Tamaulipas authorities are warning that the state could consider implementing a reciprocal permit for vehicles from Nuevo León if the neighboring state moves forward with its new Tourist Pass for vehicles with out-of-state license plates.
The warning was issued by Humberto Prieto Herrera, president of the Tamaulipas State Congress, amid growing criticism of the measure announced by the government of Nuevo León. Prieto said that Tamaulipas could consider applying a similar requirement to vehicles registered in Nuevo León if the measure is implemented.
He argued that Nuevo León residents frequently travel to Tamaulipas, particularly to Tampico and Ciudad Madero, as well as to the international bridges connecting Tamaulipas with the United States. Because of this constant movement between the two states, he said Tamaulipas could respond with a similar measure if Nuevo León maintains its position.
Tamaulipas Questions the Constitutionality of the Measure
The discussion intensified after Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villarreal Anaya questioned the legal basis of Nuevo León’s Tourist Pass.
Villarreal said the measure should be reviewed from a constitutional perspective because Mexicans have the right to move freely throughout the country. He also warned that the requirement could have consequences for commerce and regional mobility.
The governor’s position was echoed by members of the Tamaulipas Congress. Prieto said lawmakers were already considering whether to issue a formal request urging Nuevo León to reconsider the implementation of the requirement.
The Tamaulipas legislator also pointed out that Nuevo León residents regularly travel to Tamaulipas for tourism and commercial activities. He specifically mentioned destinations along the Gulf coast, including Tampico and Ciudad Madero, as well as travel through Tamaulipas’ international bridges.
Nuevo León’s Tourist Pass
Nuevo León’s government maintains that the measure is intended to improve road safety, administrative control and legal certainty for vehicles with foreign plates.
According to the Nuevo León Vehicle Control Institute (ICV), the Tourist Pass will be free and processed online. It will apply to private vehicles with license plates from other states or countries that enter Nuevo León temporarily.
The permit can be issued for periods ranging from one to 30 calendar days per year. Vehicles that need to remain in Nuevo León for more than 30 days can instead use the Long-Stay Vehicle Registration (RVEP).
The state government says the system will also allow authorities to maintain a record of vehicles from outside Nuevo León. Officials have argued that this information can help with administrative control and crime prevention.
To obtain the Tourist Pass, motorists must provide their vehicle registration card, valid driver’s license, valid insurance policy, and a contact and emergency telephone number. The permit is linked to the vehicle’s license plate and is not transferable.
The Measure Will Begin in October
The Nuevo León government published the official operating guidelines on September 4, 2026. The rules entered into force on September 7, but the actual requirement for out-of-state vehicles will begin October 21, 2026, after the 45-day period established in the agreement.
This means that motorists with plates from Tamaulipas, Coahuila and other states who plan to drive in Nuevo León will have to obtain the permit once the requirement takes effect.
Nuevo León has emphasized that the procedure will not involve a payment for tourists. The concern among neighboring states is therefore focused less on the cost and more on the requirement itself and its possible effect on interstate mobility.
Concern Along the Tamaulipas Border
The measure is particularly significant for residents of Nuevo Laredo, where Nuevo León is an important route for people traveling toward central and southern parts of the state.
Tamaulipas legislator Ana Laura Huerta Valdovinos said the requirement could become an obstacle for people who regularly cross between the two states. Although she acknowledged that the pass is free and is intended to identify vehicles entering Nuevo León, she questioned whether permits of this type could create barriers to movement between states.
The issue also affects tourism and commerce. Tamaulipas officials have emphasized that Nuevo León residents are frequent visitors to the state’s Gulf Coast destinations and use its international crossings for commercial and personal activities.
A Possible Tit-for-Tat Response
The possibility of a reciprocal permit would represent an escalation in the dispute between the neighboring states.
Prieto said Tamaulipas could take similar action if Nuevo León proceeds with its policy, essentially requiring Nuevo León residents to obtain a permit to enter Tamaulipas. He presented the possibility as a way of demonstrating that measures affecting interstate mobility can have consequences for both sides.
For now, however, there is no indication that Tamaulipas has formally established such a permit. The reciprocal measure remains a warning and political proposal rather than an implemented policy.
The dispute comes as Nuevo León prepares to put its new system into operation on October 21. The coming weeks could determine whether the two states reach an agreement or whether the disagreement develops into reciprocal restrictions affecting the large number of people who travel between Nuevo León and Tamaulipas for work, business, tourism and access to international crossings.
Source: reforma
