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Information if you need a visa for Mexico
or if immigration facilitations apply in your case
If you are NOT a Mexican citizen, the requirements for entering Mexico depend on your citizenship and the purpose of your trip. Mexican citizens who also hold one or more other nationalities must, without exception, identify themselves as Mexicans when leaving and entering the country, in accordance with Article 12 of the applicable Citizenship Act. Failure to comply with this regulation may result in penalties according to the law.
To determine whether you need a visa for Mexico or not, please check which of the following cases applies to you:
NOTICE 1: The regular requirements for foreigners to enter Mexico are meant for visitors traveling for less than 180 days as tourist, on transit, for business or technical assistance, or for one academic semester exchange. If your purpose is, for example, employment, humanitarian reasons, adoption, residence due to family union, retirement, investment, etc., you will need to apply for a visa. The requirements, procedure, and detailed information on applying for the visa corresponding to the purpose of your trip can be found on this website under the section “VISAS”.
NOTICE 2: The granting of entry into Mexico is ultimately decided in each individual case by the Mexican immigration authority at the airport or at the border crossing. Mexican embassies and consulates cannot interfere in the process. The fact that you do not require a visa does not guarantee entry into Mexico. [ Español | English | Arabic | Farsi | Français | Russian | Turkish | Ukrainian | German ]
EU: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
Other: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belice, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Canada, Liechtenstein, Macao, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay.
Source: Countries and regions that do not require a visa for entering Mexico
Citizens from the countries listed above DO NOT NEED A VISA to travel to Mexico, if the purpose of the trip is tourism, transit, business, or academic study and if your stay in Mexico does not last longer than 180 days; in which case, you only need your passport to be valid when entering Mexico and for the whole time of your travel.
NOTE 1: A temporary residence permit in Austria, Slovakia or Slovenia (legitimation card, family reunification, student, foreign worker, Rot Weiss Rot, refugee, asylum, etc.) does NOT qualify for the facilitations stated in Pt. 2a or Pt. 2b! If this is your case, please continue reading Pt. 3.
NOTE 2: Travelers holding passports from countries or regions not recognized by Mexico will not be able to obtain a Mexican visa nor will they be granted immigration facilities/concessions, including entry into the country. This applies to Kosovar passport holders, among others.
You do NOT NEED A VISA to travel to Mexico, if the purpose of the trip is tourism, transit, business, or academic study and if your stay in Mexico does not last longer than 180 days, as long as you meet one of the following requirements:
- You hold a valid and unexpired PERMANENT RESIDENCE CARD in Chile, Colombia, Japan, Canada, Peru, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America or a member country of the Schengen Area. The permit must state clearly that it is PERMANENT (in Slovakia “TRVALÝ”, Slovenia “PERMANENT”, in Austria “DAUERAUFENTHALTSTITEL”); or
- You hold a valid and unexpired VISA VIGNETTE (multiple-entry visa with corresponding specification in your passport) for a member country of the Schengen Area (“Schengen visa”), Japan, Canada, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or United States of America.
In these cases, you will invariably have to present your valid passport AND your permanent residence card (Pt. 2a) or your valid visa vignette (Pt. 2b) for entering Mexico. Both documents must be valid for the entire duration of your stay in Mexico.
What information do I need to provide at the border/airport to be allowed entry into Mexican territory?
Depending on your nationality and the purpose of your trip, you may or may not need a visa to travel to Mexico. The fact of having a visa, or a passport that does not require a visa, does not guarantee that you will be allowed entry into Mexican territory.
At the (air) port or respective point of entry, the Mexican immigration agent may ask you questions regarding the purpose and/or duration of your visit and how you are going to cover the expenses. Some of the documents commonly required are:
- Tourism: hotel reservations, round-trip airline tickets, proof of sufficient financial funds to cover living expenses.
- Business: letter from your company (in Spanish) stating that you are an employee and that you will not receive payment from a Mexican company.
- Technician: copy of the contract of technology, patent, or trademark transfer; machinery or equipment purchase; technical training of staff; or other documents concerning the production process in a company established in Mexico.
- Short-term studies: letter of invitation or acceptance from an institution belonging to the Mexican educational system to participate in courses, research or academic training for a maximum period of 180 days.
Any exception to the above is decided individually at the point of entry (e.g., if someone travels with a one-way ticket only). Mexican embassies and consulates do not intervene in these decisions and cannot guarantee allowance into Mexican territory. But cases of inadmissibility are statistically rare. If this is your case, you can ask to speak with your embassy or consulate. Mexico is one of the most visited countries in the world.
We recommend reading the following information on the immigration process in Mexico and the questions you may have to answer (in Spanish and German):
[ English | Arabic | Farsi | Français | Russian | Turkish | Ukrainian | German ]
Requirements for minors (aged under 18) travelling to or from Mexico
Minors who do not have Mexican nationality or who are not resident in Mexico do not have to comply with special requirements to enter or leave Mexico, especially when traveling with both or one parent. Minors who require a visa because of their nationality must apply at the Mexican Consulate or Consular Section of the Mexican Embassy, represented by their parents or legal guardian, as specified in the chapter "VISAS" on this website. Foreign minors traveling to Mexico without their parents or legal guardian should consult the exit and entry regulations of their own country, as well as the airline's requirements. The parents or legal guardians are responsible for unaccompanied minors.
In the case of minors traveling alone or accompanied by a third person, a power of attorney must be granted by both of their parents, or by the legal guardian, at a notary's office in the country of residence (Article 49. II. of the Immigration Act). If the power of attorney is issued in a country other than Mexico, it must be provided with the apostille of the competent authority of that country (click here for information on apostilles in Austria) and a certified translation into Spanish (click here for information on certified translators in Austria). The power of attorney must be presented in original and with two copies and you must include copies of the passports of the minor and his/her parents (or the legal guardian) and the minor's birth certificate along with an apostille. The adult traveling with the minor must present a copy of his/her passport.
In the case of minors who depart from Mexico alone or accompanied by a third person and both of their parents (or the legal guardian) stay in Mexico, you must fill out the Minors' Departure Form (SAM form), available on the website of the Mexican National Institute of Migration: Formato de Salida de Menores (in Spanish)
If the minor has Mexican nationality and also another nationality, the rules valid in Mexico will apply.
I want to travel with my pet.
In Mexico, only cats and dogs are pets allowed to travel. You can find information on the requirements for bringing a pet to Mexico at the following link:
In Spanish: https://www.gob.mx/senasica/documentos/si-viajas-con-tu-mascota-194177
In English: https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/661654/If_you_travel_with_your_pet.pdf
Airlines may apply other requirements for transporting pets, so you should contact your airline directly.
I want to visit other countries before/after Mexico. What do I need?
Each country decides independently on the terms of entry and exit for its territory. You can obtain updated information on immigration regulations (entry and exit) from the embassies and consulates of each country you would like to visit. Mexican representations abroad only provide information on Mexican laws and regulations.
I want to capture aerial photos in Mexico. Can I use my drone?
Strict rules apply to operating a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in Mexican airspace, as established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Depending on the type of drone and the intended use, it must be registered with the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics at the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation, according to the following website (in Spanish): https://www.gob.mx/afac/acciones-y-programas/rpas-drones.
Please also contact your airline about their requirements for the transport of drones.