Alza Kryeziu
The Canadian government has announced the reinstatement of visa requirements for Mexican nationals.
The decision comes after repeated calls from Quebec Premier François Legault, who has asked federal authorities to address the escalating influx of asylum seekers in the province.
In a recent announcement through a post on X social media account on February 22, Legault stressed the urgent need for Ottawa to take action, citing Quebec’s burden of accommodating some 160,000 asylum seekers, VisaGuide.World reports.
Specifically, Legault called for the reinstatement of visa requirements for Mexican travelers, a demographic that contributes significantly to the influx of asylum seekers entering through Montreal-Trudeau Airport.
Quebec receives 55 percent, while it represents 22 percent of the Canadian population. The one who has the power to act is Prime Minister Trudeau. I will meet with him in the coming weeks to talk to him about this issue. The federal government must take its responsibilities.
Mexico Leads Asylum Seekers in Canada with 25,000 Applications in 2023
Last year, over 25,000 Mexicans sought asylum in Canada, making Mexico the leading source of asylum claims, as reported by statistics from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. The number of pending requests from Mexico currently stands at more than 28,000.
As a result of the increase in the number of illegal crossings, the United States government asked Ottawa to reinstate the visa requirement for Mexican citizens.
Taking advantage of Canada’s visa-free policy, some Mexican nationals are reportedly using this route to enter the country and then cross into the United States illegally.
The upcoming visa requirement is set to affect approximately 40 percent of all Mexican travelers to Canada.
In late 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration waived the visa requirement for Mexican visitors, eliminating a long-standing contention point in bilateral relations between Canada and Mexico.
However, the new regulations mean a partial return to the pre-2016 visa regime. Some exceptions will apply, including Mexican nationals with specific types of US visas and those entering Canada for study or employment who will not be required to obtain Canadian visas.
In addition, individuals who previously obtained valid visas within the last decade under the previous system will not be required to reapply under the updated requirements.
Under the new system, visas will be valid for ten years, allowing multiple entries into Canada, with each permitted stay for up to six months.