Visa policy of Mexico


Mexican visas are documents issued by the National Migration Institute, dependent on the Secretariat of the Interior, with the stated goal of regulating and facilitating migratory flows.
A foreign national wishing to enter Mexico must obtain a visa unless they are a citizen of one of the 67 eligible visa-exempt countries or one of the three Electronic Authorization System eligible countries.
All visitors entering by land and traveling farther than into Mexico or staying longer than 72 hours should obtain a document Forma Migratoria Multiple to present at checkpoints within the country. In 2016 Mexico has introduced the electronic version of the form which can be obtained online at a price of 390 Mexican pesos.

Visa policy map

Visa exemption

Nationals of the following 69 countries and jurisdictions holding normal passports do not require a visa to enter Mexico as tourists, visitors in transit or business visitors. Tourists and business visitors can stay in Mexico for up to 180 days. Visitors in transit can stay for up to 30 days.
Notes:
  1. Including residents of French overseas departments and territories, Danish territories and Dutch Caribbean territories.
  2. For British nationals, only holders of British citizen, British National, British Overseas Territory Bermudan and British Virgin Islands Passport Holders, and British subject passports are eligible for visa-free entry. Including permanent residents or valid visa holders of the United Kingdom.
  3. Including permanent residents or valid visa holders of countries that comprise the Schengen area.
  4. Including citizens of Australia and New Zealand residing in Australian territories and New Zealand territories.
  5. Including holders of Permanent Resident Cards or valid visas issued by Canada.
  6. Including holders of permanent residence permits issued by Chile.
  7. Including holders of permanent residence permits issued by Colombia.
  8. Including holders of Permanent Residence Card, Permanent Re-entry Permit or valid visas issued by Japan.
  9. Including holders of permanent residence permits issued by Peru.
  10. Including holders of valid US visas or Green Cards.
Date of visa changes

Substitute visa

Nationals of any countries for which there is a visa requirement are exempt from it if they have any of the following:
The Electronic Authorization System is an online system, which allows citizens of the eligible countries travelling by air to obtain an electronic authorization to travel to Mexico for transit, tourism or business purposes without a consular visa. It is valid for 30 days and a single entry. Upon arrival, visitors are authorized to stay in Mexico as tourists for up to 180 days. SAE does not apply to travelers entering Mexico by land or sea, or those who are travelling on a non-participating airline, and they must hold a valid Mexican visa or an applicable visa issued by a third country.
Eligible countries are:

Transit without a visa

Passengers requiring a visa who are transiting in Mexico City can do so without a visa if their connection time does not exceed 24 hours and if their flight is nonstop, without intermediate stops within Mexican territory. They are escorted to the transit hall of the Mexico City International Airport in the custody of an agent of the National Immigration Service who holds passports and/or travel documents until the passenger boards the connecting flight.

Non-ordinary passports

Holders of diplomatic or service category passports issued by 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 and of diplomatic passports only of issued by Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Benin, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, Honduras, Hungary, Kuwait, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Portugal, Slovakia, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay do not require a visa.
Holders of diplomatic or service category passports of Australia, Bahamas, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco and San Marino require a visa.

APEC Business Travel Card

Holders of passports issued by the following countries who possess an APEC Business Travel Card containing the "MEX" code on the reverse that it is valid for travel to Mexico can enter visa-free for business trips for up to 90 days.
ABTCs are issued to nationals of:

Entry Stamps