The Mexico digital nomad visa is one of the most exciting visas open to remote workers not only in the U.S. and Canada but digital nomads worldwide. Mexico has always been a fantastic destination to visit and with the huge increase in those living the digital nomad lifestyle—workcations to the country are trending upwards. With a convenient time zone, low cost of living, and a great quality of life, there’s plenty to love about Mexico.

Despite not offering a true “remote working visa”, the Mexican Temporary Resident Visa is perfect alternative for digital nomads interested in spending more than 180 days in the country. Find out how to apply and everything you need to know about the Mexican digital nomad visa below. 

READ MORE: The Best Digital Nomad Neighborhoods in Mexico City

What is the Mexico Digital Nomad Visa?

The Mexico digital nomad visa is not a strict remote worker-focused visa, but rather a Temporary Resident Visa that fits the needs of remote workers perfectly. 

The temporary resident visa allows applicants to live and work in Mexico providing that all income is earned from outside of the country. Applicants are unable to work for local companies, making the temporary resident visa a great choice for remote workers. This type of visa can be used by remote workers looking to stay in Mexico for more than 180 days but less than four years. 

Why is the Mexico Digital Nomad Visa Better Than a Tourist Visa?

The Mexican tourism visa can be used by holiday-makers and remote workers who are looking to spend a maximum of 180 days in the country. One of the main benefits of the Mexican temporary resident visa is the length of time that remote workers are able to spend in the country. A minimum of 180 days and a maximum of four years can be spent in Mexico when the temporary resident visa is held.

Holders of the Mexican digital nomad visa will be considered tax residents of Mexico when they spend more than 183 days of the year within the country. Depending on the home country of digital nomads, this could be a highly valuable tax benefit.

Visa holders are able to be accompanied by both their spouses and dependents when successfully applying for a temporary resident visa. Additional documentation, such as a marriage certificate, and proof of additional minimum income requirements must be provided when dependents accompany remote workers. 

Mexico Digital Nomad Visa Requirements 

There is a short list of requirements that must be satisfied by remote workers when applying for a Mexican remote working visa. For an individual applying for a temporary resident visa, the following criteria must be satisfied for a successful application: 

• Valid Passport: The applicant's passport must be valid for the entire visa duration
• Minimal Income Requirements: Remote workers are required to satisfy at least one of the minimum income requirements from the following:

• Minimum Bank Balance: To have maintained a minimum bank balance of at least $43,000 (tax-free) over the last 12 months.
• Minimum Monthly Income: To have earned a minimum of $2,595 (tax-free) each month over the last 6 months.
• Minimum Property Value: Own a Mexican property valued at least $346,000

If an independent remote worker is accompanied by a family member, the following additional requirements are enforced:

• Minimum Monthly Income: The minimum monthly income value increases by a total of $861 for every family member. 

Compared to other digital nomad visa requirements, the Mexico temporary resident visa requirements are among some of the simplest. 

How to Apply 

Applying for any remote work visa can be a daunting prospect—that’s why we’ve created a simple step-by-step guide to applying for the Mexico digital nomad visa.

Step 1: Collect All Necessary Documents

The first step in applying for the Mexican digital nomad visa is to collect all of the necessary documents ready for the application. The following documents and information should be collected by an independent digital nomad when applying for the Mexico remote working visa: 

• Original Passport
• Copy of the Passport Bio Page
• One Passport-Size Photo
• An Original and a Copy of Legal Permit to Stay 
• Proof of Funds, Income, or Property Ownership
• Marriage Certificate (when applying with a spouse)

All documents provided should be in either English or Spanish. These must be translated if the original language differs. 

Step 2: Schedule a Meeting with an Embassy or Consulate

After all of the documents have been collected, applicants are then able to schedule a meeting with a Mexican Embassy or Consulate. Depending on the location and time of the application, appointments may be weeks in advance. An appointment can typically be made through the embassy or consulate website. 

Step 3: Complete the Visa Application 

Once an appointment has been scheduled, digital nomads are then able to complete the visa application process. The application form can be accessed online from the embassy or consulate website and must be completed in either English or Spanish. All application forms should be printed out double-sided, ensuring a single piece of paper covers the whole document. The application must be signed by the applicant and then stored with the additional documents, ready for the visa appointment. 

Step 4: Attend a Visa Appointment

Once scheduled and prepared, digital nomads are now able to attend their visa appointment to complete the process. During the appointment, applicants will undergo an interview process with the eligibility and personal history covered. 

Following the interview, it is possible that the temporary resident permit will be immediately supplied. In other cases, applicants will be required to wait to receive their documentation. A processing fee of $48, payable in the form of cash or as a money order, must be paid during the appointment visit.

Step 5: Receive Temporary Resident Permit 

Following the issuing of the visa, applicants are then given up to six months to enter Mexico and register their temporary residency. Upon arrival in Mexico, applicants must head to an Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) within 30 days to receive the temporary resident card. Nomads should print and fill out the online form with the personal details before walking into an INM (appointments are not necessary) with the following documents: 

• Valid Passport
• The Temporary Resident Visa
• The Original Visa Fee Receipt (plus two additional copies)
• Two Front Facing Passport Photos
• One Right Side Facing Passport Photo 

After completing the final step, remote workers will have completed the process and will be able to spend up to four years in Mexico. 

Why Choose Mexico For Your Next Remote Working Trip?

Choosing a destination to spend more than six months is never an easy task, but Mexico’s long list of benefits helps to make the decision just that little bit easier. With good remote work culture, low cost of living, and high quality of life, the country is high up on the list for a location-independent lifestyle. Mexico is highly accepting of expats with more than an estimated 1.1 million (700,000 of which are Americans) currently residing throughout the country. 

Remote Work Culture in Mexico

Mexico City is a true hot spot for digital nomads and remote workers with a fantastic infrastructure and digital hub. There are countless cafes and coworking spaces open to all digital nomads and remote workers looking for a quiet place to work in the city. Remote working communities are easy to find and with an inviting, fun-loving culture in Mexico City, it’s an incredible place to spend time during the visa period. 

Moving outside of the capital, remote working is less common. There are hotspots such as Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Guadalajara with nomads often frequenting the destinations. 

Cost of Living and Quality of Life in Mexico 

One of the main draws of Mexico is the high quality of life and low cost of living achieved in the country. The cost of living in Mexico is much lower than that of the United States, for example, with an average cost of living 48.61% lower than in the US and the average rent 73.44% lower than in the US. 

Healthcare in Mexico

Mexico is currently rated 79/176 for healthcare in the 2021 Legatum Prosperity Index, ranking the country between Ecuador and Indonesia. 

The Mexican healthcare system is split into three categories with public programs, employer-provided programs, and private out-of-pocket care programs. We would recommend that all digital nomads and remote workers applying for the Mexico digital nomad visa should invest in health insurance before traveling to the country. 

Conclusion 

The Mexican digital nomad visa, or temporary resident visa, is a fantastic option for remote workers interested in spending more than 180 days in the country. With a maximum stay of up to four years, potential tax benefits associated with a Mexican residency, and the option of bringing dependents, the visa is highly valuable for digital nomads. It’s quick and easy to apply for and with a small fee of just $48, the visa is one of the most affordable currently offered. 

The Mexico remote working visa ticks all the boxes for digital nomads looking to relocate this year.