Mexico Visa Requirements & Immigration Process Guide

Hello, my lovely reader! We recently made it to our 7th country, Mexico, and in this blog post, I will share details about the Mexican visa process, our immigration experience, and the documents required. Everything in this blog post is based on our recent experience and majorly focuses on Indian passport holders with a valid U.S. visa.

So let’s get started with your first step to exploring this beautiful historic country in North America.

Entry Requirements

For Indian Citizens with a valid U.S. Visa

If you’re an Indian citizen living in the U.S. (or anywhere) with a valid U.S. visa (B1/B2, H1B, F1, etc.) or have a permanent residency (Green Card), you do not need a Mexican visa for tourism.

It’s a great spot for digital nomads, as you can stay up to 180 days and explore the country at your desired pace while working. We were here in Mexico for a week and worked the entire time, which helped save our paid leaves and explore the city at our pace.

For Indian Citizens without a U.S. Visa (or expired U.S. visa stamp)

Indian citizens who do not have a U.S. visa or have an expired visa stamp can still travel to Mexico by applying for a Mexican visa on their official tourism website.

Visa-Exempt Countries

Citizens of many countries do not need a visa to visit Mexico for tourism for up to 180 days. You can find the complete list of exempted countries here, and below is a list of a few countries for reference.

• The United States
• Canada
• The European Union member states
• Japan
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Many Latin American and Caribbean countries

Documents required for traveling to Mexico

If you have a valid U.S. Visa, here is a list of documents you need to carry to enter Mexico or re-enter the U.S.

• Passport – the validity of your passport should be at least six months from the date of entry into Mexico, and have the latest U.S. visa stamp.
• Valid U.S. Visa – you must have a multiple-entry U.S. visa that should remain valid for the whole duration of your visit to Mexico.
• FMM Form (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) – This is a tourist permit form that you need to fill out online before your trip. It is also recommended to carry a printed copy of the form as you might need to present it at immigration. We weren’t asked for this form, but we had it filled out before our trip and had a soft copy on our phones.
• Return or Onward Ticket – if you’re traveling for a short duration, it is advisable to have a return ticket or proof of onward travel. You can simply show the soft copy of your ticket if asked during the immigration process.
• Proof of Accommodation – the immigration officer might ask you to show proof of your hotel reservations or an address of your accomodation. You can simply show the booking on your phone if asked, no need to carry a printed copy of the booking confirmation page.
• Proof of Sufficient Funds – this may be required for people opting for a Mexican visa to show that they can support themselves during their stay in Mexico. It is recommended to carry financial proof such as bank statements, credit cards, or cash.

Immigration Process at the Port of Entry

After arriving in Mexico, you will go through the immigration process at the checkpoint. This point comes right after the baggage belt and takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

The immigration process was very smooth for us and merely took 5 minutes. We presented our passports to the immigration officer and were asked two questions about where we were staying and the length of our stay in Mexico. After this, the immigration officer approved our entry and stamped our passports.

Additional Tips

• Carry your i-797 if you have an H1B visa to enter back in the U.S. (it is a “good to have” document).
• For H4 visa holders, you can carry your i-797 and marriage certificate.
• Health Insurance is not mandatory for a short stay. But, if you have an extended stay, I recommend getting health insurance that covers Mexico.
• If you are visiting Mexico on a Mexican visa with an expired U.S. stamp but have an updated (latest) i-797, you can enter the USA with Automatic Revalidation.

I hope this information helps you plan your dream vacation to Mexico and have a smooth time in and out of the country. I have verified all the details from various sources, including Mexico tourism and the U.S. Travel State website. However, I recommend reading and re-verifying the latest guidelines before planning your journey to Mexico.