Do Mexico passport holders need a visa to visit United Kingdom?

Mexican ordinary passport holders do NOT need a visa for short tourist visits to the UK, but they DO need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. The ETA costs £20, is usually decided within minutes online, and allows multiple visits of up to 6 months over 2 years. Mexico is a visa-exempt country for short visits to the United Kingdom, so Mexican ordinary passport holders do not require a visitor visa for tourism, business or short stays of up to 6 months. However, since the UK rolled out its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, all visa-exempt nationals — including Mexicans — must obtain an approved ETA before they travel. Enforcement of the ETA requirement for visa-exempt travellers became mandatory from 25 February 2026, and carriers now check for a valid ETA before boarding. The ETA costs £20 (raised from £16 on 8 April 2026), is applied for online via the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK, and most decisions are returned automatically within minutes (the Home Office advises applying at least 3 working days ahead in case of additional checks). It is electronically linked to the passport used in the application and is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, permitting multiple entries with stays of up to 6 months each. The UK is not in the Schengen area, so Schengen 90/180 rules and ETIAS do not apply.