A Guide to Visa Types and Work Permits in Mexico

Jump right in:

• Applying for a Mexican visa
• Which type of Resident Visa do you need?
• Temporary residence
• Permanent residence
• Family Visa
• Applying for Mexican work privileges

To start of, keep in mind that no matter the type of visa you are applying for, there is only one application form. You can download the visa application form from the Mexico Government website. In the bottom right hand corner, you have to select which particular visa you are applying for. 

Consulate Fees: When applying for a visa at a Mexican consulate, you will need to pay a consular service fee, on this website, you can check the current fees.

Do you even need a visa in Mexico?

You do not need a visa if the duration of the stay is under 180 days. This is applicable to citizens and permanent residents of these countries:    - US 

• UK 
• Canada 
• Japan 
• Pacific Alliance countries 
• Schengen countries 
• EU   You can find the full list of visa-exempt countries on the official website of the Mexican government.   Note: This applies also for the ones coming to Mexico for business purposes, if your stay will not be longer than 180 days.

 However:

• Your passport must be valid at the time of entry and throughout your stay in Mexico. - You will also need to complete a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) upon arrival. While a confirmed return ticket is not always mandatory, it may be requested by immigration authorities. 

How to apply for Mexican Visa?

Before going to Mexico you should complete the following steps:

• Get in touch with Mexican embassy in you country to set up an appointment You can find a list of Mexican embassies abroad on the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Make sure to register for an appointment at least 4 weeks before you have to travel.
• Fill in the Mexico Visa application form This is the step that was mentioned above. you will have to download and fill out the Mexico Visa Application form. Or you can check the official website of the embassy where you will apply and follow their instructions as they sometimes vary.

Next, you have to submit the following documents:

• Mexico Visa Application Form

• valid passport or other travel documents

• Photocopy of your passport

• Passport-size pictures according to Mexico photo guidelines

• Booked return travel ticket

• Proof of sufficient financial means -Proof of accommodation

• Employment status documents

• Cover letter

• Mexico visa fee

• Any additional documents related to your purpose of travel

• Submit the application and pay the fee

You will have to submit the documents and the application form on the date of your appointment at Mexico embassy and pay the Mexico Visa fee. The fee is usually around 670 MXN (36 USD). The fee may vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for and on the country you are from. You can also expect additional fees for the visa card or sticker. The visa process can take around 10 working days, so make sure to plan accordingly.

Expats can apply to two main types of resident visas: 

• Temporary Residency (Residente Temporal);  -Permanent Residency (Residente Permanente).    There are three main scenarios you may be in:   
• You plan on living in mexico part-time and you do not plan to work while where:  In this scenario, you can travel to Mexico under a visitor’s visa. However, if you intend to be a regular part-time resident, you should apply for a Temporary Resident Visa.   
• You plan on living in Mexico full-time and you don’t plan to work while there:  This context can be applicable, for instance, to retirees. In this case, a Temporary or Permanent Resident Visa is the best suited option for you. Whether you opt for a temporary or permanent one, will depend on your long-term plans and whether or not you have the financial means. If you meet the financial requirements, you may be eligible to directly apply for the permanent option. Otherwise, after four consecutive years on a Temporary Resident Visa, you can apply for permanent residency status.   
• You plan on living in Mexico either part-time or full-time and you do plan to work:  To work legally in Mexico, you must either have a Temporary Resident Visa with work permissions, or permanent residency. 

Temporary residence

The Temporary Resident Visa is granted under different categories, which depend on the activities you intend to participate in while in the country. Under the terms of this type of visa, you are only allowed to carry out certain activities. These undertakings may be for profit or non-profit, depending on the classification of your visa.    The principal criterion to be eligible for a Temporary Resident Visa is that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Mexico and/or have proven steady income. 

Types of Temporary Resident Visas

• Mexico student visa
• Mexico work visa
• Mexico family visa
• Mexico digital nomad visa

Application

 The aplication process ir the same as discussed above, if your application is approved you will first receive a six-month visa. After traveling to Mexico you will have 30 days to switch your visa out for a Residence Card. To do that you will have to visit the nearest National Immigration Institute.

The fees for exchanging a Temporary Resident visa, which will be a sticker on your passport, for a resident card, or renewing a current resident card for additional year(s), can be found on the official goverment webiste.

 Exchanging your Temporary Resident Visa to a Permanent one 

After living in Mexico for five years under a Residente Temporal or Residente Temporal Estudiante Visa, you may apply to swap your temporary residency card to a permanent one. In order to this, you will need to pay 1,780 MXN (90 USD) in addition to the fee for the Residente Permanente card, which is 6,789 MXN (340 USD).  

How to obtain permanent residency in Mexico?

The Mexican Permanent Resident Visa is for those who want to permanently reside in the country. It is not a requirement to first have Temporary Resident Vosa in order to become a Permanent Resident.

However, you must fulfill at least one of the following requirements: 

• Have close family connections in Mexico. 
• Apply under retiree status and prove that you have enough monthly income or assets to support yourself. 
• Hold Temporary Resident status for five years in a row. 
• Hold Temporary Resident status for two consecutive years, if you obtained the Temporary Visa through marriage to a Mexican national or foreign permanent resident. 
• Obtain residency on humanitarian grounds or through political asylum. 

Costs

The fee you incur when swapping the Residente Permanente visa (sticker) for a Residente Permanente card is 6,789 MXN (340 USD).

In Mexico, Family visas are requested through Family Unit applications. If you have close family connections in the country, you will be eligible to apply for residency. Bear in mind that, depending on the type of family relationship, you may have to demonstrate you have the required financial means. However, the minimum monetary requirements are less strict than for non-family unit applications. Family Unit applications can be made from within the country. To apply for family visa you will have to visit Mexican consulate abroad, where you will be issued a temporary visa. After that you will have to exchange it to residency card at the National Migration Institute (INM) in Mexico within 30 days of arrival.

What are considered “close family connections?   In some circumstances, foreigners who hold a Visitor’s Visa, known as Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) are able to apply for a temporary or permanent residency while in the country.    It is possible to apply for Residente Temporal (Temporary Residency) without leaving Mexico if the applicant is the: 

• Spouse of a foreigner who has temporary or permanent resident status; 
• Parent of a foreigner who has temporary resident status; 
• The foreigner’s own children and their spouse’s children (stepchildren) under 18 years old, provided the foreigner has temporary resident status.
• Foreign spouse of a Mexican National (they are eligible to apply for the conversion from temporary to permanent residency after two years in the country).    It is possible to apply for Residente Permanente (Permanent Residency) without leaving Mexico if the applicant is the:  - Parent of a foreigner who has permanent resident status;  -children under 18 years old of a foreigner who has permanent resident status;
• Sibling under 18 years old of a foreigner who has permanent resident status;
• Children under 18 years old of a Mexican National in cases in which they are not entitled to Mexican Nationality;
• Child under 18 years old of a spouse of a Mexican National;
• Foreign parent of children born in Mexico; 
• Sibling under 18 years old of a Mexican National (including naturalized citizens);

Family unit visa applications

You may apply for a Family Unit Visa if you are a close relative of a Mexican citizen or of a foreigner who holds a Temporary Resident, Temporary Resident for Study Purposes, or Permanent Resident card, provided that they are outside of Mexico and accompany you when submitting the application.  To prove the family relationship, one of the following conditions must be met:   

• Relationship with a foreign national residing in Mexico  If the relative is a foreigner who already holds a Temporary or Permanent Resident card in Mexico, you will need to provide the following documents: 

• Original and copy of relevant civil registry certificates (e.g., marriage or birth certificates, as applicable) 

• Original and copy of the resident card (Temporary or Permanent) of the relative 

• Proof of economic solvency to support the family member during their stay in Mexico, demonstrated by either: 

• Original and copy of bank or investment statements showing an average monthly balance of at least  27,900 MXN (1,500 USD) over the past 12 months; or 

• Original and copy of documents proving tax-free monthly income (from employment or pension) of at least 27,900 MXN (1,500 USD) over the past 6 months   

• Marriage or domestic partnership with a Mexican national

Applicants must provide: 

• Original and copy of a marriage certificate or an official domestic partnership certificate issued by a recognized authority 
• Original and copy of a document proving the Mexican nationality of the spouse or partner   
• Family visa process for spouses or partners in Mexico  If you are married or living with a foreigner with a Mexican Permanent Resident Visa, you must provide the following documents (originals and copies):   
• Marriage license, proof of domestic partnership, or equivalent legal document issued by a recognized authority; 
• Permanent resident visa of the foreign partner; 
• Proof of economic solvency.      How do I Prove Economic Solvency?  
• Proof of investments or bank accounts showing an average monthly balance exceeding approximately 137,6200 MXN (74,000 USD) over the last twelve months.  Or   
• Proof of tax-free monthly income from employment or pension exceeding approximately 83,700 MXN (4,500 USD) over the last six months.    **Fee for swapping a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) to a Family Visa ** If you apply to exchange a Visitor’s Visa (FMM) in-country for a Residential Visa (Residente Temporal or Residente Permanente) under the Family Unit rules you will need to pay a fee of 1,780 MXN (90 USD), in addition to the resident card fee listed above.

Mexico Work Visa eligibility and types

When a person residing in Mexico on a Resident Visa, which does not have work permissions, gets a job offer then they must follow different procedures, depending on whether they hold a Temporary or Permanent Visa.    - If you are a Permanent Resident: you have to notify immigration.    - If you are a Temporary Resident: you have to request a permission.    If you get offered a job in Mexico: You can get a temporary residency with work permissions if you have a formal job offer. Bear in mind that the employer has to make the application on your behalf. Once the application moves forward:    - If you are not in Mexico: You have to go to a Mexican Consulate to get a Temporary Resident visa stamp in your passport. When you are already in Mexico, you will then have to swap it for a residency card. 

• If you are in Mexico on a Visitor Visa (FMM): You will have to leave the country, go to a Mexican Consulate abroad and get a Temporary Resident visa stamp. Once back in Mexico, you will have to exchange it for a residency card. 
• If you are in Mexico and hold a Residency Card: You must go to your local Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) to notify them of your employer change. If you do not already have work privileges on your card, you will have to apply for them.     Mexico Work Visa cost The fee to obtain work permissions on a Temporary or Permanent Resident Card are the following:    - If you apply on a Residente Temporal card, the basic fee is 4,182 MXN (210 USD). Additional fees may incur (e.g. visa sticker exchange fee). 
• If you hold a Residente Permanente card you are not liable for this fee. However, you are obligated to notify the immigration office regarding any changes to your work arrangements. 

How much is a Work Permission Fee on a Temporary or Permanent Resident card?

• If you apply on a Residente Temporal card, the basic fee is 4,182 MXN (210 USD). Additional fees may incur (e.g. visa sticker exchange fee).    - If you hold a Residente Permanente card you are not liable for this fee. However, you are obligated to notify the the immigration office regarding any changes to your work arrangements.

Self-employment in Mexico  To be able to work for yourself, you will either have to hold a Temporary or Permanent Resident Visa with work permissions or work privileges.     Requirements and process In Mexico, if you apply for residency under the ‘economic solvency’ requirement, you must prove that you have enough funds to support yourself. For this, you will have to demonstrate that you:    - have regular income (e.g. from foreign pensions or investments); 

• are in possession of savings in cash or cash-like investments; 
• own Mexican real estate; and/or, 
• have investments in local companies or stock market.    It is essential that you apply for work privileges or else you will not be able to register with the local tax authority or adequately set up your business. The way you apply for the visa will depend on whether you already reside in Mexico with a Temporary Resident Visa that does not have work permissions, or if you are applying from abroad.    Requirements if you are applying within Mexico
• Temporary Resident card 
• Proof of visa application payment 
• A letter written in Spanish explaining what your intended economic activity is. You must also state your Registro Federal de Contribuyentes, RFC (tax ID Nº), your location, and any other information you deem pertinent. 
• Copy of the immigration request (done online) 
• The last part of the process is carried out in person at the local Instituto Nacional de Migración office (INM).    If you are not applying within Mexico, you have several options, which depend on your specific circumstances. For instance, you could apply for a temporary resident visa by proving that you meet the economic solvency requirement.