Online Services for Mexico Federal Vehicle Permit Applications
Foreigners may drive their vehicles in most of Western Sonora’s “Free Trade Zone” without needing a vehicle importation permit. However, vehicles traveling in parts of Sonora that are outside of the free zone must bear a valid temporary vehicle importation permit decal.
There are two options for purchasing a temporary vehicle importation permit: The Sonora Only program, and the Mexican federal vehicle importation program. The first limits the vehicle to driving in Sonora, and the latter is valid for travel in Sonora and throughout Mexico.
Traditionally, vehicle owners had to apply for a vehicle permit at a Mexican customs station or consulate. Now, Banjercito provides online options to pre-register the permit application information and purchase the permit online, although the permit issuance must be finalized at a customs station or by sending copies of the information to Banjercito. This includes permits for boats, and Sonora Only and federal permits for autos and motorhomes.
Please note that the applicant must be at least 18 years of age, the vehicle weight cannot exceed 3.5 metric tons, and the online registration and purchase processes are not available for anyone with a current work or student visa. Also, if you knowingly submit false information in a permit application, you may be subject to legal sanctions imposed by Mexican authorities.
Pre-Register or Purchase Permits Online
Visit the Banjercito website to initiate the online registration or purchase process. You may apply for and purchase a permit between 10 days and 60 days prior to the date you will drive the vehicle into Mexico.
Enter Residency, Vehicle and Tourist Visa Information
Before beginning the process, if you do not have an FMM or other form of Mexican tourist visa documentation, you can apply for one online. You will need the online application reference information for your vehicle permit application.
Then, make sure that you have collected all information needed to process the application:
The number of your Mexico tourist visa or online pre-authorization information
The document number of a citizenship or current residency document
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
The date you will enter Mexico
An email address (for online updates and correspondence from Banjercito)
The number of people who will be in your vehicle
Your physical address (where the permit will be mailed), and
A credit card number (must be in the name of the applicant and have more than three months before its expiration).
After clicking through the initial information and consent pages, the system will take you through the process of entering information for applicant identification and vehicle information. That will be followed by the option to register the information, followed by a summary page that displays the information entered. You will then have the option to purchase the permit online.
Pre-Register with Citizenship, Vehicle and Tourist Card Information
Like the online permit purchase, the pre-registration process is available for autos, recreational vehicles and boats. It allows you to provide required information to Banjercito online, to expedite the application process. The same information is required for pre-registration, except for payment and mailing information. You may pre-register as soon as one day (24 hours) before going to the Mexican consulate or customs station to purchase and receive your temporary importation permit.
After you complete the pre-registration process, the system will generate a passcode that is valid for two weeks – no sooner than 24 hours after the transaction and no more than 15 days after the transaction. Take the passcode with the original documents (or a notarized copy) from your online registration, along with two copies of the documents, to a border customs station (link) to purchase and receive the vehicle permit decal and documentation.
Purchase a Permit Online
If you choose to purchase the permit online, the system will process your payment information and generate a receipt. After making the online purchase, the permit and vehicle decal will be mailed to the address you provided in the application. You must then go to a Mexican consulate or customs station to finalize the issuance of the permit, or email scanned images of the documents to Banjercito (mailto:itvnet@banjercito.com.mx), or mail the documents via courier to:
Avenida Industria Militar 1055
Colonia Lomas de Sotelo
Del. Miguel Hidalgo
México, D.F. 11200
Finalize the Permit Purchase and Issuance
Take the originals (or notarized copies) of documents you used to complete the online registration or purchase, along with two photocopies of residency and vehicle documents, to the Banjercito branch at the customs station to finalize the permit process. If you do not bring copies of the documents, you may obtain photocopies at the customs station for a nominal charge.
Also, please note:
If you need permission from a lienholder to bring the vehicle into Mexico bring a permission document – a letter from the bank or lienholder that states the vehicle may enter Mexico (contact your lienholder, they will most likely have a form letter for this), rental car lease documentation
If the vehicle title is in the If the vehicle is registered in the name of your spouse or another family member, bring a notarized document (and two copies), such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate, that proves your relationship to that person.
When you arrive at the customs station, first purchase and obtain your FMM tourist card before finalizing the vehicle permit process. Then proceed to the Banjercito module with the FMM card and permit application documents to complete the permit purchase and issuance.
Do Not Forget to Return the Permit
This is very important. The term of the vehicle permit is six months, during which time you may enter and leave Mexico as many times as you like. But you must return the vehicle permit at one of the Sonora border customs stations before it expires. That way, Banjercito can cancel the permit and refund your guarantee deposit.
