Mexico is one of those ultimate destinations that you just have to go to at least once in your life. You may already know a little bit about this Central American country from the movies and TV series you've watched over the years, but actually going here and experiencing it yourself? It's unlike any other. The vibrancy, the colors, the flavors! There are so many things that are worth the effort of flying off to Mexico that you're left wondering why never thought of visiting here in the first place! Is it because you need a visa to go here? In that case, let this post help you!
Who Are Exempt From Needing A Mexican Visa?
First thing's first, you need to know if you'll actually need a visa to go to Mexico in the first place.
Visa Guide listed down the countries that don't need a visa to travel to Mexico. They include the US, Canada, member states of the EU, Australia, Japan, and a slew of fellow Latin American countries too. Additionally, citizens of these countries are also allowed to stay in Mexico in-transit for up to 30 days. Furthermore, if you're not from any of these countries but you already have a
Schengen visa, a
US visa, a
Canada visa, and more, you're still allowed entry in Mexico.
Know Which Type of Visa You Need
if you find that you're actually required to apply for a Mexican visa, know which type you'll need. There are the Tourist Visas, of course, which lets you stay in the country for up to 180 days. That's approximately six months in total. Temporary Resident Visas are for those who need to stay in Mexico for a long period of time, usually for school or for work. This type is divided into three subtypes, each corresponding to their reason for staying in Mexico: Student Visa, Work Visa, and Family Visa. Finally, the third main type of Mexican visa is the 'Permanent Residence,' allowing you to permanently live in the country
Set Up An Appointment With The Mexican Embassy
Once you already know which type of visa you need, it's time to start the application process. Do note that the process differs from country to country. So the first step is to contact the Mexican Embassy in your country and find out the specifics of their visa application process. Know what documents are required, how much the visa fee will be, and while you're at it, set up an appointment already. Once you've done all of that, you can go ahead with the next steps of applying for a Mexican visa.
Complete The Application Form
Once you've set up an appointment in your country's Mexican embassy, fill up the application form. This will automatically be the first and definitely one of the most important documents out of the list of requirements you'll need to show during your appointment. Though the contents of the application form differ from country to country, they all ask for your personal details, passport information, employment status, your objective for going to Mexico, and your source of funds for your trip. Make sure to answer each one and, if you can, include documents that can support what you filled up here among your requirements.
Get A Hold Of All Required Documents
Speaking of your required documents, they include your valid passport, passport photos, your application form, proof of income (or source of sufficient funds for your trip), and letter of invitation to go to Mexico. Know that these are what may make or break your application for a Mexican visa. For one thing, ensure that your application form is filled up properly. Don't leave anything blank unless it applies to your current situation. One mistake or blank line can make a world of difference to those who'll determine if you'll be granted. Also, make sure the rest of your documents are currently valid and will remain valid throughout your stay in Mexico.
Paying The Fee And The Processing Time
Once you have all your documents ready, it's time to get to your appointment. One of the first things you'll do when you get to the embassy is to pay the application fee. As already mentioned, the amount differs from country to country, though usually, it's $36.00 USD. For a tourist card, that'll cost you around $15.00 to $30.00 but this may also change from time to time and from country to country. Once you've submitted all of them and paid your fee, all you need to do is to wait until they process your application. Again, the processing time differed from country to country, ranging from two to ten working days.
Extending Your Mexican Visa
Now, how about when you're already in Mexico yet you want to extend your stay there? Well, this depends on the type of Mexican visa you got. If your tourist visa or card shows that you can only stay in Mexico for less than 180 days, you can actually request to extend it to reach that mark. If you got a work visa to let you get into the country for
your job here, more often than not, the number of days in your visa would cover the timeline of your contract here. The same goes for student visas too. They're more difficult to request for an extension.
Though getting a Mexican visa may sound intimidating, it's really not. The process is simple, the fees aren't that expensive, and you can even extend your stay in the country if you want! It's all about following and trusting the process!
The moment you get a visa to go to Mexico, book yourself a
luxury home here as well!
