Canada Visa: Why is Ottawa again imposing a travel document on Mexican tourists and what requirements do they have now?

Since 2016, Mexicans have been visiting Canada for short stays, e.g Tourism or businessThey just had to ask A Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).

But as of this announcement, All existing electronic travel agreements or orders for tourists will be cancelled., IRCC noted. Travelers must submit new requests depending on the type of trip they are taking.

For this reason, the Mexican Foreign Ministry said it regretted the decision, which came after weeks of talks in which the Mexican government proposed imposing “additional restrictions,” but without a visa.

She said in a statement, “Mexico regrets this decision and considers that there were other options before reaching the implementation of this measure.”

IRCC noted that as of this announcement, all electronic travel agreements in force or in effect will be automatically cancelled, even those for travelers who already have a scheduled flight.

friends Current US nonimmigrant visa Or those who have obtained a Canadian visa in the past ten years, will be able to enter Canada simply by applying for a new electronic travel authorization, which is obtained online in a few minutes.

But if a traveler does not have one of these visas to obtain an electronic travel authorization, they will have to Apply for a visitor visa Before entering Canada, a procedure that takes longer.

The same applies to those entering by land or sea, as the eTA only applies to air travel.

“These changes apply, even if you have already booked your travel. Having a prior travel reservation or a valid electronic travel authorization does not guarantee that you will be approved for a new electronic travel authorization or visa,” IRCC said.

Visa application process for Mexicans seeking a Work or study permit It won't change.

The Canadian government indicated that the decision comes to “preserve the integrity” of its immigration system.

“Today’s action will relieve pressure on Canada’s borders, immigration system, housing and social services, while maintaining the movement of Mexican citizens who wish to come to Canada,” IRCC said.

He emphasized that this would only affect 40% of Mexican travelers.

According to their statistics, requests for humanitarian asylum have increased 260 in 2016when the visa requirement was cancelled, to 23,995 in 2023.

Last year witnessed a record number of orders, according to the statement. Out of the total number of asylum applications, there is one application 60% of them were rejected or abandoned by immigrants.

“We are striving to balance the movement of people between our two great countries with the need to relieve pressure on our immigration system so we can provide protection to those who need it most,” Immigration Minister Mark Miller said.

Given this, Mexican Pres Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador He said that “other options could have been looked for” and that he had sent a message “A small, brotherly, respectful reproach.” To the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.

The Mexican President said, “We will search for options and alternatives, and we cannot cut ties with Canada or with other governments, because the economic exchange is very good, and Mexican workers go to Canada.”

Alejandro Hernandez, a sociologist at Concordia University (Montreal) who specializes in North American immigration issues, explains to BBC Mundo that reimposing visas on Mexicans responds to immigration challenges. Pressure from WashingtonAs well as in the interior regions of Canada in particular From the governorate Quebec.

“The United States constantly argues that the border with Canada is a porous border, as there is no infrastructure like that on its southern border,” Hernandez says. “They argue that it is an easy access point into the country.”

These pressures came at a time when Canadians expressed internal concerns “about the increase in demand for housing, and the implications of increased costs of living and inflation.”

“These are the things that people attribute to immigration, even though it is not immigration itself that caused it, but rather a combination of factors, including governments that have not historically supported things like housing construction,” Hernandez explains.

A year ago, Canadian Prime Minister and US President Joe Biden signed a border agreement to close a loophole that allowed asylum seekers to enter through unofficial points on the border between the two countries and submit asylum applications.

After that, many asylum seekers They began arriving by air.

But the pressures are also internal.

In the province of Quebec, the second largest province in Canada, its Prime Minister, François Legault, launched an active campaign on social networks and the media to re-impose the visa on Mexicans.

Legault said the county was in a state “breaking point” Due to the arrival of asylum seekers, which puts pressure on government services such as education and housing.

Nearly 60,000 new asylum seekers were registered in the province last year, and another 65,000 are expected to be registered this year. almost A quarter of them are from MexicoLegault confirmed.

He asked the Trudeau government for a budget of US$736 million to alleviate the situation.

However, Hernandez points out that Canadians They don't see Mexicans as the problem.. Just over 50,000 people born in Mexico or of Mexican origin live in the country, according to the 2021 census (0.5% of Canada's population).

“There's really no perception among Canadians about a group of immigrants of one nationality. It's not that they're saying the country is full of Mexicans. “People in general are concerned about economic issues,” says the sociologist.

“They wonder why they should receive more immigration if things are not going well.”

For many years, Canada has followed a policy of openness towards asylum seekers and immigration. But the current political environment and the difficulties of Canadians' daily lives It has an impact on citizens' perceptions.

“In general, the perspective towards immigrants is changing, but it is not something new. In the 1980s, Canada experienced serious economic problems. The level of unemployment, the cost of living, interest rates, and unemployment among young people rose. In this scenario there was a rise,” Hernandez explains. “It is much more clear than now, and it is a clear expression of sentiment against immigrants and refugees. Much more than now, and it is much softer.”

“There has always been anti-immigrant sentiment, but it is expressed in a different way than in the United States, for example. It's more accurate“.