Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has formally committed to removing visa requirements on citizens of Mexico wishing to travel to Canada on a temporary basis. The policy was initially instigated by the previous Conservative government in 2009, following an increase in Mexicans seeking asylum in Canada.

Trudeau, who was sworn in as Prime Minister earlier this month, made the commitment after a face-to-face meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto at the G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey. Trudeau’s Liberal Party had stated its intention to lift the visa requirement during the recent federal election campaign in Canada.

The visa requirement had been a significant point of contention between the Mexican government and Stephen Harper’s Conservative government in Canada, with the Mexican ambassador to Canada saying in 2013 that he was "really mad" at the lack of reciprocity between the two nations. Similar visa requirements were not in place for Canadians traveling to Mexico.

The government of Canada has stated that it intends to improve relations with both Mexico and the United States. Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephane Dion has been asked by Trudeau to work with other cabinet colleagues to "strengthen trilateral North American co-operation with the United States and Mexico."

The lifting of the visa requirement does not come into effect immediately. A date for switching the requirement has not yet been announced. Click here to learn which countries’ citizens are required to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa before traveling to Canada.