Before You Leave

Tourist Visa
As of 2007 all U.S. and Canadian citizens will need a valid passport to obtain a tourist visa to come to San Miguel de Allende. A tourist visa will be valid for up to 180 days. (Please note: an American I.D. is NOT considered an official document in Mexico.) When you arrive in México make sure that the card is validated for the period you wish to be here. Extending your visa while you are here is time consuming, but can be done in San Miguel for approximately US $40. If you overstay your visa, you may be fined as you exit the country.

All non-U.S. or Canadian citizens need a valid passport to enter Mexico. Please make a photo copy of your passport for our office. The Minstry of Education of Guanajuato requires that we keep a photocopy of every student's passport on file. So, for those planning to enter Mexico without their passport, please make a photocopy for our office and tuck it in your luggage.

When you arrive, the Academia will give you a student I.D. which you can carry around town and keep important documents and other valuables safely tucked away. Please bring two passport-size photos with you for your student I.D.

Money
The easiest and most convenient way to get money is with your ATM card. There are many ATM machines throughout Mexico and the exchange rate is competitive. The only fees involved are those that your bank charges for using an ATM.

Traveler's checks are also widely accepted (as is U.S. currency) by most businesses here.

The credit cards that are most popular here are Visa and Mastercard.

Photocopies
Before you leave photo copy all of your important documents including: passport, credit cards, ATM cards, drivers license, traveler's checks, birth certificate, or any other hard-to-replace items. Make at least two copies of everything and leave one with a friend or relative at home. Bring the other copies with you. This is a good insurance policy should your documents be lost or stolen and can save valuable time, money and energy in case of emergency.

Take Your Spanish & Explore Mexico
If you plan to travel throughout Mexico, you may want to purchase a good guide book before you leave. Some of the best are the Michelin (green guide), Fromers, Fodor's and Lonely Planet.