Mexico (Spanish: México) was declared the sixth-most visited country for tourism-related activities in 2017. According to The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Mexico is among the most visited countries in the Southern part of North America. After the U.S, Mexico is the most visited country in the Americas.
Ancient colonial cities, traditional cultural festivals, nature reserves, beach resorts, and modern public and private architecture have made Mexico desirable. Since the early nineteenth century, Mexico has been able to attract many foreign visitors thanks to the ancient ruins, colonial cities, and natural reserves.
In this article, we will share some information about Mexican visa policies, their exemptions, and how to apply for them.
Visa policy for Mexico
Mexico presents varied types of visas and travel documents. The Mexico visa policy specifies if a non-Mexican citizen needs a visa or entry authorization in order to travel to the country.
Depending on the nationality of the applicants, the duration of their stay, and the reason for the travel, applicants can apply for different types of visas.
Visa-free access to Mexico is offered to travelers from less than 70 countries for short stays. A short stay is considered to be 30 days for transit-related or 180 days for business or tourism-related stays.
The FMM is an electronic entry authorization that must be obtained whether you need a visa or not. Regardless of nationality, the FMM is essential for applicants who intend to travel to Mexico for tourism, leisure, or business purposes.
There are no visa bans in place for any foreign nationalities at the moment. However, A Mexican embassy visa is required for travelers who intend to travel to Mexico for long-term stays or work, or to study.
Some travelers to Mexico need to obtain an SAE authorization (required for citizens of 3 countries) or a consular visa in addition to an FMM. Travelers need to submit an application at the nearest Mexican embassy.
Mexico tourist visa exemptions
Travelers who have a regular passport from some countries do not require a visa. These travelers, who wish to visit Mexico as tourists, in transit, for business, technical activities, as a journalist, or as students, may stay in Mexico for up to 180 days. They may also transit in Mexico without a visa for up to 30 days.
The countries with exemptions are:
| Andorra | Argentina | Australia | Austria | Bahamas | Barbados | Belgium |
| Belize | Brazil | Bulgaria | Canada | Chile | Colombia | Cook Islands |
| Costa Rica | Croatia | Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | Ecuador | Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia |
| Estonia | Finland | France | Germany | Greece | Hong Kong | Hungary |
| Iceland | Ireland | Israel | Italy | Jamaica | Japan | Latvia |
| Lichtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Macau | Poland | Portugal | Romania |
| San Marino | Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia | South Korea | Spain | Sweden |
| Switzerland | Trinidad and Tobago | United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom | United States of America | Uruguay | Venezuela |
All foreign travelers who have a valid visa issued by the following countries do not need a Mexican visa. This exemption stands as long as they possess a valid visa from their countries:
- Canada
- Japan
- The Schengen area
- The United States of America
- The United Kingdom
All foreign travelers who have a valid permanent resident (P.R.) card from the following countries do not need a Mexican visa:
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Japan
- Peru
- The United States of America
- The United Kingdom
- The Schengen area
All foreign travelers who have a diplomatic or service category passport from the following countries do not need a Mexican visa:
| Algeria | Antigua and Barbuda | Armenia | Barbados |
| Bolivia | China | Cuba | Guatemala |
| Guyana | India | Indonesia | Kazakhstan |
| Laos | Malaysia | Mongolia | Morocco |
| Pakistan | Philippines | Russia | Saint Lucia |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Serbia | Thailand | Tunisia |
| United Arab Emirates | United States | ||
All foreign travelers who have a diplomatic passport from the following countries do not need a Mexican visa:
| Andorra | Austria | Azerbaijan |
| Belgium | Benin | Czech Republic |
| Denmark | Dominican Republic | Ecuador |
| El Salvador | Ethiopia | Finland |
| Honduras | Hungary | Kuwait |
| Lithuania | Marshall Islands | Micronesia |
| The Netherlands | Norway | Palau |
| Portugal | Slovakia | South Africa |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Turkey | Ukraine |
| Uruguay | ||
All the foreign travelers who have an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) do not need a Mexican visa. However, their card must have the “MEX” code on the back of it. Countries qualified for ABTC are:
| Australia | Brunei | Chile | China |
| Hong Kong | Indonesia | Japan | South Korea |
| Malaysia | New Zealand | Papua New Guinea | Peru |
| Philippines | Russia | Singapore | Taiwan |
| Thailand | Vietnam | ||
How to Apply for a Mexico Visa?
Travelers who require a Mexico visa must present their application at the Mexican embassies abroad. Based on the embassy travelers apply, the Mexico visa application process and requirements can differ from one embassy to another. In addition, the working days or hours can be different as well. Therefore, it is best to contact embassies before you submit your application.
Travel to Mexico during Covid-19
Mexican borders are officially open to travelers. Therefore, providing a negative PCR test or quarantine on arrival is not necessary. Air traveling from the U.S. to Mexico is allowed.
American travelers will need to take a Covid-19 test 72 hours or less before travel to return to the U.S. (the test result must be negative).
As of October 1, Mexico is currently listed at level 3 (high risk) by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Therefore, the CDC advises complete vaccination before traveling to Mexico.
Let’s sum up….
Mexico is one of the best places for a dream vacation, and it provides visa exemptions for many countries under specific circumstances. In this article, we mentioned those visa exemptions, Mexican visa policies, how to apply for a Mexican visa, and how to ensure your safety during Covid-19.
So, if you like to travel to this beautiful country, contact us for more information. You can also share your experiences regarding traveling to Mexico in the comment section.
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