Mexico Visa for Tourists in 2025: A Complete Guide

Mexico has a liberal visa policy offering visa exemption to 63 nationalities. Those who require a visa are also exempt if they hold a valid visa or permanent residence in the US, UK, Canada, Schengen or Japan. 

Mexico visa costs $54 USD and takes about two business days to process. Mexico tourist visa is generally valid for 180 days, multiple-entry.

Cruise passengers do not require a visa at Mexican ports. Passengers transiting visa Mexican airports require a visa, unless they are visa-exempt.

***

Mexico Visa Policy

Mexico has a relatively open visa policy. Citizens of 63 countries can visit Mexico VISA-FREE for up to 180 days. Citizens of 3 countries are eligible to apply for the ETA.

Those who require a visa can enter VISA-FREE if holding a valid visa or permanent residence from the US, UK, Canada, Schengen or Japan.

Mexico tourist visa is valid for 6 months and offers multiple entries. You can apply up to 3 months in advance, and the processing usually takes about 2 working days.

Mexico does not issue Visa on Arrival to any nationality. All visas must be applied for and secured through the Mexican embassy or consulate before travel.

Minimum passport validity required to enter Mexico

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival. It must also contain at least 1 blank page for entry and exit stamps.

***

Mexico Visa Exemption (VISA-FREE)

Eligible countries

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

—

Allowed duration of stay

The allowed duration of stay is 180 days. But lately, immigration officers have been giving the exact number of days as per your itinerary. For example, if your return ticket is in 17 days, then you may be given 17 or 20 days of stay in Mexico.

—

Documents to carry

You will have to carry the following documents when entering Mexico visa-exempt.

• Passport valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival
• Return or onward flight ticket (if leaving by bus or boat, proof of bus or boat ticket)
• Hotel or Airbnb booking

—

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

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

For 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 US B1/B2 visa. No need to apply for a separate Mexico visa.

WARNING: There have been reports that Mexican immigration has been refusing entry to those using UK, Schengen and Japan visas.

—

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.

For example, you hold a Filipino passport with a US green card, both valid for more than 6 months. You can travel to Mexico using your US green card. No need to apply for a separate Mexico visa.

WARNING: The residence permits must be a PERMANENT residence permits. Temporary residence permits are not accepted.

—

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. 

For example, you are on a Caribbean cruise trip that will make a stop at Cancun, Mexico. You do not need a visa to enter Mexico at Cancun as part of your Caribbean cruise trip.

***

Mexico ETA

Eligible countries

1. Russia
2. Turkey
3. Ukraine

Validity and stay duration

The validity of the ETA is 30 days, single-entry only. ETA is valid for air travel only.

The validity starts from the day of issue. You must enter Mexico within the 30-day validity period. The allowed duration of stay is up to 180 days.

Fee and processing time

There is no charge to apply for the ETA. It’s free of charge.

The processing, in most cases, is immediate. You will be able to download your ETA as soon as you submit your application. But in some cases, the ETA may require additional processing. In such cases, the processing can take up to 10 working days.

Documents required

You only need your passport to apply for the Mexico ETA. But the passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your intended date of travel.

Application process

It takes about 5 minutes to fill out the application, review and submit. ETA will be generated and ready for download right away. You must print the ETA and carry it with you when you travel.

Follow this Mexico ETA article for step-by-step instructions and screenshots to complete and download your ETA in just 5 minutes.

***

Mexico Tourist Visa

Visa required nationalities

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. Bosnia and Herzegovina
14. Botswana
15. Brazil
16. Brunei
17. Burkina Faso
18. Burundi
19. Cambodia
20. Cameroon
21. Cape Verde
22. Central African Republic
23. Chad
24. China
25. Comoros
26. Congo, Dem Rep of
27. Congo, Rep of
28. Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
29. Cuba
30. Djibouti
31. Dominica
32. Dominican Republic
33. Ecuador
34. Egypt
35. El Salvador
36. Equatorial Guinea
37. Eritrea
38. Eswatini
39. Ethiopia
40. Fiji
41. Gabon
42. Gambia
43. Georgia
44. Ghana
45. Grenada
46. Guatemala
47. Guinea
48. Guinea-Bissau
49. Guyana
50. Haiti
51. Honduras
52. India
53. Indonesia
54. Iran
55. Iraq
56. Jordan
57. Kazakhstan
58. Kenya
59. Kiribati
60. Kosovo
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. Mexico
75. Moldova
76. Mongolia
77. Montenegro
78. Morocco
79. Mozambique
80. Myanmar
81. Namibia
82. Nauru
83. Nepal
84. Nicaragua
85. Niger
86. Nigeria
87. North Korea
88. North Macedonia
89. Oman
90. Pakistan
91. Palestinian Territory
92. Papua New Guinea
93. Peru
94. Philippines
95. Qatar
96. Russia
97. Rwanda
98. Samoa
99. São Tomé and Príncipe
100. Saudi Arabia
101. Senegal
102. Serbia
103. Seychelles
104. Sierra Leone
105. Solomon Islands
106. Somalia
107. South Africa
108. South Sudan
109. Sri Lanka
110. St Kitts and Nevis
111. St Lucia
112. St Vincent and the Grenadines
113. Sudan
114. Suriname
115. Syria
116. Taiwan
117. Tajikistan
118. Tanzania
119. Thailand
120. Timor-Leste
121. Togo
122. Tonga
123. Tunisia
124. Turkey
125. Turkmenistan
126. Tuvalu
127. Uganda
128. Ukraine
129. Uzbekistan
130. Vanuatu
131. Vatican City (or Holy See)
132. Venezuela
133. Vietnam
134. Yemen
135. Zambia
136. Zimbabwe

—

Validity of Mexico tourist visa

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

—

When to apply for Mexico visa

You can apply for a Mexico visa up to 3 months in advance. The visa appointments are scarce and you may get an appointment a couple of weeks out.

Visa is usually processed right away on the day of the appointment, but in some instances, the processing can take 2-10 working days. Therefore, apply at least 2 weeks before your trip.

• Earliest to apply: 3 months
• Latest to apply: 2 weeks

—

How long can you stay in Mexico

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

These days, immigration officers give fewer than 180 days or the exact number of days necessary for your itinerary. Check your FMM card for the number of days you’re allowed to stay. 

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

—

Application procedure

The Mexican 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 the Mexico tourist visa. 

1. Original passport
2. One passport-size photograph
3. Completed Mexico visa application form
4. Appointment confirmation
5. Copy of the first and last page of your passport
6. Copy of any previous Mexican visas (or any expired US, UK, Canada, Schengen or Japan visa)
7. Original employment letter (must be on the letterhead, signed and stamped)
8. Bank statements for the last 3 months (need them to be signed and stamped by the bank in some countries, as downloaded PDFs are not accepted)
9. Payslips for the last 3 months
10. Income tax returns (for the last year)
11. Proof of any property ownership (such as a sale deed)
12. Cover letter
13. Copy of the visa/residence permit if applying in a third country (Example: if you hold an Indian passport and are applying in the US, you have to provide a copy of your US visa)

The document list varies from country to country. For example, if applying from India, you may be asked to bring a lot more documents than if applying from the US.

All documents must be in either English or Spanish. If any other language, they must be certified translated.

NOTE: Flight tickets and hotel bookings are NOT required for the Mexican visa application

1.1 Passport requirements

Your original passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel. It must also contain at least 2 blank pages. One page for the visa sticker and one for entry-exit stamps.

1.2. Photo requirements

The photo must meet the following requirements:

• Must be recent, taken within the last 30 days
• Must of size 4.5cm x 3.5 cm
• Must be in color with a white background, no glasses or face accessories
• Face must cover 80% of the photo
• Photo booth, home printout or digitally manipulated photos are not accepted

You must attach the photo to the application form at the designated space.

1.3 Application form

Download and type the information in the application form. If you do not have the tools or Adobe software to type the information, you can print it first and then write the information with a pen.

IMPORTANT 1: Print the application form on one page, double-sided (meaning, back-to-back on a single sheet of paper), preferably on US Letter or A4 size.

IMPORTANT 2: Do not sign the form. You will have to sign it in front of the visa officer at the time of your visa appointment.

PAGE 1:

a. Photo: Paste your passport-size photo with glue here. Do not staple.

b. Consular Office: Type or write the location of the Mexican embassy or Consulate, some examples below.

• If the location of the consulate is Chicago, then enter “Chicago, USA”.
• If the location of the embassy in Manila, enter “Manila, Philippines”.
• If New Delhi, then “New Delhi, India”.

c. Reference Number: Do not write anything here. This is for official use only.

d. Office use only: Do not write anything here. This is for official use only.

c. Section I: Personal Information

1. Given name(s) [Instruction: Enter your given name as per your passport. If you have first and middle names in your passport, enter your first name, then the middle name separated by a space.]
2. First Surname [Instruction: Enter your surname or last name here]
3. Second Surname [Instruction: Relevant only to those with a second last name, such as Mexicans, Latin Americans, Spanish, etc. ]
4. Sex [Instruction: Select Female, Male, Choose no specification]
5. Date of Birth [Instruction: Enter your date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format]
6. Age [Instruction: Enter your age in years]
7. Country/territory of birth [Instruction: Enter your country of birth]
8. Nationality [Instruction: Enter your country of nationality]
9. Passport/Travel Document Number [Instruction: Enter your passport number]
   • Issuing Country [Instruction: Enter your passport country]
   • Date Issued [Instruction: Enter your passport issue date]
   • Date of expiry [Instruction: Enter your passport expiry date]

d. Section II: Additional Information

10. Marital status [Instruction: Select Single, Married or Common law]
11. Current residential address [Instruction: Enter your current residential address]
12. Phone number [Instruction: Enter your mobile phone number]
13. E-mail address [Instruction: Enter your email address]
14. Occupation [Instruction: Enter your current occupation]
15. Company name or institution [Instruction: Enter your current employer name]
16. Country of residence [Instruction: Enter your current country of residence]
17. Legal migratory status [Instruction: Indicate whether you are a legal resident]
18. Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence in Mexico/other country? [Instruction: Select “No”. If you have an offence, select “Yes” and explain below.]
19. If you selected YES, please provide an explanation

e. Section III: Purpose and Information of your Travel

20. Date you plan to travel to Mexico [Instruction: Enter your intended date of travel to Mexico]
21. City/state of entry [Instruction: Enter your intended city or state of entry in Mexico]
22. Length of stay in Mexico [Instruction: For tourism, select “Less than 180 days“]
23. Have you visited Mexico before [Instruction: Select “Yes” if you have even been to Mexico. If not, “No”]
24. Have you ever been ordered to leave Mexico [Instruction: Select “No”. But if you have been ordered to leave Mexico before, select “Yes” and explain below.]
25. If you selected YES, please provide an explanation:
26. What is the purpose of your visit to Mexico [Instruction: Enter a one-line sentence of your purpose of visit]

Purpose of visit: Do not simply write “Tourism”. Instead, write a one-line sentence, such as “visiting Cancun for 5 days as a tourist to celebrate my birthday”.

f. Type of Visa: Select “Visitor/Tourist”.

PAGE 2:

Section II: List of Supporting Documents

List out the supporting documents you’re submitting. If you have more than 5 documents, list multiple documents on a single line, separated by a comma.

—

2. Schedule visa appointment

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

First, you will have to create an account in MiConsulado. After creating your account, you will have to select the country and the consulate. Then, enter personal and passport details. 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 can download the appointment confirmation. You must print this confirmation letter and carry it with you on the day of your appointment. 

You can refer to my step-by-step guide to book Mexico visa appointment on the MiConsulado portal.

—

3. Pay visa fee

The Mexico tourist visa fee is $54 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 before 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 for biometrics and an interview.

If the consulate requires the visa payment to be made at a local bank, you must do that before your appointment at the consulate.

You must arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment time. Electronic devices such as smartphones, smart watches, laptops, tablets, etc., are not allowed into the consulate. All your documents must be in a clear plastic folder.

If you are required to pay the fee in cash 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 the purpose of your 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. 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

If all your documents are in order, your Mexico tourist visa will be processed right away. You can collect your passport on the same day. If there are too many applicants or more time is needed for processing, the processing can take about 2-10 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 up your passport. 

Keep in mind that the Mexican consulates will not mail your passport 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.

***

Mexico Transit Visa

All “Visa Required” nationals REQUIRE a visa to transit via any international airport in Mexico.

You can use a substitute visa or permanent residency from the US, UK, Canada, Schengen or Japan. If you don’t hold a substitute visa or residency, you must apply for a regular Mexican tourist visa.

***

Mexico Tourism Tax

Mexico has various taxes for tourists. These taxes depend on how you enter the country and what part of the country you visit.

Some of these taxes are included in the airfare and some must be paid in advance or upon arrival.

—

Mexico Tourism tax

All foreign visitors must pay the tourism tax. As of 2025, the tourism tax is 860 MXN.

Tourism tax is also called Derecho No Residente (DNR) or Derecho de No Immigrante (DNI).

If you are flying into Mexico, the tourism tax is included in the airfare. You can see the “Mexico Tourism Tax” as an item in your airfare charges.

If you are entering the country via land borders or sea ports, you will have to pay this tax at the land border/sea port. You are exempt from paying the tourism tax if you’re entering the country via land border for 7 days or less.

—

Visitax (Quintana Roo state tax)

All tourists visiting the state of Quintana Roo (popular for Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen or Cozumel) must pay Visitax. As of October 2025, Visitax is 283 MXN per person.

As I understand, this is not strictly enforced. Some pay and some don’t. But, you may be asked to show the proof of payment while departing from the state of Quintana Roo.

You would need to pay this fee online on the official Visitax website before leaving the Quintana Roo state. You would need your name, passport number and your departure date from Quintana Roo. You will receive a QR code after the payment, which you must save on your phone as proof.

***

Environmental tax

This fee is usually added to the hotel rate or collected upon check-in at the hotel. This tax varies slightly depending on the region. It is usually 1-2 USD per room per night.

***

Cruise passenger tax

This is a new fee introduced in 2025 for cruise passengers arriving at sea ports in Quintana Roo. This fee is currently 5 USD and will be increased up to 21 USD by 2028.

This fee must be paid by all cruise passengers arriving at the seaports, even if they are not disembarking the cruise ship.

To summarize the fee:

Type	Tax	Who must pay	How to pay
Tourism Tax	860 MXN	All tourists	Must be paid by all cruise passengers if not disembark the cruise ship.
Quintana Roo Visitax	283 MXN	All tourists visiting the state of Quintana Roo	Must be paid online on the official Visitax website
Environmental Fee	1-2 USD per room per night	All tourists staying in hotels and resorts	Included or added to the hotel room rate
Cruise Passenger Tax	5 USD (as of now) 10 USD (from Aug 2026) 15 USD (from Jul 2027) 21 USD (from Nov 2028)	All cruise passengers arriving at the ports in Quintana Roo	Must be paid by all cruise passengers if not disembarking the cruise ship.

***

Mexico Tourist Card

A Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) is a Mexican immigration form similar to an arrival/departure card, also called a Mexico Tourist Card.

All visitors entering Mexico via land borders or sea ports must fill out the FMM card and present it at the immigration and customs in Mexico.

Visitors entering via air are not required to fill out this form. It will be generated and emailed to you after you pass immigration at the Mexican airport.

You can download the digital FMM card from the official National Immigration of Mexico website. You must save a copy on your phone, which you must show when departing from Mexico.

***

Entering and Leaving Mexico by Air

Entering Mexico by air

Most Mexican airports now have automated immigration kiosks. You will scan your passport and enter through the turnstiles.

The number of days you will be allowed to stay will be marked on the FMM, which you will have to download from the official National Immigration of Mexico website.

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 your digital FMM card while you are in Mexico. You are required to present on your departure from Mexico.

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.

—

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.

***

Entering and Leaving Mexico via Land Borders

Entering Mexico via the land border

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

You will also have to pay the tourism tax in Mexican pesos. This tax is waived if you are staying less than 7 days in Mexico.

—

Leaving Mexico via the land border

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 the tourism tax paid when leaving Mexico by land. If you do not see the 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 the tourism tax when leaving Mexico via the land borders.

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.

***

Entering and Leaving Mexico via Seaports

Entering Mexico via seaports

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

You will also have to pay the Mexico tourism tax in local currency. If you will be staying for less than 7 days, the tax is waived.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE (from 2019)
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 the tourism tax and received a receipt of payment. 

—

Leaving Mexico by seaports

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 the tourism tax I paid, so I had to pay the tourism tax at the port. I did not receive a receipt for the tourism tax paid since I’m exiting and the receipt will not be useful anyway. The immigration procedure took about 10 minutes.

Credits: Maps are made with mapchart.net