Mexico says is reserving the right to “act in reciprocity” after Canada re-imposed visas for Mexicans, effective yesterday. In a statement released on its website, Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it “regrets” the Canadian move and believes that there were “other options available before putting this measure in place.”

In justifying Canada’s decision, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said, “We have seen exponential growth in asylum claims particularly from Mexican nationals in the last year,” adding that Mexico accounts for 17% of all asylum claims received by Canada from around the world, and that most claims from Mexico are either rejected, withdrawn, or abandoned, so a change was needed.

“Claims that don’t even have the prospect of success put a pressure on the system and put a pressure on the social supports that these people get,” he said. “It has ripple effects across the system.”

The Tourism Industry Association of Canada reacted with concern saying it fears longer processing times for visitors who are major contributors to the economy.

“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,” TIAC president and CEO Beth Potter said in a statement.

The association said Mexican visitors spent more than $750 million in Canada last year, adding it wants the government to implement service standards that guarantee prompt visa processing.

An estimated 60% of people travelling from Mexico will not actually need a visa under the new rules.

Mexican citizens flying to Canada will be able to apply for an electronic travel authorization if they have held a Canadian visa within the last decade or if they have a valid US visa.

Any electronic travel authorizations that had been issued before Thursday evening will be invalid unless the person also has a valid Canadian work or study permit.

People travelling to Canada without a work or study permit must reapply for authorization or apply for a visitor visa.

Those who are already in Canada on a work or study permit are allowed to stay based on the conditions of that permit, and people who are already in the country with an electronic travel authorization can stay as long as they are authorized.

Ottawa lifted the visa requirement for Mexican visitors in 2016.

That year 23,350 people claimed asylum in Canada from all countries around the world. That jumped to 137,947 in 2023.

Need to know

• Mexican citizens who hold a valid US 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).
• With the high number of Mexican citizens currently holding US visas, the majority will continue to enjoy visa-free travel to Canada. Those who do not meet these conditions will need to apply for a Canadian visitor visa.
• The application process for Mexican citizens seeking a work or study permit will not change. 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.
• Canada is expanding its network of visa application centres in Mexico to better serve these clients.