Staying in Mexico had been a confusing and frustrating experience for many over the past couple of years as visitors were sometimes unexpectedly granted shorter-than-desired stays. However, that has changed at Cancun International Airport as approval for stays of up to 180 days are now automatically approved for most arrivals there.
Before, those arriving at Mexican airports from abroad had to fill out an FMM (Forma Multipla Migratoria) and also regularly be at the mercy of the immigration officer as far as how long their approved stay would be, which was reported by many travelers to be a number of days that was significantly fewer than 180.
Starting on Aug. 19, 2022, most travelers from the United States, Canada, UK, and several other countries can simply stay in Mexico for up to 180 days after receiving a stamp in their passport upon arrival. No forms need to be filled out.
Also of note for those eligible is that the wait to get through the immigration process is expected to be reduced from around an hour to a few minutes as a result of this change. Not needing to hold on to a card that travelers were handed at that time for the duration of their stay in Mexico is a welcome development as well.
This change is the result of the Cancun-area tourism industry putting pressure on the Mexican government, presumably after receiving negative feedback from international visitors. Other airports from across Mexico are expected to join this program as well.
Note that visitors from some countries, such as Brazil and Honduras, are not eligible for this new process. Also, those from countries such as the U.S. and Canada using a visa, such as for work- or education-related reasons, will still need to fill out the FFM.