Skip to content

Immediate changes to travel eligibility for citizens of Mexico

By Brittany Trafford and Brendan Sheridan

Today Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”) has announced significant changes to the travel requirements for Mexican citizens.

As of February 29, 2024 at 11:30p.m. Eastern Time, all electronic travel authorizations (“eTA”) issued to Mexican passports prior to this date and time will become invalid, with the exception of those Mexican citizens travelling to Canada with valid work or study permits.

Mexican citizens who do not hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or who have not held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years will require a Canadian visa to enter Canada when travelling on a Mexican passport.  Those who meet the exemptions of having the valid US non-immigration visa or past Canadian visa will be able to re-apply for eTAs to enter Canada by air.  Even if eligible for an eTA to travel by air, if entering by car, bus, train or boat, a visa will be required.

Those who are eligible for an eTA will need to apply for a new eTA or a visa after 11:30 p.m. February 29, 2024. This includes persons who have applications for eTAs in processing but not yet issued as of the cut off time.  IRCC has specified that having travel booked does not guarantee the ability to rely on an eTA.  As a result, anyone travelling on a Mexican passport must carefully consider what steps they must take to come to Canada.  Current estimated processing times for a Canadian visa application from Mexico is 40 days; however, we would anticipate this may increase as more applications are made.

IRCC has announced that these changes are being made in response to the increase in asylum claims made by Mexican citizens that have been refused, withdrawn or abandoned. IRCC had lifted the visa requirement for those travelling on Mexican passports in December 2016.

This announcement by IRCC will impact many wanting to come to Canada and will certainly impact the timelines for many Mexican nationals to be able to enter Canada.


This client update is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

If you have any questions about the above, please contact a member of our Immigration group.

SHARE

Archive

Search Archive


 
 

2024 Nova Scotia election: Employer obligations

October 31, 2024

By Killian McParland and Sophie Poulos As recently announced, the next Nova Scotia provincial election will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. Under Nova Scotia’s Elections Act, every employee who is an eligible voter (i.e.…

Read More

Greener light for growth – Province provides further clarity on renewable energy future in Nova Scotia

October 24, 2024

By Sadira Jan, Dave Randell, Nancy Rubin, Kimberly MacLachlan, and Onye Njoku Bill 471, the Advancing Nova Scotia Opportunities Act, received Royal Assent and introduces changes to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation…

Read More

Bill C-49 is blowin’ a gale: A significant step in offshore renewable energy legislation

October 22, 2024

By Sadira Jan, Dave Randell, Nancy Rubin, G. John Samms, Kimberly MacLachlan, and  Jamie Gamblin Bill C-49 received Royal Assent and will amend the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia…

Read More

2024 New Brunswick election: employer obligations

October 17, 2024

By John Morse The New Brunswick provincial election is set to take place on Monday, October 21, 2024, with polling hours between 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Under the New Brunswick Elections Act, all employees…

Read More

CAPSA releases guidelines on Capital Accumulation Plans and Pension Plan Risk Management

September 11, 2024

Level Chan and Dante Manna On September 9, 2024, the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) released the long-awaited final revisions to Guideline No. 3 – Guideline for Capital Accumulation Plans (CAPs) and the…

Read More

Nova Scotia legislative update: “Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act” – Bill No. 464

September 6, 2024

Sean Kelly and Tiegan A. Scott On September 5, 2024, the “Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act” (Bill No. 464) was introduced in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly for first reading by the Honourable Jill Balser…

Read More

Historic human rights ruling: Alberta tribunal sets record with landmark damages award, redefining the rules on compensation and deterrence

September 3, 2024

John A.C. Morse and Lauren Sorel The Human Rights Tribunal of Alberta (the “Tribunal”) recently awarded three complainants a total of $273,274.91 in compensation, with $155,000.00 of this amount designated as general damages – a…

Read More

Zoning changes and constructive taking: Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal affirms the finding in Index v Paradise

August 28, 2024

Stephen Penney and Megan Kieley1 The Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Index Investments Inc v Paradise (Town)2 is a significant decision for municipalities. The Court of Appeal endorsed the Newfoundland and…

Read More

Immigration red flags: five organizational issues that open employers to risk

August 15, 2024

By Kathleen Leighton & Brittany Trafford The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (“TFWP”) and International Mobility Program (“IMP”) provide Canadian employers the opportunity to hire foreign workers to address their labour needs, particularly when qualified Canadians…

Read More

Supreme Court of Canada denies leave to appeal of Alberta ruling on post-death life insurance conversion (Part II)

August 15, 2024

This is the second in a two-part Thought Leadership series on a recent life insurance case out of Alberta, and the implications for life insurers. Michelle Chai and Liz Campbell1 Part I of this two-part series…

Read More

Search Archive


Scroll To Top