This Guide:

Immigration to Mexico

The General Law of Population establishes three general groups for the treatment of foreigners entering into Mexico: non-immigrant, immigrant, and permanent resident.

A. NON-IMMIGRANT

Foreigners may enter the country, on a temporary basis, under various categories, such as tourists, visitors, students, religious ministers, and travelers in transit, among others.
The visitor category is the most common one for foreigners entering the country for business meetings, market studies, to carry out any technical or management activities for Mexican companies, or to attend corporate shareholders or board of directors meetings. Such visitors will be granted a permit (FM3) for up to one year, renewable four times, for a total period of five years.

The permit shall specify the place and activities to be carried out by the foreigner.

When a remunerated activity is performed for a Mexican entity, the Mexican entity will be jointly responsible for any sanctions imposed for violations of the terms of the permit.

There are various classifications of Non-Immigrant visitors to Mexico - the main ones are listed below. Your local Mexican Counsolate will be able to give you full details about how to apply (and in some cases, pay) for permits that are required in advance.

  • Tourist Permits
  • Traveler In Transit
  • Visitors (Common for Business and Investors)
  • Students
  • Artists and Sportspeople
  • Distinguised Visitors
  • Local Visitors
  • Provisional Visitors
  • Correspondents and Journalists
  • Religious Ministers

B. IMMIGRANT

Immigrants are foreigners authorized to enter the country with the purpose of establishing permanent residency. Immigrants will be allowed to remain in the country upon satisfying various requisites and will be granted an immigrant (“inmigrante”) permit (FM2) for up to one year annually renewable for up to five years. Upon completion of the five-year period, the foreigner will be granted permanent resident (“inmigrado”) status.

Immigrants staying out of the country more than 18 months in a continuous or non-continuous manner during the five year annually renewable period will not be granted the permanent resident status until a new five-year period has elapsed thereafter. When such absences total more than 2 years, foreigners will lose their immigrant status.
Immigrant categories include retirees, investors, professionals, scientists, technicians, relatives, artist and sportsmen, among others.

C. PERMANENT RESIDENT

Immigrants residing in the country for five years may acquire permanent resident status
(“inmigrado”). Under such classification, the foreigner’s periods of permitted absences from Mexico become more liberal, and may freely carry out any activity without permit from the Ministry of Interior.

However, if the permanent resident foreigner remains outside Mexico for more than three consecutive years or for more than five years in a 10-year period, the foreigner will lose permanent residency status.

D. GENERAL COMMENTS

Foreigners entering the country as non-immigrants may import a vehicle during the term of their status complying with certain requisites, such as periodic renewals and posting bonds.
Immigrants may not import a vehicle, except for immigrants in the retiree (“rentista”) classification.
Non-immigrants and immigrants may import household belongings with certain restrictions.

E. TEMPORARY ENTRY OF VISITORS AND MEMBERS OF A BOARD  THROUGH THE “FMVC”

To facilitate the residence of foreign investors, officials and technicians in Mexico, involved in industrial, financial, technological, and other economic activities, the authorities in Mexican consulates abroad are empowered to issue the corresponding visas.

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Please read further for more details on Non-Immgrant status, temporary entry through the "FMVC", and Temporary entry for business persons under NAFTA

NON-IMMIGRANT

There are various classifications of Non-Immigrant visitors to Mexico - the main ones are listed below. Your local Mexican Counsolate will be able to give you full details about how to apply (and in some cases, pay) for permits that are required in advance.

  • Tourist Permits
  • Traveler In Transit
  • Visitors (Common for Business and Investors)
  • Students
  • Artists and Sportspeople
  • Distinguised Visitors
  • Local Visitors
  • Provisional Visitors
  • Correspondents and Journalists
  • Religious Ministers

 

Tourist Permits (Also used for Temporary Business Visits)

These are the equivalent of the "Landing Card" in the EU or "Visa Waiver" in the US that non-nationals need to fill out and have stamped when they enter to visit.

Tourist Permits

The Mexican Tourist permit is known at the "FMT"; it is very simple to fill out, and available from airlines and ports of entry. This permit allows visitors to remain in Mexico for a maximum period of 180 days, although immigration officials will only assign a maximum of 90 days, instructing visitors to extend it later. The permit can be extended to the maximum permitted stay if the original term granted (written on the form at the port of entry) was less than 180 days, by visiting one of the local foreign immigration offices, completing the paperwork and paying the administration fee.

Temporary Business Visits

The latest version of the FMT also contains a section for business travellers, who are entering Mexico temporarily to conduct business there. If you are travelling on business, complete the second half of the FMT. Business travellers are usually given 30 days entry as standard, although you can ask the immigration officer for more or extend it afterwards to maximum time allowed (180 days).

Traveler in Transit

If you are in transit to another country, but will stay in Mexico for a short while, perhaps even just overnight, you can be issued with a traveller in transit permit, which allows a stay of up to 30 days and is NOT renewable. Available at all ports of entry to the country.

Visitors (Common for Longer Business Trips)

If you plan to visit Mexico on an extended stay for business reasons, then you are likely to be need one of these permits, although the normal FMT entry card (see Tourist Permits, above) now have a business section included for business travelers on temporary visits, so if your stay will only be temporary (see above) avoid the paperwork and administration charges involved with this permit and use the FMT instead.

For extended stays in Mexico, you must apply for the Visitors permit (usually an FM3) through your company and state what the purpose of the visit is, and how long it is likely to take. There are also some forms to fill out and a handling fee to pay. You can download the forms, and find out the latest fees and requirements contact your attorney.  Visitor's Permits are issued for up to one year, and are renewable four times, for a maximum of one year each time - for a total maximum period of five years.

Students

If you want to study in Mexico, a non-immigrant permit which enables you to live and study in Mexico can be granted by the Consulate. You must be able to prove your ability to be self-sufficient by showing a certain amount of funds in a bank account. The exact amounts change yearly - check with the Mexican Consulate in your local area, details of Mexican consulates abroad are accessible.

Artists and Sportspeople

These people can apply for an immigration permit. Each case is considered individually and entry is at the Interior Ministry's discretion.

Distinguished Visitors

VIPs, Heads of State, persons on official visits, royalty, et al can be issued with special visitor permits that last for 6 months.

Local Visitors

Special permits for foreigners visiting maritime ports and border cities. The permit allows a maximum stay of 3 days, and you must stay within the 35km 'border zone'.

Provisional Visitors

If you arrive in Mexico without the proper documentation for normal non-immigrant entry (e.g. your passport was lost en-route) you can be issued with a Provisional Visitor Permit that allows you 30 days to get the required documentation together necessary for normal entry. A deposit or bond is required to guarantee that you will return to where you came from.

Correspondents / Journalists

If you're involved in journalism or media, you can be issued with a Correspondents Permit, that enables you to carry out journalism work. The permit lasts for a year, but can be renewed as many times as required, provided that you are continuing your journalism work.

Religious Ministers

Religious Ministers or Members of Religious Associations can be issued with a permit that allows them to undertake religious duties and services, regardless of which religion it is, as well as social services. Persons wanting this permit will need to register and show their Ministry qualifications.

 

TEMPORARY ENTRY OF VISITORS AND MEMBERS OF A BOARD THROUGH THE "FMVC"

To facilitate the residence of foreign investors, officials and technicians in Mexico, involved in industrial, financial, technological, and other economic activities, the authorities in Mexican consulates abroad are empowered to issue the corresponding visas.

This form is extended to "business people", "directors", "technicians" and "personnel transferred". The characteristics and requirements of each visa are as follows:

A. Business people:

To negotiate or sign business contracts, check on their performance, look for investment alternatives, or otherwise invest in the country directly.

B. Directors
 
To attend meetings of the board of directors of companies legally incorporated in Mexico as appointed by the stockholders' meeting.


C. Technicians :

To provide specialized services previously agreed upon or contemplated by technology transfer, patent and trademark agreements, machinery and equipment purchase contracts, technical training or any other contracts related to the production process in a company incorporated in Mexico.


D. Transferred Personnel

Foreigners hired by any parent company, subsidiary or affiliate aiming to perform managerial, executive or consulting duties in a Mexican company or who provide specialized knowledge on the activities of such company.

The requirements for the FMVC form are:

  1.  A letter in Spanish from the parent company stating the reason for the staff to stay in the Country.

  2.  Evidence of the appointment as director.

  3.  A letter of invitation issued by the company, professional chamber or public agency stating the reason for the person to enter the Country.

    Before the 30 day term is over, visitors who need longer stays may apply for an FM3 non-immigrant visitor form, issued by the National Immigration Institute. The FM3 form authorizes the performance of uncompensated activities in the country for up to one year, to be renewed subject to payment of the corresponding duties. Travelers of the countries not listed in the exhibit shall apply for this immigration form.
    In the case of the North American Free Trade Agreement, temporary stay of businessmen involves the following categories: business visitors, merchants, investor visitors, and personnel and professionals transferred. For these, a businessman immigration form (FMN) is required and it may be directly obtained from Mexican consulates in Canada and the United States of America and travel agencies, airlines and immigration personnel in every port of entry in Mexico.

 

TEMPORARY ENTRY OF BUSINESS PERSONS UNDER NAFTA

Chapter XVI of NAFTA states the general principles under which a NAFTA Party may authorize temporary entrance of businesspersons of another NAFTA Party, without the need for an employment permit.

The term businessperson under NAFTA includes the following categories: business visitor, traders-investors, intra-company transferees, and professionals, all of which may not receive income for their activities in Mexico.

All the above authorizations shall be temporary, and thus visitors shall be classified as non-immigrants.

NAFTA creates the “FMN”, a special immigration document, currently included in a combined immigration form covering tourists, and the FMVC category mentioned in E. above, issued by the consular offices or at the airlines, to businesspersons crossing the
border to develop a non-Mexican remunerative activity for a maximum of 30 days.

 

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