Mexico is an adventurous country where you can enjoy many cool activities and witness breathtaking scenery, and this makes Mexico an often visited country. Therefore, if you plan a trip to Mexico, you must be aware of the visa policy to travel to Mexico and enter the country.
However, do you even need a visa to make your travel plan dreams a reality? You should first find out whether your country national needs a visa in the first place! There are many countries whose nationals are allowed a visa free travel to Mexico.
This article will help you understand who needs a visa to visit Mexico and who can apply for an ETA. The article will also highlight how you can apply for a Mexico visa.
What is a Mexico Visa?
A Mexico visa is a travel document that allows individuals to enter Mexico. With the help of a visa, you can visit Mexico for different purposes. These purposes include tourism, business, study, work, etc. Depending on your nationality, you may or may not need a visa.
Who Needs a Mexico Visa?
The nationals of several countries need a visa to travel to Mexico. But if you belong to a visa exempt country, you can travel to Mexico without needing a visa.
The countries whose nationals do not need a visa to travel to Mexico include many European countries. The citizens of the European Union are allowed to travel without a visa. Visa exempt countries include Australia, Argentina, Andorra, Belize, Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Costa Rica, Switzerland, South Korea, etc.
Those who do not need a Mexico tourist visa to travel should still have a Mexico tourist card. You can get the tourist card online or in Mexico upon arrival.
Moreover, those with valid visas for the Schengen area, Japan, Canada, the US, and the UK can come to Mexico without acquiring a visa.
Other than that, if you have a residence permit for any country, such as the Schengen area, Chile, Canada, Japan, Peru, the UK, the US, or Colombia, you can travel visa free.
Then nationals of some countries who offer diplomatic passports do not need a visa either.
How Long Can You Stay in Mexico Without a Visa?
If you can stay in Mexico without a visa, you are permitted to stay up to 180 days. You must apply for an extension and get a visa to stay more than that.
You can stay for business purposes or tourism. Moreover, if you are traveling to Mexico only for transit, then you can stay in Mexico for 30 days.
Who Can Travel to Mexico with an Electronic Travel Authorization?
Russian, Turkish, and Ukraine nationals can acquire their visa online through the Mexico electronic travel authorization process. With the ETA, you can travel to Mexico for business or exploration and stay for 180 days in Mexico, but this allows single entry only.
Moreover, you cannot travel by land or sea with an ETA; the electronic authorization only allows individuals to travel by air to Mexico.
Visa For Transit
Transit is when you pass from one country to another country, and you might have to stay in the country you are transiting for a few days. Therefore, a transit visa may be required if such a scenario occurs.
Suppose you belong to a country where nationals need a visa to travel to Mexico. In that case, you will not require the transit visa if your transit duration is less than a day, and you will not leave the Mexican airport premises.
When you arrive in Mexico for transit purposes, you will be taken straight to the Mexico City International Airport transit hall. But if you plan on leaving the transit hall and roaming around the city in Mexico, you must get a visa if you are from a country whose nationals need a visa to enter and tour Mexico. You cannot leave the international airport if you do not have a visa.
How to Apply for a Mexico Visa?
The Mexican Embassy is where you can go to apply for a visa. Scheduling an interview beforehand is essential. But that can be bothersome. Hence, there are online platforms that facilitate the visa process as well. Therefore, you can apply for the visa online too. You need to check with the Mexican immigration authorities whether or not you are eligible for it.
When you visit the site, you can choose the destination as Mexico and your home country. Once selected, you will see information about the Mexico visa, such as visa requirements, types, fees, etc. Fill out the visa application form online, upload the required documents, and pay the visa fee. You're now in the waiting stage, and once the visa is processed, it will be mailed to you!