The Mexican government has difficulty digesting Canada’s decision to reimpose visas on its nationals and says it reserves the right to respond.
• Read also: Canada reimposes visas for Mexicans
“Mexico regrets this decision and considers that other options existed before the implementation of this measure. Mexico of course reserves the right to act reciprocally,” reads a statement released Thursday by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The embassy explains that it has sent two “high-level missions” in the last two weeks to negotiate everything with Canada “to reiterate the importance of protecting people who are victims of fraud, trafficking, smuggling and disinformation maneuvers” .
These missions succeeded in softening Canada’s initial position – which initially wanted visas for all Mexican citizens, according to the embassy – to only impose visas on those who have not set foot in Canada or in the United States for 10 years. Those who arrived in Canada with an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) since 2016 are also affected.
These two categories of people now required to obtain a visa represent approximately 40% of Mexican citizens who travel to Canada.
Temporary workers, including agricultural workers and Mexican students, are not covered.
Announced Thursday morning by the federal Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, the new policy must come into force this evening at 11:30 p.m.
Some “flexibility” is planned for those arriving this evening and tomorrow morning, but thereafter entry into Canada will require the presentation of a visa, even if plane tickets were purchased before the new policy, explained Minister Miller’s office.
Customs officers at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) could have discretion over deadlines.