Mexico Entry Requirements for Canadian Citizens

Mexico Visa Needed

(for stays of up to 180 days)

Tourist Card (FMM) Needed

Unlike nationals of some other countries, Citizens of Canada do not need a visa to enter Mexico but they are required to complete a Mexican tourist card . Commonly known as FMM ( Forma Migratoria Múltiple ), this is a mandatory requirement for all travelers who visit the country, including Canadians.

It is of the utmost importance that Canadians know the procedure to apply online for a Forma Migratoria Múltiple , as well as the prerequisites that they must abide by in order to be considered eligible.

Do Canadians Need a Mexican FMM?

Although Canadian citizens are visa-exempt when traveling to Mexico, they do need to hold a Mexican tourist card (FMM) when arriving at a land border. This travel document, along with their valid passport, is all Canadians need to enter the country.

Mexican authorities typically screen incoming travelers as part of their security protocols to protect both visitors and Mexican citizens. This is why nationals of Canada need an approved Mexican tourist card when accessing the country by land.

Tourist Card's Entry Requirements to Mexico From Canada

Even though Canadian passport holders may travel to Mexico legally without a visa, they will still have to carry a valid passport issued by the Canadian government to identify themselves.

The Canadian passport must also be valid for at least six months (180 days) after the proposed arrival date in Mexico.

One of the key Mexican entry requirements is that citizens of Canada must have an approved tourist card if arriving by land.. When crossing the border, Mexican officers will keep a part of the travel document, while Canadians will hold the other part (slip of paper) , which must be kept with them during the whole trip to present when exiting Mexico.

An approved Mexico tourist card for Canadians is valid for a single entry only. In other words, in the event that travelers leave Mexico and then want to re-enter, they will have to apply for another Mexican FMM.

On the other hand, the FMM is valid for 180 days in total . If holders from Canada would like to extend their stay, another FMM application will have to be completed online.

Mexico Tourist Card's Application Form for Canadian Nationals

It is now possible to get the FMM online from Canada rather than on the journey to Mexico. This new electronic system has made the process much quicker and easier for Canadians to enter the country.

Citizens from Canada may now complete the FMM application form online .

To do so, applicants from Canada must abide by the following:

  • Have access to an internet connection - any electronic device, such as a tablet, laptop, or mobile phone, can be used
  • Provide an accessible and current email address to receive key FMM information
  • Submit personal information such as Canadians’ full name, date and place of birth, and contact details
  • Give travel details such as passport information (number, expiry and issuance date) and purpose of their travel
  • Respond to routine questions related to Canadian travelers’ health and criminal record, if any
  • Pay the Mexican FMM processing fee with a valid credit or debit card

It is recommended that nationals from Canada double-check the information provided to avoid any error or missing details.

Once all these steps are completed, the FMM is sent by email. Applicants can expect to receive their tourist card to Mexico in up to 24-48 hours , although most FMM cards are approved within a few hours.

Benefits for Canadians when applying online for a Mexican FMM

Applying online and beforehand for a Mexican tourist card allows Canadian applicants to avoid long queues at the border of Mexico . It also means that travelers do not need to carry money on their person to settle the tourist card fee. Instead, the payment can be made online.

The online option is, therefore, deemed more convenient, secure, and straightforward. The completion of the electronic FMM application form will only take 20 minutes or less for Canadians. Short-stay travelers do not need to apply for a Mexican visa from an embassy if they have an approved tourist card.

Register with the Canadian Embassy in Mexico

Nationals of Canada traveling to Mexico are advised to register with the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City. This can be done by completing a quick form online, while applying for a Mexico FMM through this site.

Registration of Canadians Abroad is a service that provides important information about current events in Mexico or internationally if this could affect the individual’s travel plans.

For example, Canadians registered with the Embassy of Canada in Mexico City will be contacted in the following circumstances:

  • Personal emergencies at home (the Canadian Embassy to Mexico will help citizens’ families to contact them)
  • International emergencies that could impact the journey home
  • Civil unrest
  • Natural disasters

In emergencies , the Embassy will contact Canadians in Mexico who have registered and can help them get in touch with family and friends at home.

Travel Advisory for Mexico from Canada

The Canadian government recommends that its citizens who travel to Mexico to :

  • Stay in tourist areas
  • Remain vigilant against petty crime
  • Keep an eye on local media during their stay
  • Be vigilant when driving on major highways
  • Avoid traveling at night

Canadians traveling to Mexico are particularly advised to avoid the following areas due to common incidents of violence and crime :

  • Colima, excluding Manzanillo city
  • all Coahuila, except the southern part of the state at and below the Saltillo-Torreón highway corridor
  • Durango, except Durango City
  • Guerrero, except for Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and Taxco
  • Highway 45 between León and Irapuato in Guanajuato and the area south of this
  • Lagunas de Zempoala National Park and Xoxocotla in Morelos
  • Michoacán, except for Morelia
  • Nuevo León, except for Monterrey
  • Sinaloa, except for Mazatlán
  • Sonora, except for Hermosillo and Guaymas/San Carlos and Puerto Peñasco
  • Tepicin and the area within 20 km of the border with Sinaloa and Durango in Nayarit

As when traveling to any foreign destination, Canadians should be aware that while most travel to Mexico is trouble-free, they should take safety precautions to ensure a smooth trip . Signing up for the embassy registration mentioned above can help to achieve this.

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Riviera Nayarit Mexico Tourist Entry Documents

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What You Need to Enter Mexico

Mexico entry requirements are pretty much the same for United States citizens and Canadian citizens travelling to México as tourists. You only need to present a valid passport and complete the correct entry forms (Migratory Form for Foreign Tourists, Transmigrants, Business Visitors or Councillor Visitors). The Mexico entry forms are generally available at travel agencies, airline offices, and at all entry points into Mexico.

Mexico entry requirements for international visitors from other countries are a little different. International visitors from any country other than Canada and the U.S.A. must obtain a visa in order to enter México, which they may obtain by contacting a Mexican Consulate in their country. In order to grant a visa, the Mexican consulate will require a passport, proof of sufficient economic means for the duration of their stay, and proof of payment for the processing fee.

International tourists may stay in México for up to 180 days. When they enter Mexico by air, the processing fee payment (approximately $22 USD) is included in the price of the airplane ticket. When entering Mexico by land, the processing fee must be paid during your stay and validated upon your departure. International tourists that enter by land and stay less than seven days in México do not need to pay for processing.

Mexico entry requirements stipulate that you will need the following 3 documents in order to enter Mexico:

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1. Valid Passport

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 2. FMT (Tourist, Business), FM2 or FM3 Form

3. Custom’s declaration form

The government of Mexico requires current proof of citizenship, a photo ID, and a valid passport for entry into Mexico.

TIP:  Carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in a safe place and make sure your passport does not expire within 6 months or you might be denied entry into Mexico, even for shorter visits!

You will need an FMT (Mexican Visitor’s Permit), which is valid for up to 6 months. If arriving by plane, you will be provided with one to fill out before departing the plane.

 It is very important to keep your Tourist Permit in a safe place – you will need it in order to leave the country. If lost, you need to apply for an exit permit (about $40 USD) and you might miss your flight!

You will also be required to fill out a customs declarations form.

Please email  [email protected]  or call us at  1-800-960-5917  if you still have questions about Mexico entry requirements.

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Embajada de México en Canadá

Entry requirements, important announcements.

The Embassy of Mexico in Canada informs the public that Canadian nationals and permanent residents of Canada do not require a visa to enter Mexico.

Canadian nationals must present a valid passport to prove their nationality. Mexican authorities do not require a minimum period of validity of passports ; nevertheless, this document must be valid at the time of entry and during the period you wish to be in Mexico.

Permanent residents of Canada must present their Permanent Resident Card and one of the following documents: valid Passport or Refugee Travel Document.

All foreign visitors, regardless of their nationality, traveling to Mexico for tourism, business or in transit to another destination, are exempt from presenting a Mexican visa as long as they have a valid visa issued by any the following countries: Canada, Japan, the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any of the countries comprising the Schengen Area.

Migratory Regulations – Travel of minors

A Decree was published on December 2, 2013, reforming the provisions of the Migratory Law Regulation corresponding to the travel of minors under 18 years of age; this took effect on January 24, 2014.

FOREIGN MINORS (UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE) TRAVELLING TO MEXICO ALONE OR WITH A THIRD PARTY OF LEGAL AGE (GRANDPARENT, AUNT/UNCLE, ETC.) AS VISITORS (TOURISTS OR WITH A SHORT STUDY STAY OF UP TO 180 DAYS), DO NOT REQUIRE authorization or a letter of consent from their parents or guardians. Mexican migratory authorities will allow these minors to leave Mexico upon presentation of a valid passport.

The Canadian government requirements for minors departing or entering Canada may be consulted at the following webpage: http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/children

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Minors under 18 years of age (girls, boys, adolescents or those under legal guardianship) who are of Mexican nationality or foreigners holding the migratory status of Permanent Resident, Temporary Resident or Temporary Student Resident, who are in Mexico and wish to travel abroad alone or accompanied by a person of legal age other than one of their parents, must present:

  • Notarized document in which those holding parental authority or guardianship authorize the minor’s departure from Mexico, granted before a Notary Public or Commissioner of Oaths, or;
  • The document issued by the National Migration Institute (INM), in the format published for this purpose, available at the following webpage: www.inm.gob.mx

If the parents or holders of parental authority or guardianship choose to authorize the minor’s departure from Mexico with the document granted before a Notary Public or Commissioner of Oaths , the document must specify the mode of transportation, destination and date of travel. If this document is issued abroad (Canada) it must be legalized at the Mexican Consulate or the Embassy of Mexico in Canada . In addition, this document must be accompanied by a translation into Spanish. Mexican offices abroad do not provide translation services.

Minors under the age of 18 travelling with at least one of their parents or guardians DO NOT require authorization or a letter of consent.

Criminal record

Immigration authorities may decide to refuse the request to enter the country if the applicant is subject to criminal process or has been convicted of a serious crime as defined by national laws on criminal matters or provisions in international treaties or conventions that the Mexican State is party to, or if the applicant’s background in Mexico or abroad could compromise national or public security, in accordance with Article 43 of the Migration Law.

According to Article 194 of the Federal Code on Criminal Proceedings, serious crimes include all crimes that have a significant, negative effect on the fundamental values of society.

Serious crimes include, among others: manslaughter; terrorism and international terrorism; sabotage; piracy; genocide; prison break; attacks on public thoroughfares; drug-related crimes; corruption of minors; child pornography; exploitation of minors; falsifying and counterfeit of currency; rape; highway robbery; trafficking in minors; trafficking in undocumented persons; aggravated robbery; vehicular theft; extortion; crimes against the environment, committed with intent; forced disappearance of persons; bearing arms reserved for the exclusive use of the Army, Navy or Air Force; smuggling into the country firearms not reserved for the exclusive use of the Army, Navy or Air Force; smuggling and comparable crimes, and; tax fraud and comparable crimes.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS OF ENTERING MEXICO

At the point of entry, Mexico's immigration officers (INAMI) are the only authority that can accept or refuse the entry of any traveller into Mexico, regardless of whether the traveller has previously attained a visa or is exempt from obtaining one.

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New Electronic Multiple Migratory Form for Air Travel (FMME Aérea)

Learn about the new Electronic Multiple Migratory Form for Air Travel (FMME Aérea) which facilitates and expedites the registration of your entry to Mexico.

To obtain this form, you must:

  • Go to the following link: https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/solicitud.html
  • Fill out the application from any electronic device connected to the Internet.
  • Print the Multiple Migratory Form and keep it with you to be validated at the airport, where the immigration authorities must stamp it.

Once the form has been printed, it will be valid for 30 days and allow foreign visitors to remain in Mexico (without engaging in paid activities) for up to 180 days.

The traditional way of obtaining the FMM at ports of entry is still in force. The FMME Aérea is an additional option to the traditional practice, and will facilitate the process by enabling the user to fill out the form in advance, from any country.

It is very important to keep the stamped portion of the FMM that corresponds to the record of entry, as this is proof of your legal entry into Mexico and will be required when you leave the country.

For further information, consult: http://www.gob.mx/inm/articulos/fmm-electronica-aerea?es-MX

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There are some straightforward paperwork procedures to engage with when you arrive to, and depart from, Mexico. This article describes them

Mexico Map and Passport

When you are arriving in or departing from Mexico, there are some straightforward paperwork procedures that you will need to engage with.

Specific entry and exit procedures exist for foreign visitors, foreigners with resident visas and resident cards, as well as Mexican nationals and naturalized foreigners.

This article describes the procedures you need to engage with when you arrive to, and leave from, Mexico.

Foreign visitors to Mexico

If you hold a passport issued by one of the many countries on Mexico’s “ no visa required ” list,* you don’t need to apply for a visa to visit Mexico.  You can, instead, complete a Visitor’s Permit, also known as a FMM , at your port of entry.

There is a ~US$25 fee for the permit, which is usually included in your airfare’s “fees and taxes” if you fly in to Mexico; if you drive-in to Mexico, the fee is waived if you depart within 7 days of your arrival date. The visitor’s permit is valid for stays up to 180 days.

Paper FMM forms are being phased out and it’s likely that the FMM will be stamped into your passport instead.

However, if you are given a paper FMM when you entered Mexico, don’t lose the half of the form that is handed back to you at immigration as you’ll need it to exit the country.

If you lose the permit; or keep the permit when you leave; or over-stay the number of days limit written on the permit , you’ll face some additional procedures: see this article for details about those situations.

Automated lanes for TOURISTS entering Mexico

Airports in Mexico City and Cancún have automated kiosk lanes where TOURISTS may register their entry to Mexico by scanning their passport on a machine.  The machine will give you a receipt with a QR code that you must scan with your smartphone to get a digital version of your FMM.  You’ll need to do this before you leave Mexico.

You can only use these automated lanes if you are a passport holder of the US, Canada, Japan, UK and some other European countries; you are over 18; and you are not traveling with minors.  See this government page for more details .

Foreigners with a resident visa sticker in their passport

If you are arriving in Mexico with a resident visa stamp (sticker) in your passport provided by a Mexican Consulate abroad, you might need to fill out the Visitor’s Visa on arrival (see blue box above about phasing out of paper FMM forms).

Show the immigration officer the page in your passport with the residency visa stamp and double-check that the officer checks the box on the form that reads “Canje” (exchange) NOT “ Vistante .” (If the officer admits you as a visitor/tourist, this will cause problems when you attend the immigration office to exchange your resident visa stamp for a residency card.)

If you don’t have to complete the paper FMM form at your port of entry, the official will place a stamp in your passport, instead, and mark ‘Canje’ to indicate that you need to exchange your visa for a residency card. You then have 30 days to attend the immigration office and exchange your resident visa stamp for a residency card .

Foreign residents with resident cards

Foreign residents who are in possession of a Residente Temporal or Residente Permanente card (or one of the old FM3 or FM2 residency permits) need to present their passport and resident card to the Immigration Officer at the port of exit (e.g. airport or border crossing) before they depart.

You must use your residency card to exit and re-enter the country if you are legally resident in Mexico.

If you have lost or damaged your residency card , you need to apply for a replacement.

Some airports no longer issuing Exit Stamps

Readers have told us that some airports (Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara) are no longer issuing Exit Stamps to holders of residency cards.  However, other airports (Mexico City) continue to issue Exit Stamps.

We recommend that if you hold a residency card and leave Mexico you continue to attend an INM office or kiosk at the exit port and ask for an Exit Stamp.  You might be told that it’s no longer required.

There has been no official notice of a change of policy, but we will keep this page updated with new information as it becomes available. [January 2024]

Paper FMM forms being phased out

Until recently, residents always needed to complete a paper form (FMM) , which is used by the government to record statistics.  Depending on what port you exit from, this may no longer be required and officer will simply stamp your passport.  See also: Phasing out of paper FMM forms .

Returning to Mexico as a legal resident

When you return, you must present the immigration official with your resident card and the exit FMM form’s date-stamped copy issued to you at exit, or the exit stamp that was placed in your passport.

Note: If you re-enter Mexico as a tourist (Visitor) when you have residency in Mexico, you at are risk of losing your legal residency status.

Lost/missing FMM form: If you were given a paper copy of the FMM and lose the half that was handed to you when you left Mexico, you’ll need to re-complete a FMM when you return to Mexico and explain to the immigration official that you lost the half that was given to you when you departed.

Lost passport with exit stamp: If you had a stamp in your passport when you left Mexico and you lose that passport, explain this to the officer when you return to Mexico.  If you update your passport, take the previous (cancelled) passport with the stamp in it to show the immigration officer.

Expired residency card: If you hold a temporary residency card, be sure to check its expiry date. If you leave Mexico with an expired card, it might be confiscated at the port of exit.  If you are outside of Mexico when it expires, you have a limited time frame to return to Mexico to get it renewed.  See this article for details .

Mexico is phasing out paper versions of the FMM

The paper versions of the FMM are being gradually phased out and replaced with a stamp in your passport.

Read this article for further details .

Mexican nationals and naturalized foreigners

If you are in possession of Mexican passport, you will need to complete a form before you exit the country known as the Formato Estadístico para Mexicanos  (FEM).  The government uses this to record statistics of Mexican nationals traveling abroad.

Lost visitor/tourist permit, lost residency card

If you are visiting Mexico as a visitor/tourist and you lose your visitor’s permit, you will need to attend a local immigration office (in a town or city or at the airport) to apply for a replacement; there is a fee of around US$40 involved—the local immigration office will advise you of the current replacement fee.

Lost passport with exit stamp: If you had a stamp placed in your passport when you arrived in Mexico and you lose that passport, visit the local immigration office to explain this and to get guidance.

Updated passport: If you had a stamp placed in your passport when you arrived in Mexico and you update your passport while you are in Mexico, take the previous (cancelled) passport with the stamp in it to show the immigration officer.  If you don’t have the cancelled passport visit your immigration office for guidance.

Tourist permit replacement process: You will be required to undertake some paperwork and to pay the fee.  This  process can take up to an entire day of your time.  Take good care of your visitor’s permit and, in the event of its loss, we recommend you allow a whole day in your schedule to secure a replacement.

Lost residency cards: If you are resident in Mexico and lose your residency card, learn about how to apply for a replacement residency card in Mexico .

*If you are a passport holder of a country that is not listed on the “no visa required” list, read this article for further information and advice about applying for a visa before you travel to Mexico.

Further information

Here is some further information you may find helpful:

  • For a summary of the documentation required to enter Mexico, see Documents required for travel and entry to Mexico
  • Many people don’t need to pre-apply for a visa to visit Mexico, but some do.  Read Do I need a visa to visit Mexico? for details.
  • You can get full details about immigration procedures on your arrival in Mexico on our comprehensive guide to Mexico Entry Requirements .

Obtaining legal residency in Mexico

For information about long-term residency, including permits for living, retirement, and working in Mexico, read this article about typical routes to obtaining residency in Mexico  and download a copy of our comprehensive Mexico Immigration Guide (eBook) .

Mexico in your inbox

Our free newsletter about Mexico brings you a monthly round-up of recently published stories and opportunities, as well as gems from our archives.

22 Comments

Dear Mexperience,

I am an American holding a Residencia Permanente. I live part time in Mexico. Could you tell me the Pros and Cons of obtaining Dual Citizenship? Thank you very much.

Hi Robert, See this article for details: https://www.mexperience.com/becoming-a-naturalized-mexican/

My husband and I have decided not to exchange our temporary residency cards for permanent residency cards. This is mainly due to our advanced age (81 and 72) and the fact that we only stay in Mexico a maximum of 4-5 months per year. We are currently in Mexico and our cards expire 3 weeks before we return to Canada. Do we need permission to leave the country?? We like to avoid visiting a busy INM office during a pandemic. Your advice is very much appreciated.

Hello Maryanne,

You can leave Mexico with an expired Temporary Residency card, however you will need to pay a fine at the airtport. (Note that you’ll have to go to the bank to pay the fine, so build-in extra time for that on your departure date.) The fine varies depending on circumstances and is a maximum of $8,000 Mexican pesos.

If you want to avoid the fine, you need to leave Mexico with a non-expired residency card, or if it’s expired, you need to enter into a renewal procedure.

You can find out more about expired permits here: https://www.mexperience.com/expired-mexico-resident-permit/

Traveling to Cancun in late February, 2021. My passport expires in late July, 2021. Is that sufficient or should I renew? Thanks

Hi Elizabeth

We recommend your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry. Admision to Mexico depends on the official at the border. If your passport does not have 6 months of valid time left, and you can provide evidence of your departure before the passport expiry date, the official may allow you in.

See the blue information box on this page for more details: https://www.mexperience.com/mexico-essentials/mexico-entry-requirements/#ReqTourists

So, if you have Schengen visa, do you still need FMM filled out ?

Hi Ana, all visitors arriving in Mexico need to complete a FMM, regardless of whether they have a Schengen visa.

My brother in law is a permanent resident of the USA and living in houston. What does he need to travel By plane into mexico City and back?

Hello, I entered mexico in texas at the pharr bridge. But when i got to the other side, there were no people. I had to stop at a lift gate arm, where it seemed my picture was taken by a machine, and then the gate arm lifted and I drove on through. I kept expecting to be stopped to have my passport stamped and pay my vehicle deposit and get my forma de immigration. But there was noone there and no where to stop and no signs. Before I knew it, I was in mexico driving down the highway on my way to oaxaca amd chiapas Was there somewhere I was supposed to go? I was trying to follow the law and procedures, but somehow i dont think I did. Am I breaking the law? What comsequences can I expect? What shoukd I do? Thank you

If your vehicle has no TIP https://www.mexperience.com/temporary-import-permit-tip-vehicles-mexico/

And you don’t have a FMM https://www.mexperience.com/your-mexican-tourist-permit-fmm/

And you have driven past the ‘free zone’ then you and your vehicle are not legally present in Mexico.

You need to drive your vehicle out of Mexico and get yourself a FMM and and TIP (see links above).

We have airline tickets leaving out of Tijuana and my sons passport will not be here in time will he be able to still get the FFM permit with only a drivers license and Birth Certificate? We’re US citizens

Hello Deann, your son will need a passport to enter Mexico, and to board a flight. You can find further information here: https://www.mexperience.com/documents-required-for-travel-and-entry-to-mexico/

I am hoping to get some clarification on whether a felon from the U.S. is able to travel to Cabo. I see conflicting opinions on this so maybe you are able to give me accurate information. Are criminal records from the United States checked upon entry at the airport?

Hi Ann, You can find the answer to that question on our Immigration FAQs page here: https://www.mexperience.com/mexico-immigration-visas-faqs/

My name is Julita . Holding philippine passport. I am legally married to a mexican but his living in US..we want to live in mexico what is the best for me to do, first i need a visa . How to apply . Please i need your help. Thank you

Our Mexico Immigration Guide (free eBook download) contains detailed information about the requirements and procedures as well as the criteria: https://www.mexperience.com/ebook/mexico-immigration-guide/

If you’d like assistance with your application, consider our Immigration Assistance service; our associate can provide consulting to talk about your individual situation, suggest the best approach for your application, and also provide practical assistance as you make your way through the process–details here: https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/living-in-mexico/relocation-consulting-request/

Hello Mexperience. I’m in the process of buying a property in CDMX. Can I fly into Mexico to take care of things related to this purchase between Aug 1 to 9? Also, I have dual citizenship. Which is the most recommended way for traveling, as Mexican or as American? I have both passports. Thank you and look forward for some info. Regards.

Hello Jaime, There are no restrictions when you fly to Mexico, but check with the airlines for schedules and and policies they have in place. You can enter Mexico with your US or Mexican passport. There are no restrictions on American passport holders entering Mexico by plane.

Can you drive to/from Mexico without passport if you have a permanent resident card in the US?

Hi Erik, according to the current rules you need either a passport (air/land) or passport card (land only) to enter Mexico. You can find more details on this Mexperience article: https://www.mexperience.com/documents-required-for-travel-and-entry-to-mexico/

This article shares advice about what to do when you forget to give back your FMM (Visitor Permit): https://www.mexperience.com/blog/your-mexican-tourist-permit-fmm/

Comments are closed.

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Safety Information for your next trip to Los Cabos

Los Cabos Tourism Board is committed to timely communicating the state of travel to the destination to all travellers and industry partners. In this website, you will find the latest information, health and safety protocols, and key initiatives implemented across the destination to prevent the spread of the virus while travelling to Los Cabos.

The Government of Canada announced that effective April 1, 2022 at 12:01 AM EDT, fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to provide a pre-entry COVID-19 test result to enter Canada by air, land or water.

Travellers returning to Canada are required to meet the following:  

Foreign travelers to Canada

Will no longer be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken 24 hours before travel.

Unvaccinated foreign travellers returning Canada

(Who are not exempted) are still barred entry. Unvaccinated Canadians will need to be tested at the airport upon landing, as well as eight days after arrival and will be required to isolate for 14 days.

Vaccinated Canadian citizens returning to Canada

Arrival and Departure Process for Canada

2 steps when arriving to los cabos.

Step 1–   Fill out the official entry form.

All foreign citizens travelling to Mexico must fill out the Multiple Immigration Form. Some airlines no longer hand out these forms on board, we recommend you complete the form online. This document is required to be printed double-sided.

Step 2 – Fill out the customs declaration form.

Fill out the customs declaration form prior to arriving in Mexico. You’ll present this form to the customs officer upon arrival. Once you complete the information you will receive a QR code which you’ll need to present at customs. You can fill out this document online at:

3 Steps to Departure from Los Cabos

For those travelling to canada.

Step 1 - Fill out attestation form

Regardless of citizenship, all travellers must complete an ArriveCAN form before entering the country. https://www.arrivecan-online.com     

Click here to see if you are eligible to enter Canada.

Step 2 – Fill out the Multiple Immigration Form

All foreign citizens departing Mexico must provide the Multiple Immigration form that was presented and given upon arrival.

Step 3 – Complete your airline’s procedures. 

All Airlines have their own requirements to board your plane home, so make sure you have the documentation needed.

For those travelling through the US

Step 1 – Get a negative PCR or Antigen COVID-19 test result and fill out attestation form

All airlines are required to confirm a negative test result for all passengers returning to the U.S. Your test must be taken within 1 day before your flight. You’ll need to submit this to your airline either online or in person.

Submit an attestation (written documentation) to the U.S. Government, through your airline, that you are COVID-19 negative or have recently recovered from COVID-19. Each passenger will be required to submit a form within 1 day before of your flight.

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/attachment-a-global-passenger-disclosure-attestation-2021-p.pdf

All airlines are required to confirm a negative antigen test result for all passengers returning to the US. You’ll need to submit this to your airline either online or in person.

Step 2 - Fill out the Multiple Immigration Form 

Covid Testing Facilities in Los Cabos

Covid faq's for travelers.

1. Do I need a covid test to enter Los Cabos?

Los Cabos is open to travellers. There is no need to provide a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine on arrival.

2. Who can travel to Canada?

Canadian citizens (including dual citizens), people registered under the Indian Act, permanent residents of Canada, or protected persons (refugee status) are allowed to enter Canada. 

Click  here  to see if you are eligible to enter Canada.  

3. Who is required to show proof of a negative test prior to departure from Los Cabos?

Not vaccinated travellers.

4. Do children need to get tested as well?

According to the Canadian Government,  all unvaccinated travellers, five years of age or older must get tested before departure.

5. What type of test/proof do I need to show to the airline prior to my return if needed?

All travellers 5 years of age or older must present a negative laboratory test (paper or electronic proof of result) to the airline or private operator before coming back to Canada. The negative laboratory test result must include all of the following:

  • Traveler name and date of birth
  • Name and civic address of the laboratory/clinic/facility that administered the test
  • The date on which the test was conducted

The method of test conducted (antigen)

6. Will PCR tests be available at the hotels?

No, PCR tests can only be conducted by a hospital or a lab.

Please find here a list of hospitals and labs in Los Cabos. 

7. Where can I take a test? 

All hotels, villas, timeshares and most lodging facilities are equipped with the Antigen test and medical personnel to administer the test, along with the medical certification that is acceptable by the CDC. The process is safe, fast, and simple and results can be provided as soon as 40 minutes.

The PCR test is administered at specific locations, including hospitals and laboratories. For more information, please  see here .

Additionally, the Los Cabos International Airport will have a testing station to provide the Antigen and PCR test during emergency situations.

What type of proof do I need to show the airline prior to boarding my flight? Once the negative result is confirmed, the doctors will issue a medical certificate on behalf of the health authorities of Baja California Sur for travellers to present before boarding your return flight.     

8. What is the cost of the test? 

The cost of the test varies depending on the testing facility and the type of test. However, Los Cabos Tourism Board is working in partnership with the private sector to ensure the test is provided at affordable pricing. As an example, the Antigen test starts as low as $40 USD at some locations, and some hotels are even offering additional discounts or as a courtesy service to their guests. Please call directly to the verified facilities or your hotel to learn more about costs.

9. Can the airline deny boarding a plane if a COVID-19 negative test is not presented before boarding?

No, only for flights departing to destinations that require a negative test, airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.

10. What happens if I test positive?

People should self-isolate and delay their travel if symptoms develop or a pre-departure test result is positive until they have recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must refuse to board anyone who does not present a negative test result for COVID-19 or documentation of recovery. Hotels and resorts will offer special accommodations and discounted rates to facilitate this process. Please contact your hotel for specific information and health and safety protocols.

11. What if I have had a COVID-19 vaccine?  Do I still need a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19?

No, all vaccinated passengers traveling back to Canada are not required to prove a negative Covid-19 test result,

We also advise you to find out about travel restrictions to Canada at   https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions  

12. Do I need to quarantine when arriving to Canada?

It depends. Everyone who travels to Canada still needs to arrive with a quarantine plan in case the officer determines they must isolate for 14 days. The final decision on who has to quarantine rests with the officers at the border.

Starting August 9. Fully vaccinated travellers will no longer have to take the COVID-19 test at the border, unless they are subject to random testing.

13. What if I am not vaccinated, Can I reenter Canada?

Exempt travellers, such as Canadian citizens, permanent residents, family members, workers, most international students, and other essential travellers may still cross the border if they are not vaccinated.

They will have to do pre-arrival testing.

14. Accepted vaccines in Canada:

  • Pfizer (Comirnaty, tozinameran, BNT162b2)
  • Moderna (mRNA-1273)
  • AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria, AZD1222, Covishield)
  • Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) - single dose

15. Vaccines not currently accepted for fully vaccinated status in Canada:

  • Bharat Biotech (Covaxin, BBV152 A, B, C)
  • Cansino (Convidecia, Ad5-nCoV)
  • Gamalaya (Sputnik V, Gam-Covid-Vac)
  • Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV, Sinopharm-Wuhan)
  • Sinovac (CoronaVac, PiCoVacc)
  • Vector Institute (EpiVacCorona)

16. Where do I need to submit my documents before arriving to Canada?

Before travelling to Canada: travellers will be asked to provide relevant information, including travel and contact information, quarantine plan according to the  Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations ) through the  ArriveCAN  mobile app  ( iOS  or  Android ) – this declaration is mandatory since November 21st 2020 and must be done 72 hours prior arriving in Canada. You can access additional information at  Canada.ca/ArriveCAN  or visit  https://health.canada.ca/en/public-health/corporate/contact-us.html

Travellers who may experience difficulty submitting their information through  ArriveCAN  can access additional information at  Canada.ca/ArriveCAN  or visit  https://health.canada.ca/en/public-health/corporate/contact-us.html .

Failure to provide accurate information is an offence under the Quarantine Act. In addition, violating any quarantine or isolation instructions provided to you upon entering Canada is also an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to: 

  • 6 months in prison; and/or
  • $750,000 in fines.

For more information about the exemptions listed by the  Order In Council , please visit the website:  https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/isolation#exemptions

17. What is ArriveCAN?

If you are travelling by air, land or sea to Canada, you are required to provide essential information before you arrive on the official Government of Canada platform, ArriveCAN.

The use of ArriveCAN, which has been mandatory for travellers since November 2020, expedites processing and helps to protect the health and safety of travellers and our employees.

ArriveCAN is a free, secure, user-friendly digital tool to help travellers comply with Canada’s border measures quickly and securely. It is available as a mobile app or by signing in online.

Find out more about downloading and using ArriveCAN  here .

Los Cabos Tourism Board

Carretera Transpeninsular

KM 4.3 Plaza Providencia Local no.209

El Tezal, Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S

C.P. 23454 MEXICO

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Passport Requirements for Canadian Citizens Traveling to Mexico

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Nearly two million Canadians visit Mexico each year for business or pleasure (and often both), making it the second most popular tourist destination for Canadians, according to the government of Canada website. Prior to 2010, Canadians could visit Mexico with a government-issued identification such as a driver's license and birth certificate, however, times have changed, and since the United States phased in the  Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, travel document requirements for Canadians traveling in North America have become more stringent. Canadians who wish to visit Mexico nowadays do need to present a valid passport .

Canadian citizens who do not hold a valid passport  will not be allowed entry into Mexico and will be returned to Canada. Some countries require visitors to hold a passport which is valid for several months beyond the time of entry; this is not the case for Mexico. Mexican authorities do not require a minimum period of validity of passports. However, your passport must be valid at the time of entry and for the extent of time you are planning to remain in Mexico.

Requirements for Canadian Residents

If you are a permanent resident in Canada but not a Canadian citizen, you should present a Resident Card, and a Certificate of Identity, or Refugee Travel Document. It is also advisable to carry a passport from the country of which you are a citizen. Airlines may refuse to allow boarding to travelers who do not carry the proper identification. If you have any questions about travel documents and other entry requirements for visiting Mexico, contact the Mexican embassy or consulate nearest you.

The passport requirement for Canadian travelers to Mexico came into effect on March 1st, 2010. Since that date, all Canadian citizens need a valid passport to enter Mexico. A passport is the best form of international identification and having one can help prevent hassles!

If You Lose Your Passport in Mexico

If your Canadian passport is lost or stolen while you are traveling in Mexico, you should contact the Embassy of Canada or the consulate of Canada nearest you in order to obtain an emergency replacement travel document. The Embassy of Canada is located in the Polanco district of Mexico City , and there are consular agencies in Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Cancún , Guadalajara, Mazatlán, Monterrey, Oaxaca, Playa Del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, and Tijuana . Depending upon your circumstances, and at the discretion of the Canadian consular officials, you may be able to obtain a ​temporary passport, which is a travel document that will allow you to continue your trip but will need to be replaced upon your return to Canada.

Emergency Assistance

If you experience an emergency situation while traveling in Mexico, remember that the emergency phone number is not 911, it is 066. You can also receive bilingual assistance from the Ángeles Verdes by dialing 076. They offer both roadside assistance for people ​ driving in Mexico as well as more general tourist assistance.

You should also keep the emergency phone number of the Canadian Embassy on hand. It is (55) 5724-7900 in the greater Mexico City area. If you are outside of Mexico City, you can reach the consular section by dialing 01-800-706-2900. This toll-free number is available throughout Mexico, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Do I need a passport to travel to Mexico?

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Passports and Mexico Entry Requirements for Children

Travel Documents You Need to Visit Mexico

What Documents Do I Need for Mexico Travel?

What to Do in an Emergency in Mexico

Mexican Tourist Cards and How to Get One

How To Get a U.S. Passport or Passport Card

How to Find Your Nearest US Passport Office

Required Documents for Travel to China

How to Get a Passport in the U.S.

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travelling to mexico from canada forms

Understanding Travelling to Mexico from Canada and Back

travelling to mexico from canada forms

Mexico is a popular travel destination for many Canadians thanks to the warm weather, beautiful beaches, incredible food, and friendly culture. Canadians who want to travel to Mexico from Canada might not know where to start. Our team at Insurdinary is here to talk about everything Canadians need to know to travel to Mexico from Canada and vice versa.

What Documents Do I Need to Travel to Mexico?

How long can i stay in mexico, returning to canada from mexico, duties and taxes, is mexico safe for canadians.

  • Tips for Travelling Abroad to Mexico

Below is a quick primer on the documents you will need to cross the border legally into Mexico. Note that the Canadian government has no control over what documents authorities in Mexico will accept, and this list may be subject to change at any time.

CTA Travel masked circle 2

Canadian Passport

All Canadian visitors in Mexico must have a valid passport that will remain valid for the entirety of the stay. Your international travel company may have different identification requirements as well. There may be different entry requirements for using a temporary passport or emergency passport. Double-check with country representatives to ensure they will accept your documentation . If you have not renewed your passport, we recommend you do so long in advance. In the wake of Covid 19, some passport offices are experiencing a backlog with applications. For more detailed information on how you can go about renewing your passport, refer to this article .

Note About Passport Genders

Canadian passports allow for “X” identifications for gender. The Canadian government cannot guarantee that a foreign country will accept a passport with an “X” gender designation. 

You do not have to acquire a valid visa if you are simply going to Mexico for vacation. However, you do have to acquire a student visa if you wish to study in Mexico and a work visa if you plan on getting a job. Canadian businesses require business visas to attend meetings or conduct activities in foreign countries. 

Tourist Card

In addition to a passport, Canadian citizens must present a completed tourist card. If you travel by air, the airline will provide a tourist card to fill out. If you cross into Mexico by land, you must stop at the nearest immigration facility to receive a card. If you do not obtain a valid tourist card, you won’t be able to enter the country.

You can also receive an online tourist card prior to your trip. You will need to complete the form, print it out, and provide the document at your point of entry. In all cases, you need to receive a tourist card stamp from Mexican authorities, or else your stay will be invalid. 

When leaving Mexico, authorities will require you to relinquish your tourist card. You can get a replacement tourist card for a fee at an immigration center if you lose your original card.

Mexican authorities will determine how long you can stay in the country and mark it on your tourist card. The maximum amount of time a Canadian tourist can stay in Mexico is 180 consecutive days, though immigration officials may not grant the maximum stay. 

If you want to stay the maximum allowed length, you will likely have to provide additional information about your trip, including lodgings, funds, and return dates. Once authorities grant your stay, you won’t be able to change the length.

In order to return to Canada from Mexico, you must present your valid Canadian passport at the border. Canadian border authorities will also accept a Canadian birth certificate, citizenship certificate, or permanent resident card .

Once you cross the border, you must present yourself to a Canadian immigration officer and make a declaration of goods brought into the country. If you arrive by land, stop at the first immigration checkpoint to make your declaration. Those returning to Canada must fill out a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) declaration card that includes items and their value in Canadian dollars. You should fill out this card with an ink pen, not a pencil.

When declaring items to bring across the border, you will have to pay duties and taxes on imported goods. The amount of goods you are exempt from paying duties depends on how long you were out of the country. 

  • Less than 24 hours. If you are gone less than a day, you receive no personal exemptions from duties or taxes. 
  • More than 24 hours. If you are gone for more than 24 hours, you can claim up to $200 worth of goods, not including tobacco or alcoholic beverages. 
  • More than 48 hours. If you are absent for more than 48 hours, you can claim up to $800 of goods, including limited amounts of tobacco and alcohol. 
  • More than a week. If you are gone for more than seven days, you can claim up to $800 in goods, including tobacco and alcohol. You can also claim goods not immediately on your person if they are arriving via courier or delivery. 

You can claim an exemption for children’s items for personal use. Keep in mind that the Canadian government puts restrictions on bringing some types of items across the border, such as firearms, animals, explosives, vehicles, and certain security products.

Mexico has relatively high rates of violent crime, including theft, kidnapping, carjackings, assault, and murder. Additionally, some areas of Mexico and Mexican cities have Cartel activity in conflict with local governments. The Mexican government has deployed the military to patrol some parts of the country to maintain order and fight organized crime. 

As such, any Canadian travelling to Canada should stay in tourist areas and remain vigilant if they leave tourist areas. Avoid carrying valuables, such as travel documents or jewelry, into non-tourist areas. You should also avoid travelling at night and stay on top of local news for signs of nearby criminal activity. 

Generally speaking, border areas have more criminal activity. Travelling to Mexico via air can help you avoid potential border violence between criminal gangs and Mexican authorities.

As long as tourists remain vigilant and do not take any unnecessary risks, they can avoid confrontation and remain safe. Many Canadians travel to Mexico from Canada every year and have wonderful vacations especially with the amount of resorts they have to offer. Mexico has been listed as the number 1 place to visit for two years in a row on our website. Read more about that here .

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Tips for Travelling Abroad to Mexico 

Below are a handful of tips to keep in mind when travelling in Mexico. 

  • Most tap water in Mexico is not safe to drink and may contain parasites and other water-borne illnesses. You can drink tap water if you boil it first, and you can drink bottled water. 
  • Mexico is a great travel destination, but travel plans can go awry. Explore your options for travel insurance , so you can insure your luggage and possessions while travelling abroad. 
  • If you need to use the internet for secure activity, consider purchasing a VPN. A VPN can prevent hackers from accessing your computer and sensitive information over wireless networks. 
  • Consider exploring areas outside of any tourist resort. Mexico is a vibrant and wonderful country with incredible food and local sights to see. 
  • Don’t forget sunscreen. Even in the fall and winter, the heat and UV index in Mexico is relatively high compared to Canada.
  • Practice your Spanish. You will have a much easier time getting around if you know some basic phrases and questions. Locals will appreciate you making an effort to speak their language as well.
  • Bring a physical map of locations you visit or download a map. Cellular and WiFi networks might not be consistent where you are staying.
  • Keep some cash and change on you when going out. Many locations won’t take card payments, but you can use cash everywhere.

Compare Travel Insurance Quotes for Your Trip to Mexico

If you are planning to travel to Mexico from Canada, don’t forget to get travel insurance ! At Insurdinary, we make it easy to shop for insurance with our handy lookup tool. You can compare policies and quotes from the best insurance providers in Canada. Fill out our form to receive a quote today, or contact us to discuss your travel insurance needs.

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Mexico Travel Restrictions

Traveller's COVID-19 vaccination status

Travelling from Canada to Mexico

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required in enclosed environments and public transportation.

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Can I travel to Mexico from Canada?

Most visitors from Canada, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Mexico.

Can I travel to Mexico if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from Canada can enter Mexico without restrictions.

Can I travel to Mexico without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from Canada can enter Mexico without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter Mexico?

Visitors from Canada are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering Mexico.

Can I travel to Mexico without quarantine?

Travellers from Canada are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in Mexico?

Mask usage in Mexico is not required in enclosed environments and public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in Mexico?

Restaurants in Mexico are open. Bars in Mexico are .

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Temporary entry into mexico under the canada-united states-mexico agreement (cusma).

This guide is for a Canadian business person temporarily travelling to Mexico to do business. It provides general information about temporary entry requirements for business people under CUSMA and under Mexican law.

This guide aims to facilitate the entry of Canadian business people into Mexico for the purposes of exploring, entering and/or expanding operations in the Mexican market. You will find relevant links and summaries of the main steps for visa applications for the categories of business people covered in CUSMA.

There are 4 types of business people covered under CUSMA:

  • business visitors
  • traders and investors
  • intra-company transferees
  • professionals

In order to be eligible for temporary entry into Mexico under any of these categories under CUSMA, you need to be a Canadian Citizen.

Related links

  • Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) – Chapter 16 – Temporary entry for business persons
  • For any questions regarding the U.S. or Mexico's temporary entry commitments under CUSMA, please contact:  [email protected]

Before you travel

This guide is for information only. It is not the official text of CUSMA or U.S. or Mexican law. Always verify information using the text of the Agreement and official government sources of the country you wish to do business in. You may also seek advice from licensed or authorised individuals like an immigration lawyer or immigration consultant.

Business visitors

Do i qualify as a business visitor under cusma.

Under CUSMA, a business visitor is a Canadian traveling to Mexico for one of the following activities:  

  • research and design
  • growth, manufacturing and production
  • distribution
  • general service
  • after-sales service

A detailed description of each activity can be found under  Appendix 1 Section B of Chapter 16 of CUSMA .

If you are a business visitor performing one of these activities to qualify for temporary entry under CUSMA, you must also meet the following requirements:

  • the business activity is international in scope
  • you are not seeking to enter the Mexican labour market
  • the primary source of payment for the business activity is outside Mexico
  • your main place of business and the actual source of profits is outside Mexico

Do I need a visa for temporary entry as a business visitor?

For stays of less than 180 days.

Canadian business visitors visiting Mexico for business or technical activities for a period not exceeding 180 days, who will not receive any remuneration at all in Mexico, do not require a visa.

To enter Mexico, at the port of entry Canadian business visitors must present:

  • a valid passport or travel document
  • a properly completed multiple migratory form, which can be completed electronically for air travel

For more information on the electronic multiple migratory form, please see the section on electronic multiple migratory form for air travel , below.

Canadian nationals must present a valid passport to prove their nationality.  Mexican authorities do not require a minimum period of validity of passports , however, this document must be valid at the time of entry and during the period you wish to be in Mexico.

Permanent residents of Canada must present their permanent resident card and either a valid passport or refugee travel document.

Migratory authorities at the port of entry may request documents proving the purpose of your trip, depending on the activity you will undertake in Mexico, including, for example:

  • For business activities : a letter in Spanish from the company indicating that you are an employee of the company and that the services you will provide in Mexico will be paid for by that company.
  • For non-remunerated activities : a letter of invitation from a public or private institution to perform non-remunerated activities in Mexico, indicating the purpose of the trip, estimated time of stay and taking responsibility for your travel and lodging costs.
  • Technical activities : a copy of the contract for the transfer of technology, patents and brands, purchase of machinery and equipment, technical training of personnel, or any other related to the production process of a company established in Mexico.

For stays of more than 180 days

The temporary resident visa is required for Canadian business visitors who intend to enter and remain in Mexico for a period greater than 180 days and less than 4 years.

How do I apply for a temporary resident visa?

For more information on how to apply for this visa, see the section below on the temporary resident visa .

To apply for a temporary resident visa as a business visitor, you must also submit the following documentation:

  • an original and a photocopy of documents proving that you have the necessary experience, capacity, skills or expertise to develop the activity for which you have been invited.
  • full name and nationality of the applicant or interested party
  • business or company name of the organization
  • official registration number, if applicable
  • purpose of the organization or private institution
  • complete address and contact information for the organization or institution
  • Information on the activity to be conducted or the project in which you will participate. The activity must be related to the objectives of the inviting organization or institution.
  • estimated length or approximate end date of the activity
  • a statement of the binding responsibility for the inviting organization to cover your living expenses during your stay in Mexico, and to ensure your return to Canada
  • a copy of the official identification of the person signing the letter of invitation
  • To prove that the inviting organization or private institution is able to cover your living expenses, it must present the original and a photocopy of the investment receipts or bank statements showing an average monthly balance of   $1,728,700.00 Mexican pesos or its equivalent in Canadian dollars during the past twelve months. Public and private institutions belonging to the Mexican national educational system do not need to prove economic solvency.
  • investment receipts or bank statements showing an average monthly balance of $55,655.00 Canadian dollars during the past 12 months, or
  • documents showing that the applicant has employment or a pension with a monthly tax-free income greater than $2,226.00 Canadian dollars during the past 6 months.

Traders/investors

Do i qualify as a trader/investor under cusma.

A trader or investor is a Canadian business person who is:

  • carrying on substantial trade in goods or services between Canada and Mexico, or
  • that has committed or are committing a substantial amount of capital, or whose enterprise has committed or are committing a substantial amount of capital, and
  • who is establishing, developing, administering or providing advice or key technical services for the operation of that investment.

Their role must be supervisory, executive or involve essential skills.

Do I need a visa for temporary entry as a trader/investor?

Canadian nationals and permanent residents who wish to visit Mexico for business activities, for a period not exceeding 180 days, and who will not receive any remuneration at all in Mexico, do not require a visa.

To enter Mexico, at the port of entry, Canadian traders/investors must present:

Canadian nationals must present a valid, current passport to prove their nationality.  Mexican authorities do not require a minimum period of validity of passports , however, this document must be valid at the time of entry and during the period you wish to be in Mexico.

The temporary resident visa is required for Canadian traders/investors who intend to enter and remain in Mexico for a period greater than 180 days and less than 4 years.

How do I apply for a temporary resident visa as a trader/investor?

For more information on how to apply for this visa, please see the section below on the temporary resident visa .

To apply for a temporary resident visa as a trader/investor, you must also submit an original and a photocopy of one the following:

  • documentation proving the conduct of economic or business activities in Mexico, including contracts, service orders, invoices, receipts, business plans, licenses and permits, or a certificate issued by the Mexican Social Security Institute proving that you employ at least three workers
  • a deed or policy from a Mexican corporation signed before a commissioner of oaths, or a document duly certified by the administrative body or one of its officers, stating that you have shares in the capital stock of the Mexican corporation, and that the amount of the investment effectively disbursed for your share in the corporation would exceed $3,457,400.00 Mexican pesos or its equivalent in Canadian dollars
  • a document proving the ownership of personal property by a foreign corporation, with a value exceeding $3,457,400.00 Mexican pesos or its equivalent in Canadian dollars

Intra-company transferees

Do i qualify as an intra-company transferee under cusma.

Under CUSMA, an intra-company transferee is a Canadian business person employed by a Canadian enterprise transferred to a subsidiary, affiliated branch, or other enterprises with a clear relationship with the Canadian enterprise located in Mexico.

Their role must be managerial, executive or involve specialized knowledge.

Under CUSMA, a Canadian intra-company transferee must have been employed continuously by the Canadian enterprise for 1 year within the 3-year period immediately preceding the date of the application for admission into Mexico.

Do I need a visa for temporary entry as an intra-company transferee?

An intra-company transferee will require a visitor visa with permission to conduct remunerated activities for a stay of 180 days, or a temporary resident visa with a work permit for a stay of over 180 days, if remuneration will be received in Mexico.

How do I apply for a visitor visa with permission to conduct remunerated activities or a temporary resident visa with a work permit?

Please see the sections below on the Visitor visa with permission to conduct remunerated activities or Temporary resident visa with a work permit for more information on how to apply for these visas, including the documents required.

Professionals

Do i qualify as a professional under cusma.

A professional is a Canadian citizen at the professional level providing services or performing training functions in Mexico in one of the 63 professions listed under Appendix 2 of Chapter 16 of CUSMA .

Please note, in order to qualify as a professional, you must have the credentials indicated in parenthesis beside the profession under Appendix 2.

Do I need a visa for temporary entry as a professional?

A professional who has a job offer in Mexico, whose duration is up to 180 days, will need a visitor visa with permission to carry out paid activities. If the job offer is greater than 180 days and up to 4 years, a professional will require a temporary resident visa with a work permit.

Please see the sections below on the visitor visa with permission to conduct remunerated activities or the temporary resident visa with a work permit for more information on how to apply for the visas, including the documents required.

Additional information

Electronic multiple migratory form for air travel (fmme aérea).

The electronic multiple migratory form for air travel (FMME aérea) allows Canadian business visitors and traders/investors to remain in Mexico (without engaging in paid activities) for up to 180 days.

To obtain this form, you must:

  • Go to the following link:  https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/solicitud.html
  • Fill out the application from any electronic device connected to the internet
  • Print the multiple migratory form and keep it with you to be validated at the airport, where the immigration authorities must stamp it.

Once the form has been printed, it will be valid for 30 days.

For further information, consult: Multiple Immigration Form

Temporary resident visa

To apply for the temporary resident visa, a trader/investor or a business visitor staying in Mexico for longer than 180 days will need to:

  • Submit a visa application form (PDF) printed on one page, double sided, properly completed and signed.
  • Have a valid passport or travel and identity document, original and a photocopy of the page containing the photograph and personal data.
  • Include an original and a photocopy of the migratory document proving your legal migratory status in Canada (only for applicants who are not Canadian citizens).
  • Include one photograph measuring 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm, face uncovered, no eyeglasses, frontal view, in colour, with white background.
  • Provide payment of fees in cash for the processing of the visa application.

Visa with permission to conduct remunerated activities

A professional who has a job offer in Mexico for a duration of up to 180 days will require a visa with permission to conduct remunerated activities.

The Mexican institution or person who intends to hire the foreigner must submit the visa application directly to the National Migration Institute in Mexico. The Embassy or Consulate can only issue a visa if it has been authorized by the Institute.

Once the foreigner has the corresponding authorization, he must make an appointment at the  consular office  closest to his place of residence and appear in person with the following documentation:

  • Photocopy of the authorization from the National Migration Institute, which will be valid for 30 working days, after which we won't be able to continue with the processing of the visa in the consular office.
  • Visa application form (PDF)  printed on one page, double sided, properly completed and signed.
  • Valid and current passport or travel and identity document, original and a photocopy of the page containing the photograph and personal information.
  • Original and a photocopy of the migratory document accrediting your legal stay in Canada (only for applicants who are not Canadian citizens).
  • One photograph measuring 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm, face uncovered, no eyeglasses, frontal view, in colour and with white background.
  • Payment of fees in cash for the processing of visa application for foreign passports. When the period of stay is less than 180 days, the applicant must also pay the migratory fees.

Temporary resident visa with a work permit

A professional who has an offer of employment in Mexico for a duration of more than 180 days and up to 4 years, will require a temporary resident visa with a work permit.

The Mexican institution or the person who intends to hire the foreigner must submit the visa application directly to the National Immigration Institute in Mexico. The Embassy or Consulate can only issue the visa if it has been authorized by the Institute.

Once the foreigner has the corresponding authorization, they must make an appointment at the consular office closest to their place of residence and present themselves personally with the following documentation:

  • Photocopy of the authorization from the National Institute of Migration, which will be valid for 30 working days, after which it will not be possible to continue with the processing of the visa at the consular office.
  • Visa application form printed on one page, double-sided, duly completed and signed.
  • Valid and current passport or travel and identity document, original and photocopy of the page containing the photograph and personal data.
  • Original and photocopy of the immigration document proving your legal stay in Canada (only for applicants who are not Canadian citizens).
  • A photograph of 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm, uncovered face, without glasses, front view, in color and white background.

Within the first 30 calendar days of entering Mexico with a temporary resident visa, the professional must apply to the  National Migration Institute  (Spanish only) for the temporary residence card that accredits their legal stay in the country and allows them to remain in Mexico for a period greater than 180 days.

Can my family accompany me?         

CUSMA does not cover spouses or dependants of covered business people. Spouses and dependents must meet Mexico's existing temporary entry immigration regulations in order to accompany a Canadian business visitor. In order to perform work in Mexico, spouses and dependents must also comply with its regular job validation process for temporary foreign workers.

What if I don't qualify for temporary entry under the CUSMA?

If you have a job offer or signed contract from an employer in Mexico, but you do not qualify under the 4 categories of CUSMA business people, you may still qualify for entry under Mexican general immigration provisions. More information on working or doing business in Mexico is available on the  Embassy of Mexico in Canada  website.

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Changes to electronic travel authorization (eTA) and visitor visa requirements for Mexican citizens

A graphic showing a map of Mexico with an airplane flying to a map of Canada

English (opens in a new tab) | Français (s’ouvre dans un nouvel onglet) | Español (se abre en una pestaña nueva) |

As of 11:30 p.m. Eastern time (ET) on February 29, 2024, Mexican citizens travelling to Canada need to meet new requirements to travel to Canada .

What’s changed

As of 11:30 p.m. ET on February 29, 2024 , Mexican citizens travelling to Canada

  • need to meet new requirements to be eligible for an electronic travel authorization (eTA)
  • need to apply for a visitor visa (if they are not eligible for an eTA anymore)

If you’re a Mexican visitor who had an eTA, or you submitted an application for an eTA before 11:30 p.m. ET on February 29, 2024, it has now been cancelled, and you won’t be able to use it to travel.

These changes apply even if you already booked your travel. Having pre-booked travel plans or a previously valid eTA does not guarantee you will be approved for a new eTA or a visa.

How visitors are affected

Visitors are temporary residents who don’t have a valid work or study permit, such as tourists, students on a study term less than 6 months, or business visitors.

Before you can travel to Canada, you need to either

  • apply and be approved for an eTA under the new rules , or
  • apply and be approved for a visitor visa

While you may be eligible for an eTA, your family members may still need a visa. If you’re not sure which document you need,  answer some questions to find out .

If your family members need a visa and cannot get one in time for your trip, you may need to adjust your travel plans .

Who can apply for an eTA under the new rules

You’re eligible for an eTA if you meet all of these 3 requirements :

  • You’re using a valid Mexican passport to fly to Canada or to transit through a Canadian airport to another destination.
  • You’re coming to Canada for a short visit (normally for stays of up to 6 months).
  • have held a Canadian visitor visa (temporary resident visa) in the past 10 years,  or
  • currently hold a valid United States (U.S.)  nonimmigrant visa

An eTA is for air travel only . Even if you are eligible for an eTA, you need a visitor visa if you plan to travel to Canada by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship (even if you don’t leave the ship).

If you’re not eligible for an eTA, you will need a visitor visa. If you’re not sure which document you need, answer some questions to find out .

Apply for an eTA

What you need to board your flight to Canada if you have an eTA

When you fly to Canada, you must

  • If you get a new passport after applying for an eTA, you must apply for a new eTA using your new passport.
  • travel with your passport containing your work or study permit, if applicable

We recommend you

  • bring a printed copy and a digital copy of your eTA confirmation email
  • your expired Canadian visitor visa (temporary resident visa)
  • your valid U.S. non-immigrant visa

Who needs a visa

If you’re not sure if you need an eTA or a visa, answer some questions to find out .

A visitor visa is an official document that we put in your passport that shows you meet the requirements to travel to Canada.

It costs CAN$100; however there may be other costs that you need to pay such as a biometrics (fingerprints and photo) collection fee of CAN$85.

Most visitor visas issued by Canada are multiple-entry visas, which are valid for up to 10 years.

If you need a visa and are travelling soon

You can check our processing times to find out how long it might take to get your visa.

If you’re travelling soon, you should indicate in detail in your application the urgent and/or compelling reason for your travel. This information may be considered when your application is processed.

Requests for urgent or expedited processing are not guaranteed.

If possible, we recommend delaying your travel until your visitor visa application has been finalized. If you can’t get a visa in time, you will need to adjust your travel plans. IRCC won’t give refunds for lost travel expenses.

Apply for a visa

How other travellers from Mexico might be affected

Select your situation below for more information on how the changes affect you and what you need to do.

You can stay in Canada for as long as you are authorized to do so. If you have a visitor record, it will remain valid.

However, your eTA will be cancelled. If you leave Canada and wish to return, you need to have

  • a visitor visa, or
  • a new eTA that was issued after February 29, 2024, at 11:30 p.m. ET

If you already have a valid work or study permit, we will not cancel your eTA. You don’t have to apply for a new eTA. You can continue to travel with it as long as it’s still valid. You can keep studying or working in Canada based on the validity and conditions of your permit. Visitor records will also remain valid.

If you were approved for a new work or study permit and you were issued an eTA but haven’t travelled to Canada yet, we will not cancel your eTA. You don’t need to apply for a new eTA or a visa.

New work and study permit applications

If you’re applying for a new work or study permit, we’ll automatically issue you a visa or an eTA (based on eligibility) when your work or study permit application is approved. You don’t need to apply for a visa or an eTA separately.

In most cases, you need to apply for a work or study permit before you travel to Canada.

Learn more about applying for a new

  • work permit
  • study permit

An eTA is for air travel only. Even if you have a valid eTA, you need a visitor visa if you plan to travel to Canada by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship (even if you don’t leave the ship).

You may be eligible to have your eTA reactivated. To find out if you are eligible

  • send us a  web form request
  • complete all required fields
  • include the code “ EMVR2024 ” in the text box

If you are not eligible to have your eTA reactivated, you will need to submit a new eTA application based on the new requirements or a visitor visa application. If you’re not sure if you need an eTA or a visa, answer some questions to find out .

If you were approved for permanent residence, we’ll send you a

  • permanent resident visa (either a physical one or an electronic one)
  • confirmation of permanent residence (COPR)

Your permanent resident visa is still valid for travel to Canada. You don’t need to apply for an eTA or a visitor visa.

Make sure to bring your COPR when you travel. You need to show it to the Government of Canada officer when you enter Canada.

If you’re a dual Canadian-Mexican citizen, you need a valid Canadian passport to travel to Canada.

If your second citizenship is from a visa-exempt country , other than Canada or the United States, you can apply for an eTA to fly to Canada using the passport of the visa-exempt country.

As a lawful permanent resident of the United States you don’t need a visa or eTA to travel to Canada.

When travelling to Canada, you must travel with your United States green card and a valid passport from your country of citizenship.

If you have a Mexican diplomatic passport, you can apply for an eTA if you meet the requirements under the new rules . If you’re eligible, you can use your personal or diplomatic passport to apply.

However, if you’re travelling to Canada for official or diplomatic purposes, you might need a visa. You can answer some questions to find out .

Cruise ship workers

A member of a ship’s crew who arrives in Canada on the ship that employs them does not need a visitor visa if both

  • they enter Canada as a member of the crew of the vessel, and
  • they stay in Canada only as a member of the crew of that vessel

A Mexican crew member arriving by air to join a vessel as a crew member needs a visitor visa.

Cruise ship passengers

All Mexican travellers who want to enter Canada by boat need a visitor visa. Cruise ship passengers who were in transit when the visa requirements changed can apply for a visitor visa at the port of entry. Applications are assessed case by case by the Canada Border Services Agency and are not guaranteed. Application fees will apply.

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Canada Restores Visa Requirement for Mexican Visitors

The immigration minister said Mexico had not done enough to address the surge of asylum seekers arriving in Canada.

travelling to mexico from canada forms

By Vjosa Isai

Canada announced on Thursday that it would require visas for Mexican nationals to enter the country, a move that comes amid a surge in asylum requests from Mexicans arriving in Canada.

The rule follows months of discussions between the two countries over the rise in the number of Mexicans entering Canada, including repeated attempts by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to address the issue with Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Some provincial officials say a surge of asylum seekers has strained their resources and their ability to provide social services.

“We needed to give Mexico, because of our friendship, the chance to rectify things,” Marc Miller, Canada’s immigration minister, said at a news conference.

“This clearly was not done,” he added, “so we had to take a decision.”

The visa mandate, which will go into effect Thursday night, had been lifted by Mr. Trudeau in 2016 to boost tourism and as a sign of the close ties between the two countries.

Since then the number of Mexican asylum claims has soared, to roughly 24,000 last year from 260 eight years ago. About 17 percent of all Canadian asylum claims last year were filed by Mexican nationals.

Most asylum claims from Mexico are rejected, withdrawn or abandoned, Mr. Miller said, clogging up an immigration system already facing difficulties trying to cope with a mounting backlog of refugee claims. “It has ripple effects,” he said.

For some Mexicans who can afford plane tickets, flying to Canada has become an alternate route to the United States, allowing them to avoid the smugglers who control the paths to the U.S. southern border.

U.S. immigration officials have recorded a large increase in the number of migrants, including Mexicans, crossing into the United States from Canada, though nowhere near the enormous numbers at the southern border.

“But they are significant,” Mr. Miller said. “And that’s something we have to manage as a partner with the U.S.”

Immigration has become a major issue in the United States ahead of the November election, and the Biden administration has made the tightening of the country’s borders a top political priority.

President Biden and Donald J. Trump, who is almost certain to be his Republican rival for the White House, were both scheduled to appear on Thursday in South Texas to discuss migration.

Mr. López Obrador told reporters on Thursday that his government respected Canada’s decision, but said that Canada could have sought “other alternatives,” without offering specifics.

He also issued a “small, respectful, fraternal reproach” to Mr. Trudeau, though he said that his government’s response would be “to act with prudence, with serenity.”

Not all Mexicans will be required to have a visa to travel to Canada. The rule excludes Mexicans who have had a Canadian visa within the past 10 years, or if they currently have a temporary U.S. visa. Travelers in this category need an electronic travel authorization, which is valid for up to five years.

Canada’s visa decision is the latest step in the country’s effort to address asylum claims made from regular ports of entry, like airports, and from unofficial border crossings.

Canadian officials in January also placed restrictions on foreign students , doubling the savings threshold new applicants must have to qualify for a study permit, after a surge raised concerns about pressures on housing.

After an agreement with the United States, Canada last year closed a popular land border crossing between New York State and Quebec, called Roxham Road , following a spike in migrants entering Canada there.

Some provincial leaders, including François Legault, the premier of Quebec, have criticized the federal government’s response and say it needs to provide more financial help to defray the costs of absorbing thousands of migrants.

About half of Canada’s 290,000 asylum seekers are in Quebec, the province’s immigration minister has said, and Quebec is asking the government for 1 billion Canadian dollars in assistance.

Emiliano Rodríguez Mega contributed reporting from Mexico City.

Vjosa Isai is a reporter and researcher for The Times based in Toronto, where she covers news from across Canada. More about Vjosa Isai

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travelling to mexico from canada forms

  • Passports, travel and living abroad
  • Travel abroad
  • Foreign travel advice

Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Mexico set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact Mexico’s embassy or consulate in the UK.

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Mexico.

Passport validity requirements

If you are visiting Mexico, your passport should be valid for the length of your stay in Mexico.

Visa requirements

If you’re visiting Mexico as a tourist, you do not need a visa.

You’ll get a stamp in your passport with the number of days you are allowed to stay.

British Nationals entering Mexico by land must fill out an immigration form online .

Employment, voluntary work, research and eco activities

Tourists cannot undertake voluntary (including human rights) work, or activity, or any form of paid employment. To carry out this type of work, you must get the correct visa from the Mexican embassy before you travel.

You may need a visa for some adventure or ecotourism activities like caving, potholing or entomology, especially if they involve any scientific or technological research. The Mexican authorities may define scientific or technological research activities far more broadly than other countries. If in doubt, check with the Mexican Embassy in London well before your visit and ask for written confirmation if necessary.

Applying for a visa

For information on how to apply for a visa while in the UK read the Mexican Embassy in the UK website .

For information on applying for a visa while in Mexico, read the Mexican government website .

Entering Mexico via the USA

If you’re crossing the border into Mexico from the USA, and there isn’t an immigration officer at the port of entry to issue your visa on arrival or give you an entry stamp, find the nearest immigration office to get your passport stamped before continuing your journey into Mexico. Customs officials at the border should be able to tell you where to find the immigration office – it’s usually close to the border. If you don’t clear immigration correctly at this point, it is often more complicated to do so once you have left the border area.

If you are travelling to or from Mexico via the USA, even if you are only transiting, check the latest USA entry requirements on our USA travel advice or with the US Embassy in London . If you do not have the correct authorisation, you will not be allowed to travel to or transit through the USA.

Check with your closest US embassy or consulate for more information.

The immigration service has installed e-gates in some terminals of the main international airports. You can use them if you are a tourist aged 18 or over. Make sure you collect the ticket printed by the e-gate as you will need to present it when exiting the country.

You can get digital proof of entry and how long you are allowed to stay in Mexico, by downloading it from the Portal de Servicios del INM website within the first 60 days of your visit.

Entry tax for the state of Quintana Roo

The state of Quintana Roo charges all visitors a tax. You can pay before or during your stay on the VISITAX web portal , available in English. You can get help with the web portal at Cancun Airport. You must show proof of payment at the airport before leaving.

Travelling with children

If you are accompanying a child, you may be asked for:

  • evidence of your relationship with the child– for example, a birth or adoption certificate, divorce or marriage certificates, a Parental Responsibility Order
  • the reason why you are travelling with them

Dual nationals

Children with dual nationality of Mexico who are travelling without a parent or legal guardian must apply for a permit to leave the country.

Accommodation, funds and proof of departure

Mexican immigration officials may ask to see proof of your departure plans from Mexico before allowing you into Mexico. You may also need to:

  • show proof of your accommodation, for example, a hotel booking confirmation
  • prove that you have enough money for your stay

If you have been invited to stay in someone’s home, immigration officials may also ask for a ‘letter of invitation’ from the person you’re visiting. This should include as much information as possible, including the host and travellers:

  • contact details
  • address while in Mexico
  • reason for visit

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can bring into and take out of Mexico. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Check whether you will need to declare anything on arrival to customs officials – read the guidance from the Mexican government (in Spanish) . If you have goods to declare, you must fill in an online form before travelling to Mexico. If you do not declare goods, they may be seized, and you may be fined.

Leaving Mexico

To leave Mexico, you must show your passport with the stamp showing the number of days you were allowed to stay.

If you lose your passport, you must pay a fee to replace the entry stamp. The fee is approximately 600 Mexican pesos, to be paid at a bank. Migration officers do not accept cash. You can replace the stamp at the immigration office at any international airport in Mexico or start the replacement process online on the Mexican government website . You’ll be told how to pay by the immigration officials.

False immigration officers can operate in international airports. Always refuse offers of help and head directly to the immigration office.

Departure tax

You may need to pay a departure tax when leaving Mexico by air or land. The cost can vary, and some airports or border crossings only accept cash. Most airlines include the cost within the ticket price. If in doubt, check with your airline or tour operator.

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Customs Duty Information

What is a customs duty.

Customs Duty is a tariff or tax imposed on goods when transported across international borders. The purpose of Customs Duty is to protect each country's economy, residents, jobs, environment, etc., by controlling the flow of goods, especially restrictive and prohibited goods, into and out of the country.

Dutiable refers to articles on which Customs Duty may have to be paid. Each article has a specific duty rate, which is determined by a number of factors, including where you acquired the article, where it was made, and what it is made of. Also, anything you bring back that you did not have when you left the United States must be "declared." For example, you would declare alterations made in a foreign country to a suit you already owned, and any gifts you acquired outside the United States. American Goods Returned (AGR) do not have to be declared, but you must be prepared to prove to U.S. Customs and Border Protection the articles are AGR or pay Customs duty.

The Customs Duty Rate is a percentage. This percentage is determined by the total purchased value of the article(s) paid at a foreign country and not based on factors such as quality, size, or weight. The Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) provides duty rates for virtually every existing item. CBP uses the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSUS), which is a reference manual that the provides the applicable tariff rates and statistical categories for all merchandise imported into the U.S.

Duty-Free Shop articles sold in a Customs duty-free shop are free only for the country in which that shop is located. Therefore, if your acquired articles exceed your personal exemption/allowance, the articles you purchased in Customs duty-free shop, whether in the United States or abroad, will be subject to Customs duty upon entering your destination country. Articles purchased in a American Customs duty-free shop are also subject to U.S. Customs duty if you bring them into the United States. For example, if you buy alcoholic beverages in a Customs duty-free shop in New York before entering Canada and then bring them back into the United States, they will be subject to Customs duty and Internal Revenue Service tax (IRT).

Determining Customs Duty

The flat duty rate will apply to articles that are dutiable but that cannot be included in your personal exemption, even if you have not exceeded the exemption. For example, alcoholic beverages. If you return from Europe with $200 worth of purchases, including two liters of liquor, one liter will be duty-free under your returning resident personal allowance/exemption. The other will be dutiable at 3 percent, plus any Internal Revenue Tax (IRT) that is due.

A joint declaration is a Customs declaration that can be made by family members who live in the same household and return to the United States together. These travelers can combine their purchases to take advantage of a combined flat duty rate, no matter which family member owns a given item. The combined value of merchandise subject to a flat duty rate for a family of four traveling together would be $4,000. Purchase totals must be rounded to the nearest dollar amount.

Tobacco Products

Returning resident travelers may import tobacco products only in quantities not exceeding the amounts specified in the personal exemptions for which the traveler qualifies (not more than 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars if arriving from other than a beneficiary country and insular possession). Any quantities of tobacco products not permitted by a personal exemption are subject to detention, seizure, penalties, abandonment, and destruction. Tobacco products are typically purchased in duty-free stores, on sea carriers operating internationally or in foreign stores. These products are usually marked "Tax Exempt. For Use Outside the United States," or "U.S. Tax Exempt For Use Outside the United States."

For example, a returning resident is eligible for the $800 duty-free personal exemption every 31 days, having remained for no less than 48 hours beyond the territorial limits of the United States except U.S. Virgin Islands, in a contiguous country which maintains free zone or free port, has remained beyond the territorial limits of the United States not to exceed 24 hours. This exemption includes not more than 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars:

  • If the resident declares 400 previously exported cigarettes and proves American Goods Returning (AGR) , the resident would be permitted or allowed to bring back his AGR exempt from Customs duty.
  • If the resident declares 400 cigarettes, of which 200 are proven AGR or previously exported and 200 not AGR or not previously exported, the resident would be permitted to bring back his 200 previously exported cigarettes tax and Internal Revenue Tax (IRT) free under his exemption.
  • The tobacco exemption is available to each adult 21 years of age or over.

In December 2014, President Obama announced his intention to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba. The President did not lift the embargo against Cuba. Absent a democratic or transitional government in Cuba, lifting the embargo requires a legislative statutory change. Since the announcement, however, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has amended the Cuba Assets Control Regulations (CACR), effective January 16, 2015, to authorize travel within certain categories to and from Cuba and to allow certain imports from and exports to Cuba.

All travelers, including those from Cuba, must comply with all applicable laws and regulations. This includes the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) (2016) limitations on personal exemptions and rules of duty extended to non-residents and returning U.S. residents.

Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to engage in all transactions, including payments necessary to import certain goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs as determined by the State Department and set forth in the State Department’s Section 515.582 list located at FACT SHEET: U.S. Department of State Section 515.582 List . On October 17, 2016, the Office of Foreign Asset Control relaxed restrictions so authorized travelers, arriving direct from Cuba, are now able to bring Cuban merchandise for personal use back to the United States and qualify for the U.S. Resident exemption (HTSUS 9804.00.65, which allows up to $800 total in goods, and adults 21 and older may include 1 liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, and 100 cigars). This exemption also applies to travelers, arriving from any country in the world, with declared Cuban merchandise.

Declared amounts in excess of the exemption are subject to a flat 4% rate of duty, and any applicable IRS taxes, pursuant to HTSUS 9816.00.20 and 19 CFR 148.101, which impose a duty rate of 4% of the fair retail value on goods from a Column 2 country.

Regarding goods: The Department of State will, in accordance with the State Department’s Section 515.582, issue a list of prohibited goods. Placement on the list means that any listed good falls within certain Sections and Chapters of the HTSUS which do not qualify for this exception.

Regarding entrepreneurs : The Cuban entity must be a private business, such as a self-employed entrepreneur or other private entity, not owned or controlled by the Government of Cuba. Travelers engaging in these transactions are required to obtain evidence that demonstrates the goods purchased were obtained from a Cuban entrepreneur, as described above, and should be prepared to furnish evidence of such to U.S. Government authorities upon request. Evidence may include a copy of the entrepreneur’s license and/or an invoice and/or purchase order demonstrating the goods were purchased from a specific Cuban entrepreneur. Whether a traveler presents adequate evidence that a good qualifies from importation and that it was bought from a licensed independent Cuban entrepreneur shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the inspecting CBP officer.

Imports under Section 515.582 (i.e., imports from licensed independent entrepreneurs not on the Department of State’s prohibited list) must comply with all current U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) formal and informal entry requirements, as applicable. This means that, while there is no value cap on the amount of goods that may be imported under this provision, the applicable duties in the HTSUS must be considered.

In particular, HTSUS 9804.00.65 allows for the duty-free importation of personal-use articles from a Column 2 country when the fair retail value of such goods is under $800. Also see 19 C.F.R. 148.33. HTSUS 9816.00.20 establishes a duty rate of 4% of the fair retail value for personal-use articles under $1,000 imported from a Column 2 country. Thus, any articles imported under this section for personal use with a value of under $800 can be imported duty free, and any articles imported for personal use with a value between $800 and $1800, will be subject to a flat 4% duty rate. Any articles valued over $1800, regardless of whether for personal use, will be subject to entry and should be classified, appraised, and assessed duty appropriately under the specific HTSUS Column 2 rates. Also see 19 C.F.R. 148.101 and 148.102. Any commercial importation, i.e., not for personal use, is subject to entry requirements and payment of applicable duties, fees, and taxes.

While these revised regulations may facilitate certain travel and trade with Cuba, all other laws and regulations applicable to international travel and the importation/exportation of goods remain in full effect. This means that all United States agency requirements applicable to a particular importation must be met and fully complied with, such as the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Alcoholic Beverages

One American liter (33.8 fl. oz.) of alcoholic beverages may be included in your returning resident personal exemption if:

  • You are at least 21 years old.
  • It is intended exclusively for your personal use and not for sale.
  • It does not violate the laws of the state in which you arrive.

Federal and state regulations allow you to bring back one liter of an alcoholic beverage for personal use duty-free. However, states may allow you to bring back more than one liter, but you will have to pay any applicable Customs duty and IRT.

While federal regulations do not specify a limit on the amount of alcohol you may bring back beyond the personal exemption amount, unusual quantities may raise suspicions that you are importing the alcohol for other purposes, such as for resale. CBP officers enforce the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) laws, rules, and regulations and are authorized to make on-the-spot determinations that an importation is for commercial purposes. If such determination is made, it may require you to obtain a permit and file a formal entry to import the alcohol before the alcohol is released. If you intend to bring back a substantial quantity of alcohol for your personal use, you should contact the U.S. Port of Entry (POE) through which you will be re-entering and make prior arrangements for the importation.

Also, state laws might limit the amount of alcohol you can bring in without a license. If you arrive in a state that has limitations on the amount of alcohol you may bring in without a license, that state's law will be enforced by CBP, even though it may be more restrictive than federal regulations. We recommend that you check with the state government about their limitations on quantities allowed for personal importation and additional state taxes that may apply. Ideally, this information should be obtained before traveling.

In brief, for both alcohol and cigarettes, the quantities eligible for duty-free treatment may be included in your $800 or $1,600 returning resident personal exemption, just as any other purchase should be. But unlike other kinds of merchandise, amounts beyond those discussed here as being duty-free are taxed, even if you have not exceeded, or even met, your personal exemption. For example, your exemption is $800 and you bring back three liters of wine and nothing else, two of those liters will be dutiable and IR taxed. Federal law prohibits business-to-private consumer shipping of alcoholic beverages by mail within the United States.

How to Pay Customs Duty

If you owe Customs duty, you must pay it before the conclusion of your CBP processing. You may pay it in any of the following ways:

  • U.S. currency only.
  • Personal check in the exact amount, drawn on a U.S. bank, made payable to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. You must present identification, such as a passport or U.S. driver's license. CBP does not accept checks bearing second-party endorsement.
  • Government check, money order or traveler's check if the amount does not exceed the duty owed by more than $50.

In some locations/POEs, you may pay duty with either MasterCard or VISA credit cards.

Increased Duty Rates

Items from certain countries.

Under what is known as its "301" authority, the United States may impose a much higher than normal duty rate on products from certain countries. Currently, the United States has imposed a 100 percent rate of duty on certain products of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, The Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the Ukraine. If you should bring more of any of these products back with you than fall within your exemption or flat rate of duty, (see below) you will pay as much in duty as you paid for the product or products.

While most of the products listed are not the type of goods that travelers would purchase in sufficient quantities to exceed their exemption, diamonds from the Ukraine are subject to the 100 percent duty and might easily exceed the exemption amount.

For information on countries that may become subject to a higher than normal duty rate, check the Department of Commerce Web site.

Countries With Free or Reduced Customs Duty Rates

The United States gives Customs duty preferences-that is, conditionally free or subject to reduced rates-to certain designated beneficiary developing countries under a trade program called the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Some products that would otherwise be dutiable are not when they are wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of a beneficiary GSP country. Visit the Office of United States Trade Representative website for additional GSP information.

  • Many products from Caribbean and Andean countries are exempt from duty under the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, Andean Trade Preference Act and the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act.
  • Many products from certain sub-Saharan African countries are exempt from duty under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
  • Most products from Israel, Jordan, Chile and Singapore may also enter the United States either free of duty or at a reduced rate under the U.S. free trade agreements with those countries.
  • The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect in 1994. If you are returning from Canada or Mexico , your goods are eligible for free or reduced duty rates if they were grown, manufactured, or produced in Canada or Mexico, as defined by the Act.

Additional information on these special trade programs can be found on the CBP Web site.

Household Effects & Personal Effects - Customs Duty Guidance

Household effects conditionally included are duty-free. These include such items as furniture, carpets, paintings, tableware, stereos, linens, and similar household furnishings; tools of the trade, professional books, implements, and instruments.

You may import household effects you acquired abroad duty-free if:

  • You used them abroad for no less than one year.
  • They are not intended for any other person or for sale.

For Customs purposes, clothing, jewelry, photography equipment, portable radios, and vehicles are considered personal effects and cannot be brought in duty-free as household effects. However, duty is usually waived on personal effects more than one year of age. All vehicles are dutiable.

Mailing and Shipping Goods - Customs Duty Guidance

Unaccompanied purchases are goods you bought on a trip that are being mailed or shipped to you in the United States. In other words, you are not carrying the goods with you when you return. If your unaccompanied purchases are from an insular possession (IP) or a Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) country and are being imported within 30 days and sent directly from those locations to the United States, you may enter them as follows:

  • Up to $1,600 in goods will be duty-free under your personal exemption if the merchandise is from an IP.
  • Up to $800 in goods will be duty-free if it is from a CBI or Andean country.
  • Any additional amount, up to $1,000, in goods will be dutiable at a flat rate (3%).

To take advantage of the Customs duty-free exemption for unaccompanied tourist purchases (mailing/shipping) from an IP or CBI country:

Step 1. At place and time of purchase, ask your merchant to hold your item until you send him or her a copy of CBP Form 255 (Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles), which must be affixed to the package when it is shipped.

Step 2. (a) On your declaration form (CBP Form 6059B), list everything you acquired on your trip that is accompanying you. You must also complete a separate Declaration of Unaccompanied Articles form (CBP Form 255) for each package or container that will be sent to you after you arrive in the United States. This form may be available where you make your purchase. If not, you may find the form on the CBP website.

Step 3. When you return to the United States, the CBP officer will: (a) collect Customs duty and any tax due on the dutiable goods you have brought with you; (b) verify your list of unaccompanied articles with your sales receipts; (c) validate your CBP Form 255 to determine if your purchases are duty-free under your personal exemption ($1,600 or $800) or if the purchases are subject to a flat rate of duty.

Step 4. Two copies of the three-part CBP Form 255 will be returned to you. Send the yellow copy of the CBP Form 255 to the foreign shopkeeper or vendor holding your purchase, and keep the other copy for your records.

Step 5. When the merchant gets your CBP Form 255, he or she must place it in an envelope and attach the envelope securely to the outside wrapping of the package or container. The merchant must also mark each package "Unaccompanied Purchase." Please remember that each package or container must have its own CBP Form 255 attached , the most important step to follow in order to gain the benefits allowed under this procedure.

Step 6. If your package has been mailed, the U.S. Postal Service will deliver it after it clears Customs. If you owe duty, the Postal Service will collect the duty along with a postal handling fee. If a freight service transports your package, they will notify you of its arrival and you must go to their office holding the shipment and complete the CBP entry procedure. If you owe duty or tax, you will need to pay it at that time in order to secure the release of the goods. You could also hire a customs customhouse broker to do this for you. However, be aware that customhouse brokers are private businesses and are not CBP employees, and they charge fees for their services.

If freight or express packages from your trip landed in the U.S. before you return and you have not made arrangements to pick them up, CBP will authorize their placement into general order bonded warehouse or public storage after 15 days (days for perishable, flammable, explosives). This storage and all other related charges (transportation, demurrage, handling) will be at your risk and expense. If the goods are not claimed within six months, they will be sold at auction.

Per U.S. Postal Service regulations, packages sent by mail and not claimed within 30 days from the date of U.S. arrival will be returned to the sender unless the amount of duty is being protested.

Caution October 19, 2023

Worldwide caution, update january 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

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Advance travel planning and early visa application are important. If you plan to apply for a nonimmigrant visa to come to the United States as a temporary visitor, please review the current wait time for an interview using the tool below. Not all visa applications can be completed on the day of the interview; please read the information below for more details .

Check the estimated wait time for a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Note: Please check the individual Embassy or Consulate website to determine if your case is eligible for a waiver of the in-person interview.

Applicants scheduling visa appointments in a location different from their place of residence should check post websites for nonresident wait times.

Select a U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

Global Visa Wait Times

Wait Time for Interview

The estimated wait time to receive a nonimmigrant visa interview appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate and is based on workload and staffing and can vary from week to week. The information provided is an estimate and does not guarantee the availability of an appointment.

Wait Time for Interview Waiver

Wait times for applicants eligible for Interview Waiver are applicable only for locations where applicants schedule appointments to submit their passport and any required documents to a U.S. embassy or consulate. The wait time estimate does not account for the time required for a consular officer to adjudicate the application nor mailing time of passports or other documents. Refer to the website of the Embassy or Consulate Visa Section where you will apply to determine your eligibility for Interview Waiver and for instructions for submitting a nonimmigrant visa application. Note that applicants must be a national or resident of the country where they are applying to be eligible to apply via Interview Waiver.

Qualifications for an Expedited Interview Appointment

Consular sections overseas may be able to expedite your interview date if there is an urgent, unforeseen situation such as a funeral, medical emergency, or school start date. The process to request an expedited nonimmigrant visa interview varies by location. You should refer to the instructions on the website of the Embassy or Consulate Visa Section  where you will interview, or on their online appointment scheduling site. You will need to provide proof of the need for an earlier appointment.

In all cases : You must first submit the online visa application form (DS-160), pay the application fee, and schedule the first available interview appointment. Only at this point will a consular section consider your request for an expedited appointment.

Note: Travel for the purpose of attending weddings and graduation ceremonies, assisting pregnant relatives, participating in an annual business/academic/professional conference, or enjoying last-minute tourism does not qualify for expedited appointments. For such travel, please schedule a regular visa appointment well in advance.

These estimates do not include time required for administrative processing, which may affect some applications. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on individual circumstances of each case.

There are only two possible outcomes for U.S. visa applications. The consular officer will either issue or refuse the visa. If a visa applicant has not established that he or she is eligible for a visa, the consular officer must refuse that application. However, some refused visa applications may require further administrative processing. When administrative processing is required, the consular officer will inform the applicant at the end of the interview. The duration of the administrative processing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case. At the conclusion of the administrative processing period, the consular officer might conclude that an applicant is now qualified for the visa for which he or she applied. The officer may also conclude that the applicant remains ineligible for a visa. Visa applicants are reminded to apply early for their visas, well in advance of the anticipated travel date.

Important Notice:   Except in cases of emergency travel (i.e. serious illnesses, injuries, or deaths in your immediate family), before making inquiries about status of administrative processing, applicants should wait at least 180 days from the date of interview or submission of supplemental documents, whichever is later.

About Visa Processing Wait Times – Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants

Information about nonimmigrant visa wait times for interviews and visa processing time frames are shown on this website, as well as on U.S. Embassy and Consulate websites worldwide. It should be noted that the “Wait Times for a Nonimmigrant Visa to be Processed” information by country does not include time required for administrative processing. Processing wait time also does not include the time required to return the passport to applicants, by either courier services or the local mail system.

In addition, it is important to thoroughly review all information on the specific  Embassy or Consulate Visa Section website  for local procedures and instructions, such as how to make an interview appointment. Embassy and Consulate websites will also explain any additional procedures for students, exchange visitors and those persons who need an earlier visa interview appointment.

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Canada bringing back visa requirements for Mexican nationals to curb asylum seekers

Quebec, u.s. governments have been calling for visas to be reinstated.

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What Canada's new visa requirements mean for Mexican nationals

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The federal government is reimposing some visa requirements on Mexican nationals visiting Canada, senior government sources tell Radio-Canada and CBC News.

The new rules will take effect on 11:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Quebec Premier François Legault has been calling on the federal government to do more to slow the influx of asylum seekers into his province. Last week, he said Ottawa should bring back the visa requirement for Mexican travellers.

  • 'Breaking point': Quebec premier asks Trudeau to slow influx of asylum seekers
  • Federal minister 'sets the facts straight' after Quebec complains it isn't getting enough funding for asylum seekers

"The possibility of entering Canada from Mexico without a visa certainly explains part of the influx of asylum seekers," the premier wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau .

More than 25,000 Mexicans applied for asylum in Canada last year, making Mexico the top source of asylum claims, according to statistics from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada . The number of backlogged claims from Mexico currently filed with the board sits at more than 28,000.

The U.S. government also has been asking Ottawa to bring back the visa requirement to curb a sharp increase in illegal crossings from Canada into the United States.

  • Does the visa requirement affect you or your family? Share your story by emailing  [email protected] .

Mexicans currently don't need a visa to travel to Canada, but they do have to obtain visas to enter the U.S. American border officials say some Mexican nationals are using Canada's visa-free rule to fly into the country and then cross illegally into the United States.

The new visa requirement is expected to affect roughly 40 per cent of all Mexican travellers to Canada, a government source told Radio-Canada.

The Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper imposed a visa requirement on Mexico in 2009 to stem the flow of asylum claims. The Trudeau government relaxed it in 2016 .

travelling to mexico from canada forms

Canada's new Mexico visa policies threaten refugees' rights, advocate says

The new rules won't amount to a complete return to the pre-2016 rules. Mexican nationals with certain types of U.S. visas and those coming to Canada on study or work permits won't have to obtain Canadian visas.

Mexican nationals who received valid visas under the previous system at any point within the last ten years won't have to reapply under the new requirements.

The new visas will apply for a ten-year period and will allow a traveller to enter Canada multiple times and stay for up to six months at a time. Customs officers will have discretionary power to limit the duration of the visa or the number of visits, one source said.

U.S. President Joe Biden, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speak at the conclusion of the North American Leaders' Summit in Mexico City, Mexico, January 10, 2023.  REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

The government isn't expected to announce the new visa requirements until Thursday.

But on Wednesday, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador accused Canada of attempting to act unilaterally on immigration measures.

"They are in negotiations to reach an agreement so that we can control migratory flows from Canada," he said in Spanish during a press conference.

"We have acted generously with them, with the government of Prime Minister Trudeau, but they were already on the verge of applying unilateral measures."

López Obrador also said he may not attend the next North American Leaders summit — set to take place in Canada — if he feels Canada and the U.S. aren't treating his country fairly.

"If there's no respectful treatment, I won't go," he said.

A source told Radio-Canada that in an effort to ease tensions with the Mexican government over the visa requirements, Ottawa has agreed to expand the number of sectors in which Mexican nationals can work in Canada. Negotiations are ongoing, the source said.

A close-up photo of François Legault.

Legault has said asylum seekers are putting heavy pressure on Quebec's social services and finances.

"Asylum seekers have trouble finding a place to live, which contributes to accentuating the housing crisis," the premier said in his letter to Trudeau. "Many end up in homeless shelters, which are overflowing."

He said organizations that help asylum seekers can't keep up with the demand. Legault said the children of asylum seekers are also straining the resources of schools already facing shortages of teachers and space.

Legault's letter said asylum seekers who are waiting for work permits receive financial assistance from Quebec. Last October, he said, roughly 43,200 asylum seekers received $33 million in aid from the province.

  • U.S. asks Canada to reimpose visa requirements for Mexico to stem surge of crossings at northern border
  • Analysis U.S. Republicans are now warning: Migration from Canada is a problem

Quebec Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette welcomed the news but said Ottawa must still do more.

"It's an important step forward, but it won't solve everything. The number of asylum seekers accepted by Quebec is far too high and our services are beyond capacity," she told reporters Thursday in French.

"The federal government must distribute the asylum seekers across Canada. Quebec bears a disproportionate share of the responsibility for receiving them."

One source told CBC News that domestic issues were the main motivation for the change in policy, but U.S. pressure also played a role. Many migrants were being transported by criminal cartels with the objective of getting them into the U.S., the source said.

A man in a dark suit and red tie answers a question during an interview.

U.S. officials have suggested that people who can't get into the U.S. lawfully have an incentive to travel to Canada to try entering illegally. Human smuggling networks are cashing in , moving people who are fleeing poverty and violence in Mexico and using Canada as a pitstop on the way to the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data shows a spike in migrants entering the U.S. from Canada after Trudeau lifted the visa requirement in December 2016. There were 1,169 apprehensions of Mexicans the year before the requirements were lifted; the number nearly doubled to 2,245 in 2018, a year after the requirements were lifted.

Last year, the CBP recorded 4,868 apprehensions. Nearly 2,000 Mexicans have been apprehended at the Canada-U.S. border in the first four months of this fiscal year.

  • A glimpse inside the ongoing cross-border smuggling operations near Akwesasne
  • Canadian customs officers could soon be based in the U.S. for the first time

Those numbers are a tiny fraction of the number of apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border — nearly 580,000 last year. But the rise in apprehensions at the Canada-U.S. border was enough for U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to raise the issue during his visit to Ottawa last spring .

"We talk about this issue and many issues that impact the migration of people," Mayorkas said in an interview with CBC News Network's Rosemary Barton Live at the time.

"I think that's a decision that the Canadian officials are going to make," Mayorkas told host Rosemary Barton when asked about the prospect of Ottawa reinstating the visa program.

With files from Philip Ling, Alexander Panetta and The Canadian Press

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Entering Canada

On this page, by private boat, required identification, permanent residents, travelling with children, you and the border services officer.

Whether you’re returning home or visiting, you’ll follow the same 3 steps to enter Canada:

Step 1. Pre-arrival: Use Advance Declaration or complete a Declaration Card

If you’re arriving by air at one of Canada’s participating international airports, you can save time at the border. Submit your customs and immigration declaration online using Advance Declaration up to 72 hours before you arrive in Canada.

If you choose not to submit your declaration in advance, you can complete it at an airport kiosk or eGate. If you’re landing at an airport without kiosks or eGates, you’ll receive a Declaration Card on board the aircraft or other conveyance. Read the instructions and complete the card before you arrive. Have it ready to present to Canadian officials at the airport, along with your identification and other travel documents. If you're travelling with children, please have their documentation ready as well.

If using a Declaration Card, detach and discard the instructions. To help us serve you faster, do not fold the card.

Everyone arriving in Canada must complete a declaration. You can list up to 4 people living at the same residence on one card, or 8 people per Advance Declaration submission.

The Declaration Card or Advance Declaration submission tells us what we need to know about you, your travels and what you’re bringing into the country.

Connecting to another flight

If you’re connecting to another flight or travelling on to another destination and re-boarding the same plane, follow the signs. At some airports, you may have to check your baggage and have it screened again.

If you travel frequently our trusted traveller programs can help

If you're a member of a trusted traveller program, you can skip Step 2 and go directly to the automated kiosks or eGates for faster processing.

Step 2. Arrival: First CBSA checkpoint

When you arrive at the terminal, follow the signs to the first Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) checkpoint, also called “primary inspection.”

If you used Advance Declaration, go to a kiosk or eGate to retrieve your confirmed declaration receipt. Up to 5 people may use a kiosk as a group upon arrival.

Next, a border services officer will examine your:

  • Declaration Card or Advance Declaration kiosk receipt
  • your identification
  • other travel documents

The officer may ask you a series of questions to determine:

  • your immigration status
  • the type of any goods you're bringing with you
  • your duty-free allowance
  • your personal exemption entitlements

Goods not properly declared that are restricted or prohibited in Canada can, under the law, be seized.

Newcomer or coming to Canada to study or work

If you’re a newcomer to Canada, coming to study or work in Canada, you may need to present further documentation. The officer will help guide you through this process. You may ask the officer for help if you don’t speak English or French well.

Step 3. Baggage and second CBSA checkpoint

Go to the baggage claim area. If you must pay duty and taxes, you can pay at most major airports while waiting for your luggage.

Once you’ve picked up your luggage:

  • go to the next CBSA checkpoint
  • Declaration Card, Advance Declaration kiosk or eGate receipt
  • receipt, if you paid duty and taxes for your goods

The officer may direct you to a secondary inspection area.

Here, officers may ask you:

  • for detailed information about your travels
  • to present your luggage and goods for examination

This is a normal part of the travelling process. Your cooperation is appreciated and helps us ensure the safety of Canada, its economy and its residents.

If you’re arriving by land, follow the signs to the first checkpoint, also called “primary inspection.” Here, a border services officer will examine your identification and other travel documents and take your verbal declaration.

Visit U.S. to Canada border wait times for estimated wait times at certain locations.

If you’re arriving by private boat, go directly to a designated marine telephone reporting site and call the CBSA Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC) at 1-888-226-7277 to obtain clearance.

Private boaters that meet certain conditions may report to the CBSA by calling the TRC using cell phone from their location in Canadian waters.

Learn more about reporting requirements for private boaters.

Make sure you carry proper identification for yourself and any children travelling with you to help confirm your legal right to enter Canada. Canada has introduced a new entry requirement, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), for certain international travellers who fly to Canada.

Read about the changes and how they may affect you.

The Government of Canada recommends that Canadian citizens travel with a valid Canadian passport because it’s the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians for the purpose of international travel.

International transportation companies such as airlines may require travellers to present a passport before boarding. Canadian citizens may face delays or may not be allowed to board the plane or other conveyance if they present other documents such as a:

  • Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)/Enhanced Identification Card (EIC)
  • NEXUS card (used where the program is available)
  • Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card used in FAST lanes
  • Canadian citizenship card
  • Certificate of Indian Status
  • Birth certificate in combination with either a driver's licence or a government-issued photo identification

Permanent residents (immigrants living in Canada who are not yet Canadian citizens) need a valid permanent resident card to return to Canada. Check the expiry date on your card.

Note that a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship is not a travel document.

See Canadian Citizenship for further details.

Parents who share custody of their children should bring copies of the legal custody documents to the border when travelling with their children.

A consent letter should be used for all cross-border travel when a child is travelling:

  • with only 1 parent or guardian
  • in the care of friends or relatives
  • with a group, such as a sports, school, musical or religious group

Example of a consent letter to permit travel by a child with a single custodian or parent.

When travelling with a group of vehicles, parents or guardians should arrive at the border in the same vehicle as the children.

Adults who aren’t parents or guardians should have written permission from the parents or guardians to supervise the children. The consent letter should include addresses and telephone numbers where the parents or guardian can be reached.

Border officers watch for missing children, and may ask detailed questions about the children who are travelling with you.

You may occasionally find yourself going through a more detailed inspection. In some cases, this simply means that you may have to complete a form. In other cases, the border services officer will need to identify the goods you’re bringing into the country or examine your luggage.

Border services officers are legally entitled to examine your luggage as part of their responsibility to protect Canada's safety, economy and environment. You are responsible for opening, unpacking and repacking your luggage.

By making your goods easily accessible for inspection and having your receipts handy, you will be helping the CBSA to help you. It’s a good idea to keep all your receipts for accommodation and purchases, and for any repairs done to, or parts bought for, your vehicle. The border services officer may ask to see them as evidence of the length of your stay and of the value of the goods or repairs.

If you disagree with the amount of duty and taxes that you have to pay, please ask to speak with the CBSA superintendent on duty. A consultation can often resolve the issue quickly and without cost. If you’re still not satisfied, our officers can tell you how to make a formal appeal.

Border services officers may arrest an individual for an offence under the Criminal Code (for example, impaired driving, outstanding arrest warrants, stolen property, abductions/kidnappings) and for infractions under other acts of Parliament (for example, the Customs Act , the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act ).

If you’re arrested, you may be compelled to attend court in Canada. You should note that anyone arrested in Canada is protected by and will be treated in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms .

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From watch parties to music festivals, choose your April 8 total solar eclipse adventure

On April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America. It will be the last one visible from the contiguous United States until 2044. Here’s what viewers should expect to see during each stage of the eclipse. (Feb. 16) (AP video: Christine Nguyen)

travelling to mexico from canada forms

A total solar eclipse will cross North America in April. This animated map shows the path of totality across parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. (Feb. 29) (AP Animation: Panagiotis Mouzakis and Marshall Ritzel)

FILE - Blake Davis, 10, of Coral Springs, Fla., looks through solar glasses as he watches the eclipse, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Fla. After April 8, 2024, there won’t be another U.S. eclipse, spanning coast to coast, until 2045. That one will stretch from Northern California all the way to Cape Canaveral, Florida. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Sunglasses won’t cut it during the April 8 eclipse. Special eclipse glasses are crucial for safely observing the sun as the moon marches across the late morning and afternoon sky on April 8, covering more and more and then less and less of our star. (AP Video/Shelby Lum)

FILE - People gather near Redmond, Ore., to view the sun as it nears a total eclipse by the moon, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. The April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse in North America first hits land at Mexico’s Pacific coast, cuts diagonally across the U.S. from Texas to Maine and exits in eastern Canada. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

FILE - People gather near Redmond, Ore., to view the sun as it nears a total eclipse by the moon, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. The April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse in North America first hits land at Mexico’s Pacific coast, cuts diagonally across the U.S. from Texas to Maine and exits in eastern Canada. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

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FILE - Heavy traffic moves slowly along Interstate 80 in Cheyenne, Wyo., on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. Wyoming was one of the states in the path of the total eclipse, and thousands of people poured into the state for the view, causing massive traffic jams that are normally seen in major metropolitan areas. (Blaine McCartney/The Wyoming Tribune Eagle via AP, File)

FILE - Tyler Hanson, of Fort Rucker, Ala., watches the sun moments before the total eclipse, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. The April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse in North America first hits land at Mexico’s Pacific coast, cuts diagonally across the U.S. from Texas to Maine and exits in eastern Canada. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

FILE - A model of the planet Saturn stands near Route 1 in Westfield, Maine, Friday, May 9, 2003. The nation’s largest three-dimensional scale model of the solar system is positioned along a 40-mile stretch of highway between Presque Isle, Maine, and Houlton, Maine. The April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse in North America first hits land at Mexico’s Pacific coast, cuts diagonally across the U.S. from Texas to Maine and exits in eastern Canada. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Where will you be watching the April 8 total solar eclipse ? There are just a few weeks left to pick your spot to see the skies darken along a strip of North America, whether by land, sea or air.

For those who live inside the 115-mile-wide (185-kilometer-wide) path of total darkness , it may be a matter of just stepping outside and donning special eclipse glasses to watch the spectacle unfold. For the millions outside the path, or those who just want to improve their chances of clear skies, it could mean hitting the road with a game plan.

The eclipse reaches Mexico’s Pacific coast in the morning, cuts diagonally across the U.S. from Texas to Maine and exits in eastern Canada by late afternoon. Most of the rest of the continent will see a partial eclipse.

Where to watch the total solar eclipse

The weather will be key, and spring weather along the path can be dicey. Mexico and Texas offer the best odds of sunny skies, said retired Canadian meteorologist Jay Anderson .

“There’s no guarantee of sunshine anywhere — just better chances,” he said.

Anderson studies satellite data for the previous 20 years to calculate how often a location has cloudy weather on any eclipse day. Besides Mexico and Texas, he said there are other promising spots on the path of totality, particularly along the Great Lakes.

FILE - Eclipse watchers squint through protective filters as they view an eclipse of the sun from the top deck of New York's Empire State Building in New York on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 1932. Full solar eclipses occur every year or two or three, often in the middle of nowhere like the South Pacific or Antarctic. (AP Photo/File, File)

The advice: If you’re flexible, start paying attention to local weather about 10 days out, and make your plans on the three-day forecast. Die-hard eclipse chasers often line up more than one location and make last-minute decisions based on the best forecast, he said.

How to prepare like an eclipse chaser

One veteran eclipse chaser recommends picking a location and make it a vacation so that the eclipse is “the cherry on top” and not the only highlight — just in case things don’t work out.

Tom Schultz will be traveling from his retirement home in Costa Rica to watch the eclipse from his mother-in-law’s house in Rochester, New York, along with other relatives.

“If we get rained out, we’ll get this great family reunion,” said Schultz.

Veteran Anne Marie Adkins could drive across town in San Antonio to see the total eclipse, but opted to join an astronomer-led tour to Mazatlán, Mexico, betting on clear skies there. She’s been thwarted by clouds on other trips. For the 2017 U.S. eclipse, she went to Nebraska and had to scramble that day to find better skies.

“It’s a gamble. You never know what you are going to get,” said Adkins.

Post-eclipse traffic is a particular worry, especially in more rural areas like the Texas Hill Country. Patricia Moore, of the Bandera visitors center , said last year’s “ring of fire” eclipse provided a dress rehearsal for police and other first responders. Tiny Bandera — the “Cowboy Capital of the World” — expects crowds from nearby weekend music festivals.

“After the eclipse will be a challenge,” she said.

Where are the eclipse watch parties?

With the eclipse falling on a Monday, cities and towns along the path have lined up a weekend full of activities and watch parties to attract visitors. There are a multitude of music festivals and gatherings planned at museums, parks, wineries and other businesses hoping to capitalize on the buzz.

Niagara Falls has a slate of events for days and is expecting July Fourth-sized crowds for the eclipse, said Sara Harvey, spokeswoman for Destination Niagara USA.

There are multiple vantage points to watch the show from Niagara Falls State Park, and the famous Maid of the Mist tourist boats may be running, weather permitting, she said. Even if it’s cloudy, visitors will get “a beautiful view of the falls,” Harvey said.

FILE - A telescope projects an image of a partial solar eclipse onto a piece of paper, at the Astronomy Institute on the campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in Mexico City, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. On April 8, 2024, the sun will pull another disappearing act across parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada, turning day into night for as much as 4 minutes, 28 seconds. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

In Waco, Texas, festivities will culminate on eclipse day with science-themed activities outside Baylor’s McLane stadium , along what’s called Touchdown Alley.

It may be too late to snag a cabin on a cruise ship positioned off the Mexico coast for the eclipse, but there are other watery options including a ride on the paddle-wheeler Victorian Princess on Lake Erie from Erie, Pennsylvania.

If the sky beckons, Southwest and Delta have identified flights that will fly along or near the eclipse path. A special Delta flight from Austin to Detroit quickly sold out, prompting the airline to add another from Dallas.

Looking for an different kind of place to watch the sun, moon and Earth align? The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host NASA astronauts and other guests. Cedar Point amusement park on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, is opening for the day. And the Little Rock Zoo in Arkansas is throwing a tailgate fundraising party and inviting visitors to watch the zoo’s residents react to the midday darkness.

You can also spend the day visiting the planets. In northern Maine, a scale model of the solar system is displayed along nearly 100 miles (160 kilometers) of U.S. Route 1. Retired geology professor Kevin McCartney expects to unveil a new 23- foot-tall (7-meters-tall) roadside sun at the University of Maine at Presque Isle on eclipse day. “You won’t be able to miss it,” he said.

Anderson, the weather expert, said it’s well worth the travel to see the “special magical moment” of a total eclipse: “It’s the Taylor Swift of natural events.”

FILE - People view a total solar eclipse from La Higuera, Chile, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix, File)

People view a total solar eclipse from La Higuera, Chile, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix, File)

This story was first published on March 2 and was updated on March 4 to fix the spelling of McLane stadium.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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COMMENTS

  1. Travel advice and advisories for Mexico

    Multiple Immigration Form - Government of Mexico. Entering by air. If entering Mexico by air, you are advised to download your tourist card issued by Mexican officials upon entry. ... IMPORTANT:The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living ...

  2. Mexico Entry Requirements for Canadian Citizens

    Register with the Canadian Embassy in Mexico. Nationals of Canada traveling to Mexico are advised to register with the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City. This can be done by completing a quick form online, while applying for a Mexico FMM through this site. Registration of Canadians Abroad is a service that provides important information about current events in Mexico or internationally if this ...

  3. What documents do I need to enter Mexico?

    To enter Mexico, you must have the following documents: 1. A valid passport or travel document. There is no need for a minimum period of validity of the passport (for example 6 months); but this document must be valid during the length of your stay in Mexico. 2. A properly completed Multiple Digital Migration Form (FMMd). This form will be ...

  4. Mexico Entry Requirements for Canadian and American Tourists

    Mexico entry requirements stipulate that you will need the following 3 documents in order to enter Mexico: 1. Valid Passport. 2. FMT (Tourist, Business), FM2 or FM3 Form. 3. Custom's declaration form. The government of Mexico requires current proof of citizenship, a photo ID, and a valid passport for entry into Mexico. TIP: Carry a photocopy ...

  5. Mexico Tourist Card

    Foreign citizens traveling to Mexico are issued an Official Entry Immigration Form (FMM) also known as Tourist Card. The online registration process is FREE, very convenient, straightforward, and to complete the process all you need is your passport and travel information. THE TOURIST CARD IS PER PERSON INCLUDING CHILDREN AND DIPLOMATIC PERSONNEL.

  6. Entry Requirements

    The Embassy of Mexico in Canada informs the public that Canadian nationals and permanent residents of Canada do not require a visa to enter Mexico. ... Learn about the new Electronic Multiple Migratory Form for Air Travel (FMME Aérea) which facilitates and expedites the registration of your entry to Mexico. To obtain this form, you must:

  7. Mexico International Travel Information

    Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories.

  8. Documents Required for Travel and Entry to Mexico

    Arrivals to Mexico by air. If you are visiting Mexico and arriving by airplane, you must carry a current passport. Note that Passport Cards are not valid for air travel. We also recommend that your passport is valid for at least six months from the date of your arrival in Mexico. If your passport is expired the airlines will not allow you to ...

  9. What Documents Do You Need to Travel to Mexico?

    A full list of IDs you can use is below: A Valid Passport. Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST) State Issued Enhanced Driver's License (when available) Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available) U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders. U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime ...

  10. Procedures for Entering and Leaving Mexico

    Foreigners with a resident visa sticker in their passport. If you are arriving in Mexico with a resident visa stamp (sticker) in your passport provided by a Mexican Consulate abroad, you might need to fill out the Visitor's Visa on arrival (see blue box above about phasing out of paper FMM forms).. Show the immigration officer the page in your passport with the residency visa stamp and ...

  11. Los Cabos Arrival and Departure Process for Canada

    For those travelling through the US. Step 1 - Get a negative PCR or Antigen COVID-19 test result and fill out attestation form. Step 2 - Fill out the Multiple Immigration Form. Step 3 - Complete your airline's procedures.

  12. Requirements for Canadian Citizens Traveling to Mexico

    Nearly two million Canadians visit Mexico each year for business or pleasure (and often both), making it the second most popular tourist destination for Canadians, according to the government of Canada website. Prior to 2010, Canadians could visit Mexico with a government-issued identification such as a driver's license and birth certificate, however, times have changed, and since the United ...

  13. Canada and Mexico Travel

    Travel to Canada. For questions about travel to Canada contact the Canadian Border Services Agency. Travel to Mexico. Warning: it's Illegal to Carry Firearms or Ammo into Mexico. For border crossing information, tune into the port of entry's Loop Radio on 1620 AM. To report drug and alien smuggling, call (956) 542-5811 in the U.S., 001800 ...

  14. Understanding Travelling to Mexico from Canada and Back

    The maximum amount of time a Canadian tourist can stay in Mexico is 180 consecutive days, though immigration officials may not grant the maximum stay. If you want to stay the maximum allowed length, you will likely have to provide additional information about your trip, including lodgings, funds, and return dates.

  15. Travel advice and advisories

    The Government of Canada's official source of travel information and advice, the Travel Advice and Advisories help you to make informed decisions and travel safely while you are outside Canada. ... mexico Mexico: Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories) 2024-03-05 12:53:13: micronesia-fsm Micronesia (FSM) Take normal ...

  16. Mexico Travel Restrictions

    Find continuously updated travel restrictions for Mexico such as border, vaccination, COVID-19 testing, and quarantine requirements. Sign in. Flights. Hotels. Cars. Flight+Hotel. Travel Guides. ... Travelling from Canada to Mexico. Most visitors from Canada, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Mexico. Entry. Open for vaccinated visitors ...

  17. Temporary entry into Mexico under the Canada-United States-Mexico

    Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) - Chapter 16 - Temporary entry for business persons. For any questions regarding the U.S. or Mexico's temporary entry commitments under CUSMA, please contact: [email protected]. This guide is for information only. It is not the official text of CUSMA or U.S. or Mexican law.

  18. Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

    This is the Government of Canada's official web page to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to fly to, or transit through, a Canadian airport. It only costs CAD 7. Find out what it is and how to apply online. The Government of Canada will perform updates to its online system from 12:00 am to 3:00 am ET on February 29, 2024.

  19. Updated travel information for Mexican citizens coming to Canada

    As of February 29, 2024, at 11:30 p.m. Eastern time, Mexican citizens who hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years and are travelling by air on a Mexican passport will be able to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). With the high number of Mexican citizens currently holding US visas ...

  20. Changes to eTA and visitor visa requirements for Mexican citizens

    You're eligible for an eTA if you meet all of these 3 requirements: You're using a valid Mexican passport to fly to Canada or to transit through a Canadian airport to another destination. You're coming to Canada for a short visit (normally for stays of up to 6 months). You either. have held a Canadian visitor visa (temporary resident visa ...

  21. Canada Restores Visa Requirement for Mexican Visitors

    Not all Mexicans will be required to have a visa to travel to Canada. The rule excludes Mexicans who have had a Canadian visa within the past 10 years, or if they currently have a temporary U.S ...

  22. Traveller entry requirements

    Use Advance Declaration in ArriveCAN to submit your customs and immigration declaration before flying into Canada. Government of Canada's official one-stop-shop for comprehensive international travel information.

  23. Entry requirements

    Leaving Mexico. To leave Mexico, you must show your passport with the stamp showing the number of days you were allowed to stay. If you lose your passport, you must pay a fee to replace the entry ...

  24. Customs Duty Information

    The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect in 1994. If you are returning from Canada or Mexico, your goods are eligible for free or reduced duty rates if they were grown, manufactured, or produced in Canada or Mexico, as defined by the Act. Additional information on these special trade programs can be found on the CBP Web ...

  25. Canada will reimpose some visa requirements on Mexicans, official says

    Canada getting rid of visa free travel from Mexico is also expected to reduce the number of illegal crossings of Mexicans into the U.S. from Canada. In 2023, Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board had 17,490 claims from Mexico, making up 19% of claims referred that year.

  26. Visa Appointment Wait Times

    Forms. Online Immigrant Visa Forms. DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application. DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions. Administrative Processing Information. Visa Appointment Wait Times. Nonimmigrants in the United States-Applying for Visas in Canada or Mexico

  27. Canada reimposes visa requirements for Mexicans as asylum claims ...

    Under the new rules that come into effect on Thursday night, Mexican nationals who hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years will be able to apply for an ...

  28. Canada bringing back visa requirements for Mexican nationals to curb

    The federal government is reimposing some visa requirements on Mexican nationals visiting Canada, senior government sources tell Radio-Canada and CBC News. The new rules will take effect on 11:30 ...

  29. Entering Canada

    Step 1. Pre-arrival: Use Advance Declaration or complete a Declaration Card. If you're arriving by air at one of Canada's participating international airports, you can save time at the border. Submit your customs and immigration declaration online using Advance Declaration up to 72 hours before you arrive in Canada.

  30. Find an April 8 total solar eclipse watch party near you

    The eclipse reaches Mexico's Pacific coast in the morning, cuts diagonally across the U.S. from Texas to Maine and exits in eastern Canada by late afternoon. Most of the rest of the continent will see a partial eclipse. Where to watch the total solar eclipse . The weather will be key, and spring weather along the path can be dicey.