Move to Canada from Mexico
Mexico is Canada's third trade partner and one of its fastest-growing sources of skilled workers, students and seasonal labour, and the CUSMA agreement gives Mexican professionals a work-permit route almost no other nationality has. It also has a visa rule that changed in 2024 and a Working Holiday that, despite what many sites say, does not exist. This guide sets out every route to move to Canada from Mexico in 2026, what each requires, what it costs, how long it takes, and what is different for Mexican applicants.
Key takeaways
Mexican citizens have a route most nationalities lack, the CUSMA professional and intra-company permits, but no Working Holiday and, since 2024, a visitor-visa requirement for most travellers. Express Entry rewards English and especially French; Spanish does not count. Dual nationality is allowed on both sides.
- Visits: visitor visa for most; eTA only with a valid US visa or a Canadian visa in the past ten years, by air.
- CUSMA: professional permit (T23) for about 60 listed occupations with a job offer and degree; intra-company (T24); traders and investors (T22).
- No IEC Working Holiday for Mexico in 2026.
- Express Entry: English or French test, ECA, NOC code; French at CLB 7 opens category draws with low cut-offs.
- Study then PGWP remains a planned route to PR at public institutions.
- Both countries allow dual nationality.
How to move to Canada from Mexico
To move to Canada from Mexicois to secure Canadian status, a work or study permit or permanent residence, through a federal or provincial program. Mexico's position is unusual. The CUSMA trade agreement gives Mexican professionals, executives, traders and investors LMIA-exempt work permits that Europeans, Indians and Filipinos cannot use. Against that, Mexico is not an International Experience Canada partner, so the Working Holiday route that carries so many young Europeans and Australians into Canada is closed, and since February 2024 most Mexican travellers need a visitor visa again. Mexican applicants also face the same 2026 arithmetic as everyone: general Express Entry cut-offs above 500 unless a category, a nomination or French applies, and French is the lever we push hardest with Spanish speakers, who learn it faster than most.
The main routes from Mexico at a glance
| Route | Who it fits | What you need | 2026 reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUSMA professional (T23) | Mexican citizens with a Canadian job offer in a listed profession | Job offer, the degree or licence the list requires, proof of citizenship | No LMIA; issued at a port of entry (with eTA) or online; up to three years, renewable |
| CUSMA intra-company transferee (T24) | Managers, executives and specialised-knowledge staff of a company with a Canadian branch | One year with the company in the last three, a Canadian entity | No LMIA; the standard multinational route |
| CUSMA trader or investor (T22) | Owners and key staff of Mexican businesses trading with or investing in Canada | Substantial trade or investment, Mexican nationality of the business | Less used; needs a real business case |
| LMIA work permit | Any occupation with an employer willing to file an LMIA | Positive LMIA, job offer, TRV | Trades, agriculture, hospitality, trucking; 2026 LMIA rules are tighter |
| Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program | Farm workers under the Canada-Mexico bilateral program | Selection through Mexico's STPS | Seasonal, up to eight months; not a PR route by itself |
| Express Entry (FSW, CEC) | Skilled workers with TEER 0 to 3 experience | English or French test, ECA, NOC code, competitive CRS | From abroad needs a category (French, STEM, health, trades) or a nomination; CEC after a year in Canada |
| Provincial nomination | Workers with a job in a province | Alberta Worker EOI, BC registration, Ontario or other province's stream | 600 CRS points; provinces prioritise in-province workers |
| Study permit then PGWP | Students at public institutions in PGWP-eligible programs | Acceptance, attestation letter, funds, TRV | A planned route to PR; Mexican students are a large group in Canada |
| Spousal sponsorship | Partners of Canadians and PRs | Genuine relationship, eligible sponsor | About 17 months outland, 27 inland; free first call with us |
Visa or eTA: the 2024 rule
Between 2016 and February 2024 Mexicans were visa-exempt. Since 29 February 2024 most need a visitor visa ($100 plus $85 biometrics, two to ten weeks). You can use an eTA ($7, minutes to days) only if you hold a valid Mexican passport, arrive by air for six months or less, and either hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past ten years. Driving across from the US always needs the visa. This matters for immigration planning: a CUSMA professional permit can be issued at the airport only if you are eTA-eligible; otherwise you apply online first and the permit is issued when you land.
There is no Working Holiday for Mexicans
CUSMA work permits: the Mexican advantage
CUSMA (the successor to NAFTA) gives Mexican and American citizens LMIA-exempt work permits in four categories. Professionals (exemption code T23): about 60 listed occupations, including engineers, accountants, architects, computer systems analysts, management consultants, scientists, nurses, physicians (teaching and research), teachers at college and university level, technical publications writers and graphic designers, each with a required degree or licence and a pre-arranged Canadian job offer in that profession. Intra-company transferees (T24): executives, managers and specialised-knowledge employees moving to a Canadian branch after a year with the company. Traders and investors (T22). And business visitors (T21), who need no permit for meetings, after-sales service and training. The professional permit is the one we use most for Mexican clients: an employer who cannot face an LMIA can still hire a Mexican engineer or analyst in weeks, and the Canadian experience it produces feeds the Canadian Experience Class a year later.
Express Entry from Mexico
Express Entry manages the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. You create a free profile, are scored out of 1,200 on the CRS, and wait for a round whose cut-off you meet. For Mexican applicants the preparation is an English test (IELTS General, CELPIP or PTE Core) or a French one (TEF Canada, TCF Canada), an ECA for the Mexican degree, and the right NOC code. The difficulty is the score: 2026 CEC rounds have cut off above 500 and there have been no all-program rounds, so from abroad you need a category. The French-language category has drawn at the lowest cut-offs of any round, and a Spanish speaker who reaches CLB 7 in French in a year of study becomes eligible for it; STEM, health and trades categories cover many Mexican professionals too. Score yourself on the CRS calculator and read the latest draws.
Provincial nomination
A nomination is worth 600 CRS points. Provinces nominate people already working there, which is why the CUSMA or LMIA permit comes first for most Mexican clients. Alberta's AAIP has the Opportunity Stream for most occupations with an Alberta job; score the Worker EOI on the AAIP calculator. British Columbia and Ontariorun their own streams, and Ontario's French-speaking skilled worker stream is another reason to learn French.
Studying in Canada as a route to PR
Mexico is one of Canada's largest sources of international students. A study permit for an eligible program at a public institution leads to a post-graduation work permit, and from there to the CEC or a nomination. Since 2024 the program must be PGWP-eligible and most study permits need a provincial attestation letter; check both before paying a deposit. Our study to PR guide sets out the sequence.
Family sponsorship
If your partner is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, spousal sponsorship does not depend on your score or occupation. Mexican-Canadian couples usually apply outland (about 17 months) while the Mexican partner visits on a TRV, or inland with a spousal open work permit if already in Canada on a permit. The first call is free for spousal enquiries.
What is different when you move from Mexico
- Visa first. Most Mexicans need a TRV for any visit, interview or landing; build the two to ten weeks into every plan.
- Documents. Birth certificates, marriage certificates, degrees and police certificates (Carta de No Antecedentes Penales, federal and state) must be translated by a certified translator; IRCC accepts translations with an affidavit.
- Language. Spanish scores nothing; English or French does. French is a genuine shortcut for Spanish speakers.
- Driving licences. Mexican licences are not on the exchange lists in Alberta or BC; expect a knowledge test and a road test, and bring a driving history to reduce insurance costs.
- Health care. Alberta covers eligible newcomers from arrival; BC has a wait of up to three months. Hold private insurance for the gap.
- Where Mexicans settle. Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal have the largest communities; Leamington and the Okanagan have agricultural ones. Quebec runs its own immigration system, outside our practice.
- Tax. Canada taxes residents on worldwide income; the Canada-Mexico tax treaty prevents double taxation. Get cross-border advice on Mexican property and Afores.
What it costs and how long it takes to move to Canada from Mexico
| Route | Government fees (CAD) | Other typical costs | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUSMA professional permit | $155 work permit + $85 biometrics; TRV $100 if not eTA-eligible | Degree evaluation for some professions, translations | Weeks online; same day at a port of entry with an eTA |
| LMIA work permit | $155 + $85 biometrics; employer pays the $1,000 LMIA fee | Translations, TRV | Three to six months including the LMIA |
| Express Entry PR | $1,525 per adult, $260 per child, $85 biometrics | Language test ~$300, ECA ~$300, medical ~$300, police certificates, proof of funds from $15,263 | About 6 months after ITA, plus preparation |
| Study permit | $150 + $85 biometrics | Tuition, $20,635 in funds, attestation letter | Two to three months |
| Spousal sponsorship | $1,205 (sponsorship, processing and right of PR fees), $85 biometrics | Relationship evidence, medical, police, translations | About 17 months outland, 27 inland |
How Wild Mountain Immigration helps you move from Mexico
We are a licensed RCIC practice (CICC R706497) in Canmore, Alberta, run by an immigrant, and we work with Mexican clients entirely online. We identify whether your occupation fits CUSMA, prepare the permit or LMIA file with the employer, build the Express Entry profile and the French plan where it helps, and handle the visa layer most people forget. Start with the eligibility checker or read our guide to getting a job offer in Canada from abroad.
Compliance note. Program rules, the CUSMA profession list, visa requirements and cut-offs are current to August 2026 and change; confirm on canada.ca. Nothing here guarantees a visa, a permit, a nomination or PR.
Frequently asked questions
Do Mexicans need a visa for Canada in 2026?
Most do. Since 29 February 2024 Mexican citizens need a visitor visa (TRV) unless they qualify for an eTA: a valid Mexican passport, arriving by air for a stay of six months or less, and either a valid US non-immigrant visa or a Canadian visitor visa held in the past ten years. Land and sea entry always needs the TRV. Work and study need a permit regardless.
Can Mexicans do a Working Holiday in Canada?
No. Mexico is not a partner country in International Experience Canada in 2026, so the Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op categories are not available to Mexican citizens. Many websites still say otherwise; check canada.ca's IEC country list. The routes that do exist are CUSMA, an LMIA-backed job, study, Express Entry and family sponsorship.
What is a CUSMA work permit for Mexicans?
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement lets Mexican (and US) citizens work in Canada without an LMIA in four categories: professionals in around 60 listed occupations with a Canadian job offer and the required degree or licence (code T23), intra-company transferees (T24), traders and investors (T22), and business visitors (T21, no permit needed). The professional permit can be issued at the port of entry for eTA-eligible travellers or applied for online.
What is the easiest way to immigrate to Canada from Mexico?
There is no easy way, but the most reliable is a Canadian employer: a CUSMA professional permit if your occupation is on the list, or an LMIA-backed permit if not, followed by the Canadian Experience Class or a provincial nomination after a year. Skilled workers with strong English or French, a degree assessed by an ECA and three or more years of experience can go straight to Express Entry, where a French-language category is a real lever for Mexicans who learn it.
Does Spanish count for Canadian immigration?
No. Express Entry and provincial programs score only English and French, tested by IELTS General, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada. A Mexican applicant with strong English scores CLB 9 or above and sits normally in the pool; one who adds French at CLB 7 becomes eligible for French-language category draws with far lower cut-offs.
Is a Mexican degree recognised in Canada?
For immigration, a Mexican licenciatura, maestrÃa or doctorado needs an Educational Credential Assessment from a designated organisation such as WES, which assesses Mexican degrees routinely; the university must send documents directly. For regulated professions (engineering, nursing, medicine, teaching, trades) the provincial regulator runs its own recognition process, which can take a year or more.
How long does it take to move to Canada from Mexico?
A CUSMA professional permit can be issued in weeks. An LMIA-backed permit takes three to six months including the employer's LMIA. Express Entry takes about six months after an invitation plus the preparation before it. Study permits take two to three months. Spousal sponsorship runs about 17 months outland. Plan on a year from decision to landing for most permanent routes.
Can I keep Mexican citizenship if I become Canadian?
Yes. Mexico has permitted dual nationality since 1998 and Canada has allowed it since 1977; neither requires an application. Mexican citizens remain Mexican by birth for life and can hold a Canadian passport alongside.
Ready to plan the move from Mexico?
A licensed RCIC in the Canadian Rockies maps your route, online and honestly, from CUSMA to permanent residence.