Mexico tourist visa: Requirements and application procedure

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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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MEXICO TOURIST VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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ENTERING AND LEAVING MEXICO BY AIR

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.

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.

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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.

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ENTERING AND LEAVING MEXICO BY LAND

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.

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Leaving Mexico by land

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

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.

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ENTERING AND LEAVING MEXICO BY SEA

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. 

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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.

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SUMMARY

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.

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