Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday that Canada will lift visa requirements for Mexican visitors as of December 2016, removing a major irritant in relations between the two countries.
Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto made the announcement in Ottawa ahead of Wednesday’s North American leaders’ summit with U.S. President Barack Obama.
Pena Nieto also announced Mexico has agreed to open its markets to Canadian beef.
“We are here to renew the relationship,” Pena Nieto said. “There were some rocks on the way and one was the visa.”
Canada’s previous Conservative government imposed the visa requirement in 2009, claiming it was needed to stop thousands of asylum claims being made by Mexican citizens. The requirement caught the Mexican government off guard, and it marred relations.
The Liberal Party promised during last year’s election campaign that the visa requirement would be lifted, but the process has been fraught with delays.
“This move will make it easier for Mexicans friends to visit Canada while growing our local economy,” Trudeau said. Trudeau also said the opening of Mexico to Canadian beef will help Canadian farmers.
Pena Nieto will attend a state dinner in his honor on Tuesday night.
Trudeau also hosted a banquet for the Mexican president Monday in Toronto, where the prime minister said the two leaders would continue discussions touching on the flow of people and goods between their countries.
A White House adviser said Monday that Wednesday’s summit will focus on a North American-wide commitment to cut methane emissions and release what the adviser said will be a comprehensive North American climate, clean energy and environment partnership.
A North American leaders’ summit was scheduled to be held last year but was cancelled amid the Canada-U.S. dispute over the Keystone XL oil pipeline and the dispute over the visa requirement.
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I’m not positive it’s going to be that simple, much as I want it to be! The Canadian conservatives were pushing hard for some type of electronic visa that expedited things. I wonder if there’s going to be something like that? I have to wonder why this promised lifting of the visa requirement isn’t effective immediately. What will they be doing for the next six months until this takes effect?
Atzi Alo Fernandez Velazco
Fabiola Morales Trujillo – by next year you won’t need a visa!!!!!
I know!! I’m so happy!! ??
???
A mistake for sure! Statistics speak for themselves since the introduction of visa requirements
Well that’s good news!
I personally know three Mexicans who are going to enter Canada and have no intentions of leaving as soon as the visa requirement is lifted……they were unable to obtain one when they applied……I hope this isn’t the case for thousands of others as well……they never made anything of themselves here and it will be no different in Canada…….
Walk around Puerto Vallarta, there are plenty of Americans and Canadians that never made anything of themselves either, now they are ‘rental specialists’. ;-)
Justin Loman can’t argue with you on that one……but we do have a welfare system that people love to abuse……you want to eat here, you have to work……..
Timeshare salesmen many were / are wanted by US or Canadian authorities for fraud or tax evasion…
Not so easy to get welfare any more and living on it good luck..lmao.
Another option to enter US illegally?
Canada is it’s own country. They don’t need to consider the sensitivities of the racist Americans while creating policy for their country. Looks like you will need 2 imaginary walls.
Yes….and I’m all for it!
Why would someone want to go to the US when they could stay in Canada?
No Kathy….but extremely easy to get….flying into Mexico from the US…..while on the plane….you fill out a simple little form….go through immigration and customs….they stamp, stamp, stamp….and out you go will a little form tucked into your passport….visa good for 180 days (6 months).
Is that with that little paper is? Are you sure of that?
I’ve been traveling back and forth for years…that’s what itvsays.
Has Mexico lifted visa requirements for Canadian and U.S. Citizens? Just asking.
You have never needed to apply for a Visa to enter Mexico from the U.S. or Canada. You sign a piece of paper in-flight that gives 180 days permission or ‘tourist visa’ but it’s not the same as U.S. and Canada requiring Mexicans to seek approval through the Embassy first with a lengthy application process, fees, and interviews.
Sounds a little sarcastic. ….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Canadian_citizens We Canadians are pretty fortunate.
Jeff Hughes, it wasn’t meant that way at all.
Puerto Vallarta News I didn’t know I signed something equivalent to a temporary visa! Are you sure about that?
Carey Chitrena Yes, absolutely it’s a tourist Visa.
Puerto Vallarta News ohh! Shows how closely I was reading it! Did it say that on the paper?
Yes it does…
Maybe the US should also….