Travelling to Mexico is incredibly popular among Canadians. Millions visit every year for warm weather, beaches, resorts, retirement living, and property investment. But for the estimated 4.5 million Canadians with a criminal record — or those currently facing charges — an important question arises:
Will a criminal record prevent you from entering Mexico?
The answer is more nuanced than most people expect.
Mexico does
not
have a blanket ban against all travellers with a criminal record. Instead,
Mexican immigration
officers assess travellers individually, focusing primarily on serious criminality, public safety, and international security concerns.
In many cases, Canadians with minor or older offences — including DUI — enter Mexico without difficulty.
However, travellers with serious convictions, active charges, or red flags in international databases may be denied entry at the sole discretion of border officials.
This comprehensive evergreen guide explains:
With decades of experience defending clients across the GTA, the criminal defence team at Mass Tsang LLP understands how profoundly a criminal record can impact international mobility — and what legal strategies help prevent those consequences.
As Jeff Mass notes:
“Most clients are surprised to learn that international travel often depends more on how border officials interpret your record than the record itself. Preparation is critical.”
Mexico’s immigration laws allow border authorities to refuse entry to foreigners who:
This authority comes from Mexico’s Federal Code of Criminal Procedure (Article 194), which lists crimes considered serious enough to justify denying entry.
The Mexican Embassy in Canada states that entry may be denied if a traveller is:
Importantly, Mexican authorities decide on a case-by-case basis. The presence of a criminal record does not automatically bar entry — but certain types of records create significant risks.
Below is the Mexican government’s list of serious crimes that may result in denied entry.
We preserved the complete list and rewrote it in structured legal style.
Violent and High-Risk Offences
Drug and Weapons Offences
Financial and Organized Crime
Property and Environmental Crimes
Other Offences
If your conviction appears on — or is similar to — this list, entry to Mexico is at high risk of being denied.
As Partner Robbie Tsang notes:
“Mexico evaluates the seriousness of the offence, not the age of the record. Even a decades-old conviction may lead to refusal if it falls into a serious category.”
The Mexican Embassy does not list DUI, simple assault, or most minor Criminal Code offences as serious crimes.
This means:
However:
For most Canadians with non-serious records, the most considerable risk is additional screening, not outright refusal.
This is one of the most-asked questions — and the answer matters.
Unlike the U.S.–Mexico data-sharing arrangement, Canada does not automatically send RCMP criminal record data to Mexican immigration systems.
This means:
Both Canada and Mexico are INTERPOL members.
Through INTERPOL, border agents may see:
If you are flagged through INTERPOL, Mexico may:
Yes. And it happens.
Border officers may look up:
If they find concerning information, they may deny entry even if you were never convicted .
As lawyer Brian Brody explains:
“Sometimes the problem isn’t the record — it’s what appears online. Officers have wide discretion to refuse entry if they believe someone poses a risk.”
Even if your offence is minor or unrelated to Mexico’s list of serious crimes, border officials still have the legal authority to deny entry if they believe:
Their decision is final and cannot be appealed on the spot.
Travellers often benefit from carrying:
These documents do not guarantee entry, but they often reduce concerns.
Yes. Pending charges are viewed as a significant risk.
Travellers may face denial if they are awaiting trial for:
Even if the charge is minor, border officers may still refuse entry until the case is resolved.
| Offence Type | Likelihood of Entry | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DUI / Impaired Driving | Low Risk | Usually allowed unless accompanied by serious harm or driving prohibitions |
| Simple Assault / Minor Theft | Moderate Risk | May trigger questions; discretion varies |
| Domestic Assault | Moderate–High Risk | Officers assess public safety concerns |
| Drug Possession (small amounts) | Moderate Risk | Depends on context and history |
| Drug Trafficking / Production | Very High Risk | Often results in the denial of entry |
| Sexual Offences (esp. involving minors) | Very High Risk | Likely denial due to international safety concerns |
| Serious Violent Offences | Very High Risk | Manslaughter, armed robbery, etc. |
| Financial Crimes (fraud, tax crimes) | High Risk | Seen as serious under Mexican law |
| Record Suspension | Improves Chances | Does not guarantee entry, but significantly helps |
Travellers can take several steps to minimize issues:
If an officer discovers misleading statements, you may be barred immediately.
Border officials sometimes search social media.
Inconsistent answers raise red flags.
This can be especially important if:
The best way to ensure a criminal record does not interfere with future travel is to avoid getting one in the first place.
Mass Tsang LLP regularly assists clients by:
A strong defence strategy today can protect decades of future travel opportunities.
Yes, but it depends on the severity of the offence. Travellers with serious crimes such as manslaughter, sexual offences, drug trafficking, or weapons offences may be denied entry. Minor offences, including DUI, usually do not prevent travel.
Mexico does not automatically access Canadian criminal databases, but both countries share serious offence information through INTERPOL. Border officials may also search public online information.
Generally no. DUIs are not considered serious crimes under Mexican immigration criteria. However, entry decisions are always at the discretion of border officials.
Entry may be refused if you have pending charges, especially for violent, sexual, financial, or drug-related offences. Officers may consider you a public safety risk.
Bring documentation, be honest with border officials, avoid inconsistencies, maintain a respectful tone, and consult a lawyer beforehand if your record contains higher-risk offences.
