Can I visit Mexico with a US visa?

Can you use a US visa or Green Card to travel to Mexico? Find out if it is possible to avoid applying for a Mexican visa and what you would need instead.

With summer approaching, many countries are cautiously preparing to reduce travel restrictions and allow visitors to enter. Mexico is an ever-popular destination for holidaymakers. COVID-19 aside, one of the biggest questions for travellers is: do I need permission to enter?

It largely depends on where you come from. Many foreign nationals will have to apply for a Mexico visa or Tourist Card to visit the Central American country. However, the rules are slightly different for those who already hold certain visas.

Many travellers visiting Mexico also enter the United States during their trip. There are also many people currently living in the US for whom Mexico is an ideal vacation destination. The question is, can you visit Mexico with a US visa?

Can I travel to Mexico with a US B1/B2 visa?

Foreign visitors to Mexico can avoid having to apply for a visa at a Mexican embassy if they already have a valid US visa or Green Card.

This includes the B1/B2 visa that is usually issued to foreign tourists and business travellers coming to the United States.

However, it is important to note that this does not apply to the ESTA.

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization is a visa waiver for the US. Visitors from eligible countries can register online to avoid having to get an American visa. The ESTA itself is not a visa, however.

Registering with ESTA does not allow visa-free entry to Mexico. ESTA holders will need a Mexican visa from an embassy or consulate, unless they are also visa-exempt for Mexico due to their nationality.

It is also important to realise that travellers with US visas or Green Cards cannot simply arrive in Mexico without any sort of entry permit. While they do not need a Mexican visa, they do require a Tourist Card or FMM.

What is the FMM?

The Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM), frequently referred to as the “Mexico Tourist Card”, is an entry requirement for all visitors who do not need a Mexican visa.

Many nationalities are exempt from visa requirements. Travellers arriving with passports issued by these countries must have an FMM.

Additionally, those who hold a US visa or Green Card can get an FMM instead of a Mexico visa.

Eligible foreigners can obtain their FMM online. This is a simple process. Would-be visitors have to enter their details into an online form. There are a few questions about their travel plans in Mexico, passport details, and contact information. The whole thing takes a matter of minutes. The Mexico Tourist Card is then delivered by email within a few working days and must be printed.

Despite its nickname, the FMM is not exclusively for tourists. Business travellers can also travel to Mexico for short-term stays with a “Tourist Card”.

It is an option for both passengers arriving by air and travellers crossing the border by land.

What else is needed?

As well as having a US visa or Green Card, visitors must have two important documents. Firstly, Mexico Tourist Card, or FMM can be easily obtained online. Secondly, you must make sure your passport is valid and will continue to be so for at least 6 months.

Business travellers will also need a letter in Spanish from the company. This must explain the purpose of the trip and stating that the company will pay for the services the businessperson provides.

Alternatively, a letter of invitation from a public or private institution can be presented for business trips with unpaid activities in Mexico.

If you are visiting for tourism or leisure, rather than for business, you will need a few different items. These include a travel itinerary, return or onward tickets, and a hotel reservation.

Conditions of entering without a Mexican visa

US visa and/or Green Card holders can visit Mexico without a visa with certain conditions.

Firstly, the traveller must have the additional documents outlined above.

Secondly, the purpose of the trip to Mexico must be tourism or business.

Finally, the maximum length of time the visitor can spend in Mexico is 180 days.

If you are planning to go to Mexico in 2021, it is important to take into account the extra restrictions raised by the coronavirus pandemic.

These currently include filling in a “Cuestionario de identificación de factores de riesgo en viajeros”. This is a form that can be completed online beforehand. Travellers must simply answer questions relating to health.

With all of these conditions in mind, you can start planning your trip to Mexico.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinoins of the editors or the management of EconoTImes