On December 1, 2016, the Government of Canada lifted the requirement that Mexican nationals obtain a temporary resident visa (a “TRV”) prior to travelling to Canada.
As with all TRV exempt travellers, excluding Americans, Mexican nationals are still required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (an “ETA”) prior to boarding aircraft to travel to Canada.
The Government of Canada has also committed to gradually expanding eTA eligibility in 2017 to citizens of Bulgaria, Romania, and Brazil.
Electronic Travel Authorisation
The eTA is a new electronic document requirement for visa-exempt air travellers to Canada, excluding citizens of the United States. Travellers apply online for an eTA by providing basic biographical, passport and personal information, and includes questions about their health, criminal history, and travel history.
An automated system then compares this information against immigration and enforcement databases to determine if the traveller is admissible to Canada. The vast majority of applications are approved automatically, with a small percentage referred to an officer for review. Typical reasons for a further review include a previous denial of admission to Canada, a criminal record, or a pending permanent residence application.
The cost to apply for an eTA is $7.00. Applicants must have a valid passport, credit card, and e-mail address.
An eTA is only required for travel to Canada by air. It is not required for travel to Canada by land or sea.
Mexican citizens who already have a valid TRV do not need to apply for an eTA while their TRV is valid.
Future Visa Lifting for Brazil, Romania, and Bulgaria
The Government of Canada has also committed to expanding eTA eligibility to travellers from Brazil, Bulgaria and Romania.
Starting on May 1, 2017, Brazillian, Romanian, and Bulgarian citizens who have held a Canadian temporary resident visa at any time during the last 10 years, or who, at the time of application, hold a valid nonimmigrant visa from the United States, will no longer need a TRV to visit Canada, and can instead apply for an eTA.
Starting December 1, 2017, the eTA eligibility will be expanded to include all Romanian and Bulgarian citizens.
More information about the lifting of the visa requirement for Mexican citizens, including the specific regulatory changes and the Government of Canada’s cost-benefit analysis, can be found here.
More information about the future lifting of the visa requirement for Brazilian, Bulgarian, and Romanian citizens, including the specific regulatory changes and the Government of Canada’s cost-benefit analysis, can be found here.
More information about how to apply for an eTA can be found here.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about these changes.
[UPDATE – December 9, 2021]
Here are three charts which show the eTA approval rates and asylum claims for citizens of Mexico, Bulgaria and Romania since the visa requirement was lifted.
eta stats[UPDATE – March 13, 2024]
Canada has reimposed a visa requirement on Mexico. It is in the same category as Brazil.
The Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement on this can be found here – https://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2024/2024-03-13/html/sor-dors34-eng.html