For those looking at Mexican tourist destinations, you may need to apply for a Mexico visa before entering the country. Regardless of the stereotypes you’ve heard about the United Mexican States, the country is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Your purpose for traveling to Mexico matters greatly; knowing your reason helps you apply for the appropriate visa. It helps your application to be more accessible and smoother and permits you to be on your way in record time.
Furthermore, nationals of some countries do not require a visa to enter Mexico except if they need to stay permanently. In that case, they must know about the country and what you need to apply for permanent residency in Mexico successfully. Tourists or anyone traveling for a short stay in Mexico needs to have a little idea of Mexico.
Mexican visa-free countries
Mexico allows nationals of some countries to visit without applying for a visa so long they are coming to stay for a short period in their country. Therefore, check if your country belongs to the visa-free countries to Mexico before scheduling your travel.
Nationals of the countries listed below can enter Mexico and stay for about 180 days without a visa, and you only need a valid passport from the nation and a tourist card.
- Bahamas
- Hong Kong
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Vatican City
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- European Union (EU) Countries
- United States of America
- Palau
- Costa Rica
- Australia
- Peru
- Venezuela
- Norway
- Israel
- Uruguay
- Argentina
- Colombia
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Chile
- Norway
- Iceland
- Andorra
- Japan
- San Marino
- Jamaica
- South Korea
- Marshall Islands
- Belize
- Ecuador
- Malaysia
- Singapore
Types of Mexico visa
Emphasis is placed on the reason for your visit, and no country will issue you a visa if you do not have a reason to visit. Now, in Mexico, the immigration government has a list of passes for different entry reasons.
The Mexico tourist visa
It serves foreigners who want to visit Mexico for a short period for tourism, holiday, or to visit family and friends. You can enter and stay in Mexico for 180 days with this visa.
However, you must not study or work in the country with this visa. Your stay in the country may vary; if it’s not up to 180 days, it may be for 90 or 30 days. This type of visa may be renewed or extended.
Mexico work visa
Foreigners seeking to live and work in Mexico must apply for a work visa. With this visa, you can gain employment to work in fields of your career in any organization. Meanwhile, a Mexico work visa is under a temporary resident visa.
Mexico Student visa
International students seeking ways to study in Mexico must gain admission from a school in the country and go ahead to apply for a Mexican student visa. The visa will last you all through your stay at the university. Also, a short-stay student visa will expire after 180 days. It works for international students coming for a short study that will not take more than 180 days.
Remember, students from visa-free countries do not need to bother with a visa application.
Mexico student visa requirements
- Acceptance letter from your intending school in Mexico with the relevant information like your personal details and year of graduation, including the cost of your tuition fee
- A passport that is still valid at the time of your travel.
- Mexican visa application form correctly filled out and signed
- Passport-sized photograph on white background
- Proof of funds
The immigration officer may ask for further information from you during your interview.
Also, all your documents must be in English or Spanish and legalized before your application.
How to apply for a student visa to Mexico
- Download and complete the required student visa application form
- Locate the nearest Mexican Embassy or consulate closest to you
- Set up a meeting for your interview
- Pay your visa application fee and submit all the required documents
- Attend your interview early, dress smartly, and answer all your questions honestly and precisely.
- Wait out the visa processing period.
If the embassy is satisfied, you will receive a message about your visa approval.
Remember that the Mexican student visa is also a temporary resident visa, so you must change your student visa when you get to your destination.
Mexico Family visa
Aside from visiting your family or friends with a tourist visa for 180 days, you can join your family with a family visa. The Mexico family visa is for foreigners wishing to join their families in Mexico and stay longer than 180 days. This visa is for family members that want to unite together after a period of separation.
Requirements for a Mexico family visa
- Correctly fill out and sign the visa application form
- A valid passport
- Recent passport-sized photograph on clear white background
- Proof that you are related to the family member, like a marriage certificate or birth certificates
- Bank statements
- Visa application fee
The embassy may require more documentation
Mexico family visa application
- Firstly, your family member in Mexico must request family unification permission at the National Immigration Institute.
- Submit your visa application at the embassy in your area
- When you arrive, get a residency card from the National Immigration Institute
Visa On Arrival for Mexico
Mexico does not have a functioning visa-on-arrival policy. Once you are from a non-visa-exempt country, you must apply for a visa. However, you can get a Mexico tourist card at the point of entering the country.
Mexico e-visa
This type of visa is not yet available to all the countries visiting Mexico. So, the e-visa is only available for Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey citizens, and other travelers from non-visa-exempt countries must apply for a visa.
Eligible travelers can enter and stay in the country for up to 180 days just for entry. The traveler with the Mexican electronic authorization must travel only by air. Travelers that want to enter by the sea or land must apply for a visa at the embassy, regardless of their country.
