ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Permission to enter another country is the sole prerogative of that country. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. Contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited and obtain the specific requirements for entry. Conditions are subject to change.
Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.
For travel to Mexico, Canadians must be in possession of a tourist card entitled the Multiple Migratory Form. Canadians are only required to be in possession of valid official photo identification (such as a driver's license) and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) in order to obtain a tourist card. However, we strongly recommend that a valid passport be carried for all visits to Mexico. Tourists carrying passports will be processed faster than those carrying other forms of identification. The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to Canada.
Tourists must fill out the Multiple Migratory Form, which is provided by the airlines or at points of entry. An immigration official will determine the number of days you can remain in Mexico and will stamp the form. Do not assume that you will be granted the full 180 days. The authorities can demand this form at any time. The traveler must carry this form, or a copy, at all times and must surrender the original on departure.
Your tourist card is stamped on arrival. If traveling by bus, make sure that you obtain such a card and have it stamped by immigration authorities at the border. If you do not receive a stamped tourist card at the border ensure that, when you arrive at your destination within Mexico, you immediately go to the closest National Institute of Immigration, present your bus ticket, and request a tourist card.
Canadians entering Mexico by car should make sure their tourist card is stamped by an immigration officer at the port of entry, particularly if they are driving to the Baja California peninsula. If the tourist card has not been stamped at the port of entry, it can be stamped at the immigration offices in the following cities on the Baja California peninsula: Tijuana, Ensenada, or Guerrero Negro. Travelers who fail to have their tourist card stamped may be fined or expelled from the country.
The Mexican government is vigorously enforcing immigration and entry laws. The Mexican authorities have specified that persons seeking to enter Mexico for purposes other than tourism are required to have a proper visa. Those entering for recreational sports, or cultural events and activities; business or commercial activities; academic, scientific, or technical research; and those entering as human rights investigators, electoral observers, or members of a non-profit organization (e.g. religious persons/ministers, missionaries, volunteers, remunerated or unremunerated interns) should ensure they have the proper visa. Foreigners involved in unauthorized activities will be expelled.
Business travelers engaging in business activities such as meetings, marketing, attendance at trade shows, and market research, who do not intend to enter the local job market and/or whose stay is less than 30 days, do not require a business visa. However, A Multiple Migratory Form must be completed (provided by the airlines or at points of entry) and certain documentation, such as a letter from the employer stating the purpose of the trip, must be presented. Business travelers should confirm these requirements with the Mexican Embassy prior to every business trip.
Business travelers engaging in business activities other than meetings, marketing, attendance at trade shows, and market research, intending to enter the local job market and/or whose stay is more than 30 days, do require a business visa.
Anyone traveling abroad with a minor should carry a notarized letter of consent signed by both parents, complete information on the child and trip, and telephone numbers where the parents can be reached in case of doubt. In cases where photo ID is not available, it is recommended to obtain an affidavit of identity with the picture of the child, mentioning the child's name, place and date of birth, and signed before a lawyer or notary public. If the minor has been the subject of a custody agreement, the accompanying adult should carry the appropriate original documentation. If the minor is traveling with only one parent and the other parent is deceased, it is necessary to carry the death certificate. If original documents are not available, you must obtain and carry a certified statement. Even when both parents are traveling with the child, it is wise to bring the child's long-form birth certificate (which identifies the parents). Unaccompanied minors should carry a valid passport (or original birth certificate) and a certified letter of consent for travel, with details of the trip. Ensure that someone will meet them at the airport on arrival.
Mexican authorities impose a "tourism tax" for all visitors to Mexico. The amount changes every year but is usually around US$20. This fee is usually included in airline ticket prices. Visitors arriving by road (car or bus) will be asked to pay this fee at any bank in Mexico (there is a bank representative at every port of entry). The bank will stamp your tourist card, which you will have to return to immigration authorities on departure. Visitors to the northern border area and those going to Mexico on cruise ships are exempt.
All Canadian citizens bringing gifts to friends and relatives in Mexico should be able to demonstrate to Mexican customs the origin and value of the gifts. Televisions, video cassette players, computers, bicycles or any electronic item valued at US$50 or more must be declared to Mexican customs. The visitor should have the receipt for the gift's purchase and should be prepared to pay any assessed duty.
Tourist Card: Required (Multiple Migratory Form provided by airlines or at points of entry)
Business Visa: Required
Student Visa: Required
Visitor Visa: Required (for purposes other than tourism)
For further information, contact the
Embassy of the United Mexican States,
45 O'Connor Street,
Suite 1000, Ottawa,
ON, K1P 1A4
(tel.: 613-233-6665/ 613-233-8988/ 613-233-9272/ fax : 613-235-9123/ Web site: www.embamexcan.com) or the Consulate in Calgary (406-444-5399/6966), Montreal (514-288-2502), Toronto (416-368-2875), or Vancouver (604-684-1859).
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