The Mexico Tourism Board has announced that Canadians travelling to Mexico will need valid passports as of March 1, 2010. The tourism board says the move aligns Mexico with all the security measures established by the International Civil Aviation Organization. This measure harmonizes Mexican boarder control policy with that of Canada and the US under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). Visas won’t be required for either Canadian citizens or permanent residents of this country.
Of the 1.3 million Canadian visitors to Mexico last year, only 10.000 did not have visa. Most Canadian travellers cross U.S. air space so a passport has already been obtained for that reason. If however, you are one of the 10,000 you better allow time to get your passport in you want to travel to Mexico again.
We strongly recommend that Canadians carry a valid passport for all air travel to Mexico in order to ensure they may board their return flight to Canada. Canadian citizens should be aware that extra costs derived from being denied boarding in Mexico can be considerably high and must be assumed by the traveller.
This requirement will change on March 1, 2010. As of that date, Canadian citizens, including those with dual nationality, will be required to present a valid passport in order to enter Mexico. Canadians without a valid passport will be returned to Canada.
Canadians with a criminal record might be refused entry and returned to Canada on the next available flight. Canadians in this situation should contact the Mexican Embassy in Ottawa prior to making travel arrangements. Permanent residents and landed immigrants of Canada should check for specific entry requirements with Mexico’s immigration authorities (Instituto Nacional de Migración or INAMI) (information available in English).
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