Mexico: Visa Exemption Revoked for Nationals of Venezuela
January 7, 2022
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At a Glance
- Effective January 21, 2022, nationals of Venezuela will no longer be visa-exempt when entering Mexico for tourism and business and must instead obtain a consular Visitor Visa for entry.
- As a result, Venezuelan nationals seeking to enter Mexico for tourism or business may encounter administrative hurdles, additional costs and potential delays.
- Certain Venezuelan nationals may still be visa-exempt if they hold an eligible visa or immigration status from another country.
The situation
The government of Mexico published a decree, effective January 21, 2022, which will revoke the visa exemption for nationals of Venezuela. It will require these foreign nationals to instead obtain consular Visitor Visas for entry for tourism and business.
A closer look
As Venezuelans will have to obtain Visitor Visas, they will be subject to the following:
- Processing time. Visitor Visas are generally processed in one to 20 days depending on the consular post. However, processing times are expected to be significantly longer if applying in Venezuela, due to the high volume of applications and a continued backlog. Currently, Venezuelan nationals can arrive in Mexico for business and tourism without obtaining a visa.
- Maximum stay. The Visitor Visa typically allows a maximum stay of up to 180 days for each entry, the same as a visa-exempt entry.
- Other requirements. Visa nationals seeking to enter Mexico for business are generally required to present a business letter from a home or host entity when applying for a Visitor Visa. In addition, when entering Mexico, foreign nationals may also be required to provide their round-trip ticket, proof of accommodation and proof of financial means during their stay.
- Exceptions. Certain Venezuelan nationals may still be visa-exempt if they hold an eligible visa or immigration status from another country. These include holding permanent residence or a valid visa for Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, or any Schengen Area country, among other exceptions.
Impact
This visa requirement adds administrative hurdles, possible additional costs and potential delays to Venezuelan nationals seeking to enter Mexico for tourism or business.
Background
- Venezuelan migration. According to the government, the measure will be implemented in response to the significant increase in Venezuelan nationals entering Mexico for purposes other than those allowed under the visa exemption, such as irregular transit to a third country, in the last few years.
- Control of irregular migration. This change follows the government of Mexico’s visa exemption revocations in September 2021, for nationals of Ecuador, and in December 2021, for nationals of Brazil, as part of the government’s overall efforts 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, immigration officials continue to scrutinize foreign nationals (especially visa nationals) upon arrival, particularly in Cancun and Mexico City.
Looking ahead
According to the decree, the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the government of Venezuela will take action to guarantee regular and orderly migration flows between the two countries that would allow the visa waiver to be reimplemented. However, an expected review date has not been determined.
Additional immigration restrictions, changes and delays can be expected as the Mexican government continues to focus on controlling irregular migration.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
