On January 7, 2022, the Decree establishing a visa requirement for Venezuelan nationals with regular passports entering Mexico without work authorization (the “Decree”) was published in the Official Journal of the Federation. The Decree will enter into force on January 22, 2022. Beginning on such date, Venezuelan nationals who seek entry to Mexico as visitors, without work authorization, will be required to file an application for a visa in accordance with the terms set forth in the General Rules for visa issuance issued by the Mexican Departments of Governance and State and Foreign Relations, published in the Official Journal of the Federation on October 10, 2014.
The determination of the Mexican government to require visas for Venezuelan nationals derives from a substantial increase in Venezuelan citizens entering Mexico with an intent other than as permitted visitors without work authorization, and the increase in false statements from Venezuelan travelers, among others.
It is important to note that the fact that a person has a visitor visa does not guarantee that the immigration officer will allow entry at the port of entry into Mexico. Immigration officials have discretionary authority to permit or deny entry if they determine inconsistencies exist in the information provided by those seeking entry to the country.
