Passport holders of many countries do not need to pre-apply for a visa to enter Mexico as a visitor for leisure or for short business trips. However, some passport holders do need to pre-apply and this article explains who does, and who doesn’t need to apply for a visa before traveling to Mexico.
Who needs to pre-apply for a visa to visit Mexico?
Whether you need to apply for a visa before traveling to Mexico depends on:
- which country issued your passport, or
- whether you have legal residency in Mexico; or
- your passport has a visa for certain other countries, or
- whether you have APEC business travel privileges.
See the following sections for who does and does not need to pre-apply for a visa to visit Mexico.
If you do NOT have to pre-apply, you can arrive in Mexico and complete the visitor’s form, FMM that allows up to a maximum of 180 days to stay in Mexico.
If you DO need to pre-apply, you should contact your nearest Mexican consulate for advice and to make the application for a visitor visa before you travel to Mexico.
You DO NOT need to pre-apply for a visa before traveling to Mexico if:
1) The country that issued your passport appears on this list of countries that don’t need a visa to visit Mexico and you intend to travel to Mexico for leisure and/or business trips of 180 days or less; OR
2) If you don’t hold a passport from one of the countries that is exempt from needing a visa to visit Mexico but you do hold a permanent residency visa for the United States of America, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, or any country that is signatory to the European Schengen Area; OR
2a) If you don’t hold a passport from one of the countries that is exempt from needing a visa to visit Mexico but you do hold a current, multiple-entry visitor visa for the United States of America, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, or any country that is signatory to the European Schengen Area; OR
If you qualify under item 2 or 2a as described above: we recommend you contact your nearest Mexican Consulate before traveling to Mexico: List of Mexican Consulates.
3) You are a legal resident of Mexico (Residente Temporal or Residente Permanente – formerly FM3/FM2); OR
4) If you don’t qualify under 1, 2, or 3 above, but you do hold a current APEC/ABTC business traveler’s card with pre-clearance approved by Mexico.
You DO need to pre-apply for a visa before traveling to Mexico if:
You hold a passport from one of this list of countries that do need a visa to visit Mexico and you do not qualify under points 2, 2a, 3, and 4 above.
Mexico visitor visa questions and application
If you are in any doubt about whether you need a visa to visit Mexico, or you know you need to apply for an entry visa before you travel to Mexico, you should contact your nearest Mexican Consulate for further information and details about application procedures.
