European visa: EU will request special permission from Mexicans from 2023

As of May 2023, that is, in less than 12 months, Mexicans who want to travel to some of the countries that make up the European Union will need special permits to do so.

This new requirement for Mexican citizens who wish to visit any of the EU nations aims to reduce illegal migration to the European continent, improve the security of its borders, as well as combat “criminal and terrorist” activities.

This new permit or European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will allow travelers from the Mexican Republic to visit the countries of the European Union for a maximum period of 90 days over 3 years.

The document that will allow Mexicans to travel to the European Union can be processed online and will have a cost, although the amount for this has not yet been disclosed, it will be essential to be able to finalize the request.

Likewise, in order to process the European Travel Information and Authorization System, a valid Mexican passport, a credit or debit card, as well as a functional email address will be required.

According to the European Union, with this new permit, Mexicans will be able to visit, within the aforementioned period, the following countries, which are within the Schengen area:

1. Germany
2. Austria
3. Belgium
4. Denmark
5. Slovakia
6. Slovenia
7. Estonia
8. Spain
9. Finland
10. France
11. Greece
12. Hungary
13. Italy
14. Latvia
15. Lithuania
16. Luxembourg
17. Malt
18. Netherlands
19. Poland
20. Portugal
21. Czech Republic
22. Sweden

In addition to the previous countries, this pass will also allow visits to nations that do not belong to the European Union, such as Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Iceland, as well as countries that are not in the Schengen area, such as Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Croatia.

“Instead of Mexicans needing a permit for France or Spain and limiting themselves to visiting a single country, they will have the authorization to enter the Schengen block and travel freely through the area for 3 months,” it was noted.

It is worth mentioning that, according to what was explained by the doctor in International Relations and European Integration and associate of the Mexican Council of International Affairs (COMEXI), Mónica Laborda, this permit is not a visa, since it is only requested information for security reasons.