Overview

• The Diario Oficial de la Federación published the new General Guidelines for visa issuance on July 25, initiating Mexico’s first major visa reform in over a decade.
• The Visa Electrónica will fully replace the 2014 Sistema de Autorización Electrónica and allows online processing through a QR-coded authorization issued by the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs.
• Eligible travelers will receive a 180-day visa valid for one air entry only, with land and sea crossings expressly excluded.
• Digital consular files will record biometric and electronic data, eliminating the need for physical photographs and paper document submissions.
• The rules take effect 15 days after publication, and the SRE must launch the electronic visa platform within 180 days while notifying which nationalities can apply.