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Mexico tourist visa: Requirements and application procedure

Updated: July 2, 2021

Mexico Tourist Visa Image

Mexico tourist visa requirements are clear and easy to understand. Mexico has a liberal visa policy offering visa EXEMPTION to many nationalities. Those that REQUIRE a visa are also exempt from visa if holding a valid visa from the US, UK, Canada, Schengen or Japan. 

Mexico visa application is fairly simple. It costs $44 USD and takes about two business days for processing. Mexico tourist visa is valid for 180-days, multiple-entry.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Visa requirements by nationality
    • Minimum passport validity required
    • Visa EXEMPT nationalities
    • Visa REQUIRED nationalities
    • Visa EXEMPT with a valid VISA from the US, Canada, UK, Schengen or Japan
    • Visa EXEMPT for cruise passengers
  • Visa application process
    • Validity of tourist visa
    • When to apply
    • How long can you stay
    • Application procedure
      1. Prepare documents required
        1. Photo requirements
      2. Schedule visa appointment
      3. Pay visa fee
      4. Attend visa appointment
        1. Visa processing time
      5. Pick up passport
  • Entering and leaving Mexico by air
    • Entering Mexico by air
    • Leaving Mexico by air
  • Entering and leaving Mexico by land
    • Entering Mexico by land
    • Leaving Mexico by land
  • Entering and leaving Mexico by sea
    • Entering Mexico by sea
    • Leaving Mexico by sea
  • Summary

***

MEXICO TOURIST VISA REQUIREMENTS BY NATIONALITY

Mexico Tourist Visa Requirements by Nationality
Mexico tourist visa requirements by nationality

Minimum passport validity required to enter Mexico

  • Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival

—

Visa EXEMPT nationalities

180-day entry

  1. Andorra
  2. Argentina
  3. Australia
  4. Austria
  5. Bahamas
  6. Barbados
  7. Belgium
  8. Belize
  9. Brazil
  10. Bulgaria
  11. Canada
  12. Chile
  13. Colombia
  14. Costa Rica
  15. Croatia
  16. Curaçao
  17. Cyprus
  18. Czechia
  19. Denmark
  20. Ecuador
  21. Estonia
  22. Finland
  23. France
  24. Germany
  25. Greece
  26. Hong Kong
  27. Hungary
  28. Iceland
  29. Ireland
  30. Israel
  31. Italy
  32. Jamaica
  33. Japan
  34. Latvia
  35. Liechtenstein
  36. Lithuania
  37. Luxembourg
  38. Macao
  39. Malaysia
  40. Malta
  41. Marshall Islands
  42. Micronesia
  43. Monaco
  44. Netherlands
  45. New Zealand
  46. Norway
  47. Palau
  48. Panama
  49. Paraguay
  50. Peru
  51. Poland
  52. Portugal
  53. Romania
  54. San Marino
  55. Singapore
  56. Sint Maarten
  57. Slovakia
  58. Slovenia
  59. South Korea
  60. Spain
  61. Sweden
  62. Switzerland
  63. Trinidad and Tobago
  64. United Arab Emirates
  65. United Kingdom
  66. United States of America
  67. Uruguay
  68. Venezuela

—

Visa REQUIRED nationalities

180-day entry

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Albania
  3. Algeria
  4. Angola
  5. Antigua and Barbuda
  6. Armenia
  7. Azerbaijan
  8. Bahrain
  9. Bangladesh
  10. Belarus
  11. Benin
  12. Bhutan
  13. Bolivia
  14. Bosnia Herzegovina
  15. Botswana
  16. Brunei Darussalam
  17. Burkina Faso
  18. Burundi
  19. Cambodia
  20. Cameroon
  21. Cape Verde
  22. The central African Republic
  23. Chad
  24. China
  25. Comoros
  26. Congo (Dem. Rep. of)
  27. Congo (Rep. of)
  28. Côte d’Ivoire
  29. Cuba
  30. Djibouti
  31. Dominica
  32. Dominican Republic
  33. Egypt
  34. El Salvador
  35. Equatorial Guinea
  36. Eritrea
  37. Eswatini
  38. Ethiopia
  39. Fiji
  40. Gabon
  41. The Gambia
  42. Georgia
  43. Ghana
  44. Grenada
  45. Guatemala
  46. Guinea
  47. Guinea-Bissau
  48. Guyana
  49. Haiti
  50. Honduras
  51. India
  52. Indonesia
  53. Iran
  54. Iraq
  55. Jordan
  56. Kazakhstan
  57. Kenya
  58. Kiribati
  59. Kuwait
  60. Kyrgyzstan
  61. Laos
  62. Lebanon
  63. Lesotho
  64. Liberia
  65. Libya
  66. Madagascar
  67. Malawi
  68. Maldives
  69. Mali
  70. Mauritania
  71. Mauritius
  72. Moldova
  73. Mongolia
  74. Montenegro
  75. Morocco
  76. Mozambique
  77. Myanmar
  78. Namibia
  79. Nauru
  80. Nepal
  81. Nicaragua
  82. Niger
  83. Nigeria
  84. North Korea
  85. North Macedonia
  86. Oman
  87. Pakistan
  88. Palestine
  89. Papua New Guinea
  90. Philippines
  91. Qatar
  92. Russia
  93. Rwanda
  94. Saint Kitts and Nevis
  95. Saint Lucia
  96. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  97. Samoa
  98. Salomon Islands
  99. São Tomé and Príncipe
  100. Saudi Arabia
  101. Senegal
  102. Serbia
  103. Seychelles
  104. Sierra Leone
  105. Somalia
  106. South Africa
  107. South Sudan
  108. Sri Lanka
  109. Sudan
  110. Surinam
  111. Syria
  112. Taiwan
  113. Tajikistan
  114. Tanzania
  115. Thailand
  116. Timor-Leste
  117. Togo
  118. Tonga
  119. Tunisia
  120. Turkey
  121. Turkmenistan
  122. Tuvalu
  123. Uganda
  124. Ukraine
  125. Uzbekistan
  126. Vanuatu
  127. Vatican City
  128. Vietnam
  129. Yemen
  130. Zambia
  131. Zimbabwe

—

Visa EXEMPT with a valid VISA from the US, Canada, UK, Schengen or Japan

Visa is NOT REQUIRED for ANY nationality holding a valid visa or permanent residence from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Schengen or Japan for stays up to 180-days as a tourist.

Example: You hold an India passport with US B1/B2 visa, both valid for more than 6 months. You can enter Mexico using your India passport and US B1/B2 visa. No need to apply for a separate Mexico visa.

—

Visa EXEMPT for cruise passengers

Visa is NOT REQUIRED for cruise passengers of ANY nationality entering Mexico at maritime ports as part of the cruise trip. 

Example: You are on a Caribbean cruise trip that will make a stop at Cancun, Mexico. You do not need any visa for entering Mexico at Cancun as part of your Caribbean cruise trip.

***

MEXICO TOURIST VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

Mexico Tourist Visa Application Form
Sample Mexico tourist visa application form

Check if you need a Mexico tourist visa from the “Visa Requirements” section above. Alternatively, you can check if a visa is REQUIRED or EXEMPT on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico website.

—

Validity of Mexico tourist visa

Mexico tourist visas are valid for 6 months from the date of visa issue. Visas are usually multiple-entry.

Example: If your Mexico visa was issued on December 05, 2020, the visa will be valid until June 05, 2021.

—

When to apply for Mexico visa

You can apply for Mexico visa up to 3 months in advance.

Example: If you plan to visit Mexico on April 15, you can apply for your Mexico visa on or after January 16.

—

How long can you stay in Mexico

The Mexico tourist visa allows you to stay up to 180 days in Mexico. 

In most cases, immigration officers give 180-day entry. But there may be occasions where you will be given fewer days. Check your FMM form for the number of days you’re allowed to stay. 

Example: If you have entered Mexico on July 01, you will be allowed to stay till December 27. 

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
When asked at the port of entry, I usually say that I’m in Mexico for 1 month. But if necessary I continue staying longer. At one instance, I stayed close to 180 days and it wasn’t a problem leaving or re-entering Mexico.

—

Application procedure

Mexico tourist visa application is a 5 step process.

  1. Prepare documents required
  2. Schedule visa appointment
  3. Pay visa fee
  4. Attend visa appointment
  5. Pick up Passport

—

1. Prepare documents required

The following documents are required for Mexico tourist visa. 

  1. Completed Mexico visa application form
  2. One passport size photograph
  3. Original passport
  4. Copy of first and last page of your passport
  5. Original employment letter (must have been working for at least 1 year in the current company)
  6. Bank statements for the last 3 months
  7. Payslips for the last 3 months
  8. Copy of the visa/residence permit if applying in a third country (Example: if you hold an India passport and applying in the US, you have to provide a copy of your US visa)
Verifiable Flight Ticket for Visa Application

1.2. Photo requirements

The photo must be 4.5cm x 3.5 cm with white background, no glasses and face covering 80% of the photo.

—

2. Schedule visa appointment

You must schedule your visa appointment at your nearest Mexican embassy or consulate using the MEXITEL visa appointment website. You cannot appear at the consulate without a prior scheduled appointment. 

First, you will have to create an account in MEXITEL. You will need the following details to create your account.

  • Given Name
  • Surname/Family Name
  • Mother’s Last Name
  • Primary Phone
  • Phone Number
  • Email

After creating your account, you will have to select the country and the consulate. You will then see the calendar with available dates. You can select the date and time that works for you and schedule the appointment.  

After you finish scheduling your appointment, you will receive a confirmation letter in your email. You must print this confirmation letter and carry with you on the day of your appointment. 

The Mexican embassy in India made a nice step-by-step guide on how to schedule visa appointments using the MEXITEL website. 

NOTE
Use Chrome browser if you can for scheduling your appointment. MEXITEL website is not compatible with certain web browsers.

—

3. Pay visa fee

The Mexico tourist visa fee is $44 USD payable in local currency. You may end up paying a bit more or less due to the exchange rate. Keep in mind that the visa fee is non-refundable. 

The payment method for the visa fee depends on the country and consulate. Some Mexican consulates accept cash payments within the consulate. Some require you to pay the fee at a designated bank in person or online prior to attending your appointment at the consulate. Check on your nearest consulate website for the exact procedure and fee.

—

4. Attend visa appointment

On the day of your visa appointment, you must appear at the Mexican consulate. If the consulate requires the visa payment to be made at the consulate, you will be instructed to pay the visa fee at the cashier. 

You will then meet the consular officer. You must present your passport, documents and visa fee receipt.

The consulate office will review your documents and capture your biometrics such as photo and fingerprints. They will ask you a few questions to assess your background and purpose of travel. 

If you are not eligible for the visa or do not meet the requirements, you will be told so. Your documents and passport will be returned back. This is not a rejection, so it will not hurt your future visa attempts for Mexico or any other country.

4.1. Visa processing time

Mexico tourist visa processing takes 2 working days. If there are too many applicants, the processing can take up to 10 working days. You will be told at the visa interview when to come back to pick up your passport.

—

05. Pick up passport

You have to go back to the Mexican consulate again in person to pick your passport. 

Keep in mind that passports cannot be mailed back to you. You also cannot send anyone else to pick up your passport. You must go back in person to pick up your own passport.

After you pick up your passport, verify the name and dates on your Mexico visa to make sure everything is correct.

***

ENTERING AND LEAVING MEXICO BY AIR

Mexico Immigration Form FMM
Sample Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) form

Entering Mexico by air

A Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) is a Mexican immigration form similar to an arrival/departure card. Normally, an FMM card will be given to you on your inbound flight. You must fill this FMM card before you enter the immigration and customs at the first port of entry in Mexico.

At your first port of entry in Mexico, you have to go through passport control. You will be asked about your purpose of travel, whether it’s your first time in Mexico, etc. Your passport will be stamped.

Mexico Immigration Form FMM 180 days

The number of days you will be allowed to stay will be marked on the FMM card. Usually, it’s 180 days but it can be less also. Verify the card right away to make sure you were given enough days for your trip.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I have entered Mexico by air at Mexico City, Guadalajara and Cancun airports. I was always asked how long I plan to stay in Mexico. I was never asked to show proof of my return ticket or hotel bookings.

IMPORTANT
You must retain the FMM card while you are in Mexico. If you lose, you have to pay a penalty on your exit.

As always, carry a copy of your return ticket and hotel booking just in case. If you are traveling on a one-way ticket, don’t forget to get proof of onward ticket.

Rent an onward ticket at OnwardTicket

—

Leaving Mexico by air

You have to return the FMM card to the airline staff on your exit. If you lose your FMM card, you must pay a penalty. To avoid any penalties and delays on your exit, make sure to keep the FMM card safe while you are in the country.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I left Mexico by air at Mexico city, Guadalajara and Cancun airports. There was no exit passport control. Airline staff verified my FMM card at check-in and took it away at the gate before boarding.

***

ENTERING AND LEAVING MEXICO BY LAND

Mexico Tourism Tax Receipt
Mexico tourism tax receipt

Entering Mexico by land

Grab and fill a FMM card at the immigration office. Present your passport, FMM card and cash for tourism tax. 

You will be asked about your purpose of travel, whether it’s your first time in Mexico, etc. Your passport will be stamped. The number of days you will be allowed to stay will be marked on the FMM card. Usually, it’s 180 days but it can be less in some instances. Check the FMM card right away to make sure you were given enough days for your trip.

TOURISM TAX
All tourists entering Mexico must pay a tourism tax. If you are flying into Mexico, your airline fare will include tourism tax. But if you are entering by land, you must pay tourism tax at the immigration office. The tourism tax is $533 MXN. It must be paid in cash in Mexican pesos only, but at some borders accept USD.

—

Leaving Mexico by land

You must present your original passport, FMM card and proof of tourism tax paid to the immigration officer. 

If you have entered Mexico by air, check your airline booking for itemized price details. You should see a line such as “Tourism Tax”. You can print your booking and show this as proof of tourism tax paid when leaving Mexico by land. If you do not see tourism tax in your booking, you can email the airline requesting an itemized invoice. If the airline can’t provide you with one, you MUST pay tourism tax when leaving Mexico by land. 

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I left Mexico by land at Ciudad Cuauhtemoc near the Mexico/Guatemala border. I had a receipt of my tourist tax, so I presented my tourist tax receipt, FMM card and passport. The immigration officer took away the tourist tax receipt, FMM card and stamped my passport with an exit stamp. It took about 5 minutes at the immigration office.

***

ENTERING AND LEAVING MEXICO BY SEA

Chetumal International Port
Chetumal International Port near Mexico/Belize border

Entering Mexico by sea

Grab and fill a FMM card at the immigration office. Present your passport, FMM card and cash for tourism tax. 

You will be asked about your purpose of travel, whether it’s your first time in Mexico, etc. Your passport will be stamped. The number of days you will be allowed to stay will be marked on the FMM card. Usually, it’s 180 days but it can be less in some instances. Check the FMM card right away to make sure you were given enough days for your trip.

TOURISM TAX
All tourists entering Mexico must pay a tourism tax. If you are flying into Mexico, your airline fare will include tourism tax. But if you are entering by sea, you must pay tourism tax at the immigration office. The tourism tax is $533 MXN. It must be paid in cash in Mexican pesos only, but some maritime ports accept USD.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I entered Mexico by sea at Chetumal near the Mexico/Belize border. I grabbed an FMM card, quickly filled and lined up at the immigration counter. It took a while to get through the immigration as there were many on the boat and there was only one immigration officer. I paid $533 MXN for tourism tax and received a receipt of payment. 

—

Leaving Mexico by sea

You must present your original passport, FMM card and proof of tourism tax paid to the immigration officer. 

If you do not have a tourism tax receipt or your airline booking doesn’t indicate it clearly, you will have to pay tourism tax when leaving Mexico by sea.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I left Mexico by sea at Chetumal near the Mexico/Belize border. I did not have a receipt of my tourism tax paid, so I had to pay the tourism tax at the port. I did not receive a receipt of tourism tax paid since I’m exiting and the receipt will not be useful anyway. The immigration procedure took about 10 minutes.

***

SUMMARY

Mexico Tourist Visa Requirements - Guanajuato
The view of Guanajuato town in the night

Mexico visa requirements are clear and easy to understand. Mexico offers visa EXEMPTION to many nationalities. Any nationality holding any visa from the US, UK, Canada, Schengen or Japan are also visa EXEMPT. The Visa application procedure is fairly easy, quick and costs $44 USD.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL WITH VISA TRAVELER

I highly recommend using these websites to plan your trip. I use these websites myself to apply for my visas, book my flights and hotels and purchase my insurance.

01. Apply for your visa
You can get a verifiable flight itinerary for your visa application from DummyTicket. Flight itineraries from DummyTicket are valid for 2 weeks and works for all visa applications.

02. Book your fight
You can find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner. Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel
You can book your hotel from Booking.com. Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

04. Get your onward ticket
If traveling on one-way ticket, you can get your proof of onward flight from Expedia. Expedia offers free cancellation on tickets booked within 24 hours. Or use OnwardTicket to get a proof of onward ticket in just 2 minutes.

05. Purchase your insurance
You can purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from HeyMondo (for all international trips + 15% discount for visa traveler readers) or VisitorsCoverage (for US trips).

LEGAL DISCLAIMER
We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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About Me

About Thirumal Motati, founder and travel writer at visa traveler
Hi! I’m Thirumal Motati. I’m on a mission to travel to every country in the world on my “weak” passport. As a digital nomad, I have been traveling full-time for over 6 years. My knowledge and experience have helped many secure their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. Want to learn how to travel the world on a weak passport? Start here

Get your travel medical insurance from HeyMondo
Get verifiable flight ticket for visa application from dummyticket
Rent an onward ticket at OnwardTicket

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