As you know, to enter Mexico it is enough to have a Schengen visa. Schengen visa and visa of one of the Schengen countries — it's not always the same thing. Now we will explain the difference to you using the example of a Polish work visa.
Purchasing a Schengen visa — it's still a quest. You should collect a package of documents and submit them to a diplomatic mission or visa center of one of the Schengen countries. However, there is no guarantee that a visa will be issued to you at all, and it will not be a single-entry visa.
During the coronavirus epidemic, most consulates of EU countries completely suspended the issuance of visas, both due to the epidemiological situation and because the entry of travelers into the EU is temporarily prohibited. However, Polish consulates and visa centers in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus are able to issue Polish work visas, since entry into the EU for work is open.
Information about entering Mexico with a Polish work visa provided in this publication applies to citizenseveryonenationalities.
The Polish work visa also attracts citizens of the republics of Transcaucasia and Central Asia. To obtain a Mexican visa, they have to go to Istanbul or Tehran, where they are often denied. The embassies of the USA, EU, Japan, whose visas also allow entry to Mexico, are temporarily not issuing tourist visas. But for citizens of these countries, entry to Mexico is on a work visa — not the best option; Entry with a Mexico visa is preferable.
There are two types of Polish work visa: C and D. Type C — This is a short-term Schengen visa for a stay in the EU of 90 days for six months. Type D — This is a national visa of varying duration (from 3 months to a year), which gives the right to stay in the territory of the issuing state for the period indicated on it, as well as in the territory of other Schengen countries for 90 days in a six-month period. Also, each type is accompanied by a digital code for the purpose of issuing the visa, in our case — C-05, D-05, D-05A or D-06.
Externally, both types of visas are very similar. But on a type C visa, Panstwa Schengen is written and type C is indicated, and on a national visa type D, the inscription Polska is written and type D is indicated. A type C visa is a so-called unified Schengen visa. This is stated in the EU Visa Code and subsequent regulations thereto. A type D visa is not considered a Schengen visa, although it was issued by a country that is part of the Schengen area. However, both visas have the EU symbol — stars in a circle, and both visas can be considered Schengen.
We have updated this publication to no longer state that a D visa is not eligible for entry into Mexico. Our doubts were caused by cases of refusal of entry into Mexico at the Mexico City airport on the grounds that the D visa — not a Schengen visa. But the Guide to Migration Procedures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Mexico states that entry into Mexico is possible with a valid visa from any country included in the Schengen area (Visa válida y vigente… cualquiera de los países que integran el Espacio Schengen). Type D visa fits this formulation quite well. It does not say that this should be a multiple visa. However, Mexican consulates in different countries, in response to travelers’ inquiries regarding entry with a Schengen visa, always answer that the visa must be multiple-entry («multi»).
We believe that to enter Mexico it does not matter what type of Schengen visa — C or D. The citizenship of its owner is much more important. Entry into Mexico depends more on your citizenship than your visa. Even if your visa is suitable for entry into Mexico, you may still be denied entry.
There are quite a lot of offers on the Internet for obtaining a Polish work visa. The basis for obtaining such a visa is an invitation to work from a Polish employer or voivode or a work permit. In turn, a work permit in Poland can be regular or seasonal. The usual one is issued by the voivode of the voivodeship on the basis of an application from the employer and only to citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. A permit for seasonal work is issued by the mayor of the district to citizens of any country other than the EU. There is also a permit for multi-season work, which, in addition, only citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia or Ukraine are entitled to receive after they have already worked in seasonal work in Poland over the past 5 years.
The decision on what type of visa to issue, C or D, is made by the Polish consul based on the submitted papers. Firms that help obtain permission from Polish employers most often do not take into account the fact that a Polish work visa is needed to enter Mexico, and not to work in Poland. Type D visas give the right to a longer stay in Poland (and, accordingly, in the EU), they are most often requested.
The list of documentation required to obtain each type of visa is also different. In addition to this, you should pay attention to this. In addition, there is an opinion that Poland only affixes type C work visas to non-biometric passports. In our opinion, this is an incorrect statement.
When contacting an intermediary company for support, be sure to clarify what type of Polish work visa you will receive based on their invitation. If your goal — To enter Mexico, try to purchase a C-05 visa.
We wrote about what standards Mexico requires for entry with a Schengen visa in thispublications