Quotas and Application Calendar for the Mexico Working Holiday Visa

Volare Editorial | March 30, 2026

The Working Holiday program in Mexico operates under an annual quota system defined by bilateral treaties managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) and the National Institute of Migration (INM). Unlike other destinations with mass openings on single dates, Mexico distributes its vacancies continuously throughout the calendar year.

Vacancy availability by nationality

Contrary to the belief that the program has unlimited spots, Mexican authorities establish maximum limits to ensure the balance of cultural exchange. For the current cycle, the distribution of authorized visas is as follows:

• Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia, and Peru): 300 visas maximum per nationality.

• France: 300 visas maximum.

• Canada: 250 visas maximum.

• New Zealand: 200 visas maximum.

Calendar functioning and appointment system

Mexico applies a calendar year scheme, meaning the official opening of quotas occurs on January 1st of each year. Applications remain open uninterruptedly until the corresponding embassy issues the last available visa of its annual quota.

To start the process, it is mandatory to schedule a prior appointment through the official MiConsulado platform. Regardless of the country of origin, the procedure and the consular interview are strictly in-person; therefore, the applicant must personally attend the assigned diplomatic headquarters to complete the validation of their documents.

For more information on date availability at consular offices, interested parties can consult the official Working Holiday Visa Mexico section.