Mexican citizens who wish to come and visit Canada must apply for a visitor visa starting February 29, 2024, at 11:30 PM.
There are two exceptions to this new immigration measure imposed by the Canadian government.
1. If the person has a valid U.S. visa
2. If the person has had a Canadian visa in the last 10 years
If the Mexican citizen meets one of these two exceptions and is coming by air to Canada, then they can continue to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (Eta) to enter Canada.
If the Mexican citizen does not meet any of these exceptions, then they will need to apply for a visitor visa.
It is important to note that Mexican citizens have always required a visa when they have decided to enter Canada by land or sea.
In addition, all Etas that were active and did not meet any of the two exceptions mentioned above, were cancelled by the Canadian government.
There are other Latin American countries that must meet the same requirements to obtain an Eta
The migratory measure imposed on Mexican citizens is very similar to the migratory changes made to the citizens of Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica and Panama last June 2023. This measure says that citizens of these countries can apply for an Eta to enter Canada (they do not need a visa) if they have a valid U.S. visa or if they have traveled to Canada in the last 10 years.
The only current Latin American country that can apply for an Eta without additional conditions is Chile.
What requirements will a Mexican citizen need to demonstrate to qualify for a Visa from now on?
The visa application is more extensive than an Eta, and requires more time and money to complete. The form and list of supporting documents are extensive, and the processing time is also longer than an Eta.
In summary, these are the requirements that are needed to apply for a visitor visa:
1. The applicant must have a letter of invitation from a family member or friend in Canada,
2. The applicant must justify the purpose of his/her visit to Canada
3. The applicant must demonstrate that he/she has sufficient financial funds to cover his/her stay expenses while visiting Canada (lodging, food, transportation, etc.)
4. The applicant must prove that he/she has roots in his/her country of origin and therefore will not stay in Canada longer than the time authorized by the immigration officer. Among the arguments that are included to defend this point can be work, studies, property, investments, close relatives, or people who need you and are waiting for your return to your country of origin.
5. The applicant must mention his/her travel history for the last 10 years.
The processing time for a visitor visa can be 45 days or more. The application can be done online, and has a value of $100 Canadian plus $85 for biometrics that must be paid to the Canadian government at the time of submitting the application.
The visa will last for 10 years or until the passport expires, and it will be multiple-entry. The applicant will be able to stay in Canada for 6 months, and make extensions from within Canada if they wish to stay longer. All of this is always at the discretion of the immigration officer.
Causes and consequences of this new migratory measure with respect to international relations between Mexico and Canada
According to political representatives of the Canadian government, this measure is being taken due to the high number of refugee applications (28,000) made by Mexican citizens during 2023, which were abandoned or denied. According to government statistics, Mexico is the country with the highest number of refugee claims in Canada.
The Canadian government emphasized that it appreciates its trade relations with Mexico and that it will continue with international treaties on this matter. On the other hand, the President of Mexico did express his disagreement with the imposition of visas for Mexican citizens, but also advocated for the continued development and commercial relationship between the two countries, stressing that if respect between the nations was maintained.
The Electronic Travel Authorization (Eta) was available to Mexican citizens in Canada from 2016 to 2024 by decision of the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
