Mexico made it official that as of the 18th it will once again require a physical visa for Brazilian citizens who want to enter the country. The information was confirmed by the embassy in Brazil this Wednesday (3) — Mexican vehicles anticipated the government’s plan.
Today, to get permission to cross the border, all you need is an electronic authorization issued by the National Institute of Migration. From the 18th, Brazilians will need to schedule an appointment and go to the embassy in Brasília or the consulates in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to obtain the document.
The electronic visa had been implemented by Mexico at the end of 2021. Among other factors, the change took place amid pressure from the United States, which is experiencing a climate crisis on the southern border – for which more and more Brazilians are trying to enter irregularly. The number of people barred has been growing: there were 5,118 in May this year, against just over 1,300 in March, according to the Border Control Department.
The Brazilians are just part of a movement that should break a new record. The total number of people barred at the border has been above 200,000 per month since March and, in May, reached 239,000, the highest monthly figure ever recorded – double what was seen in 2021.
The rise has several reasons: if many Latin American countries face economic crises, the US has job vacancies; another point is the perception that Joe Biden would be more tolerant of immigration than his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Before the implementation of the electronic visa, the ordinary Brazilian passport was enough to enter Mexico. The system, however, has been facing problems since May, causing tourists to miss trips, protesting outside consulates and on the internet and organizing collective efforts to help strangers.
Now, starting on the 18th, the physical visa procedure will involve scheduling an appointment through the Mexican embassy website. For the document, you must present a copy of the identity document, the passport and a form and pay a fee of US$ 48 (R$ 253.62, at the current exchange rate). It is valid for 180 days.
There are exceptions, however. People who have a valid visa for Canada, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland or any of the countries that make up the Schengen agreement – treaty of free movement between European nations will not need to issue a physical Mexican visa.
Those who have a fixed residence in these countries will also not need to issue a new document with the government of Mexico.
In the announcement on social networks, the Brazilian embassy in Mexico has already received complaints. A user, for example, complains that he is going to travel on August 19 and already has an electronic visa, but not a physical one. Another claims that he sent emails to the agency and had no response, while a third claims that he is unable to schedule the interview to issue the document.
