From historical sites to delicious food, cultural programs, and world-famous beaches, it’s no secret why Mexico is the sixth-most visited country in the world. During the pandemic, the country has added another reason for its popularity: easy access and minimal COVID-19 entry requirements. While other countries have shut their borders and published a long list of citizens barred from entry, Mexico continues to welcome foreign tourists from around the world. In fact, Indian nationals can take advantage and plan their own trip to Mexico.

Travellers planning a holiday to this sunny country should make sure to check the Mexico visa requirements for Indian citizens, as well as stay up to date on the latest coronavirus restrictions.

The current situation in Mexico

Mexico has just passed its third wave and cases have dropped down to a fifth of what they were during the peak. At the moment, Mexico has a total of almost 4 million cases for a country with a total population of about 129 million.

As daily cases decline, vaccination rollout efforts expand. Over the past month, the country has gone from 34 percent to 41 percent of locals being fully vaccinated, while those having at least one dose have passed the 55 percent mark.

To curb the spread of the coronavirus, the Mexican government has introduced a stoplight system across the country.

Each of the 32 Mexican states is assigned a color ranging from green, yellow, orange, or red, with specific restrictions corresponding to that color.

The latest update on October 22 revealed that the majority of the states are either green or yellow, with only one state (Baja California) being orange.

Green states, such as Quintana Roo, Oaxaca, and Veracruz have no restrictions at all. On the other hand, yellow states are allowed to operate their social and economic activities at a capacity of 75 percent and require that masks be worn in all closed public areas.

Orange states place a stricter capacity on establishments and require places to operate at a 50 percent capacity, while red states are authorized to impose lockdowns, curfews, and closures as they see fit.

Mexico entry requirements

Compared to other countries around the world, Mexico’s entry requirements are fairly lax.

At the moment, Mexico does not require foreign visitors to provide a negative PCR or antigen test nor go into quarantine. Likewise, there is no concept of a list of approved or banned citizens (unlike countries such as the United Kingdom) and all are welcome so long as they have the proper documents.

To travel to Mexico, Indian citizens must have three things: a valid visa, a Mexican Tourist Card, and a health form.

Indians travellers can choose from a variety of different visa types, including for tourism, business, and transit purposes.

The Mexico tourism visa allows Indians to stay in the country for up to 180 days and must be applied for in-person at an embassy or consulate.

The next requirement is a Mexican Tourist Card (also known as Forma Migratoria Multiple or FMM), which is an electronic travel authorization that began as a way to simplify the entry process for foreign visitors.

The form is filled out online and takes less than 15 minutes to do so. Travellers will need to provide their personal information, passport data, contact information, and details of their planned itinerary (i.e. accommodation address and arrival flight number).

Last but not least, travelling during the pandemic means that there is one important document to fill out. This is the Vuela Seguro (“fly safely”) form, which helps mitigate the risk of spreading the coronavirus by making sure that all arrivals are accounted for.

Traveling from India to Mexico

Those who are planning to visit Mexico should be pleased to know that there are plenty of airlines that have connections from India.

The most popular airline hubs in Mexico include the capital (Mexico City International Airport) as well as popular resort destinations like Cancun, Cozumel, and Puerto Vallarta International Airport.

Although the journey is too long to be considered for a non-stop flight, there are many routes that include a layover in hubs like Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Frankfurt, among others.

Likewise, the most common routes are serviced by major airlines such as United, Qatar Airways, Air France, KLM, Aeromexico, and Lufthansa.

Still undecided where to go? Mexico has an endless amount of interesting places to visit, from turquoise beaches to colourful towns, ancient ruins, and more.

Those looking for a beach vacation will love the Mayan Riviera, which includes the popular resort towns of Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Attracting some five million tourists a year, this stretch of paradise offers ritzy all-inclusive resorts, crystal clear waters, and plenty of sunshine.

On the other hand, those looking to experience something more off the beaten path should add the Copper Canyon on their itinerary. This natural formation, located in Chihuahua state, was formed by six rivers and is larger and deeper than its cousin, the Grand Canyon!

Finally, Mexico City offers plenty of culture and art thanks to its many galleries, museums, and events. With its delicious restaurants, comfortable hotels, and worldwide airport connections, Mexico City makes for an excellent start (or end) to any trip.