Visa Requirements for Mexican Citizens

Mexican citizens can visit 157 countries visa-free or with visa-on-arrival in 2025. Popular visa-free destinations include all Schengen Area countries (Spain, France, Italy, Germany, and 25 more) for 90 days, the United Kingdom for 6 months, Japan for 90 days, South Korea for 90 days, Brazil for 90 days, Argentina for 90 days, Colombia for 90 days, and most Caribbean nations. Mexico has one of the strongest passports in Latin America for travel freedom.

The US B1/B2 tourist and business visa costs $185 USD (approximately MXN 3,330) for Mexican applicants. This is a non-refundable application fee paid before scheduling your visa interview. Mexican minors under 15 years old may qualify for a reduced fee of $15 if a parent is applying simultaneously or holds a valid 10-year visitor visa. The visa interview can be scheduled at US consulates across Mexico including Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Tijuana.

Mexican citizens traveling to Canada by air need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) which costs only CAD $7 (approximately MXN 95). The eTA is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires. If traveling by land or sea, no eTA is required for short visits. For longer stays or work purposes, a visitor visa costs CAD $100 (approximately MXN 1,350). The eTA application is completed online and typically approved within minutes.

US visa processing for Mexican applicants typically takes 2 to 8 weeks from the interview date, though this varies by consulate location and season. Interview wait times can range from a few days to several weeks depending on demand. The Monterrey and Guadalajara consulates often have shorter wait times than Mexico City. Emergency appointments may be available for urgent travel. Plan to apply at least 2 to 3 months before your intended travel date during peak seasons.

Standard visa requirements for Mexican citizens include: valid passport with 6+ months validity and blank pages for stamps, recent passport-size photographs meeting specific requirements, bank statements for the last 3 to 6 months showing sufficient funds, employment letter (carta laboral) or business registration (acta constitutiva), proof of ties to Mexico such as property deeds or family documents, travel itinerary and hotel reservations, and a cover letter explaining travel purpose. For US visas, you also need the DS-160 confirmation page.

The US B1/B2 visa approval rate for Mexican applicants is approximately 89% based on recent fiscal year data, with a refusal rate of around 10 to 11%. Approval rates improved significantly after the pandemic, dropping from 27% refusal in 2019 to around 6% in 2022 before stabilizing. Applicants with strong ties to Mexico, previous international travel history, and clear documentation of employment and finances have higher approval chances.

Mexican citizens can obtain visas on arrival or e-visas in several popular destinations including Turkey (e-Visa, $50 USD), Egypt (visa on arrival, $25 USD), Cambodia (visa on arrival, $30 USD), Kenya (e-Visa required), and Indonesia (visa-free for 30 days, extendable). Additionally, the UAE offers visa-free entry for 180 days, making Dubai a popular visa-free destination for Mexican travelers.

Mexican applicants historically faced higher rejection rates for US visas, though this has improved significantly in recent years. Current challenges include Australia (strict documentation requirements), New Zealand (thorough financial checks), and some African nations. The US refusal rate dropped from 27% in 2019 to approximately 10% in 2023. Common rejection reasons include insufficient proof of ties to Mexico, inadequate financial documentation, and unclear travel purpose.

To maximize visa approval chances: apply well in advance (2 to 3 months for US visas), provide 6 months of bank statements from a Mexican bank showing consistent income and savings, include your RFC (tax ID) and SAT registration if self-employed, show property ownership (escrituras) or vehicle registration as proof of ties, document previous international travel stamps, provide a detailed travel itinerary, practice for your interview in English or Spanish as appropriate, and ensure all documents are organized chronologically.