CBX Documents — Do You Need an I-94 or an FMM?
Everyone tells you to bring a passport. Almost nobody tells foreign visitors about the paid I-94 going into the US, or the FMM going into Mexico — and both are easier to do at home than at the border.
Flat rate from $49 · no surge · TIJ flight-tracked · 100% electric
TL;DR — what to carry
| Traveller | Must carry |
|---|---|
| US citizen / Permanent Resident | Passport or PR card · TIJ boarding pass · CBX ticket. No I-94. |
| Mexican citizen | Passport, INE, birth certificate, consular registration or Mexican nationality certificate · boarding pass · CBX ticket. |
| Foreign visitor entering the US >30 days or going >25 miles from the border | All of the above + paid I-94 (do it online up to 7 days ahead; print the receipt). |
| Foreign visitor entering Mexico | All of the above + FMM; immigration fee applies if the stay exceeds 7 days. |
Requirements are published by CBX at crossborderxpress.com. Permits, fees and forms are set by the US and Mexican governments and can change — confirm on the official sites before you travel. EGT does not file, supply or advise on immigration documents; we get you to the terminal on time.
The rule first-timers actually miss
It is not the passport. It is the boarding-pass window: your TIJ flight must depart within 24 hours of your crossing, or have arrived within 4 hours of it. CBX is not a public border crossing — it exists only for ticketed Tijuana Airport passengers, and the bridge staff check. Show up outside that window and you do not cross, no matter what documents you hold.
The second thing people underestimate is the drive. CBX sits at 2745 Otay Pacific Drive in Otay Mesa, off the 905 — about 22 miles from downtown San Diego. That is a real trip with real traffic, and it is the leg most likely to eat your 24-hour window.
Getting there — published flat rates to the CBX terminal
| Pickup zone | Flat rate to CBX |
|---|---|
| Chula Vista / South Bay | $49 |
| Coronado / National City | $59 |
| Downtown / Old Town / Mission Hills | $72 |
| Mission Valley / Hotel Circle | $79 |
| La Jolla / UTC | $99 |
| Del Mar / Carmel Valley / Solana Beach | $112 |
| Rancho Santa Fe / 4S Ranch | $119 |
| Rancho Bernardo / Scripps / Poway | $125 |
| Carlsbad / Leucadia / Encinitas | $155 |
| Oceanside / Vista / San Marcos | $175 |
Flat at booking, both directions, TIJ flight-tracked on the return. EGT drops and collects US-side only — we are a California TCP-licensed carrier (TCP #0046494-A) and do not drive into Mexico. You cross the bridge on your own documents; we handle the 22 miles that get you there.
The honest concession
If you are one person travelling light from Chula Vista at a quiet hour, a rideshare may well come in under $49 — and you should take it. Where the flat rate earns its keep is the 4 a.m. departure, the family with luggage, the North County pickup where surge and driver supply both go against you, and the return leg when your TIJ flight lands late and a metered ride is at its worst. That is the trip we price for.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an I-94 to cross at CBX?
Only if you are a foreign visitor and your US trip meets either condition: you will stay in the United States more than 30 days, or you will travel farther than 25 miles from the border. In that case CBX directs travelers to obtain and pay for the I-94 permit, and recommends completing it online up to 7 days before you cross. Print the receipt and carry it with you on crossing day. US citizens and Permanent Residents do not need an I-94. Source: crossborderxpress.com.
What is an FMM and do I need one going into Mexico?
The FMM (Multiple Migration Form) is Mexico's visitor form. Foreign visitors travelling into Mexico must complete it, and if the stay in Mexico is longer than 7 days there is an immigration fee to pay. CBX recommends completing it online in advance and bringing the printed form and receipt. Source: crossborderxpress.com.
What documents do I need to use the CBX bridge?
A valid passport (book or card) or Permanent Resident Card, a Tijuana Airport boarding pass, and a CBX crossing ticket. The boarding pass must be for a flight departing TIJ within 24 hours, or a flight that arrived within 4 hours of your crossing - that window is the rule most first-timers miss. Mexican citizens may instead present a passport, INE, birth certificate, consular registration or Mexican nationality certificate.
How long is the CBX bridge and how long does crossing take?
The skywalk is just over 390 feet. Most travelers budget about 15 minutes to cross, plus normal airline check-in time at TIJ. EGT times your pickup to your flight so the crossing window is not the thing that goes wrong.
Where is the CBX terminal and how far is it?
2745 Otay Pacific Drive, San Diego CA 92154, in Otay Mesa off the 905 - about 22 miles from downtown San Diego. EGT drops at the US-side terminal door.
Does EGT drive into Mexico?
No. EGT is a California TCP-licensed carrier (TCP #0046494-A) and operates US-side only. We drop and collect at the CBX terminal in Otay Mesa; you cross the bridge on your own documents. That is the same for every US-licensed car service.
How much is a car to CBX from San Diego?
Published flat rates by pickup zone: $49 Chula Vista / South Bay, $59 Coronado / National City, $72 Downtown / Old Town / Mission Hills, $79 Mission Valley / Hotel Circle, $99 La Jolla / UTC, $112 Del Mar / Carmel Valley / Solana Beach, $119 Rancho Santa Fe / 4S, $125 Rancho Bernardo / Scripps / Poway, $155 Carlsbad / Leucadia / Encinitas, $175 Oceanside / Vista / San Marcos. No surge, flat at booking, TIJ flight-tracked both directions.
Sources
- I-94, FMM, document and boarding-pass rules — Cross Border Xpress official site
- Terminal address and access — 2745 Otay Pacific Drive, San Diego CA 92154 (Otay Mesa, off the 905)
- EGT carrier authority — California PUC TCP #0046494-A, verifiable at cpuc.ca.gov