ETIAS for Mexicans

From 2026 , Mexican travellers who wish to visit Europe be able to apply for a new travel permit, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System or ETIAS.

This system will simplify the immigration process into the European Schengen Area. It is also designed to improve border security, reduce illegal immigration into Europe and protect against criminal activities. Once in place, ETIAS will be valid for up to 3 years and for multiple trips of up to 90 days each.

TRAVELLING FROM MEXICO TO EUROPE WITH ETIAS

ETIAS will be operational from 2026 . Mexican citizens visiting countries in the Schengen Area will need to apply once it becomes mandatory.

Mexicans do not need a visa to visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days—this will not change with the introduction of ETIAS.

ETIAS is not a visa but a visa waiver, or travel authorisation, for Europe. Visa-exempt non-EU nationals, including Mexicans, can continue to travel to Europe visa-free by registering online with ETIAS.

The ETIAS for Mexican citizens will be available for all eligible travellers planning to visit Europe for up to 90 days. If the trip to Europe exceeds 90 days in any 180-day period, Mexican travellers have to apply for a visa.

There will be a fee for the ETIAS visa waiver for Mexico which will be payable upon application online via credit or debit card.

WHERE CAN MEXICAN CITIZENS TRAVEL TO IN EUROPE WITH AN ETIAS?

Mexican citizens wishing to travel with an ETIAS to the Schengen zone will be permitted entry to all member states once they have arrived at their specified country of entry. Mexicans with ETIAS will have authorisation to enter the Schengen bloc and travel around the zone freely for up to 3 months at a time.

Mexicans can use ETIAS to visit EU countries including France, Germany, Spain and Poland. They will also be able to travel to the 4 EFTA non-EU member countries, such as Iceland and Norway. ETIAS will also be required to visit Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Romania, which are EU countries in the process of joining the Schengen Area.

ETIAS VISA WAIVER REQUIREMENTS FOR MEXICAN CITIZENS

The Europe visa waiver for Mexicans will allow tourists to enter Europe through any land, sea or airport and travel freely throughout the EU zone with just the one European travel authorisation approved before departure.

Mexicans will need the following to apply for the ETIAS visa waiver:

• A valid Mexican passport
• Credit/Debit card
• Valid email address

All Mexicans travelling to Europe must have a passport which is valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended date of departure from European ETIAS countries.

STEPS TO TRAVELLING TO EUROPE WITH A MEXICAN PASSPORT

In order to apply successfully for the new ETIAS visa waiver system, Mexican citizens will need to follow a number of steps online. First, they will need to access the ETIAS online application form. Once open, they will need to do the following:

1. PROVIDE BIOMETRIC DETAILS:

During this step of the registration, Mexicans will be asked to provide their personal information such as their full name, date of birth, and place of birth. They will also be required to indicate their Mexican nationality and gender. These will ensure the citizen can be correctly identified and pass easily through airport security.

2. SUBMIT IDENTIFYING AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:

Applicants will need to submit their Mexican passport information. This means entering their passport’s number, issue date, and expiry date. The passport should have 3 months' validity remaining from the date of arrival into the Schengen Area.

3. INPUT UP-TO-DATE CONTACT INFORMATION:

The applicant will need to fill in their current address in Mexico, a registered email address (this must be correct as this is where they will receive their approved ETIAS), and a contact telephone number.

4. DETAIL THE COUNTRY OF ARRIVAL INTO THE SCHENGEN AREA:

A key detail of the ETIAS is that applicants will need to indicate the Schengen member state they will visit first from Mexico. However, once inside the Schengen zone, visitors will be able to visit all member states for up to 90 days. Be aware also that for security reasons, the border authorities of the country the applicant arrives in will also have the final say on whether they are allowed or not into the country and the Schengen Area.

5. ANSWER A NUMBER OF PERSONAL SITUATION QUESTIONS:

In this section, the applicant will be asked a series of questions related to their educational background and current employment status in Mexico. These are intended to ensure that applicants are not seeking to enter the Schengen zone to seek work in Europe with an ETIAS (this is not permitted with the travel authorisation).

6. COMPLETE A SELECTION OF SECURITY QUESTIONS:

To ensure that the goal of increasing border security in the Schengen zone is met, applicants will be required to answer a number of security questions when applying for an ETIAS. During this part of the application process, they will be asked if they have travelled to active conflict zones and whether or not they have a criminal record in Mexico. Mexican citizens will also be asked if they have been deported from a member state in the past.

7. INDICATE ANY FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY EUROPEAN CITIZENS YOU’RE VISITING (OPTIONAL):

During this optional step, applying Mexican citizens may be asked to confirm their relationship to any EU citizens or third-country nationals living in member states they will be staying with during their trip to the Schengen Area of Europe.

Once your application has been submitted, the information will be checked against numerous criminal, citizen and informational databases. This process will ensure that your details are correct and that your data can be stored, cross-referenced and shared with the correct authorities to guarantee you can enter the bloc safely and securely. These databases include:

• SIS
• VIS
• EUROPOL
• SLTD (INTERPOL)
• TDAWN (INTERPOL)
• EURODAC

The application will be processed electronically via these systems and should be approved within a few minutes up to a couple of days. Once approved, successful applicants will receive their ETIAS via email. From there it can be printed and presented along with a passport when entering the EU Schengen Area.