Mexico Digital Nomad Visa
Mexico's digital nomad visa: basic facts
Currently, there is a growing number of digital nomads who prefer working remotely while traveling the world and do not want to stay in one place for long. In response, many popular destinations implemented a digital nomad visa designed specifically for this purpose.
Mexico attracts digital nomads with its warm climate, beautiful nature, affordable prices, and great entertainment opportunities, in Mexico City particularly. While there is no specific Mexico digital nomad visa, individuals willing to work remotely and stay longer than the tourist visa allows are able to obtain Mexico's temporary resident visa.
Mexico temporary residency visa (also referred to as a digital nomad visa in this article) permits its holders to enter Mexico and stay there for up to a year with the ability to extend it to one, two, or three years. It's especially great for those willing to stay in Mexico for a long time, as after 4 years of temporary residency, it is possible to obtain permanent residence.
To apply for a digital nomad visa to Mexico, an applicant needs to make an appointment with the nearest embassy/consulate, prepare the necessary documents, fill out the application form and submit them. Then the applicant is given a temporary residence permit which they should exchange for a temporary resident card upon arrival.
Mexico freelance visa criteria
In order to be qualified for a Mexico digital nomad visa, you must satisfy the following conditions:
- you are going to be in Mexico for more than 180 days;
- you are coming to Mexico for professional activities, investments, technical activities, retirement, artistic activities, scientific activities, sports activities, as a minister of religion, etc.
- you are working for a non-Mexican company and are going to work in Mexico remotely
- you don't have an employment contract with a Mexican company.
Mexico digital nomad visa application process
The application process for a Mexico digital nomad visa requires you to follow some steps. Let this application instruction guide you:
- Schedule an appointment either in the Mexican embassy or the Mexican consulate in your home country. You can do it remotely through an online reservation form.
- Once you have your appointment confirmed, make sure you have all the documents required for a temporary resident visa. They must be in English or Spanish.
- Fill out the visa application form. You need to provide some personal information. Double-check the form, so it doesn't contain any errors.
- Attend the visa interview. You may get the temporary residence visa right away or need to wait for several weeks.
- Come to Mexico and make an appointment at the National Institute of Migration (Instituto Nacional de Miagración).
- Attend the National Institute of Migration and exchange the temporary residence permit for a temporary resident card. You must do it within 30 days of your entry into Mexico.
Required documentation for a digital nomad visa
To complete the application process, you need to gather and attach some documentation. It includes:
- a valid passport that stays effective for a minimum of 6 months when submitting an application
- application form signed by you
- recent face photograph
- proof of income (bank statements) – you should show you have sufficient income in 3 ways:
- have a monthly income of at least $2,600 for the last 6 months
- balance of $43,000 for the last 12 months
- own a property in Mexico of at least $346,000
- proof of employment (employment contract or, if you run your own business, its registry)
- criminal background check – you should go to your country's police department to prove you have a clean criminal record
- international health insurance
- proof that you covered the processing fees
- if you bring dependents, proof of relationship with them – it may be a marriage certificate or a birth certificate
What are the benefits of the Mexico remote worker visa
A temporary residence visa to Mexico is wonderful for remote workers to live and work:
- an affordable cost of living – you can comfortably live in Mexico, as it has pretty low prices that will suit most budgets and make your digital nomad life easier;
- you may befree of paying taxes – if you earn more than 51% of your income outside of Mexico, you don't have to pay taxes in Mexico to avoid double taxation;
- varied climate – you can enjoy Mexican warm and humid climate and have a rest at the beautiful beach and highlands areas;
- excellent spots to work remotely – there are many coworking spaces and coffee shops with high-speed internet connection;
- a big digital nomads' community – you can find those who share your passion and lifestyle; it also means more events and workshops for remote workers;
- vibrant city life – there are a lot of cultural and entertainment options to choose from in Mexico, especially in Mexico City;
- opportunity to use banking services – after 6 months of residing in Mexico with a temporary residence permit, you will be allowed to use local banking services.
- bigger chances to acquire Mexican citizenship in the future – as a temporary residence permit can be extended for up to 4 years, and that enables its holder to get a permanent residency, there is a strong probability to acquire Mexican citizenship one day.
How to extend your time in Mexico with a digital nomad visa
Initially, the Mexico digital nomad visa is valid for one year on the first issuance, but then digital nomads have an opportunity to renew it for one, two, or three years.
After four years of living in Mexico with a temporary resident visa, you can apply for a permanent residence visa to stay in the country for an extended period of time and maybe acquire Mexican citizenship one day.
Other important things to know about the digital nomad visa for Mexico
- Mexico doesn't offer a separate digital nomad visa, but you can use a temporary residence visa for the sake of working remotely.
- Any resident must pay from 0% to 30% taxes, but the exact sum depends on your specific situation.
- With a temporary residency, you can open a local bank account, rent or buy cars, and reenter Mexico without any restrictions.
- Visa holder is prohibited from taking any local jobs in Mexico.
- The most popular places for digital nomads are Mexico City, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Puerto Escondido, and Tulum.
- Mexico has over 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so you'll always have what to see and attend after your work.
- You can enter and leave the country unlimited times, as there are no time limits on how long you should stay in Mexico to maintain your permanent residency status.
