Mexico to United Kingdom visa requirements

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, decisions usually arrive within a day and often within minutes in the app, and it 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, family visits, permitted business activities, short study or other Standard Visitor stays of up to 6 months. They do, however, need an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling, unless an exemption applies (for example, holding a UK visa or permission, British or Irish citizenship, or transiting airside without passing UK border control). Enforcement of the ETA requirement for non-visa nationals became mandatory from 25 February 2026, and carriers check for a valid ETA, eVisa or other valid documentation before boarding. The ETA costs £20, is applied for online via the official UK ETA app or GOV.UK, and decisions usually arrive within a day; many app applicants get an automatic decision in minutes, but GOV.UK advises allowing up to 3 working days in case of extra 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 journeys with stays of up to 6 months at a time. Landside transit through UK border control needs an ETA, while airside transit without border control is currently exempt. The UK is not in the Schengen area, so Schengen 90/180 rules and ETIAS do not apply.