Knowing the basics about Mexico will help you schedule and handle the basic facts about the country and
the challenges you will be facing during your moving process.
Visa categories
There are two visa categories in Mexico:
▪Non-Immigrant Visas are for people who intend to visit Mexico for a specific purpose, leaving the country afterwards.
▪Immigrant Visas are for people who wish to gain long-term, permanent residency in Mexico.
Types of Visas
- Visitor Visa: Short-Term Visits | Business Visa
- Temporary Resident Visa: Long-term Visa | Work Visa
- Permanent Resident Visa
- Visa for economic dependents | Family members
Use the following table in order to determine visa eligibility. Then, find that option at the bottom
of the page for more information.
1. Visitor Visa: short-term Visits | Business Visa
- Waiver visa country: visa will be issued by immigration authorities at the port of entry when you arrive to Mexico (by air or travel inland by road beyond the “free border zone”), indicating the purpose of your visit: tourist | business.
- Non-waiver visa country: visa will be issued by the corresponding Mexican Consulate in the country of origin or residence. There are different requirements for tourist or business. However, there is an entry visa exemption where a foreign citizen from a non-waiver country holding a valid passport and any of the following documents do not require an entry Mexican visa:
- Valid visa for multiple entries issued by the USA.
- Permanent resident card issued by Canada, USA, Japan, United Kingdom, or any country which belongs to
The Schengen Area.
- Travel card for businesspeople (APEC Business Traveler Card (ABTC)), duly approved by Mexico.
General immigration requirements to enter Mexico for foreign visitors or business
- Valid passport or identity document.
- Economic solvency for the period of stay in Mexico. Having an international credit card is highly recommended.
- Information related to the activities that will be carried out in national territory, as well as those carried out in the place of origin.
- Address and period of stay in Mexico. It is important to submit a round-trip ticket from the country of origin or residence in case you arrived as tourist | business. In case you have a work visa, you can enter with a one-way trip ticket.
- Reason for traveling to Mexico. This information must be submitted according to the issued visa in case it is required.
- Personal information requested by migratory authorities.
2. Temporary Resident Visa: Long-term Visa: Work Visa
Work Visa:
- Intended for people who wish to live and work in Mexico for more than 6 months and not longer than 4 years or for those who want to get enrolled in Mexican payroll.
- The visa is issued for one year and can be renewed annually. This allows unlimited entries to and exits from, Mexico.
- Employer hiring the foreigner must apply for work visa at Mexico’s Immigration Office. Once visa is pre-approved, you must obtain an appointment at a Consulate / Embassy to complete the consular visa stamp within the following 30 days after the pre-authorization granted by Mexican immigration authorities.
- Consular visa stamp is valid for a period of 06 months in order to enter Mexican territory and 30 days counting from the date of entry in order to start the registration process and finalize visa processing within Mexico.
- Work visa will be valid for 01 year and renewal will be applied within Mexico
WORK VISA: Processing Timeline:
VISA VIDEOS
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Password: FragomenMobility
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3. Visa for economic dependents | Family members
Visas for economic dependents are stamped by the Mexican Consulate authorities once the applicant’s principal visa has been approved by Mexican authorities. The Mexican Consulate has the legal right to either stamp or deny the visa to economic dependents. In this case, if the Mexican Consulate denies the visa, the visa application process for economic dependents will apply once the family is in Mexico. Dependent children must be under 18 years of age to be visa-sponsored.
If you intend to apply for an immigration visa for economic dependents, you need to have your personal documentation (birth certificate, marriage certificate) apostilled or legalized in the country of issuance of such documentation.
4. Permanent Resident Visa
The Permanent Resident Visa is intended for people seeking permanent residency status in Mexico. It is the
previous step for those who may seek eventual Mexican Citizenship. It can be obtained by one of the following options:
- After 4 consecutive years with a temporary residency.
- Marriage to a Mexican national: You need to spend 02 years as an economic dependent status as Temporary Resident, where employment is strictly prohibited.
- The parents of a child born in Mexico can apply directly for permanent residency at any time.
Mexican permanent residency cannot be obtained by Temporary Resident Student visa holders, even if they comply with 4 consecutive years under that category.
5.Temporary Resident Student Visa.
Studies for more than 180 days (More than 06 months)
- You will need to apply at Consulate for a “Temporary Resident Student Visa”.
- It is a single-entry visa. It will allow you to enter the country and register for a temporary resident student card for multiple entries that will be valid for one year.
- Students cannot work or engage in any remunerative or lucrative activity. If you as a student visa holder are invited by a Mexican company/Institution to perform lucrative activities, the Mexican company/institution must request the work permit at the National Institute of Immigration (INM, Spanish) in Mexico before you start working activities.
- Alternative visa to apply for those economic dependents that do not qualify as an economic dependent.
Studies for less than 180 days (Less than 06 months)
Do not require a student visa at least the individual belongs to a non-waiver country