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 who REQUIRE a visa are also exempt from visa if they hold 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 to process. 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. Estonia
21. Finland
22. France
23. Germany
24. Greece
25. Hong Kong
26. Hungary
27. Iceland
28. Ireland
29. Israel
30. Italy
31. Jamaica
32. Japan
33. Latvia
34. Liechtenstein
35. Lithuania
36. Luxembourg
37. Macao
38. Malaysia
39. Malta
40. Marshall Islands
41. Micronesia
42. Monaco
43. Netherlands
44. New Zealand
45. Norway
46. Palau
47. Panama
48. Paraguay
49. Peru
50. Poland
51. Portugal
52. Romania
53. San Marino
54. Singapore
55. Sint Maarten
56. Slovakia
57. Slovenia
58. South Korea
59. Spain
60. Sweden
61. Switzerland
62. Trinidad and Tobago
63. United Arab Emirates
64. United Kingdom
65. United States of America
66. Uruguay
67. 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. Brazil
17. Brunei Darussalam
18. Burkina Faso
19. Burundi
20. Cambodia
21. Cameroon
22. Cape Verde
23. The central African Republic
24. Chad
25. China
26. Comoros
27. Congo (Dem. Rep. of)
28. Congo (Rep. of)
29. Côte d’Ivoire
30. Cuba
31. Djibouti
32. Dominica
33. Dominican Republic
34. Ecuador
35. Egypt
36. El Salvador
37. Equatorial Guinea
38. Eritrea
39. Eswatini
40. Ethiopia
41. Fiji
42. Gabon
43. The Gambia
44. Georgia
45. Ghana
46. Grenada
47. Guatemala
48. Guinea
49. Guinea-Bissau
50. Guyana
51. Haiti
52. Honduras
53. India
54. Indonesia
55. Iran
56. Iraq
57. Jordan
58. Kazakhstan
59. Kenya
60. Kiribati
61. Kuwait
62. Kyrgyzstan
63. Laos
64. Lebanon
65. Lesotho
66. Liberia
67. Libya
68. Madagascar
69. Malawi
70. Maldives
71. Mali
72. Mauritania
73. Mauritius
74. Moldova
75. Mongolia
76. Montenegro
77. Morocco
78. Mozambique
79. Myanmar
80. Namibia
81. Nauru
82. Nepal
83. Nicaragua
84. Niger
85. Nigeria
86. North Korea
87. North Macedonia
88. Oman
89. Pakistan
90. Palestine
91. Papua New Guinea
92. Philippines
93. Qatar
94. Russia
95. Rwanda
96. Saint Kitts and Nevis
97. Saint Lucia
98. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
99. Samoa
100. Salomon Islands
101. São Tomé and Príncipe
102. Saudi Arabia
103. Senegal
104. Serbia
105. Seychelles
106. Sierra Leone
107. Somalia
108. South Africa
109. South Sudan
110. Sri Lanka
111. Sudan
112. Surinam
113. Syria
114. Taiwan
115. Tajikistan
116. Tanzania
117. Thailand
118. Timor-Leste
119. Togo
120. Tonga
121. Tunisia
122. Turkey
123. Turkmenistan
124. Tuvalu
125. Uganda
126. Ukraine
127. Uzbekistan
128. Vanuatu
129. Vatican City
130. Vietnam
131. Yemen
132. Zambia
133. 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 from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Schengen or Japan for stays up to 180 days as a tourist.

Example: You hold an Indian passport with a 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 with a valid PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD from the US, Canada, UK, any Schengen country, Japan or any Pacific Alliance country (Chile, Colombia, Peru)

Visa is NOT REQUIRED for ANY nationality holding a valid permanent resident card from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Schengen, Japan, Chile, Colombia and Peru for stays up to 180 days as a tourist.

Example: You hold an Egypt passport with a US green card, both valid for more than 6 months. You can enter Mexico using your Egypt passport and US green card. 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 to enter 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 a 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 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. In 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 the 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 Indian 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 a white background, no glasses and the 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 it 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 to schedule 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 photos 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 up 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, also called a Mexico Tourist 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. The 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 an 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 $594 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, and 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 an 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 $594 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 for my tourism tax paid, so I had to pay the tourism tax at the port. I did not receive a receipt for 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 is also visa EXEMPT. The Visa application procedure is fairly easy, and quick and costs $44 USD.