Visa
Work permit in Mexico
Mexico's work route is a job-offer visa. An employer registered with the National Migration Institute (INM) asks INM to authorise it, then you collect a temporary resident visa (over 180 days, up to four years) or a visitor visa with work permit (up to 180 days) at a consulate, tied to the occupation in the offer.
- Official names
- Visa de residente temporal por oferta de empleo (procedures 10 and 11); Visa de visitante con permiso para realizar actividades remuneradas; Job-offer visa asked for at the National Migration Institute
Sources: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), Chamber of Deputies of Mexico. Checked 16 October 2026.
Who it’s for
- The route is for a foreign person who has a job offer from a person or company legally established in Mexico and registered as an employer with INM. It leads to a visitor visa with permission to work if the job lasts up to 180 days, or temporary residence if it lasts longer. The Interior Ministry (SEGOB) can set quotas for these visas.
- The permit covers the occupation named in the offer under the national occupations classification (SINCO), and the visa does not validate your qualifications or licences. A separate ground added in May 2026 covers unpaid, highly specialised technical assistance, which is not employment.
- Since the May 2026 amendment the offer must state whether the work is in person, remote or mixed, and where it is done. For strategic projects needing high specialisation, an employer that is a company must describe a programme to transfer knowledge to Mexican staff.
Sources: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), Chamber of Deputies of Mexico. Checked 16 October 2026.
Money tests
- The job-offer procedure lists no income or savings test. The offer itself must state the pay and how often it is paid, and the pages we read set no minimum salary.
- A relative who applies at a consulate with you in person shows 220 days of UMA of their own, about MXN 25,800; to be safe, have more than MXN 26,000. If you later ask INM for the relative's visa, the family procedure lists no solvency amount.
Sources: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI). Checked 16 October 2026.
Documents
- The employer provides the offer on company letterhead, stating the occupation, how long the work lasts, the place or places of work and whether it is in person, remote or mixed, plus the pay and its frequency. It also provides a copy of its INM employer registration, the ID of the owner or legal representative and a copy of your passport.
- At the consulate you bring the INM authorisation, your original passport and, if you are not a national of the country where you apply, proof of legal stay there.
- Foreign public documents other than your passport need an apostille or consular legalisation and a Spanish translation.
Sources: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores). Checked 16 October 2026.
Timing
- The employer applies to INM first, and INM has up to 20 working days to decide. Its authorisation lasts 30 working days from the notice, and you must book the consular interview within that time. The interview takes place within 12 working days of booking.
- The consulate issues the visa after the interview. If the interview goes badly or something is missing, it asks INM to reconsider within 5 working days, INM answers within 7 working days, and the visa is issued only after that final ruling.
- The visa is valid for 180 days and one entry, and you then have 30 calendar days from arriving to apply to INM for your card. These deadlines do not apply while a request waits on a migration-control match or on a visit to verify the offer or the employer.
Sources: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), Chamber of Deputies of Mexico. Checked 16 October 2026.
Fees
- INM charges MXN 247.96 for studying the request and authorising the visa, and a consulate charges the visa fee under article 22 of the Federal Law of Duties, MXN 990.79 for an ordinary visa. A visitor visa with work permit adds an article 8 document fee of MXN 4,340.77.
- A temporary resident card for a stay based on a job offer pays half the usual fee if you show INM the offer and the employer's current registration: MXN 5,570.37 for up to a year, MXN 8,346.68 for two years, MXN 10,571.29 for three and MXN 12,528.91 for four.
Sources: Chamber of Deputies of Mexico, Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores). Checked 16 October 2026.
How long it lasts and renewal
- A visitor with permission to work stays no more than 180 days. A temporary resident stays no more than four years, with permission to work in the activity tied to the job offer.
- The card stays valid for the authorised period and renewal pays the same fee as the first card. The pages we read do not say what happens to the permit if you change employer, so ask INM before you do.
Sources: Chamber of Deputies of Mexico, Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores). Checked 16 October 2026.
Path to permanent residence
- Permanent residence can be granted after four years with a temporary residence permit, and INM's change-of-status procedure says the same. Changing status costs MXN 1,847.13 and the permanent card MXN 13,578.96.
Sources: Chamber of Deputies of Mexico, Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM). Checked 16 October 2026.
Tax
- The May 2026 guidelines say a foreigner with a work permit is subject to Mexican tax obligations. Residents pay income tax on worldwide income, and an employee paid by someone who does not withhold Mexican tax makes monthly provisional payments by the 17th.
- For 2026 the annual income tax tariff for individuals (article 152, updated in Annex 8 of the Resolución Miscelánea Fiscal) rises from 1.92% on the first band to 35% on income above MXN 5,107,703.92.
Sources: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), Chamber of Deputies of Mexico, Instituto para el Desarrollo Técnico de las Haciendas Públicas (INDETEC). Checked 17 October 2026.
Your passport
If you hold a US, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport
What differs for each passport, from the same sources. A line that says there is no difference means the sources we read name none.
United States passport
- The visa is applied for at the Mexican consulate that serves your state, and the guidelines list no police certificate for the job-offer visa. The US and Mexico are both in the Apostille Convention, in force for the United States from 15 October 1981.
- Mexico is not on the Social Security Administration's list of agreements, so no agreement coordinates contributions between the two systems. US citizens abroad file US returns on worldwide income, and Mexican tax can usually be taken as a credit.
Sources: Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), US Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service. Checked 16 October 2026.
Canada passport
- Canada has been in the Apostille Convention since 11 January 2024, so Canadian public documents sent to INM or a consulate can carry a Canadian apostille. The guidelines list no police certificate for this visa.
- The Canada–Mexico social security agreement has applied since 1 May 1996 for CPP and OAS only, and a Canada–Mexico tax convention is in force. Canada's page does not describe a certificate of coverage, so whether CPP contributions continue needs checking.
Sources: Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), Government of Canada, Department of Finance Canada. Checked 16 October 2026.
Australia passport
- Australia has been in the Apostille Convention since 16 March 1995. The Mexican Embassy in Canberra serves applicants in Australia, and the guidelines list no police certificate for the job-offer visa.
- The Australia–Mexico tax agreement has been in force since 31 December 2003. Salary is generally taxable where the work is done, and Mexico is not on Australia's list of social security agreements.
Sources: Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH), Embassy of Mexico in Australia, Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), Australian Treasury, Department of Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
New Zealand passport
- Mexico and New Zealand run a working holiday scheme for people aged 18 to 30. New Zealanders who want to go to Mexico under it contact the Mexican Embassy in Wellington, and the guidelines allow a temporary resident visa under an international mobility agreement.
- The New Zealand–Mexico tax agreement has been in force since 16 June 2007, and Mexico is not on New Zealand's list of social security agreements.
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand), Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores), Inland Revenue (New Zealand), Work and Income (Ministry of Social Development, New Zealand). Checked 16 October 2026.
Other visas
Other visas in Mexico.
The country
More on Mexico.
Questions about Work permit in Mexico.
Who applies first for a Mexican work visa, the employee or the employer?
The employer. A person or company registered with INM as an employer asks INM to authorise the visa on a job offer. Once INM authorises it, you book the consular interview, which must happen within the authorisation's 30 working days.
How long does Mexico take to decide a job-offer work visa?
INM has up to 20 working days to decide and its authorisation lasts 30 working days. The consular interview takes place within 12 working days of booking. Checks or a visit to verify the offer pause these deadlines.
Can a Mexican job-offer visa cover remote work from home?
It can be stated in the offer. Since May 2026 the offer must say whether the work is in person, remote or mixed, and where it is done. The permit is tied to the occupation named in the offer, and the holder is subject to Mexican tax obligations.
What must the employer's job offer say for a Mexican work visa?
It must be on letterhead and state the occupation under the national classification, how long the work lasts, the place or places of work, whether it is in person, remote or mixed, and the pay and its frequency. The employer must hold an INM registration.
What government fees apply to Mexico's work visa on a job offer?
INM charges MXN 247.96 to authorise the visa, and the consular visa fee is MXN 990.79 in the law. A temporary resident card for a job-offer stay pays half the usual fee, from MXN 5,570.37 for up to a year to MXN 12,528.91 for four years.
Is there a minimum salary for Mexico's job-offer work visa?
The pages we read set none. The guidelines list no income or savings test, and the offer must state the pay and how often it is paid. Mexican tax and IMSS contributions apply to employees; ask INM whether any salary floor applies to your occupation.
Sources
Official sources we used.
Government and official pages only, each with the date we checked it.
- General guidelines for issuing visas (Lineamientos generales para la expedición de visas), Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores). Checked 16 October 2026. Dated 14 July 2025. Procedure 5 (temporary residence visa), 7 (permanent residence visa), 8 (family visa asked for at the National Migration Institute), 10 and 11 (job-offer visa).
- Status table: Apostille Convention of 5 October 1961, Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). Checked 16 October 2026. In force for Mexico from 14 August 1995, the United States from 15 October 1981, Canada from 11 January 2024, Australia from 16 March 1995 and New Zealand from 22 November 2001.
- US international Social Security agreements, US Social Security Administration. Checked 4 October 2026. List of agreements in force; Mexico is not listed.
- US citizens abroad: filing requirements, Internal Revenue Service. Checked 4 October 2026.
- Foreign tax credit, Internal Revenue Service. Checked 4 October 2026.
- Canada–Mexico social security agreement, Government of Canada. Checked 4 October 2026. In force since 1 May 1996; CPP and OAS only.
- Tax treaties in force, Department of Finance Canada. Checked 4 October 2026. Canada–Mexico convention signed 12 September 2006.
- Temporary resident visa: general information (2022 sheet), Embassy of Mexico in Australia, Canberra. Checked 15 October 2026. Applicants in Australia. Dated 2022, so its solvency amounts use an older basis.
- Treaties in force, Australian Treasury. Checked 4 October 2026. Mexico agreement signed 9 September 2002, in force 31 December 2003.
- Australia–Mexico tax agreement (2002), text, Embassy of Mexico in Australia (copy of the Australian Treaty Series text, [2004] ATS 4). Checked 4 October 2026. Articles 4 (residence), 14 (independent services), 15 (employment) and 23 (double tax relief) read; later changes by the Multilateral Instrument not reviewed.
- International social security agreements (archived copy of 9 September 2026), Australian Government, Department of Social Services (Internet Archive copy). Checked 4 October 2026. Mexico is not listed.
- Mexico–New Zealand working holidays, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand). Checked 16 October 2026. Page has no date; covers ages 18 to 30; New Zealanders apply through the Mexican Embassy in Wellington.
- New Zealand–Mexico tax agreement, Inland Revenue (New Zealand), Tax Policy. Checked 4 October 2026. In force since 16 June 2007; signed 16 November 2006.
- Social security agreements, Work and Income (Ministry of Social Development, New Zealand). Checked 4 October 2026. Mexico not listed.
- Migration Law (Ley de Migración), articles 52 to 56, 59 and 60 (archived copy of 2 October 2026), Chamber of Deputies of Mexico (Internet Archive copy). Checked 16 October 2026. Text in force, last reform DOF 15 January 2026.
- Amendment to the general guidelines for issuing visas (13 May 2026), Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores). Checked 16 October 2026. Dated 13 May 2026; in force the day after publication. Changes procedures 5, 10 and 11.
- The UMA values from 1 February 2026 (press release 1/26), Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI). Checked 15 October 2026. MXN 117.31 a day from 1 February 2026.
- Federal Law of Duties (Ley Federal de Derechos), articles 8, 9, 14 Bis and 22, Chamber of Deputies of Mexico. Checked 16 October 2026. Text in force, last reform DOF 7 November 2025; amounts in pesos as printed in the law.
- Change from temporary resident to permanent resident (procedure INM-03-010-B), Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM), via gob.mx. Checked 15 October 2026.
- Federal Tax Code (Código Fiscal de la Federación), article 9 (archived copy of 21 September 2026), Chamber of Deputies of Mexico (Internet Archive copy). Checked 15 October 2026.
- Income Tax Law (Ley del Impuesto sobre la Renta), articles 1 and 96 (archived copy of 17 September 2026), Chamber of Deputies of Mexico (Internet Archive copy). Checked 15 October 2026. Copy last reformed 1 April 2024 on the monthly payment rule; later reforms not reviewed.
- Update of the personal income tax tariff for 2026 (reproduces Annex 8 of the Resolución Miscelánea Fiscal 2026, DOF 28 December 2025), Instituto para el Desarrollo Técnico de las Haciendas Públicas (INDETEC), Mexico. Checked 17 October 2026. Annual tariff: 1.92% on the first band up to MXN 10,135.11, 35% above MXN 5,107,703.92.