Americans traveling to Cancun, Mexico must hold appropriate documentation to enter Mexico and return to the United States. While passports are recommended for all international travelers, the U.S. State Department does not require all U.S. citizens crossing the border into Mexico to hold one. The exact passport requirements vary based on your means of arriving in Cancun.

Air Travel

All Americans, including infants, must hold a valid United States passports when arriving in Mexico by air, to ensure proper documentation when returning to the United States. Travelers flying directly into Cancun International Airport as well as those flying into other areas of Mexico before driving to the city must present their U.S. passport before boarding the aircraft. The U.S. State Department also requires all U.S. citizens to present a passport when re-entering the country from Mexico by air.

Land or Sea Travel

All Americans, including infants and children, planning to arrive in Cancun by land or sea, such as by driving or taking a private boat, are not required to hold a passport. Passport cards are accepted in place of passports for American citizens entering Mexico though passport books are also accepted. In addition to passports and passport books, the U.S. State Department accepts enhanced drivers' licenses and SENTRI cards, ID cards issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to approved travelers who frequently cross the border.

Closed-Loop Cruise

Americans visiting Cancun as part of a closed-loop cruise, one that departs and returns to the same U.S. port, are not required to carry a passport book or passport card. Any government- issued photo ID, such as a driver's license, and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, are accepted in lieu of a passport. Travelers seeking to avoid carrying several forms of identification are able to present a passport book or passport card to meet both documentation requirements.

Additional Considerations

The U.S. State Department notes that all international travelers should carry a passport in case of an emergency situation where they need to leave the country by air. Children traveling without one or both parents must carry a notarized letter of permission from the absent parent, noting her name, the child's name, a list of those traveling with the child, a brief overview of trip plans and her approval of the child's trip. The original letter must be accompanied by proof of family relationship between the parent and child, such as a birth certificate.

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