Mexico City, Mexico — The Mexican government will launch a new electronic visa system on August 9 for foreign nationals seeking to enter the country without engaging in remunerated activities. The federal initiative aims to streamline immigration procedures, digitize processes, and facilitate legal entry into the country.
A Decade’s Most Significant Immigration Reform
Eduardo Paniagua, representative of the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV) in Cancún, described the reform as the most substantial change in immigration policy in ten years. While differences between air and land entries are still under review, he emphasized the measure’s importance, particularly for regions like Quintana Roo, where international tourism is a key economic driver.
Jesús Almaguer, advisor to the Association of Hotels of Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres (AHCPMIM), has repeatedly urged the federal government to take immediate action to restore tourism from South America—especially Brazil and Colombia—historically vital markets for Mexico’s tourism sector.
“This is a priority, and not just because of the upcoming World Cup. The appeal is to maintain the electronic visa for all destinations—Mexico City, Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Los Cabos, and, of course, the Mexican Caribbean, which is the primary destination. Since the crisis began, governments have lost nearly $6 billion in revenue,” Almaguer stated.
He attributed the decline to visa requirements imposed on tourists from Colombia and Brazil, which led to a sharp drop in arrivals. Meanwhile, other Caribbean destinations have capitalized on the demand, increasing their share of South American visitors.
World Cup 2026 Spurs Visa Policy Reevaluation
As previously reported by REPORTUR.mx, in anticipation of hosting over five million tourists during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Federal Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez Zamora (Sectur) announced collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) to reintroduce electronic visas, particularly for Brazilian and Colombian citizens. Both nations are considered key markets due to their high tourism potential and football enthusiasm.
The electronic visa system is expected to simplify entry procedures while addressing long-standing concerns from the hospitality sector about lost revenue and competitive disadvantages. Authorities have yet to clarify operational details, including system reliability and training for immigration personnel.
The implementation will be closely monitored by industry stakeholders, who hope the measure will reverse declining tourist numbers and reinforce Mexico’s position as a leading global destination.
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