How to Work Legally in Mexico

In Mexico, it is not difficult to work legally. It does mean, however, that all criteria will have to be met for the work visa requirements. The visa requirements will depend upon your nationality, your personal circumstances, and your professional expertise. Here is a general overview on what it takes to work legally in Mexico. (Readers should beware that at a short notice the immigration laws can change, and every candidate’s circumstances will be different.)

Immigration Laws – How to work legally in Mexico

As a tourist, visiting Mexico for most nationalities is easy to do. Citizens of many countries can stay in Mexico for 180 days with the tourist visa. The tourist visa is free and it will be stamped as a tourist visa upon your arrival to Mexico. However, a tourist visa doesn not give you permission to work legally in Mexico or seek employment. You will need to get a Temporary Residence visa with a permission to work if you want to work in Mexico legally. Applying for a temporary residence visa must be done BEFORE you arrive in Mexico or you will be asked to leave until your immigration visa is processed.

Please note: immigration laws in Mexico changed in 2012. Prior to this change people were able to come to Mexico, then apply for a working visa.

Obtaining a Temporary and Permanent Residents Visa 

All non-Mexican citizens seeking to live and work legally in Mexico will have to apply for a temporary or permanent residents visa along with permission to work. The visa must be applied for outside of Mexico. You will need to have a job offer with a company that is willing to provide you with the documents you need for you application for you to work in Mexico legally.

Tafer Hotels & Resorts in Mexico 

The payroll company at Tafer Hotels & Resorts in Mexico will help you with the visa process if you have been considered a successful candidate for employment. All of the paperwork will need to be taken to your local Mexican consulate in your country. It cannot be done in Mexico. Your immigration application will be finalized once you return and arrive in Mexico and you have all the necessary paperwork from your local immigration office. This process must be started and done one month before you plan to work and live in Mexico.

Becoming a Permanent Resident in Mexico

Once you have had your temporary resident visa for a complete four years you will have to apply for a Permanent Residents Visa. This cannot be done before the four years has been completed and this visa will not have to be renewed.

Now you know how to work legally in Mexico. If you would like to live and work in Mexico legally, then you should start the paperwork process now.