Mexican citizens now need a visa to visit Canada, as new Canadian visa requirements take effect this week.

If you’re a Mexican national planning a trip to Canada — whether to go to school, to scout out potential relocation opportunities, or simply to travel — 你必须先 apply for a Temporary Resident Visa 通过 加拿大驻华大使馆在墨西哥城.

加拿大公民身份和移民 (CIC) has created an FAQ section on its website with more information about the new visa requirements.

根据 an announcement from Citizenship, 移民和多元文化部长肯尼, the new visa requirements are the result of a huge increase in the number of Mexicans applying for refugee status in Canada:

来自墨西哥的难民申请以来几乎增加了两倍 2005, making it the number one source country for claims. 在 2008, 以上 9,400 claims filed in Canada came from Mexican nationals, representing 25 收到的所有索赔％. Of the Mexican claims reviewed and finalized in 2008 的移民和难民委员会, an independent administrative tribunal, 只 11 ％的人接受.

“In addition to creating significant delays and spiraling new costs in our refugee program, the sheer volume of these claims is undermining our ability to help people fleeing real persecution,说：“部长肯尼. “太经常, people who really need Canada’s protection find themselves in a long line, waiting for months and sometimes years to have their claims heard. 这是不能接受的.

“The visa requirement I am announcing will give us a greater ability to manage the flow of people into Canada and verify bona fides. By taking this important step towards reducing the burden on our refugee system, we will be better equipped to process genuine refugee claims faster.”

Mexican travelers, and the Canadian tourism industry, are understandably unhappy about the decision, 作为 this article from the Canadian press 报告.

More background information about the new visa requirement is available from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Photo by abdallahh (Flickrçš„)