OTTAWA – News for Mexicans arriving in Canada. As of today,  at 11:30 p.m. Eastern time, Mexican citizens need a visa to enter Canada unless they meet certain criteria: most existing electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) for Mexican passport holders will be cancelled. Mexican citizens will be able to apply for a new eTA if they are flying to Canada and if: (1) they have held a Canadian tourist visa within the last ten years or (2) they currently hold a valid US non-immigrant visa. Otherwise, they will need a visa. 

Mexican citizens with a valid Canadian work or study permit, however, are not affected by these changes: their eTA will not be canceled and they will be able to continue traveling to Canada. Mexican citizens without a valid work or study permit who are already in Canada may remain for as long as authorized, but their eTA will be cancelled. If they leave Canada and wish to return, they will need a visa or a new eTA, if eligible.

The federal Immigration Minister, Mark Miller, announced the news today. “Mexico is an important partner to Canada. We will continue to welcome Mexican temporary workers, students, visitors and immigrants who bring diverse skills and important contributions to our economy and communities. We strive for balance between the movement of people between our two great countries, and the need to relieve pressure on our immigration system so we can provide protection to those who need it the most” he said.

The minister referred, in particular, to the increase in asylum requests presented by Mexican citizens which are rejected, withdrawn or abandoned. 

“It is an important step to preserve mobility for hundreds of thousands of Mexican citizens, while also ensuring the sound management of our immigration and asylum systems” the minister said.

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.

The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is a vital example of the mutually beneficial migration that we seek to promote regionally and globally. “Canada is ready to work with Mexico to build on this program, through the modernization of a new SAWP bilateral agreement, to offer Mexican workers new opportunities, through the incorporation of year-round primary agriculture and seasonal fish, seafood and primary food processing into the program. This will benefit workers and businesses on both sides of the Canada–Mexico relationship.

“We will continue to work with the Government of Mexico to strengthen our regular pathways to immigration, and with our provincial and territorial counterparts to support a system of managed migration as well as to support those in need of protection. Canada is expanding its network of visa application centres in Mexico to better serve these clients. Today’s action will relieve pressure on Canada’s borders, immigration system, housing and social services, while preserving mobility for Mexican citizens who want to come to Canada”, the minister said.

More information about these changes, including for people in transit or with upcoming flights, is available on IRCC’s website.

(Pic from https://www.canada.ca)