Changes to electronic travel authorization (eTA) and visitor visa requirements for Mexican citizens
What’s changed
As of 11:30 p.m. ET on February 29, 2024, Mexican citizens travelling to Canada
- need to apply for a visitor visa (if they are not eligible for an eTA anymore)
If you had an eTA issued to your Mexican passport before 11:30 p.m. ET on February 29, 2024, and you don’t have a valid study or work permit, it has now been cancelled. You won’t be able to use it to travel.
If you have a valid work or study permit
IRCC did not cancel your eTA. You can continue to travel to Canada by air with your existing eTA, as long as it’s still valid. However, since October 2024, airlines in Mexico are experiencing problems identifying valid eTAs, and consequently denying travels. There are no guarantees that your eTA will be recognized as valid by the airlines.
How to overcome eTA not recognized as valid
When an airline says that your eTA is not valid, when in fact it is valid. You can try giving them the original IRCC approval letter. The original IRCC approval letter indicates the duration of the eTA. Alternatively, you can avoid travel until you get the new TRV. An eTA and TRV are different.
Whats the difference between TRV and eTA
A TRV is a temporary resident visa. When you apply for a TRV, IRCC will request your passport so that they can affix the visa counterfoil (sticker) into your passport, so you can travel to Canada.
An eTA is an electronic number that is attached to your passport. There is no sticker and no visa. The eTA, in general, is searchable using a special tool. However, when you apply for a study permit or work permit and the eTA is issued with your study or work permit, you cannot use the tool to find it. The only place you can access your eTA is on the approval letter issued by IRCC or the on-line portal where you applied.