Canada has renewed its visa requirements for Mexican visitors amid rising numbers of asylum claims from Mexican nationals.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller made the announcement Feb. 29 at a press conference in Ottawa, saying the measures will take effect at 11:30 p.m. the same day.
“This clearly was not done,” he added, “so we had to take a decision.”
The rule follows months of discussions between the two countries over the rise in the number of Mexicans entering Canada.New Rules
The newly announced measures will apply to two distinct groups: Mexican citizens with a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa or those who have held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years, and are flying on a Mexican passport, will qualify to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). Those not meeting these criteria must now apply for a Canadian visitor visa.Mexican citizens with a valid work or study permit can continue to travel to Canada by air using their existing eTA, provided it remains valid. They can continue their studies or work in Canada according to their permit’s conditions.
Mexican visitors in Canada on an eTA can remain for their authorized period up to six months from arrival. However, if they leave Canada and wish to return, they must possess the correct travel documents (visa or new eTA).
‘Border Integrity’
Mr. Miller defended the new measures at the press conference, emphasizing Canada’s “sovereign right to take decisions” and that Ottawa conferred with Mexico during the process.“We established with [Mexico] at the highest level that our borders must be secure,” he said.
“There must be border integrity,” he added.
He said Mexico was encouraged to take steps on their end to address the issue and that the measures were revisable if circumstances changed. He told reporters that visitors from other countries, such as Uganda and Colombia, may come under similar requirements in the future.
“They are in negotiations to reach an agreement so that we can control migratory flows from Canada,” he stated in Spanish during a press conference.
“We have acted generously with them, with the government of Prime Minister Trudeau, but they were already on the verge of applying unilateral measures,” he added.
Mr. Miller said on Feb. 29 that he saw “no indication confirming [Mexico’s] unhappiness.”
When asked by reporters if the move was a “complete reversal” of the Liberal government’s immigration policy, Mr. Miller replied “not at all.”
“I think since the beginning of 2015, the impression has been that the Liberal government has just flung the doors wide open, that’s not true. We’ve always supported the integrity of the system.”
He said the pandemic increased numbers “exponentially,” so the government “had to act” in response.
Reacting to the news, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre welcomed the decision, connecting the “false claimants” to an overwhelming of Canada’s social services and housing market.
