Travel Plans: Canadian Residents' Entry To Mexico Explained

Canadian permanent residents are required to present a valid permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document when travelling to Canada. When travelling to Mexico, Canadian permanent residents must show a valid passport from their country of origin, as well as their PR card when returning to Canada. Additionally, they need to apply for a Mexican tourist card, also known as Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM), if they are arriving by land or staying for more than 30 days.

Travel documents needed to enter Mexico

The travel documents you need to enter Mexico will depend on your nationality, reason for travel, and length of stay. Here is a breakdown of the requirements:

For Canadian permanent resident cardholders:Canadian permanent resident cardholders have the same rights as Canadian citizens when travelling outside of Canada. To enter Mexico, you will need to present the following documents:

• A valid passport from your country of origin.
• Your permanent resident card when returning to Canada.

With these documents, you will be allowed to travel to Mexico and back to Canada by air, sea, or land. Please note that your permanent resident card must be valid for the duration of your trip as you can only renew it in Canada.

Additionally, if you plan to work in Mexico, you will need to obtain a work visa from Mexico's National Immigration Institute (INM).

For Canadian citizens:Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter Mexico but are required to carry a valid Canadian passport and a Mexican tourist card, also known as the Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM). The FMM is mandatory for all travellers who plan to enter Mexico by land and can be obtained online before your trip. It is valid for up to 180 days and allows for a single entry. If you wish to extend your stay beyond 180 days or re-enter Mexico, you will need to apply for a new FMM.

For U.S. citizens:U.S. citizens can enter Mexico without a visa for tourist or business stays of up to 180 days and transit through Mexico for up to 30 days. However, a Mexican visa is required if you plan to work, study, or engage in other non-tourist activities.

To enter Mexico, U.S. citizens must have the following documents:

• A valid U.S. passport that will not expire for at least six months after the date of arrival.
• A Mexican tourist card (FMM) if travelling by land or if you plan to travel more than 20 kilometres into Mexican territory and stay more than 72 hours.

The FMM can be obtained online and is valid for a single entry. If you lose your FMM before arriving at immigration control in Mexico, you can obtain another form online. If it is lost or stolen within Mexico, you must report it to the local police and include the police report when applying for a replacement at an Instituto Nacional de Migración office.

Additional Recommendations:

Regardless of your nationality, it is recommended that you register with the Canadian or U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. This will allow your respective government to assist or contact you in case of an emergency.

Travel documents needed to re-enter Canada

As a Canadian permanent resident, you have the same rights as a Canadian citizen when travelling outside Canada. To enter Mexico, you will need to show a valid passport from your country of origin, as well as your PR card when returning to Canada. You will not need a visa to enter Mexico, but you will need to buy a Mexican tourist card, also known as a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM). This can be done online or at the point of entry into Mexico. You will need a valid passport, flight information, and the address or name of the hotel where you will be staying.

When returning to Canada from Mexico, you will need to show customs officials your valid foreign passport and your valid, unexpired Permanent Resident Card. Keep in mind that you can only renew your PR card in Canada, so make sure it will remain valid throughout your trip to Mexico. If your PR card expires and becomes invalid, you will need to apply for a permanent resident travel document before returning to Canada.

If you are a permanent resident who has been away from Canada for less than a year, you will only need to show your Green Card upon re-entry. If you have been away for a year or longer, you will need to apply for a re-entry permit before travelling. Use Form I-131 – Application for Travel Document.

It is important to carry, not pack, all travel documents. This includes medications in their original packaging and proof of vaccination for any pets travelling with you.

Visa requirements for Canadian permanent residents

Canadian permanent residents are required to carry a valid permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document when travelling. This includes when re-entering Canada. Permanent resident card holders have the same rights as Canadian citizens when travelling outside of Canada.

If you are a Canadian permanent resident travelling to Mexico, you will need to show a valid passport from your country of origin, as well as your PR card when returning to Canada. You will also need to buy a Mexico tourist card, also known as a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM). This is a mandatory requirement for all travellers who visit Mexico, including Canadians, and can be obtained online. The FMM is valid for up to 180 days and allows you to stay in Mexico for that period of time. If you wish to stay longer than 180 days, you will need to exit and re-enter Mexico with a new tourist card.

If you are a lawful permanent resident of the US travelling to Canada, you must show the following documents for all methods of travel: a valid passport from your country of nationality or an equivalent acceptable travel document, and a valid green card or equivalent valid proof of status in the United States.

The Mexican tourist card

Canadian permanent residents can travel to Mexico for stays of up to 180 days without a visa. However, they are required to complete a Mexican tourist card, also known as an Entry Immigration Form, FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple), or FMT, if they are:

• Travelling by land
• Staying in the country for more than 24 hours

You can apply for a Mexican tourist card online, at a Mexico airport or port of call, or at a Mexican embassy or consulate in your home country. The online registration process is free, convenient, and straightforward, and you will need your passport and travel information to complete it. The card is typically processed within 24-48 hours.

If you are flying into Mexico, you may be given a tourist card and instructions for filling it out onboard your plane, with the cost included in your ticket fare. You can also pick up a card at an immigration desk at a Mexican airport. If you are driving, taking a bus, or walking into Mexico, you can obtain the card at the border inspection station/immigration office after showing your ID or passport.

• Name
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Purpose for visiting
• Flight details
• Address of the place you will be staying in Mexico

It is important to keep your tourist card in a safe place, as you will need to present it when departing the country.

Registration with the Canadian Embassy in Mexico

Canadian citizens travelling 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 (Forma Migratoria Múltiple). The FMM is a mandatory requirement for all travellers who visit Mexico, including Canadians. It is a travel document that, along with a valid passport, is all that Canadians need to enter Mexico.

The Canadian Embassy in Mexico City provides services to Canadians in several Mexican states, including Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Estado de Mexico, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Morelos, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luís Potosí, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, and Zacatecas.

The Registration of Canadians Abroad service provides important information about current events in Mexico or internationally, which may affect the individual’s travel plans. For example, in the case of personal emergencies at home, the Canadian Embassy in Mexico will help citizens’ families to contact them. They will also assist in the case of international emergencies that could impact the journey home. In such emergencies, the Embassy will contact Canadians in Mexico who have registered and can help them get in touch with family and friends back home.

The Canadian government also provides travel advisories for its citizens travelling to Mexico, recommending that they 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, and avoid travelling at night. There are also several areas that Canadians travelling to Mexico are advised to avoid due to common incidents of violence and crime. These include 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; and Tepic and the area within 20 km of the border with Sinaloa and Durango in Nayarit.

Frequently asked questions