About Mexico

Whether you’re looking to visit, live or work in Mexico—we can support your immigration needs at every stage of your journey.

If you’re a foreign national looking to visit, live and/or work in Mexico, several options are available.

• Business Visits: As a business visitor and depending on your citizenship, you'll generally enter Mexico without a visa, or need to secure a Visitor Visa for Non-Remunerated Activities (Visa de visitante sin permiso para realizar actividades remuneradas) from a Mexican consular post before your travel. Note you cannot receive a salary or payments from a Mexican source while conducting business in the country.
• Work Authorization: There are two main work authorization categories in Mexico: (1) the Temporary Residence Visa for Remunerated Activities, suitable for transfers and local hires seeking to perform remunerated activities in Mexico for an initial period of one year; and (2) the Temporary Residence Visa for Non-Remunerated Activities, used by skilled international workers seeking to perform non-remunerated work activities in Mexico for over 180 days and up one year initially.
• Internships/Traineeships: There is no trainee-specific work authorization category.
• Self-employment: If you're an investor, ​​you may qualify for a Temporary Resident Visa for Investors provided: (1) you can show that you hold common equity in a Mexican legal entity with a set minimum investment amount; or (2) own personal property; or have fixed assets in favor of a legal entity outside Mexico; or (3) are engaged in economic or business activities in Mexico that creates and maintains a minimum number of Mexican workers; among other requirements.

While there are no official work authorization programs dedicated to entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs may apply for a Temporary Residence permit sponsored by a company in Mexico. The company can be owned by the entrepreneur (for a startup, as an example), as long as it is registered in the Public Registry and has a Corporate Registration Certificate​ issued by the National Immigration Institute.

Fragomen can also consult on citizenship matters and, as permitted within the confines of local law, may be able to offer citizenship assistance.