may be taken to the Immigration facilities while they investigate, with the risk of being deported.
Make sure you carry ID and relevant immigration documents with you at all times. See Local laws and customs.
The security situation can pose a risk for foreigners. Be alert to the existence of street crime as well as serious violent crime like robbery, assault and vehicle hijacking. Do not become involved with drugs of any kind. Drug related crime and violence is prevalent and is on the increase. You should take particular care to avoid being caught up in violence between criminal groups. See Crime and Violence.
The Mexican government makes efforts to protect major tourist destinations. However, since the beginning of 2021, there have been several clashes between rival criminal gangs in popular tourist destinations in Cancun and surrounding areas. While tourists have not been the target, anyone in the vicinity of an incident could be affected. See Main tourist destinations.
Protests regularly affect Mexico City and other parts of the country. You should avoid demonstrations and follow the advice of the local authorities if you’re in an area where a protest is taking place. See Political situation.
Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Mexico, attacks can’t be ruled out. See Terrorism.
