A Word of Advice for Canadian Snowbirds in Mexico

More and more Canadians are travelling to Mexico for business, study, holidays, and – as our Canadian snowbirds know – long-term stays and even as a primary residence.

Canadians made almost two million visits to Mexico last year. Large snowbird communities have sprung up around the country, in such areas as the Lake Chapala Region, San Miguel de Allende, the Yucatán Peninsula, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos. Canadians have created a vibrant social and cultural life in many of these areas. What’s more, many snowbirds have become involved in a variety of charities and volunteer organizations in their adopted communities, strengthening Canadian ties to the people and communities of Mexico.

No matter how long your clients will be staying in Mexico, you should strongly encourage them to consult the information on Mexico in travel.gc.ca, the Government of Canada website for Canadians travelling or living abroad. Here, they will find advice and information on safety and security, local laws and customs, entry requirements, health conditions and contact information to obtain consular assistance in Mexico and about 200 other destinations worldwide.

While most Canadians spend time in Mexico without incident, they should still exercise a high degree of caution during their visit and avoid non-essential travel within specific northern and south western states of the country as listed in travel.gc.ca, where regional Travel Advisories remain in effect. Most major tourist areas have not been significantly affected by violence or insecurity, but keep in mind that natural disasters and other incidents can happen anywhere. We recommend flying to your destination in Mexico to avoid land border crossings through potentially dangerous regions.

You should strongly recommend that your clients sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad service, so the Government of Canada can contact and assist them in case of an emergency abroad, such as an earthquake or civil unrest, or inform them about an emergency at home. It only takes a few minutes to sign up, and it’s free, confidential and mobile friendly! Your clients can sign up online at travel.gc.ca/register, or register in person at the Embassy of Canada in Mexico City or one of its consulates.

Canadians travelling to Mexico – or anywhere else in the world – can stay up-to date on safety, security and health conditions around the world, through the Travel Smart mobile app, by following travel.gc.ca on Twitter, and visiting the travel.gc.ca Facebook page.

The Government of Canada provides Canadians abroad with a vast array of consular services, from replacing lost passports and sharing information on local laws to lending support during natural disasters and medical emergencies. Mexico boasts one of Canada’s largest consular networks in the world, with 11 points of service across the country. In addition to the Embassy of Canada in Mexico City and consulates in Guadalajara, Monterrey and Tijuana, Canada has consular agencies in Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas, Cancún, Mazatlán, Oaxaca, Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta. For details on consular services available to Canadians in Mexico and around the world, see travel.gc.ca/servicesoffered.

More information and Travel Advice for Canadians visiting Mexico is available at travel.gc.ca/destinations/mexico. Or contact the Embassy of Canada by email (mxico@international.gc.ca) or the embassy website (mexico.gc.ca).
We wish you a safe and enjoyable visit to Mexico. ¡Buen viaje!