Transit rules · Mexico
Layover in Mexico: transit visa and leaving the airport
Since 22 October 2023 Mexico requires anyone who needs a Mexican visa to carry it even for an immediate connection at a Mexican airport, so there is no visa-free airside transit for visa-required nationals. Anyone, of any nationality, is exempt from the Mexican visa if they hold a valid visa of Canada, the US, Japan, the UK or a Schengen country, or permanent residence in those countries or in a Pacific Alliance country (Chile, Colombia, Peru). Visa-exempt visitors may stay up to 180 days for tourism, transit or business. Brazilians need a visa, available since 5 February 2026 as a single-entry, air-only electronic visa.
At a glance, by passport
| Passport | Change planes airside | Leave the airport |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 180 days |
| Canada | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 180 days |
| United Kingdom | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 180 days |
| Australia | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 180 days |
| New Zealand | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 180 days |
| EU / EEA / Switzerland | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 180 days |
| India | Airport transit visa needed, unless an exemption applies | Not without a visa · 180 days |
| China (mainland) | Airport transit visa needed, unless an exemption applies | Not without a visa · 180 days |
| Brazil | Airport transit visa needed, unless an exemption applies | Only with an e-visa |
| Mexico | – | Yes, you are at home here |
| South Africa | Airport transit visa needed, unless an exemption applies | Not without a visa · 180 days |
| Philippines | Airport transit visa needed, unless an exemption applies | Not without a visa · 180 days |
| Japan | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 180 days |
| South Korea | No document needed to stay airside | Yes, no visa needed · 180 days |
Changing planes without leaving the airport
Airside means you stay behind passport control: you walk from one gate to the next and never formally enter Mexico. Many countries let you do that without any document, some ask for an online authorisation or a transit visa even for this.
Holders of United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, Japan and South Korea passports can change planes airside without any document. India, China (mainland), Brazil, South Africa and Philippines passports need a transit visa to connect, unless one of the official exemptions applies.
Leaving the airport
To see the city you pass immigration and enter Mexico like any visitor, so the normal entry rule for your passport applies, however short your stay.
Without a visa: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, Japan and South Korea. With an e-visa applied for before the trip: Brazil. Only with a visa: India, China (mainland), South Africa and Philippines. Mexico citizens are at home here.
Transit rules in Mexico
Entry/transit with a third-country visa or residence (any nationality)
Who: Holders of a valid visa of Canada, US, Japan, UK or a Schengen country, or permanent residence in Canada, US, Japan, UK, Schengen or Pacific Alliance countries (Chile, Colombia, Peru)
- Present the valid visa / residence card with the passport
- Purpose: tourism, business or transit, no paid activity
- Stay up to 180 days
Source: Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (gob.mx) , Instituto Nacional de Migración , Consulado General de México en Washington (SRE)
Your passport in detail
United States passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Visa-exempt for tourism, transit, business (no paid activity). Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Visa-exempt nationality.
Official source: Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
Canada passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Visa-exempt. Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Visa-exempt nationality.
Official source: Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
United Kingdom passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Visa-exempt. Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Visa-exempt nationality.
Official source: Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
Australia passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Visa-exempt. Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Visa-exempt nationality.
Official source: Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
New Zealand passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Visa-exempt. Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Visa-exempt nationality.
Official source: Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
EU / EEA / Switzerland passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Visa-exempt. Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside All 27 EU states (incl. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are on the visa-exempt list.
Official source: Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
India passport
Leave the airport: Not without a visa Mexican visa, OR enter visa-free with a valid US/CA/JP/UK/Schengen visa or permanent residence (incl. Pacific Alliance). Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: Airport transit visa needed, unless an exemption applies Visa required even for an immediate airport connection (Mexican visitor visa; there is no separate airport transit visa). Exempt if holding a valid US, Canada, Japan, UK or Schengen visa, or permanent residence there or in Chile/Colombia/Peru.
Official source: Información para personas extranjeras en tránsito por México (joint communiqué Gobernación, SRE, INM, 21 Oct 2023) , Países y regiones que requieren visa para viajar a México (published 1/03/2024) , Visas (Español) , Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
China (mainland) passport
Leave the airport: Not without a visa Mexican visa or the US/CA/JP/UK/Schengen visa/residence exemption. Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: Airport transit visa needed, unless an exemption applies Same as India: visa needed even to connect, unless holding a valid US/CA/JP/UK/Schengen visa or qualifying permanent residence. (Hong Kong and Macao SAR passports are visa-exempt.)
Official source: Información para personas extranjeras en tránsito por México (joint communiqué Gobernación, SRE, INM, 21 Oct 2023) , Países y regiones que requieren visa para viajar a México (published 1/03/2024) , Visas (Español) , Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
Brazil passport
Leave the airport: Only with an e-visa Electronic visa (single entry, by air only, visitor without paid activity) or consular visa (multiple entry, 180 days to 10 years); or the US/CA/JP/UK/Schengen visa/residence exemption.
Change planes airside: Airport transit visa needed, unless an exemption applies Brazilians need a Mexican visa (consular, or since 5 Feb 2026 an electronic single-entry air-only visa), which also applies to airport connections. The general exemption for holders of a valid US/CA/JP/UK/Schengen visa or permanent residence applies regardless of nationality.
Official source: Electronic Visa for Brazilian Nationals (Press Release 021/2026, 8 Feb 2026) , Países y regiones que requieren visa para viajar a México (published 1/03/2024) , Información para personas extranjeras en tránsito por México (joint communiqué Gobernación, SRE, INM, 21 Oct 2023)
Mexico passport
Yes, you are at home here
South Africa passport
Leave the airport: Not without a visa Mexican visa or the visa/residence exemption. Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: Airport transit visa needed, unless an exemption applies South Africa is not on the visa-exempt list: visa needed even to connect, unless holding a valid US/CA/JP/UK/Schengen visa or qualifying permanent residence.
Official source: Información para personas extranjeras en tránsito por México (joint communiqué Gobernación, SRE, INM, 21 Oct 2023) , Países y regiones que requieren visa para viajar a México (published 1/03/2024) , Visas (Español) , Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
Philippines passport
Leave the airport: Not without a visa Mexican visa or the visa/residence exemption. Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: Airport transit visa needed, unless an exemption applies Philippines is not on the visa-exempt list: visa needed even to connect, unless holding a valid US/CA/JP/UK/Schengen visa or qualifying permanent residence.
Official source: Información para personas extranjeras en tránsito por México (joint communiqué Gobernación, SRE, INM, 21 Oct 2023) , Países y regiones que requieren visa para viajar a México (published 1/03/2024) , Visas (Español) , Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
Japan passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Visa-exempt. Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Visa-exempt nationality.
Official source: Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
South Korea passport
Leave the airport: Yes, no visa needed Visa-exempt. Stay: 180 days.
Change planes airside: No document needed to stay airside Visa-exempt nationality (República de Corea).
Official source: Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días
How much time you get in the city
Being allowed out is half the answer; the other half is the clock. Count the time to get off the plane and through immigration, the trip into town and back, and getting back early enough for security and the gate. Mexico City International Airport (AICM, Benito Juárez) (MEX): the fastest public option, Metrobús Line 4 from the terminal to the Centro Histórico (traffic dependent), takes about 50 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 6 h 15 min.
The planner on each airport page does this for your own flight times and lets you change every assumption.
Questions
Do I need a transit visa for Mexico?
Holders of United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, Japan and South Korea passports can change planes airside without any document. India, China (mainland), Brazil, South Africa and Philippines passports need a transit visa to connect, unless one of the official exemptions applies.
Can I leave the airport during a layover in Mexico?
It depends on your passport. Without a visa: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, EU / EEA / Switzerland, Japan and South Korea. With an e-visa applied for before the trip: Brazil. Only with a visa: India, China (mainland), South Africa and Philippines. Mexico citizens are at home here.
How long a layover do I need to leave the airport?
With our cautious defaults (45 minutes to get out, the trip into town and back plus 20%, 120 minutes back before departure, at least 90 minutes in the city): Mexico City International Airport (AICM, Benito Juárez) (MEX): the fastest public option, Metrobús Line 4 from the terminal to the Centro Histórico (traffic dependent), takes about 50 minutes, so plan a layover of at least 6 h 15 min.
Official sources
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Información para personas extranjeras en tránsito por México (joint communiqué Gobernación, SRE, INM, 21 Oct 2023) (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (gob.mx)):
deben portar la visa correspondiente, aun cuando realicen tránsito inmediato a través de aeropuertos. ... A partir del 22 de octubre de 2023, se deberá cumplir este requisito para abordar cualquier vuelo con destino a México.
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Países y regiones que requieren visa para viajar a México (published 1/03/2024) (Instituto Nacional de Migración):
Visa válida y vigente de Canadá, de los Estados Unidos de América, Japón, el Reino Unido [o Espacio Schengen] ... residencia permanente ... así como en los países miembros de la Alianza del Pacífico (Chile, Colombia y Perú)
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Visitantes que no requieren visa, con estancia de hasta 180 días (Consulado General de México en Montreal (SRE)):
por una temporalidad no mayor a 180 días, y que no reciban remuneración alguna en territorio nacional ... en tránsito, de negocios, técnicas, de corresponsal y de estudios
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Visas (Español) (Consulado General de México en Washington (SRE)):
Cualquier persona que cumpla con los siguientes criterios no necesitará una visa mexicana, sin importar su nacionalidad. ... no necesita visa para entrar a México por motivos de turismo, negocios o tránsito.
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Electronic Visa for Brazilian Nationals (Press Release 021/2026, 8 Feb 2026) (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (gob.mx)):
The electronic visa for Brazilian nationals took effect on February 5, 2026 ... for a single entry exclusively by air. ... The electronic visa does not substitute or replace the consular visa.
Checked against these sources on 2026-11-01. Rules change; the airline and the border officer have the final word. Found something out of date? Tell us.