Mexico: Visa Exemption Revoked for Nationals of Brazil

• Travel by air. Nationals of Brazil seeking to travel to Mexico by air will need to apply for a visitor visa (e-Visa) online through the SAE – Electronic Authorization System prior to traveling to Mexico. The e-Visa is usually issued the same day.
• Travel by land or sea. Nationals of Brazil seeking to travel to Mexico by land or sea will need to obtain a consular-issued Visitor Visa prior to traveling to Mexico. The Visitor Visa can take from one to 20 days to process, depending on the consular post.
• Maximum stay. The Visitor Visa typically allows a maximum stay of 180 days for each entry, the same amount of time as for a visa-waived entry.
• Other requirements. Visa nationals seeking to enter Mexico for business must generally present a business letter from a home or host entity when applying for a visitor visa. In addition, all visitors may also be required to provide their round-trip ticket, proof of accommodation and proof of financial means during their stay when entering Mexico.
• Exceptions. Certain Brazilian nationals may still be visa exempt if they hold an eligible visa or immigration status from another country. These include permanent residence or a valid visa for Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States or any Schengen Area country, among other exceptions.

This visa requirement adds administrative hurdles, possible additional costs and potential delays to Brazilian nationals seeking to enter Mexico for tourism or business.

• Brazilian migration. According to a statement by the Mexican government, the measure is being implemented in response to an increase in the number of Brazilian nationals who have entered Mexico for purposes other than those allowed under a visa waiver, or have overstayed their allowed stay, during the last few months.
• Control of irregular migration. This change follows the visa exemption revocation in September 2021 for nationals of Ecuador, as part of the government’s overall effort to improve the control of irregular migration into the country and prevent irregular migration into the United States.
• Increased scrutiny of documents. As a reminder, during the past few months, immigration officials have been strictly scrutinizing foreign nationals upon arrival, particularly in Cancun and Mexico City.

While according to the decree, the visa revocation is temporary, an expected review date has not been determined yet.

Additional immigration restrictions, changes and delays can be expected as the Mexican government shifts its policies toward controlling irregular migration to fulfill its commitment with the United States to improve border control efforts.