Member's Home Forums General Discussion Mexico Mexico Aeronautical & Regulatory NEW - Mexico Entry Procedures

In March of this year, Mexico's DGAC presented us with a draft for a new procedure for private aircraft. During this time we have provided them with a number of observations regarding potential issues, some of which were addressed and some of which remain. The following is a summary review of the law, the new procedure and our observations.

THE PERMITS: Mexico Civil Aviation Law allows a private aircraft to enter Mexico under either a Single-Entry (SE) or Multiple-Entry (ME) permit. A SE permit is good for 180 days or until the aircraft departs Mexico. The ME permit is valid until the end of the calendar year and an aircraft can enter and depart Mexico as many times during the year as desired with a ME permit. Both a SE and ME permit cost M$ 702 PESOS.

THE OLD PROCEDURE: When a pilot requests a SE permit they only receive a receipt and a GHC-001 form. When a pilot requests a ME permit, they receive a 2-page letter (the permit), a receipt and a GHC-001 form. The GHC-001 form is the ONLY document that is recognized by the DGAC (civil aviation), Immigration and Customs. To be valid, the form must contain the stamps from these three federal agencies PLUS the receipt for payment of either the SE or ME permit in order to be valid. The 2-page ME letter has no validity with Immigration and Customs. The GHC-001 form captures the date of entry into Mexico of the aircraft and the date of expiration of the permit. The GHC-001 form gave the pilot/owner a legal document that proved that the airplane entered the country legally and showed until the aircraft could legally remain in the country.

NEW PROCEDURE: The new procedure differs from the old procedure in two significant areas:

First, the procedure relies on the internet using the CASS (Civil Aviation Security System) which is owned and operated by Mexico's DGAC. Under this system, Immigration and Customs would have to agree and be dependent on the DGAC’s CASS system to be able to verify the legal status of an aircraft. Initially, the procedure did not consider the possibility of internet or power interruption at an airport. We did not (and still don’t) believe that leaving a pilot/owner without some form of documentation to prove their status in the event of a technical failure of the CASS system, or in the presence of authorities not familiar with the new procedure, was a good idea.

Second, the new procedure requires a much more elaborate and comprehensive form for requesting entry into Mexico that resembles more of a contract. We reviewed and edited an English version of this form but it is unclear what happened to the English version that we provided.

The present system that has just been announced is in the process of implementation until December 31, 2012. There are a number of positive areas as well as a couple of points of caution:

1) There is a new DGAC form for requesting both a SE and ME permit. (SE permits did not require a request form in the past, only ME permits required one). The form requires the owner/pilot to make a number of declarations which are stating what a pilot should already know:
a. Aircraft need to comply with US and Mexican aeronautical regulations while in Mexico.
b. Pilots must comply with immigration, customs and sanitation authorities and any other authority as required (likely to mean Federal Police and military)
c. Cannot take cargo or merchandise on board that is not personal property (no cargo for hire)
d. Must comply with Mexican National Security measures
e. Must bring on board the Entry Permit Form (this is a new form also) as well as the receipt for payment of the Entry Permit.
f. Understands that it is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN to conduct air charter operations with the use of a SE or ME permit.

2) There is a new form for both SE and ME permits. The new form is now 3 pages long. The text on this form essentially reiterates the obligations described above plus:
a. It clarifies once again that a “special” Mexican Insurance IS NOT required. It also clarifies that the pilot is expected to keep their insurance in effect while in Mexico and carry the policy on board at all times.
b. Cannot stay in country for more than 6 months.
c. Aircraft MUST enter AND exit Mexico through an international airport.
d. Cannot use an airport/airstrip not authorized by the DGAC.
e. There are no boxes for DGAC, Immigration and Customs stamps, HOWEVER, we urge that you AT LEAST have the DGAC stamp this form. It is important for the pilot to have in their possesion some record of when they entered Mexico and that all formalities were complied with.
3) The DGAC at each international airport is REQUIRED to receive the authorization from local Immigration and Customs officials to allow the CASS system to replace the GHC-001 form. Until this is completed, that airport will continue to use a GHC-001 form. Regardless, ensure that you receive the form from item 2 above and during the short term try and have Immigration and Customs stamp it, if possible.

SUMMARY: Essentially, the new process replaces the GHC-001 form with CASS, uses a new permit request form and creates a new SE and ME form which MUST be carried on board the aircraft along with the receipt for the permit. Our concern, during this transition period, is that pilots must have documentation to prove not only to the DGAC but also to Immigration and Customs that they have entered the country legally and have not over-stayed their limit. Therefore, for the next 6 months we recommend that when entering Mexico, have immigration and customs stamp either your ARRIVAL REPORT or even better your entry permit form. You can expect that there will be varying levels of conformity across the country with regards to the new procedures.

Members can download PDF copies of the permit request form and the SE/ME Entry Permit forms at the Procedure and Forms section othe member website.

We have received information that Mexican Customs at the Zacatecas Intl. Airport refuses to participate with the new entry procedures for private aircraft. This creates a major issue for international arrivals of private flights at this airport and puts entry procedures in "limbo". We are currently working through this issue with local officials and will advise.

Please note that the ONLY legal form for a Single or Multiple Entry under the new procedure and Mexican law is the form found on the "Procedures and Forms" page of the member website PLUS the receipt for the M$702 pesos paid for the Entry Permit PLUS entry into the CASS electronic system by the DGAC. Any other document, including the 1/2 page Arrival Report, flight plans, or any other piece of paper DOES NOT have any legal validity no matter who stamps it. The stamping of Flight Plans and Arrival Reports are local procedures used at some airports as an internal control to alert the DGAC that the pilot has appeared before Mexican Immigration and Customs on arrival or prior to departure from an international airport BEFORE the DGAC officially closes or opens a flight plan. However, it does not validate that the CORRECT entry process was necessarily completed.

Thanks Rick! We had an issue with the fuel but got it resolved after my step mother called and spoke with Pricella Garcia at the ASA combustibles. She called the driver of the truck that overcharged me and we went back to the FBO and refunded our overcharge. Be sure the receipt is correct when you fuel. The Suministro was the fuel charge , IVA is tax and the DUGAEAM was listed on the receipt and for 152 L fuel was charged at$3,605 pesos not $132 pesos that was correct.

Our experience checking in was otherwise seamless. The FBO was great Marcella L.was a great help and facilitated our entry helping us fil out forms.

One note , take copies of your insurance policy, airworthiness, registration,pilot's license,medical certificates. They were happy that I had already made copies for them and this helped the check in process.

Can you give me an update on the new CASS procedure that was to begin 1/1/13? I'm planning on a trip in February and haven't been able to find an update.

Thanks.

Hello Shari, Happy New Year.

CASS is in full force now. It appears that all of the problems that surfaced during the implementation in the second half of 2012 have been resolved and the NOTAM's for those airports where the issues existed have been rescinded.

When you land, you will fill out a multi-page request form which is the same for either Single-Entry and Multiple-Entry permits. You will then be issued a multi-page permit form for either the Single-Entry or the Multiple-Entry permit. It is the exact same form, all that changes is the type of pemit being issued. However, with the new form, ONLY the DGAC will stamp it, not Immigration and Customs like before. What many airports are doing, however, is that Immigration and Customs will stamp the Arrival Report that you fill out upon landing. The DGAC at the airport uses this as confirmation that you have properly competed the arrival formalities with these federal agencies before they approve your Entry Permit. Your aircraft and arrival information is entered into CASS where supposedly Immigration and Customs have access in the even that they want to investigate the legal status of a particular aircraft.

Since the owners and pilots of aircraft DO NOT have access to CASS, we strongly recommend that you keep the arrival report stamped by Immigration and Customs in your files. That way, if there were ever a questions as to when the aircraft entered the country, you have more than just your word against theirs.

Okay, I get it now. I thought it was internet based for us. Is the form available to fill out before leaving home? Also, I came across a 5 page form (Declaration?) that I understand has to be filled out. Can any of the paperwork be completed before leaving home? It's difficult when the form is in Spanish and I'm only in English standing in the airport office looking like a complete idiot for 2 hours trying to interpret the form.

When this new process was in the development phase, we were sent draft forms and asked for feedback. We suggested an English version and were asked to translate the form into English, which we did. Regretably, somewhere in the implementation process the English form went by the wayside.

We have a sample of the request form that we were given but it is not "official" as each DGAC office has customized this form for their own airport. However, the new process is no more painful nor time consuming than the old process. Actually, in some ways it does streamline it because at many airports it eliminates the need to return to Immigration and Customs to get the old GHC-001 form stamped.

You can download a copy of the permit form from the "Procedures and Forms" page of the member website. If you want to see the request form as well, send me an email to rick@caribbeanskytours.com and I can send it to you. Bear in mind that they are only using the Spanish versions.

By the way, where are you planning to go in February?

Thanks, Rick. Yes, I'll send you an email so I can see the request form in order to have something to go by.

Any chance of you posting "sample" forms filled out for something to go by? You know, for us unilinguals.

We are going to go Feb 18-23 to Loreto.