Changes to Canada’s Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) and Visitor Visa Requirements for Mexican Citizens

Effective February 29th, 2024, it is of the utmost importance for Mexican citizens planning to travel to Canada to be aware of and adhere to the new eTA and Visitor visa requirements.

It is important to note that Visitors must now meet new requirements to obtain an electronic travel authorization (eTA), even if they had an eTA or applied for one before February 29th, 2024. A previous travel reservation or a valid eTA does not guarantee a new eTA or visa approval.

Visitors are considered Temporary Residents who do not have a valid work or study permit, such as tourists, students with a study period of less than six months, or business Visitors.

To travel to Canada, Visitors must:

• Apply for and obtain an eTA according to the new rules, or
• Apply for and obtain a Visitor visa.

It is crucial to note that even if Visitors are eligible for an eTA, their family members may still require a visa.

Visitors can apply for an eTA if they meet all of the following three requirements:

1. Utilize a valid Mexican passport to fly to Canada or transit through a Canadian airport to another destination.
2. Being visiting Canada for a short period (usually for stays of up to six months).
3. Have had a Canadian Visitor Visa (temporary resident visa) in the past ten years or currently have a valid US non-immigrant visa.

The eTA is only valid for air travel; even if the Visitor is eligible for an eTA, a Visitor visa will be mandatory if they travel to Canada by car, bus, train, or boat, including on a cruise (even if they do not disembark).

When flying to Canada, Visitors must:

• Travel with the same passport used to apply for the eTA.
• If a new passport was obtained after applying for an eTA, then must apply for a new eTA using the new passport.
• If applicable, travel with the passport containing the work or study permit.

The cost of a visa is 100 Canadian dollars, plus additional fees for biometric data collection. Most visas allow multiple entries and are valid for up to 10 years. Processing times vary, and urgent requests are not guaranteed.