Mexico - Country Information

Film Commissions

Mexican Film Commission
Tel: 55 5448 5383 Fax: 55 5448 5381
E-mail: locations.mexico@imcine.gob.mx
Website: www.comefilm.gob.mx
Coordinator: Carla Raygoza

Permits/visas
The Mexican Film Commission is working with the Mexican Government to make obtaining visas, import and work permits as efficient as possible, but for the most part, shooting in Mexican territory is not complicated.

Tax breaks/incentives
The fiscal incentive known as "VAT 0%" is a mechanism available to foreign productions and it is similar to a rebate. In order to qualify, the project must be registered before the Ministry of Finance through a Mexican production company prior to commencing work. This mechanism has been used successfully by many local production companies in favour of foreign productions who have registered a return of as much as 10-15% of their expenditure in Mexico.

Recent productions
The Fast & The Furious 4, Dragonball, The Argentine, South of the Border, Resident Evil 3, Apocalypto, Vantage Point, Troy, Man on Fire, The Legend of Zorro, Matador, Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Mexican, The Mask of Zorro, Titanic, Romeo & Juliet, Before Night Falls, Collateral Damage.

General Information

Location: Central America
Local Time: Baja Calif Sur, Nayarit, Sinaloa & Chihuahua:
From 25 Oct 09 to 04 Apr 10 GMT -7
From 04 Apr 10 to 31 Oct 10 GMT -6
From 31 Oct 10 to 03 Apr 11 GMT -7
From 03 Apr 11 to 30 Oct 11 GMT -6
Baja Calif Norte:
From 25 Oct 09 to 04 Apr 10 GMT -8
From 04 Apr 10 to 31 Oct 10 GMT -7
From 31 Oct 10 to 03 Apr 11 GMT -8
From 03 Apr 11 to 30 Oct 11 GMT -7
Rest of Mexico:
From 25 Oct 09 to 04 Apr 10 GMT -6
From 04 Apr 10 to 31 Oct 10 GMT -5
From 31 Oct 10 to 03 Apr 11 GMT -6
From 03 Apr 11 to 30 Oct 11 GMT -5
Sonora: GMT -7
Capital City: Mexico City
Population: 111.2 million
Area: 1,972,550 square km, 761,602 square miles.
Language(s): Spanish
Dialling Code: 52
Emergency: Police: 060/080. Fire: 5768-3544. Ambulance: 5557-5758
Directory Enquiries: 40
TV Standard: NTSC
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence or International Driving Permit required
Electricity: 110V AC 60Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Mexican Peso (MXN 1 = 100 Centavos)
Notes: MXN: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500
Coins: MXN: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50. Centavos: 5, 10, 20, 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1700 Mon-Fri (some branches open 0900-1300 Sat)
Office: 0900-1400 & 1500-1800 Mon-Fri
Shops: 0900-2000 Mon-Sat (Mexico City), 0900-1400 & 1600-2000 Mon-Fri (rest of country)

Public Holidays
2010
1 Jan New Year's Day, 4 Feb Constitution Day, 15 Mar Birthday of Benito Jurez, 1 Apr *Maundy Thursday, 2 Apr *Good Friday, 1 May Labour Day, 5 May *Anniversary of Battle of Puebla, 16 Sep Independence Day, 12 Oct *Da de la Raza (Columbus Day), 2 Nov *Da de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), 20 Nov Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910, 12 Dec *Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note: Holidays marked * are optional public holidays. In addition there are many local holidays.

Business/Social Hints: Business is usually conducted in Spanish. Many executives speak English. On social occasions be punctual and dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: There is usually no service charge, tips are around 15%

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: Diphtheria*, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, tetanus, typhoid, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria exists all year in some rural areas not often visited by tourists. The risk in Cancun is very small but malaria is present in nearby rural areas. High risk in some areas of: Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa & Tabasco & moderate risks in the states of Chihuahua, Durango, Nayarit, Oaxaca & Sonora & low risk in Campeche, Guerrero, Michoacan & Jalisco. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:

1) Nationals of Canada, Mexico & United States holding proof of citizenship e.g. birth certificate, naturalisation certificate, voter's registration certificate

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for 6 months from date of entry

Passport Notes: Expired passports issued to nationals of Canada and Mexico are accepted

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:

1) Nationals of Mexico

2) For tourist stays up to 180 days by:
a) Nationals of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR passport), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (south), Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macao (SAR passport), Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovaka Rep, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela
b) Holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen, British National (Overseas) or British Subject

Notes: 1) Visitors must hold FMTTV form issued to each passenger free of charge by airlines, travel agencies or on arrival

2) All visitors must hold tickets and documents for their onward or return journey and sufficient funds for maintenance during their stay in Mexico

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:

1) Persons continuing their journey to another country within 24 hours on a flight without further intermediate stops in Mexico provided holding confirmed tickets and documents for their next destination

Notes: All persons travelling to/from Cuba require a visa or Form FMT

Exit Permits

Special Notes

Immigration authorities may require proof of onward/return tickets & sufficient funds for length of stay

Climate

Almost two thirds of the country has a warm temperate climate whilst other parts have a tropical climate where temperatures are governed by altitude. The coastal and lowland areas are hot and humid while the central plateau region has a temperate climate. The highlands tend to be fairly mild but can experience sharp drops in temperature at night. Rainfall varies greatly from region to region. Only the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the state of Chiapas in the far south receive any appreciable amount of rain during the year with the wet season running between Jun-Oct. All other areas have rainless seasons. Some snow in the north in winter. Dry season runs from Nov-May

Clothing

Lightweights for summer, mediumweights and rainwear for winter evenings

Charts for Mexico City

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 19 21 24 25 26 24 23 23 23 21 20 19 Min Temp (C) 6 6 8 11 12 13 12 12 12 10 8 6 Humidity am (%) 79 72 68 66 69 82 84 85 86 83 82 81 Humidity pm (%) 34 28 26 29 29 48 50 50 54 47 41 37 Rainfall (mm) 13 5 10 20 53 119 170 152 130 51 18 8

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Mexico Tourism Board
Wakefield House, 41 Trinity Square
London, EC3N 4DJ
tel: +44 20 7488 9392
fax: +44 20 7265 0704
e-mail: uk@visitmexico.com
website: www.visitmexico.com

Embassy
Embassy of Mexico to the United Kingdom
16 St George Street
London W1S 1FD
tel: +44 20 7499 8586
fax: +44 20 7495 4035
e-mail: consulmexuk@sre.gob.mx
website: www.sre.gob.mx/reinounido
hours: 0900-1300 (Mon-Fri)