Bringing back visa requirements for many Mexican nationals coming to Canada could hurt the nation’s travel industry, Canadian tourism representatives say.
The new visa requirement was announced by Ottawa on 29FEB and takes effect at 11:30 p.m. ET. The new rules are expected to affect roughly 40% of all Mexican travellers to Canada.
“The new system … raises concerns about the remaining visitors from that country who may face prolonged visa processing times,” said Beth Potter, President and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. “Prolonged delays will very likely deter potential visitors, undermine our industry recovery, and compound the significant challenges already being experienced by operators in many destinations.
“While we understand the government's objective to streamline the process and ensure a robust immigration system, the potential repercussions on the tourism sector, still recuperating from the effects of previous travel restrictions, cannot be overlooked,” Potter said.
She also noted that Mexican tourists contributed more than $750 million to the Canadian economy last year, and that overnight arrivals were up substantially over the previous year.
Potter said TIAC is urging the government to implement “definitive service standards that guarantee prompt visa processing for Mexican nationals, and safeguard the tourism sector from the potential forfeiture of hundreds of millions of dollars in annual business revenue.”
Quebec has been pushing the Trudeau government to bring back visas for Mexican nationals, saying it’s been besieged by asylum seekers.
The U.S., which requires visas for Mexican nationals, also has pressured the prime minister on the issue, arguing that visitors from Mexico are coming into Canada and then crossing the border into the States.
Canadian government statistics say nearly 24,000 Mexico residents applied for asylum in Canada in 2023. Ottawa says asylum claims from Mexican citizens accounted for 17% of all claims made that year from all nationalities around the world. It also said Mexico's asylum claims have "risen significantly" since the visa requirement for Mexican national was lifted in 2016, jumping from 260 claims in 2016 to 23,995 claims last year.
The Canadian government statement on the rule change said Mexican citizens who hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa or have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years and are travelling by air on a Mexican passport will be able to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to visit Canada.
“With the high number of Mexican citizens currently holding U.S. visas, the majority will continue to enjoy visa-free travel to Canada,” officials said. “Those who do not meet these conditions will need to apply for a Canadian visitor visa.”
Ottawa said the change “responds to an increase in asylum claims made by Mexican citizens that are refused, withdrawn or abandoned. It is an important step to preserve mobility for hundreds of thousands of Mexican citizens, while also ensuring the sound management of our immigration and asylum systems."
The application process for Mexican citizens seeking a work or study permit will not change, officials said
“Mexican citizens who want to work in Canada will continue to have access to a wide number of existing labour pathways, including the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Mobility Program.”
The federal government press release says Canada supports ongoing travel, tourism and business with Mexico.
“We will continue to welcome Mexican temporary workers, students, visitors and immigrants who bring diverse skills and important contributions to our economy and communities,” said Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. “We strive for balance between the movement of people between our two great countries, and the need to relieve pressure on our immigration system so we can provide protection to those who need it the most."
More information about these changes, including for people in transit or with upcoming flights, is available on IRCC's website.
