Mexico Digital Nomad Visa: How to Get One in 2024

With stunning beaches, a rich and unique culture, and a strong expat community, it’s no wonder why Mexico is one of the most popular destinations for digital nomads.

Suppose you’re planning to make Mexico your next home away from home as a digital nomad. In that case, you’ll need to acquire a temporary resident visa, the current stand-in for a Mexico digital nomad visa, to enter the country legitimately.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at what a Mexican digital nomad visa can offer you and the steps you’ll need to take to apply successfully.

The Mexico Digital Nomad Visa

While Mexico doesn’t technically have a dedicated visa for nomads, it does offer a temporary resident visa, which many digital nomads will find suitable for their needs.

With a temporary resident visa in place of your Mexico digital nomad visa, you’ll have access to several features and benefits, including:

The freedom to travel in and out of Mexico as you require, rather than being restricted to the usual 180-day limit, which comes with the standard tourist visa.
The ability to import personal belongings, including furniture, without the risk of incurring additional taxes.
Access to healthcare in the country via Mexico’s IMSS.
Eligibility for a Mexican driver’s license.
Once you’ve held temporary residency for four years, you can use this to transition to permanent residency.

How to Get a Mexico Digital Nomad Visa

To successfully apply for temporary residence in place of a Mexico digital nomad visa, you’ll need to meet certain criteria and complete a number of stages in the visa application process.

Here are the key steps to getting your Mexican digital nomad visa:

Step 1: Confirm You’re Eligible

There are a few different sets of criteria that can make you eligible for a Mexican temporary resident visa. For most digital nomads, however, the most practical way to meet the eligibility requirements is through proving financial stability.

To do this, you’ll need to prove one of the following:

Employment or state benefits that yield approximately $2,500.00 USD after taxes (300 days of the Mexico City general minimum wage).
Investments or bank accounts with a balance of $43,000 USD for the past year (5,000 days of the Mexico City general minimum wage).
Ownership of a Mexican property worth at least $258,950 USD.

While providing your financial means will be the go-to method for many nomads looking to qualify for temporary residence in Mexico, there are other, potentially more accessible criteria you can meet, for example:

Having immediate family members in Mexico.
Having a job contract in Mexico.
Studying at a Mexican university or certain other educational institutions.

Step 2: Gather the Required Documents

Aside from ensuring your eligibility to obtain a temporary resident visa in Mexico, you’ll need to gather certain documents that will be required as part of the application process.

These include:

A passport with a validity of at least six months from the date that you plan to file your application.
A recent passport-sized photograph of you.
A certificate from your country of residence proving that you have a clean criminal record.
Evidence of medical insurance with coverage up to the standards of Mexico’s nationalized health service, such as a copy of your health insurance policy.
If you’re not a citizen of your country of residence, you’ll also need to prove legal residence status, e.g., through visa documents.

Step 3: Fill Out the Application Form

Once you have all your documents in order, the next step is to fill out the application form.

To do this, you’ll need to:

Go to the Mexican government website, navigate to the temporary residence visa page, and download the application form.
Please print out the application form, fill in the relevant details with a black pen, and sign it. This will include some of your personal details, as well as information about your background and current residence and your purpose of entry into Mexico.

Step 4: Submit the Application

Unfortunately, the Mexico digital nomad visa can’t be fully completed online. In order to submit your application, you’ll need to book an appointment with the Mexican consulate or embassy in your consular district.

Step 5: Pay the Visa Fee

On the day of your appointment, you’ll need to pay the visa migratory documentation fee at the embassy or consulate. This is currently $51 USD for United States applicants. The processing time for approval or rejection can take up to four weeks, depending on your consular district.

Pros and Cons of the Mexico Digital Nomad Visa

Like many nomads, Mexico might just be one of the possible destinations you have on your radar.

Here are some of the key pros and cons of the Mexico digital nomad visa to consider as you weigh your options:

Pros

The temporary resident visa allows you to stay for up to four years, with the option to apply for permanent residence at the end of this term.
Included eligibility to apply for a Mexican driver’s license.
Tax-free imports of personal belongings, including large items like furniture.
The freedom to travel outside of Mexico and back without being restricted by the 180-day limit tied to a standard tourist visa.
The option to keep a foreign license plate on your vehicle or even import your whole car.

Cons

Mexico currently doesn’t have a dedicated digital nomad visa, which can make the application process challenging for nomads with specific professions or financial means.
Unlike some other visas, the temporary residence permit requires you to apply in person at your local consulate, making the process less convenient than totally online applications like the Uruguay digital nomad visa.
Without proof of employment, family ties, or studying in Mexico, proving financial stability can make the application challenging.

What’s Next

Mexico can offer fantastic opportunities for digital nomads of all stripes. Though there may not be a dedicated Mexico digital nomad visa yet, it’s certainly possible to ensure your stay in the country is legal and trouble-free.

We hope this guide to digital nomad visa options in Mexico has helped you plan your next adventure!

If you’re looking for insurance for your visa application, be sure to check out some of our global insurance plans for digital nomads.