Mexico

Every Mexico visa route, explained

Mexico has a route for every purpose — short visits (visa-free up to 180 days, or a consular visitor visa), plus transit, study, temporary-resident work, family unity and permanent residence. Routes with verified step-by-step guides link straight to them; the rest link to the Instituto Nacional de Migración.

The routes

Visit & tourism

Visitor visa / visa-free entry

Short visits for tourism or business — up to 180 days. Many nationalities (and anyone holding a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa or residence) enter visa-free; others apply for a visitor visa at a Mexican consulate.

Tourists and short-term business visitors

23 verified step-by-step guides →

Transit

Transit visa

For travellers passing through Mexico en route to a third country who are not visa-exempt for transit.

official page →

Study

Student Temporary Resident visa

For stays over 180 days to study or carry out research at an institution in Mexico's National Educational System; the residence card is finalised at INM after arrival.

Students enrolled at a recognised Mexican institution

official page →

Work & business

Temporary Resident visa

For stays of 180 days to four years — including work (with INM-authorised employer permission), retirement on income/savings, or family unity.

Workers, remote earners and people relocating to Mexico

Up to 4 years

official page →

Family & residence

Family unity (resident) visa

For spouses, partners, children and parents of Mexican nationals or of foreign residents, leading to temporary or permanent resident status.

Family members of Mexican citizens or residents

official page →

Other routes

Permanent Resident visa

Indefinite residence for retirees with sufficient income, family of Mexicans, or people qualifying through the points system or after holding temporary residence.

Indefinite

official page →

Verified step-by-step guides

Grounded on official sources — documents, fees, timeline, every fact dated and linked.

Visit (visa exemption) (23)

🇨🇦 Canada → MexicoVisit (visa exemption)

Canadian citizens do NOT need a visa to visit Mexico — Canada is on Mexico's official visa-exemption list, and you can be admitted as a visitor for a stay of under 180 days for tourism, transit or business (no paid activities).

🇨🇳 China → MexicoVisitor visa (tourism)

Chinese citizens need a visitor visa for Mexico — apply at a Mexican consulate (unless you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, which exempts you); a tourist stay is up to 180 days.

🇨🇳 China (in United States) → MexicoVisa-exempt visit (US-visa / US-residence waiver)

Chinese citizens who live in the United States do NOT need a Mexican visa for tourism — a valid US visa or US permanent residence (Resident Card) exempts you; you receive a Visitor Permit for up to 180 days on entry to Mexico.

🇪🇬 Egypt → MexicoVisitor visa (tourism)

Egyptian citizens need a visitor visa for Mexico — apply at a Mexican consulate (unless you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, which exempts you); a tourist stay is up to 180 days.

🇪🇬 Egypt (in United States) → MexicoVisa-exempt visit (US-visa / US-residence waiver)

Egyptian citizens who live in the United States do NOT need a Mexican visa for tourism — a valid US visa or US permanent residence (Resident Card) exempts you; you receive a Visitor Permit for up to 180 days on entry to Mexico.

🇭🇹 Haiti → MexicoVisitor visa (tourism)

Haitian citizens need a visitor visa for Mexico — apply at a Mexican consulate (unless you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, which exempts you); a tourist stay is up to 180 days.

🇮🇳 India → MexicoVisitor visa (tourism)

Indian citizens need a visitor visa for Mexico — apply at a Mexican consulate (unless you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, which exempts you); a tourist stay is up to 180 days.

🇮🇳 India (in United States) → MexicoVisa-exempt visit (US-visa / US-residence waiver)

Indian citizens who live in the United States do NOT need a Mexican visa for tourism — a valid US visa or US permanent residence (Resident Card) exempts you; you receive a Visitor Permit for up to 180 days on entry to Mexico.

🇮🇩 Indonesia → MexicoVisitor visa (tourism)

Indonesian citizens need a visitor visa for Mexico — apply at a Mexican consulate (unless you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, which exempts you); a tourist stay is up to 180 days.

🇮🇩 Indonesia (in United States) → MexicoVisa-exempt visit (US-visa / US-residence waiver)

Indonesian citizens who live in the United States do NOT need a Mexican visa for tourism — a valid US visa or US permanent residence (Resident Card) exempts you; you receive a Visitor Permit for up to 180 days on entry to Mexico.

🇲🇾 Malaysia → MexicoVisit (visa exemption)

Malaysian citizens do NOT need a visa to visit Mexico — Malaysia is on Mexico's official visa-exemption list, and you can be admitted as a visitor for a stay of under 180 days for tourism, transit or business (no paid activities).

🇳🇬 Nigeria → MexicoVisitor visa (tourism)

Nigerian citizens need a visitor visa for Mexico — apply at a Mexican consulate (unless you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, which exempts you); a tourist stay is up to 180 days.

🇳🇬 Nigeria (in United States) → MexicoVisa-exempt visit (US-visa / US-residence waiver)

Nigerian citizens who live in the United States do NOT need a Mexican visa for tourism — a valid US visa or US permanent residence (Resident Card) exempts you; you receive a Visitor Permit for up to 180 days on entry to Mexico.

🇵🇰 Pakistan → MexicoVisitor visa (tourism)

Pakistani citizens need a visitor visa for Mexico — apply at a Mexican consulate (unless you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, which exempts you); a tourist stay is up to 180 days.

🇵🇰 Pakistan (in United States) → MexicoVisa-exempt visit (US-visa / US-residence waiver)

Pakistani citizens who live in the United States do NOT need a Mexican visa for tourism — a valid US visa or US permanent residence (Resident Card) exempts you; you receive a Visitor Permit for up to 180 days on entry to Mexico.

🇵🇭 Philippines → MexicoVisitor visa (tourism)

Filipino citizens need a visitor visa for Mexico — apply at a Mexican consulate (unless you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, which exempts you); a tourist stay is up to 180 days.

🇵🇭 Philippines (in United States) → MexicoVisa-exempt visit (US-visa / US-residence waiver)

Filipino citizens who live in the United States do NOT need a Mexican visa for tourism — a valid US visa or US permanent residence (Resident Card) exempts you; you receive a Visitor Permit for up to 180 days on entry to Mexico.

🇷🇺 Russia → MexicoVisitor visa (tourism)

Russian citizens need a visitor visa for Mexico — apply at a Mexican consulate (unless you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, which exempts you); a tourist stay is up to 180 days.

🇷🇺 Russia (in United States) → MexicoVisa-exempt visit (US-visa / US-residence waiver)

Russian citizens who live in the United States do NOT need a Mexican visa for tourism — a valid US visa or US permanent residence (Resident Card) exempts you; you receive a Visitor Permit for up to 180 days on entry to Mexico.

🇿🇦 South Africa (in United States) → MexicoVisa-exempt visit (US-visa / US-residence waiver)

South African citizens who live in the United States do NOT need a Mexican visa for tourism — a valid US visa or US permanent residence (Resident Card) exempts you; you receive a Visitor Permit for up to 180 days on entry to Mexico.

🇿🇦 South Africa → MexicoVisitor visa (tourism)

South African citizens need a visitor visa for Mexico — apply at a Mexican consulate (unless you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, which exempts you); a tourist stay is up to 180 days.

🇻🇳 Vietnam (in United States) → MexicoVisa-exempt visit (US-visa / US-residence waiver)

Vietnamese citizens who live in the United States do NOT need a Mexican visa for tourism — a valid US visa or US permanent residence (Resident Card) exempts you; you receive a Visitor Permit for up to 180 days on entry to Mexico.

🇻🇳 Vietnam → MexicoVisitor visa (tourism)

Vietnamese citizens need a visitor visa for Mexico — apply at a Mexican consulate (unless you hold a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, which exempts you); a tourist stay is up to 180 days.

Temporary Resident Visa (economic solvency) (1)

🇺🇸 United States → MexicoTemporary Resident Visa (economic solvency)

US citizens working remotely can apply at a Mexican consulate for a Temporary Resident Visa on economic-solvency grounds — show about US$4,393/month income (or roughly US$73,215 in savings), book a MiConsulado appointment, and attend an in-person interview.