Aerial of Fundidora Park in Monterrey, Mexico in sunset with the cityscape in the background

Viva Travel Grant: Complimentary Flights to Mexico

Strengthening cross-border collaboration and innovation, Texas Global and Viva are expanding opportunities for academic engagement between the United States and Mexico through complimentary flights to Mexico for eligible faculty and students.

Texas Global is pleased to partner with Viva to expand opportunities for academic engagement between UT Austin and Mexico. Thanks to Viva’s generous support, up to 100 complimentary round-trip flights are available in 2026 for eligible UT Austin faculty and students traveling for research or study between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) and Monterrey (MTY). Additional destinations may be reached through connecting flights on Viva’s network.

This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to strengthening cross‑border collaboration and innovation. We are deeply grateful to Viva for investing in UT Austin’s global mission and helping Longhorns pursue meaningful work in Mexico.

Eligibility

Applies to All Travelers

  • Applicants must have an active UT EID and be one of the following:
    • Tenured, tenure‑track or professional track faculty
    • Professors of practice or clinical faculty
    • Permanent researchers with principal investigator (PI) status
    • Postdoctoral researchers
    • Degree‑seeking students
  • Travel must strongly support academic, research, or programmatic goals.
  • Each traveler may receive one round-trip ticket; any connecting flights count as a separate ticket.
  • All requests must be submitted at least 30 business days before departure.

Student Eligibility

Student travel must involve verified participation in one of the following:

  • A UT-endorsed education abroad program
  • An internship or experiential learning placement
  • Independent study or faculty-supervised research

Additional Requirements:

Students must affirm full-time undergraduate or graduate status and in good academic standing with the University.

Priority is given to:

  • Graduate students
  • Students participating in exchange programs with partner institutions

Faculty Eligibility

Faculty and postdoc travel must involve confirmed academic or scholarly activity, such as:

  • Presenting at a conference or symposium (Attendance alone does not quualify)
  • Meetings with research or teaching partners
  • Serving as an invited lecturer, speaker, panelist, or professor
  • Delivering seminars, workshops, master classes, or short courses
  • Visiting scholar or visiting researcher residencies
  • Conducting collaborative fieldwork, lab‑based or archival research
  • Advancing joint research projects or co‑authored publications with international partners

How to Apply

  1. Search for flights on VivaAerobus.com departing from Austin (AUS) to Monterrey International Airport (MTY). Additional destinations may be available through connections.
  2. If your itinerary has connections, list all flight segments in your request. Each segment counts as one ticket; availability is limited.
  3. Complete the UT Austin Viva Travel Grant Form, entering routes, flight numbers, dates, and flight times exactly as they appear in the Viva website.
  4. Texas Global and Viva review requests on a rolling basis. If approved, Viva will email your tickets directly. If denied, Texas Global will notify you.

Peak Season Travel Restrictions

Please note that travel requests can only be honored during non‑peak periods. Tickets are not available during the following 2026 peak season dates:

  • January 30 – February 2, 2026
  • March 13 – March 16, 2026
  • March 27 – April 5, 2026
  • May 1 – May 4, 2026
  • June 7 – August 16, 2026
  • November 13 – November 16, 2026 (routes to/from Tijuana only)
  • December 10 – December 31, 2026

Ticket Issuance

  • Confirmation Time: Most requests are processed within 5 business days.
  • E-ticket Delivery: If approved, your e-tickets will be sent to the email address provided in your application.
  • Itinerary Changes: You may request changes to your itinerary up to 2 business days before departure; exceptions within 4 hours for emergencies may be made by contacting Viva directly.
  • Flight Disruptions: If your flight is delayed, changed, or canceled, Viva will notify you via your registered email or phone number.
  • Baggage policies: All baggage allowances, rules, and fees are determined and managed by Viva. Baggage fees are are not included and charged separately.

Additional Notes

  • Faculty and students may add personal travel after the funded segment at their own cost; all UT Austin travel compliance requirements still apply.
  • Connecting flights count as separate tickets under UT Austin’s allocation. Because ticket quantities are limited, segments requiring connections may have reduced availability.

Travel Safety and Policies

By accepting this award, your trip is considered university-related travel and subject to University Travel Policies. You are required to register your travel and, if you are a student, purchase UT Overseas Insurance. If your destination is a UT-Restricted Region, all students and faculty must follow the Restricted Regions Travel Approval Process.  Contact Global Risk and Safety at GRS@austin.utexas.edu to confirm any additional steps you may need to complete.

Contact Us

Please email MexicoGateway@austin.utexas.edu with any questions.