Nogales Sonora Mariposa Border Crossing

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Name in US: Nogales Mariposa Gate

Hours of Operation: 6 am to 10pm 7 Days a week

Migration Office Only

No Banjercito (No Car Papers)

You must drive south to KM 21 to obtain your Visas (FMM) and vehicle permits.

Mariposa handles 75% of all entries between Arizona and Sonora and nearly 8% of all US Mexico trucks crossing.

Comments:

This is a very busy truck entry point with lots of room so it is the best one for RVs and in fact all vehicles as you are not trying to find parking or maneuver through small narrow streets. This is portal serves as the major gateway for the West Coast of Mexico.

Directions: US Highway 19 driving south of Tucson to Exit 4 Mariposa Road. Follow signs to Mariposa Truck crossing driving west 5kms (3 miles) to the border.

Follow signs to Hermosillo Cuota Mex Highway 15D to KM 21 to obtain your visitors visa and vehicle papers.

KM 21 Checkpoint

This is the place to obtain visas and vehicle permits and to return vehicle stickers. . There is easy parking and room for RVs.

There is a Banjercito - Army Bank - for you to apply and receive your vehicle permits. There is a booth for photocopying. When you receive your papers, put all your receipts and the wrapper from the vehicle permit into a safe place. (We put them into a baggie) You will need these when you return to the US. If you do not have them there is a fine and a few hour delay for you to return.

At the 21 checkpoint there is an opportunity to purchase pesos.

After you have obtained your permits and visas you will drive through an area with lanes indicating Nothing to Declare or Need to Declare. If you have nothing to declare over your customs limit choose the nothing to declare line. Otherwise take the Declare lanes.

When you drive though a light will randomly select red or green. If you get green, proceed; red means you must stop and talk to a migration officer.

Returning to the US

When you are returning to the US you must return your vehicle permit. To do so drive north to KM 21 and observe a Return you Vehicle Permit sign. You drive to a small booth, present your papers and get a receipt. Keep it.