A Mexico visa is required of citizens of Azerbaijan, but Mexican law has a rule that frees a great many people from the process entirely: anyone holding a valid US, Canadian, British, Japanese or Schengen visa may enter Mexico without obtaining a separate visa. For an Azerbaijani with an American visa, a trip to Cancún requires no visa preparation at all.
Those without such a visa apply to the Mexican embassy in Baku. In this article we explain both routes, the documents, the short interview at the embassy and the flight options from Baku to Mexico.
A Mexico visa: the basics
| Is a visa required? | Yes, but not for holders of a US, Canadian, British, Japanese or Schengen visa |
| Where to apply | The Mexican embassy, Baku, Khojaly Avenue, Demirchi Tower |
| Consular fee | About 50 dollars, the embassy confirms |
| Interview | Short, when handing in the documents |
| Visa validity | Usually 180 days, multiple-entry options exist |
| Length of stay | Up to 180 days per entry |
| Direct flight | None, via Istanbul or Madrid |
Without a Mexico visa: which visas work?
Under Mexico’s Migration Law, a foreign citizen whose passport holds a valid and usable US, Canadian, British or Japanese visa, or a visa of one of the Schengen countries, may enter Mexico as a tourist without a visa. The visa must be multiple-entry and valid at the time of travel; an expired visa does not work. Those entering under this rule are registered at the border as ordinary tourists and can be granted permission to stay for up to 180 days. This is the route most people going from Azerbaijan to Mexico use, because plenty of people do hold an American or Schengen visa.
How is a Mexico visa obtained from the embassy?
If you have no such visa, the application goes to the consular section of the Mexican embassy in Baku. The embassy is in the Demirchi Tower building on Khojaly Avenue and accepts documents by appointment agreed in advance. When you hand them in, the consular officer asks a few short questions about the trip, your work and your finances. The answer is usually ready within 1–2 weeks. The official requirements are set out on the Azerbaijan page of the Mexican embassy.
The documents for a Mexico visa
The documents must be in Spanish or English; documents in Azerbaijani are handed in with a translation.
Read next: How to get a US visa: step by step from the DS-160 form to the interview
How do you fly from Baku to Mexico?
There is no direct flight. People fly to Mexico City and Cancún with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul and with Iberia and Aeroméxico via Madrid, and the whole journey takes 18–22 hours. On the Istanbul route no transit visa at all is needed; in Madrid, as long as you do not leave the transit zone, no Schengen visa is required. Flying via the USA requires an American visa, but if you have an American visa you enter Mexico visa-free anyway, and this route is the shortest. Baku–Mexico ticket prices rise in the December–March months.
Cancún and the Riviera Maya are the most accessible destination for a Caribbean holiday from Azerbaijan; Mexico tour programmes combine the beach holiday with Chichén Itzá and Tulum.
Things to know before the trip
- At the border. On entry the immigration officer sets the length of stay and looks at the date on your ticket; 180 days is not given automatically.
- Money. The peso. Cards work in the tourist areas, and in the markets you need cash. Dollars are accepted in Cancún, but at a poor rate.
- Safety. The tourist zones are relatively safe, but travel to some states is not advised. Do not go to unfamiliar places at night.
- Season. December–April is dry and the most expensive, June–October is hurricane season.
Frequently asked questions about the Mexico visa
Can you enter Mexico on an expired American visa?
No, the visa must be valid at the time of travel.
Can you cross into the USA on a Mexico visa?
No, a Mexican visa does not give entry to the USA; for the USA a separate visa is needed.
How many days does a Mexico visa take?
The embassy usually answers within 1–2 weeks; with the appointment, the whole process takes 3–4 weeks.
In closing
On the question of a Mexico visa, look at your passport first: if you have a valid American or Schengen visa, nothing is needed; if not, the process at the embassy in Baku is simple. The Viza.az team helps with preparing the documents, arranging an appointment with the embassy and planning the long journey.
You can read more about the Mexico destination and the service fees or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is as of the publication date. Fees and the embassy’s appointment rules can change, so look at the official page once more before you apply.
