The Canadian government announced a new visa policy for Mexican nationals in a news release Thursday, citing “an increase in asylum applications from Mexican citizens that have been rejected, withdrawn or abandoned.” The policy creates new requirements for Mexican nationals obtaining an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada by air.
Anyone who meets the following three requirements will be entitled to apply for an eTA in the future
- You use a valid Mexican passport to fly to Canada or travel to another destination through a Canadian airport.
- You are coming to Canada for a short visit (usually a stay of up to 6 months); And
- You have either held a Canadian visitor visa (temporary stay visa) within the last 10 years or currently hold a valid non-immigrant visa to the United States.
The eTAs are only valid for air travel. If you want to travel to Canada by other means, you need a visitor visa. These requirements do not apply to Mexicans who have a valid work or study permit.
Canada has faced a sharp increase in Mexican asylum applications in recent years. The number rose from 260 applications in 2016, when Canada reduced requirements for Mexican nationals, to nearly 24,000 in 2023. Additionally, the majority of those applications were either rejected, withdrawn or abandoned, according to Immigration Minister Marc Miller. These numbers have caused tension within the Canadian government. In January, Quebec Premier Francois Legault called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to slow the flow of migrants, saying the province was reaching a “breaking point.”
Miller spoke about the new policy:
Mexico is an important partner for Canada. We will continue to welcome Mexican temporary workers, students, visitors and immigrants who bring diverse skills and important contributions to our economy and communities. We seek a balance between the movement of people between our two great countries and the need to reduce pressure on our immigration system so that we can provide protection to those who need it most.
Miller also said this change is due in part to Canada's relationship with the U.S., calling the increasing number of migrants “something we need to address as partners with the U.S.”
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed a “respectful reproach” in his weekly press conference. Obrador also said that Mexico would act with “prudence” in response to these new restrictions.