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

Mexican ordinary passport holders need a U.S. B-1/B-2 visitor visa (or a Border Crossing Card / "laser visa") to visit the United States for tourism. Mexico is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so there is no ESTA or visa-free option. As of May 2026, Mexico is not a participant in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, so Mexican citizens cannot use ESTA and must obtain a visa before traveling for tourism. The standard option is the B-1/B-2 visitor visa, applied for via the DS-160 form online, payment of the $185 nonrefundable MRV fee, and an in-person interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Mexico. The visa is generally issued for multiple entries valid up to 10 years; the actual permitted stay (usually up to 6 months) is set by a CBP officer at the port of entry. Mexican residents may instead receive the Border Crossing Card (Form DSP-150, the "laser visa"), which combines a B-1/B-2 visa with a land/sea border-crossing document valid for travel within a limited border zone; it is also valid for 10 years. Interview wait times at Mexican consulates can be lengthy (often several months to a year), so applying well in advance is essential. Mexico is not affected by Presidential Proclamation 10998 (effective Jan 1, 2026), which restricts nationals of certain other countries.