Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico in 2026?
Mexico Travel Advisory - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, bordering the United States of America to the north and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast, while having maritime boundaries with the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea to the southeast, and the Gulf of Mexico to the east.
Is It Safe to Travel to Mexico in 2026?
Mexico is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Mexico due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. Many violent crimes take place in Mexico, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, sexual assault, and robbery.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- terrorism
- crime
- kidnapping
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Exercise increased caution due to terrorism, crime, and kidnapping., Many violent crimes take place in Mexico, including homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, sexual assault, and robbery..
Active restrictions in Mexico:
- Movement restrictions in effect
May not travel between cities after dark.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from violent crime, including robbery and kidnapping, particularly in urban areas after dark; staying in well-populated areas and avoiding remote locations is crucial.
Business travelers can expect reliable accommodations and transport services in major cities, but should remain vigilant about personal safety and avoid traveling alone or after dark.
Families with children may encounter healthcare access issues outside major cities and should be cautious of crime, particularly in tourist areas; bottled water is recommended due to health risks.
Remote workers may find good connectivity in urban centers, but should be cautious of safety and health risks, especially in rural areas where services are limited.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Mexico.
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▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Mexico has an overall threat severity of 4.2 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 3.0/10, and kidnapping risk 6.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 60/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Mexican Peso (MXN)
Language
Spanish
Notable restrictions:
- Emergency services are limited or unavailable in remote or rural areas.
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, primaquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchRocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Mexico: Illness and death due to Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) have been reported in the northern region of Mexico along the U.S. border, particularly in Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Nuevo León.
- alertGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
- infoSalmonella Newport in Mexico: Some travelers who have spent time in Mexico have been infected with multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella Newport.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Mexico
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Mexico?
▶Is it safe to travel to Mexico right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Mexico?
▶What vaccines do I need for Mexico?
▶Is Mexico safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Mexico?
More Mexico Data
Partly Free — 60/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.