General Information

A visitor visa allows its holder to stay in Mexico for a period of up to 180 days, provided that you will not be carrying out any paid activities. This includes tourism, volunteering, studying courses shorter than 6 months, transit, and attending business meetings, among others, as long as you are absolutely sure that no monetary earnings will be derived from your activities in Mexico.

Although visitors can potentially enter Mexico for a maximum of 180 days, immigration officers are the authority who will decide the period granted which could be less than 180 days, based on the documents that visitors provide and the interview at the port of entry. Consequently, it is recommended that all visitors carry with them a copy of their itineraries/ travel reservations / letter of invitations at the entry point.

All visas are processed at the Mexican Embassy in Canberra (14 Perth Avenue, Yarralumla, ACT 2600). The physical presence of the applicant at the Embassy is an absolute requirement.

 

Do I need a Visitor Visa?

Australian passport holders do not require a visa to enter Mexico as visitors/tourists for a period of less than 180 days.

Citizens of the countries listed on this link do not require a Mexican visitor visa to enter Mexico for business, tourism, short studies (under 6 months) or transit: Paises no requieren visa para mexico.

You can find the list of the countries that do require a Mexican visitor visa on this link: Paises requieren visa para mexico.

If you are a Permanent Resident of one of the following countries, you do not need a visitor visa to enter Mexico as a tourist/visitor, as long as you can provide proof of your permanent residence:

  • Canada
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Japan
  • Chile
  • Colombia

If you currently hold a valid multiple entry visa from Canada, the United States of America, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or any of the countries that make up the Schengen Area and your visa is valid during your entire stay in Mexico, you do not need a visitor visa to enter Mexico as a visitor/tourist as long as you do not stay in Mexico for more than 180 days nor work in Mexico.

Business persons within the APEC region (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) holding an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC), do not need a visa to enter Mexico as a visitor/business for up to three months.

If the exemptions do not apply, you will need to apply for a Mexican Visitor Visa.   

  1. Visa application form, which can be downloadedhere
  2. Current passport with a minimum validity left of six months.
  3. One passport size photograph with white background and visible facial traits (i.e. hair not covering the face)
  4. Copy of valid Australian visa (when applicable), as proof that you are legally present in Australia.
    NOTE: All applicants must have a legal status in Australia at the moment of applying for a Mexican visa.
  5. Supporting documentation to prove economic solvency in one of the following situations:
    1. a. Bank statements of the last three months, counting backwards from the day of the appointment (for example, if the appointment is on March 16th, the statements have to cover at least from December 15th to March 15th). The average monthly balance must be over 300 minimum daily wages in Mexico City (please make sure you have checked the equivalent in Australian dollars before the appointment date), for each and every one of the last three months. If the bank statements were issued electronically, they must be printed by you and certified by the issuing bank. If you have multiple bank accounts, please print and have certified the bank statements of all the accounts that will support your visa application. If you do not have a printed and stamped version of your statements, they will not be taken into consideration in the assessment process, even if you have electronic access to them.
    2. Payment slips of the last three months AND a letter of your employer stating that you’ve been working for that particular company for at least one year. The monthly income must be over 100 minimum daily wages in Mexico City (please make sure you have checked the equivalent in Australian dollars before the appointment date). You must also include bank statements showing the transfer of the salary into your bank account. If the bank statements were issued electronically, they must be printed by you and certified by the issuing bank.
    3. If you are currently studying in Australia, proof of enrolment at a university/school AND a document proving that you have a steady job (casual work will not be sufficient), a pension or a scholarship, including your monthly income of the last three months (salary, allowances, pension or scholarship). The monthly income for students must be over 60 minimum daily wages in Mexico City (please make sure you have checked the equivalent in Australian dollars before the appointment date), for every month.
    4. Ownership of real state property in Australia for a minimum of two years AND a letter of your employer stating that you’ve been working for that particular company for a minimum of two years.
    5. Ownership of real state property in Australia for a minimum of two years AND an official document stating the ownership or your participation in a business/company for at least two years.
    6. If you are invited by an organisation, public or private institution in Mexico, you will need to provide the following:
      1. An invitation letter for an event or a non-remunerated activity. The letter must state your name and nationality, name of the organisation or institution, official registry number of the organisation, objective of the organisation, details of the activity or project intended in Mexico, as well as the estimated duration or dates of the planned activities. It also has to specify the commitment of the organisation to cover for your expenses whilst in Mexico. A copy of official ID with signature and photograph of the person signing the letter will be required.
      2. In order to show that the organisation that invited you has the financial solvency to cover your expenses, it is necessary to present a proof of investments or bank statements of the organisation with a monthly average of 1,000 of minimum daily wages in Mexico City (please make sure you have checked the equivalent in Australian dollars before the appointment date) during the last 12 months. Public and private institutions that are part of the Mexican National Education System (i.e. schools and universities), won’t need to provide proof of financial solvency.
      3. Proof of professional skills, experience, abilities or necessary knowledge to perform the activities that you have been invited for.
    7. If you have been accepted to study a short course in Mexico (under 180 days):
      • Acceptance letter from any institution from the Mexican National Education System, to attend a course, study, research project, academic or professional program, for a term of 180 days or shorter. The letter must have the Institution’s letterhead and specify the following details of the applicant: full name and nationality, level and study program, name of the course you’ve been accepted to, estimated duration or dates of the academic activities as well as the cost of the course and the official registration number of the academic institution.
      • Proof of financial solvency to cover the cost of tuition and living expenses. You will need to provide proof of investments or bank statements with a monthly average income of 150 minimum daily wages in Mexico City (please make sure you have checked the equivalent in Australian dollars before the appointment date), during the last 3 months. Or documents proving that you have a steady job, a pension or a scholarship (for example, payslips), showing a monthly income of at least 100 minimum daily wages in Mexico City (please make sure you have checked the equivalent in Australian dollars before the appointment date), in each and every one of the last three months. If the applicant is under 25 years old, the financial solvency, can be accredited by parents, partner or tutor, by presenting also the birth certificate or marriage certificate, according to the situation of the applicant. You can also present the academic institution’s letter that states that you have been granted with a scholarship or a letter from your financial institution that confirms you have the requested founds.
    8. If you are travelling for a humanitarian cause, scientific research or recollection of samples in national territory, or to participate in an event sponsored by the Mexican Federal Government, please send an email to Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo., to know the specific requirements for your visa.
IMPORTANT: Documents that are neither in Spanish nor in English need to be accompanied by a certified translation into Spanish. Furthermore, any official documents that are not issued by Australian authorities or organizations need to be legalized/apostilled.

 

  1. Book an appointment via “MiConsulado” (MyConsulate) booking system: https://citas.sre.gob.mx/. You can select English language to use MiConsulado in the app. If more than one person will apply for the visa, each applicant must have their own appointment. However, if you are applying as a family unit, you can use a single booking for up to one adult and one child.
  2. On the day of the appointment, you will be required to be present at the Mexican Embassy with your passport, visa application form and all supporting documents for a consular interview. There is no visa processing done online or through post. If the applicant is a minor, the parents will need to be present as well, showing the minor’s birth certificate.
    NOTE: The original passport, application, photograph and all supporting documents will have to be brought to the embassy on the day of the appointment.
  3. On the day of the appointment the documents will be assessed, the biometric data (photograph and fingerprints) will be collected and there will be a consular interview. If the documents are complete and the result of the consular interview is successful, the visa might be issued within 24 hours of the appointment. If further verification is required, the process can take up to 10 working days. 

  • Consular fees are updated every month and you are required to check the updated fee before your appointment through the following link.
  • Visa fees, regardless of whether the visa is issued or denied, must be paid on the day of the appointment.
  • Visa fees will have to be paid by either electronic transfer or in exact cash/denominations on the day of the appointment. Card payments are not accepted.

  • The requirements shown above are the minimum requirements to apply for a visa. It is strongly advised that if you have further evidence to support your visa application, you should bring it with you on the day of your appointment.
  • Submitting the minimum requirements of the visa application does not guarantee that the visa will be approved. Further information might be requested by the Consular agent in charge of processing your application.
  • All of your supporting documents must be in hard copies. Documents only available on your phone, laptop or tablet will not be accepted. Printing and photocopy services are not available at the embassy.
  • Due to high demand, we advise to start your tourist visa application at least six weeks ahead of your planned travel date.
  • Visa appointments are released on the first week of each month. If there are no available appointments, try booking an appointment at a later date.
  • If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please do so via the MiConsulado (MyConsulate) booking system.
  • We strongly advise NOT to make any travel arrangements until a decision on your visa has been made. The embassy will not take any responsibility for any plane tickets purchased or other costs incurred before your visa has been approved.
  • If you are visiting Mexico sponsored by a Mexican public or private institution, please contact the Consular Section (Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.) to learn the requirements for the proper visa.  

Do I need an appointment to apply for visas?
Yes. It is essential that you book an appointment for all visa applications.

As an Australian or New Zealand citizen, do I need a visa to enter Mexico?
If you are an Australian or New Zealand Passport holder, you do NOT require a visa to enter Mexico as a tourist for a period of up to 180 days.

For other nationalities, please refer to the section Do I need a Visitor Visa?

Can I provide proof of financial solvency for someone else’s visa application?
You can only provide proof of financial solvency for yourself, your spouse and/or your children under 18 years old. If you are currently holding or applying for a Mexican visitor visa, your spouse/children will need to include as part of their visa applications either the marriage certificate (for spouses) or birth certificate (for children), along with the rest of the supporting documents, including the bank statements or payslips under your name for the last three months (read the “requirements” section).

My family and I would like to visit Mexico. Do all members of the family need to come to the embassy for an appointment?
Yes. All applicants must submit their original documentation in person. If the applicant is under 18 years of age, they must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardian and have their birth certificate.

If more than one person will apply for the visa, each applicant must have their own appointment booked. However, if you are applying as a family unit, you can use a single booking for up to one adult and one child.

Can I work in Mexico on a visitor visa?
No. It is not legal to work in Mexico on a visitor visa.

Are there any additional requirements to enter Mexico as a tourist?
Be aware that upon your entrance, immigration officers might require you to provide evidence that:

  1. you have enough money to cover your expenses during your stay,
  2. there is sufficient reason to believe that you will leave the country, if entering as a tourist.

Ultimately, it is the decision of the immigration officer to allow or refuse entrance to Mexico, even if you hold a valid visa.

I need to cancel or change my appointment. How can I do it?
Log into “MiConsulado” booking system, select “Scheduled appointments” and then click to cancel the appointment. You will need to book a new appointment (subject to availability).

What is the FMM and do I need one prior to my travel to Mexico?
The Multiple Migratory Form (FMM) is a document completed by every foreign visitor entering Mexico and it serves as a proof of their legal stay in the country.

If you are travelling by air, it will be provided by the airline for you to complete upon arrival to Mexico. It can also be obtained at the counters of the airport, before passing through Migration. If you are entering by land, it will be given to you at the point of entry.

FMM available to be fill in online only applies for visitors entering Mexico by land.

You will need to keep the FMM with you during your stay in Mexico and hand it back when leaving the country, either to the airline (when traveling by air) or to the Migration authorities (when traveling by land).

If you are entering by land, when you fill your FMM you will be required to pay $500 pesos for the migratory fee. If you are entering by air, the cost is already included in your flight ticket.

What should I do if I lose my FMM?
You should contact the nearest office of the National Migration Institute (INM) to request a replacement form. More information here (in Spanish): https://www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/reposicion-de-documento-migratorio/INM819.

Can I extend or renew my visitor visa?
No, visitor visas cannot be extended or renewed without leaving the country at the end of the 180-day period.

Can I convert my visitor visa to a work visa while in Mexico?
No. The process to apply for a visa with work permit must be promote on your behalf by a Mexican employer at the National Institute of Migration (INM). You can remain in the country during the process, but once it is accepted by the INM, you will have to obtain your visa at any Mexican embassy or consulate of Mexico abroad, and return to the country with the temporary resident work visa on your passport.

If my flight to Mexico has a layover in USA, do I need a US visa?
Be aware many paths to travel from Australia to Mexico have layovers in the United States of America or in another country. You are advised to check the visa requirements for the countries that you will be transiting in when you travel to Mexico. For further information, contact the consular authorities of those countries.

If your nationality is required to hold a Mexican visa as a visitor, and you hold a multiple entry valid visa to the United States of America, you won’t be required to apply for a visitor’s Mexican visa.

Do I need a student visa if I am going to Mexico on an exchange or for a short study program?
If you hold an Australian passport, you do not need a visa to enter Mexico to undertake study or courses for programs that do not exceed 180 days. However, if your studies will exceed 180 days, you will need to apply for a student visa. A student visa can only be issued if the letter from the educational institution in Mexico clearly states that the length of study program exceeds the 180-day period.

If I want to conduct business in Mexico, do I need a business visa?
If you are a business person within the APEC region (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and hold a APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC), you do not need a visa to enter Mexico as a visitor/business for up to three months.

My passport is about to expire. Can I apply for a visa?
Your passport must have a validity left of at least six months on the date of your visa appointment. The 6 months validity is also recommended for any travel.

How can I apply for a transit visa?
There are no transit visas for Mexico. If you will have a layover in Mexico, you will need to either a) have a valid Mexican visa b) hold a passport issued by a country that does not require a Mexican visa for visitos or c) comply with one of the exceptions to enter Mexico without a visitor visa. For more information, refer to the section Do I need a Visitor Visa?


 

Contact

Consular Section
Embassy of Mexico in Australia

Address: 14 Perth Avenue, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
Email: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está siendo protegida contra los robots de spam. Necesita tener JavaScript habilitado para poder verlo.
Phone: +61 (02) 6273 3963