Adedokun Waliyu 
Immigration Minister Marc Miller says Canada will bring back visa requirements for people from Mexico because of a spike in asylum claims in recent years.
Miller says Mexicans accounted for 17 per cent of all asylum claimants in 2023, and most of their claims are either rejected or withdrawn by the applicants.
Quebec Premier François Legault has been urging Ottawa to make the change, telling the federal government his province is reaching a breaking point because of the number of claims.
Mexican citizens flying to Canada will be able to apply for an electronic travel authorization if they have held a Canadian visa within the last decade or if they have a valid U.S. visa.
Miller says this means most people travelling from Mexico will be able to travel visa-free because many of them have a U.S. visa already.
The changes take effect as of 11:30 p.m. ET.
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada reacted with concern Wednesday evening, saying it fears longer processing times for visitors who are major contributors to the economy.
“While we understand the government’s objective to streamline the process and ensure a robust immigration system, the potential repercussions on the tourism sector, still recuperating from the effects of previous travel restrictions, cannot be overlooked,” president and CEO Beth Potter said in a statement.
The association said Mexican visitors spent more than $750 million in Canada last year, adding it wants the government to implement service standards that guarantee prompt visa processing.
Last month, Canada’s Immigration Department denied an assertion from Mexico that a pact between the two countries was already curbing asylum claims in Canada.
Mexico’s Foreign Ministry said both countries were undertaking unspecified “joint measures,” which it credited for a decline in the number of claims filed in December.
Data from Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada show December saw 500 fewer asylum claims from Mexican citizens compared to the previous month.
But the department said decreases were typical at that time of year.
“Claims fluctuate monthly for a variety of reasons, such as availability of flights and costs,” it said in a statement at the time.
“We remain concerned with the overall growing trend of Mexican asylum claimants, and that is why the government of Canada is monitoring these trends and remains committed to protecting the integrity of its immigration system and the safety and security of Canadians.”
