Mexico digital nomad visa application process, explained
I got my Mexico digital nomad visa and now, I am officially a resident of Mexico! Read on and see the semi-easy process I went through.
๐ฎ Reader Mail: Hola Trisha! Congratulations! I saw on your Instagram that you were granted a one-year Mexico digital nomad visa. I wanted to ask for your advice on how you did it.
I am an American citizen in my 40s and is also a remote worker like you. Since we have a different age group, does it matter? Do they have the same requirements? What do I need to submit? I will appreciate all the tips! Thank you for all that you do!
Hi Don,
Glad you decided to move to Mexico! I applied for a Mexico digital nomad visa 2 years ago and I was quite surprised by the smooth process and easy list of requirements.
Currently, I have a 4-year temporary resident visa in Mexico which is different from this visa type.
You can check that post if you feel like you are more qualified for the visa category. Meanwhile, if you are a digital nomad, this is the right visa application process for you so read on!
Good luck and let me know if you need anything else!
Xx, Trisha
๐ฒ๐ฝ Why I applied for a Mexico digital nomad visa
I was on a tourist visa in Mexico for a looonnggg time (maybe one year) before I finally decided to apply for a remote work visa Mexico.
At first, it wasnโt an issue. When people ask me if they need a digital nomad visa, I simply tell them that a tourist visa should work, especially if you donโt want to stay for more than 3 months.
Actually, Mexico WAS not very strict with online workers. You can enter Mexico with a 6-month tourist visa and work remotely from here.
However, in the event that you are caught by the authorities, they have the right to deport you. I know itโs strange especially if you are working for a company outside Mexico. What do they care?! Doesnโt it work that way anywhere?
The chances of you getting caught are super low but the INM, which is the National Institute of Immigration do monthly sweeps in popular destinations in Mexico like Sayulita and Cancun.
Honestly, they are just looking for undocumented people who work in bars as there are a lot of those here.
However, if you are where they are at the wrong time, the INM officer has the right to check your visa status. Iโve only experienced this twice, and luckily, I wasnโt violating any visa rules in Mexico.
Since I have the residency permit, they did not ask me anything else.
See also:
- The digital nomad guide to Mexico City
- The digital nomad guide to Oaxaca City
- The ultimate Sayulita digital nomad guide
- Puerto Vallarta digital nomad guide
- The absolute best Playa del Carmen digital nomad guide
- The digital nomad guide to La Paz, Baja California Sur
โน๏ธ Mexico digital nomad visa: important info
Mexico temporary resident visa through NUT
NUT means Nรบmero รnico de Trรกmite and itโs only for those who are going to Mexico to work for a Mexican-registered company (foreign or local).
For example, if you are to work for a Canadian or American Real Estate company in Mexico, they are technically registered in Mexico as a business even if the owners are foreigners.
In this case, you need to apply for a temporary residency visa in Mexico through NUT. This post is only for non-lucrative activities so I was not required to apply for NUT.
Check the requirements for a temporary resident visa Mexico through NUT before applying. Also, see if you are qualified for that visa category.
Qualifications to apply for the Mexico digital nomad visa
Those who are qualified to apply for the non-lucrative visa are as follows:
- You are traveling to Mexico for retirement, investments, professional activities, technical activities, artistic activities, scientific activities, and sports activities or as a minister of religion.
- You will be in Mexico for more than 180 days but less than 4 years.
- You donโt have a work authorization
- You are working and earning for a company outside Mexico
Financial requirement for remote work visa in Mexico
As per the 2021 rule, below are the amounts you need to present depending on your case.
- Investment or bank account: $35,530 USD
- Employment or pension: $2,131 USD
In my case, I applied as a digital nomad so I needed to show that I was earning $2,132 USD per month (6 months to one year proof of bank statement from my home country).
Lawyer help for the visa
Since it was my first time applying, I was advised to hire a lawyer. I have some British and American friends who have been denied a Mexico temporary resident visa and I was really quite shocked since these people are from first-world countries.
I realized it will be more challenging for me so hiring a lawyer was necessary.
It ended up very costly as opposed to doing it myself but I had to be sure that I will get a visa. Remember that the non-lucrative visa in Mexico is all about showing financial proof.
If you are confident with the amount of money you have in the bank, then it wouldnโt be a problem.
From being here in Mexico for a long time, I know that things like this are really costly. The Mexican bureaucracy has a lot of loopholes and is always solvable if you have money (and the right contacts, of course).
I feel that you wonโt need a lawyer but Iโd still like to share the lawyer expenses. Please take note that the visa expenses will be discussed later in this post.
Total legal fees: $7,000 MXN (US$357)
Please note that Mexico also uses the $ for their currency.
The first payment for legal advice is $1,000 MXN. Basically, the lawyer will explain the process of how to apply for the visa like what I am doing now.
This fee includes the lawyer booking your visa interview. He/she will also fill out the form for you.
The second payment is $3,000 MXN ($153 USD) for the lawyer to process your visa in the INM (Instituto Nacional de Migraciรณn) whichever Mexican city you wish to apply to in Mexico.
In my case, the lawyer needed to process it in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit. This is where I am currently based.
The third payment is for your biometrics/fingerprints at INM which is another $3,000 MXN ($153 USD). Again, these are just the fees for the lawyer. I will discuss the visa fee later.
Now, my friends have asked me a lot if itโs worth it to get a lawyer to apply for your visa. Itโs really up to you. I just feel like I need one for my case since I also donโt have a lot of savings but can meet the monthly financial requirement for the non-lucrative visa.
Whether you are hiring a lawyer or doing it by yourself, below are the exact same steps to apply for a digital nomad visa in Mexico.
๐ How to apply for a Mexico digital nomad visa (non-lucrative)
Step 1: Schedule your appointment at a Mexican Embassy outside of Mexico
If it is your first time applying for this Mexican visa type, you need to do it outside of Mexico. My American and European friends always choose the Embassy in Miami since itโs closer and the fares are cheap.
As for me, I need to get a tourist visa to enter the USA so the consulate/embassy is not really an option. I need to find a Mexican embassy in countries where I was free to enter without a visa.
My options were Costa Rica, Colombia, and Nicaragua.
Why am I being particular with the embassies? You can also do it in your home country but in my experience (and my friends), Miami and Costa Rica are the most relaxed when it comes to this visa type.
I chose Costa Rica not because I want to visit it (believe me, itโs my least favorite country) but because I was witness to the smooth visa processing in this country.
I once accompanied my Argentine friends in San Jose, CR who processed their work visa (not non-lucrative) and they told me it was a really fast and easy process.
Of course, since they applied for a different visa type, it might have been easier as their visa is company-sponsored. I saw the dynamics in the Mexican Embassy in CR and they seem to be very chill.
To schedule your appointment, you have to go to the Mexitel website and follow the necessary steps.
Last year, I was able to schedule an appointment 3 months ahead of time but as of January 2021, the Embassy in Costa Rica has fewer appointment slots.
You canโt even schedule it a month in advance! Since the non-lucrative visa requirements are not that hard to gather, I feel like itโs okay if you schedule your appointment on the same week to secure your slots.
Again, I am only talking about the schedule in Costa Rica. All these depend on the Mexican Embassy you are trying to set an appointment in.
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Step 2: Gather the requirements
While you are scheduling your interview appointment in the Mexican Embassy of your choice, you need to ask for the requirements as well. Itโs so strange that each consulate/embassy has its own list but so far, Iโve seen very little difference.
For those who want to apply in Miami, you may get in touch with Cristian Flores at visas[at]mexicomiami[dot]org. I asked for the Miami requirements just in case and they were kind enough to send it via e-mail.
Meanwhile, hereโs what the Embassy of Mexico in Costa Rica required:
- Duly-filled out the visa application form which you can download here. My lawyer filled this out for me.
- Valid passport with a minimum validity of six months. You need to photocopy the first and last page.
- $40 USD visa application fee to be paid on the day of your interview.
- Original and copy of the document proving your legal stay (residence card) or copy of the last entry stamp (in force) to Costa Rica if the foreign person is not a national of the country where you are applying for the visa.
- A passport-sized photograph (4.5 by 3.5 cm) with the face visible, without lenses, in front, in color, and with a white background.
- Original and copy of proof of investments or bank accounts with an average balance equivalent to $27,000 USD or above.
- Proof of monthly salary of $1,625 USD for the last 3 months. In my case, I printed 12 bank statements (for one year). My lawyer suggested itโs better to have the whole yearโs financial report as opposed to only 3 months.
- Proof of employment with the letterhead of the company. Of course, if you own your company (like I do), I just showed proof of registry of my online business (off-shore) plus I also asked my regular clients to provide proof of employment for me. Overall, I had 5 recommendations from my employers/clients!
You donโt need to present numbers 5 and 6. You can just need to choose 1. I have a Mexican bank account but since I am not a Mexican national, I need to show proof from my bank in my home country, which is a pain because I already stopped using that bank.
6 months prior to my appointment, I had to make sure that I was depositing $2,000 USD to my Philippine bank account just to make the record.
The tricky thing about this is that I needed to get the bank statement from my bank in the Philippines and ask my family to bring it to the Department of Foreign Affairs to be apostilled (red ribbon).
Then my mom sent it to me in Mexico. The document shipping cost me $200 USD from Manila to Mexico City (3 working days via FedEx).
Step 3: Go to your appointment
Appointments should not take long but please remember to go at least an hour early. In Costa Rica, there were 2 embassies on Google maps, but one is actually the consulate.
I was in the consulate but my interview was in the Embassy! These are two different things so make sure that you have the right address. I was an hour late but they still allowed me to come in, thank God!
The interview is quick as long as you have all the documents needed. You can choose the language of your interview (English or Spanish).
Even though I speak fluent Spanish, I chose English just to better understand the technical terms. They will ask the purpose of your visa application and everything relevant about your remote work.
Once your visa is approved, the immigration officer will ask you to leave your passport. You need to come back after two days for your passport with the visa stamp.
In my case, I asked if I can get it within 24 hours since I only had 3 days in Costa Rica. They were kind enough to approve my request (I show them flight proof). The key is to ask and you will get!
This visa stamp allows you to enter Mexico. Once back in Mexico, you will have 30 days to process your canje (temporary visa card). See the next step below.
Step 4: Process your residency card in Mexico
You need to process your canje in any INM in Mexico. I did mine in Nuevo Vallarta since I am based here. Below are the steps and requirements on how to apply for your canje:
- Fill out an online form here.
- A letter of request for your canje where you must state that you are already granted a Mexican visa outside of the country. You also need to include the purpose of your stay in Mexico (aka work online).
- Original and copy of the passport.
- Completed FMM form, provided at the port of entry, marked as canje for 30 days. You will get this when you enter Mexico with the granted temporary visa on your passport.
- Filled out formato bรกsico which you can download here.
- Temporary resident fee of $4,271 MXN ($218 USD) for one year. When you renew the following year, the fee is the same but you can request for a 2 or 3-year visa instead of 1. To pay the fee, the Immigration Officer will provide an E5 form. You need to bring it to any Mexican bank to make a payment. In the INM in Nuevo Vallarta, there were lots of banks outside so I did not have to go far.
Once youโve completed the required documents above, you will be given 2 documents which are (1) NUT; (2) pieza which are just two reference numbers to track your application online.
You will normally receive a notification within 10 (working) days to 2 weeks that your canje has been approved.
Step 5: Fingerprints at INM
Once your canje is approved, you must to back to INM to for fingerprint appointment and bring the following:
- Three colored photos with white background (2.5 x 3 cm)
- You must not be wearing glasses or earrings in the photo. Your hair should also be behind your ears. There are always photo studios in embassies so just do it there since they are more familiar with the format. This will only cost less than $4 USD.
In this last appointment, you will sign documents and have your fingerprints taken. After this, your resident card will be ready within one week.
โ๏ธ Mexico digital nomad Visa FAQ
๐ฒ๐ฝ Ready to make Mexico your digital nomad base? This blog thrives on reader questions so feel free to leave a comment below if you need anything about the Mexico digital nomad visa!
๐ป Digital Nomad Resources
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Hi!
Iโm a fan of your adventures. Iโm checking the feasibility of temporarily changing locations with my work from home setup.
Iโm curious if you apply for health card in the country where you are at for medical emergencies? Or a travel insurance will do?
Thanks!
Travel insurance is enough but if you have a resident visa, I think you need an ex-pat insurance. I am using SafetyWing for a year now and I love their services!
Hi, great article!
I wonder if you can tell me the answer to this question?
I am thinking of applying for this visa and have my partner and our two children as dependants. Would they come under my application or would i need to show extra available funds because i will not be alone?
I am not so sure since I have no experience with applying with children. I can connect you to my lawyer if you like!
good day! we are travelling as a group, me my daughter my niece my friend and my friends daughter.all in all we are 5. in applying a visa going to mexico are they going to be under me in just 1 requirement as a group or we have to prepare individually our documents especially when it comes to financial documents.thank you
I think only minors can apply using your requirements (or their parent’s) but the rest have to have their own. The article for the tourist visa is here. This article is for the temporary resident visa Mexico so it does not apply to you if you are going as a tourist. Good luck!
Hi! I am planning to apply for temporary residency visa here in the Philippines and I work online as a freelancer and I made sure that my bank statement is enough to meet the required amount for me and my kid. Just wondering, what kind of questions do they ask with regards to applying for the TRV? Any specific you can share? Thanks a lot! That would help me feel more confident with the interview.
Hi Trisha! Awesome article. If I want to prove that I have 27,000 USD in savings, do I need to show bank statements for 1 year? I’m planning to liquidate one of my properties so that I can show that I have enough savings, so I want to make sure whether I need to keep the money in the bank for a while before printing out bank statements. Is 1 month enough in your opinion?
Hi Adam! The requirement is just 6 months but my lawyer advised that showing one year proof gives you better chances so I did one year bank statement. But as I am a digital nomad, I needed to prove more bank movements/activities. If you are liquidating, you probably just need to show you sold a property or something – that’s not a problem! I am also pretty sure you have a good bank activity for the last year. That’s all that matters! Good luck!
Thanks Trisha.
Can I have your lawyer’s contact details so that I can start the process?
Just sent you an e-mail!
Hi Trisha, thank you so much for the detailed information. Although there’s a ton of information about this visa out there, I couldn’t find any specific, firsthand experiences like yours!
You mentioned in another article, that once you become a Temporary Resident, you have to report to INM that you are going abroad. And I wonder if you happen to know whether you have to live in Mexico full-time for 4 years in order to apply for the Permanent Residency? As my partner and I still would like to travel around the world during the 4-year period and live part-time(about 6 months every year) in Mexico, I am not sure if this will effect our eligibility for PR. Have you seen anybody who’s gotten PR after they didn’t stay in Mexico full-time?
Thanks a lot! ๐
Hey Sienna, you don’t need to be here full-time if you only want the PR. The rules will only change if you want to have a Mexican nationality. They require you to live here full-time if you are to apply for a Mexican passport. With PR, you’re just fine traveling around but you also need to fill out a form at the INM in the airport if you already have a Mexican residency visa. I hope this answers your question.
Wow! Thank you so much for your reply, Trisha! This is the answer I was looking for, and it will really help our journey ahead ๐
Your articles and videos have been inspiring me so much. Hope we can meet you up somewhere in Mexico sometime in the future! Xx
Hello Trisha thank you for all the details about everything, you made a very good writing job, I really appreciate a lot.
Just one question when you had to prove that amount money in you account it has to be in a bank in the country where you come from ? or can i have an european bank with 27K $ ?
and i will be more than greatful if you can provide me a lawyer contact.
Thank you very much
Yes, all the documents must be from your home country. I only showed proof of earning $1,500 USD per month and they accepted it. But you need to show that $1,500 for 6 months to one year. Good luck, Malik!
oh thank you so much for your response.
can i get you’re lawyer contact pleaase.
best regards .
Hi Trisha,
I found your blog last May …. Ever since I love your blog and your Youtube channel…
Thank you so much for all the details about Digital-Nomad life in Mexico and especially Non-Lucrative Visa details in Mexico..
I can show 27K in a bank in my home country !OR $1,500 for 1 year !
Past year I operate my Etsy shop using “Other Method” payment option on Etsy… But Etsy disable that option… and also my country doesn’t support Etsy Payments and PayPal….
But Mexico support Etsy Payments and PayPal…. So I also want to run my little Etsy shop as a side hustle….
Countries Eligible for Etsy Payments – ( https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015710408-Countries-Eligible-for-Etsy-Payments )
1) I want to know if I get Non-Lucrative Visa in Mexico…. could I get Mexican PayPal account ? Did you try that ? If Yes ! Please write a blog article about that and record a video about that …. everyone will love..
2) I want to know …did you try to open Etsy account using simple email address ….. and try to get Etsy Payments with your temporary resident visa ? Please also write about how to open Etsy account and use Etsy Payments as temporary resident visa holder in Mexico…..
3) Also could you please send me your lawyer ‘s contact details….
4) I’m a web developer, graphic designer and video editor…. If you want my help to develop this WordPress website further I can help you….. as a friend….
Best Regards,
Excellent article, Iโm finding so much info on your site! Do you know how taxes factor in with this temporary visa? Meaning does getting this visa compared to a tourist visa automatically mean youโll need to file Mexican taxes since it means Mexico is now your โcenter of interestโ? (Hopefully that made sense) Thanks!
Hey Andy, I also find it weird but that’s what I’m told. I can connect you to my lawyer and you can ask her how. Xx
Hey Trisha, thank you for the reply. Sorry sorry Iโm not following, maybe I missed something. But what were you told regarding taxes?
That I don’t have to pay taxes with the non-lucrative visa.
Ah ok, gotcha. Well thatโs quite interesting, Iโll have to look into that more. Thank you!
Good luck, Andy! I’ll be happy to connect you with my lawyer for clarifications on your case. Just let me know!
Hi Trisha, Thank you so much for this article about the Non-Lucrative Visa details in Mexico !
Finally I found my destination ! Love your vlogs too…
I want to connect with your lawyer so could you please send me her contact details to my email address….
That’s done, Themeo! I already e-mailed you. Good luck! X
Hi Trisha,
Thank you for your attention & prompt reply about this matter !
Best Regards,
Hi Trisha, thank you so much for sharing all this information, extremely helpful for people looking to relocate!
Could you please send me the contact details of your lawyer to get advice for the temporary residence permit. Thank you so much once again!
Just sent you an e-mail, Daniel! Let me know if you received it. Good luck with your visa application!
Hi Trisha,
Your post is really helpful I hope you can help me with my dilemma.
I am invited by a Canadian based company with a Mexican citizen owner to attend an Expo in November 2021 in Mexico. The stay there is for a week. Based on my inquiry, my application should be a business visa since this is sponsored by my company.
a. Upon registering in Mexitel for an online appointment, I was asked for a NUT. As per checking, a NUT is for lucrative purpose but my purpose is just to attend the Expo and have a meet and greet with the owners of the company I am employed for.
b. Also when checking for Visa via Mexitel, it mentioned “Con permiso del INM” (Validacion via servicio web con el INM”. I have asked the conuslar office about it but haven’t get back to me. I am stuck on this page ๐
Thank you
Thank you Trisha for your article! Very helpful <3
Hi Trisha, I really loved this article. And… I am very surprised about this possibility, seems something perfect for a DN.
I have a question, what kind of nationalities are involved?
(I am italian and my gf is colombian)
Hi Sebastiano! This is for all nationalities, as long as you complete the requirements, you can definitely apply. Good luck!
Do you know if the process for application can begin once Iโm already in Mexico? My husband and I and my two yr old are moving part time to San Miguel on a tourist visa (6 months). We are digital nomads, although at this time we donโt meet the financial requirements for application, although we will by the end of this year.
Hey Sara, for this visa, I don’t think so. You need to do it outside of Mexico since it’s a non-lucrative visa. You don’t have to leave entirely – just go to your scheduled interview while you’re still staying in Mexico. Good luck!
Hi Trisha,
Thank you so much for all the precious information that you share with us! I came across your blog recently, and have been an avid reader of it ever since. Could you please send me the contact details of your lawyer? Thank you so much once again for all the great content! Greetings xx
Hi Trisha,
Itโs a very helpful article! My nephew loves to travel and loves reading about other peopleโs traveling journeys. I think becoming a digital nomad will be his ultimate goal, and I will be sharing this article with him, in case he wants to move to Mexico. So, thanks a lot for curating an article about the process. I am sure it will be helpful for many people. I check out your blog regularly to read about your experiences, itโs amazing to see the world through your words. Keep posting!
Hi Trisha –
I hope you are well. I submitted something last week but haven’t heard back so thought that I would reach out again this week.
I’m hoping to have a chat / get a quote regarding a few items related to an upcoming move to Mexico (my wife and I). I’m a Canadian citizen and she is a permanent resident. Ideally looking to consult re: ‘digital nomad’ visa process and possibly some help in finding resources for accommodations in the PV area. Our goal is to head south in early March 2022.
Hey Trisha!
First of all …. THANK YOU for your article. Super informative and helpful.
Was hoping you could share with me your Queretaro lawyer?
I am planning to come to Mexico for the first time and want to live in Queretaro long term.
I meet the financial requirements (ยฃ2000 per month) but only have bank statements from the last 4 months so it seems like I would not get approved the temporary residence in the UK consulate as it has to be 6 months of bank statements (I don’t want to stay in my current job for another 2 months :o)
Anyway, I know it is a long shot to try come into Mexico as a tourist and somehow convert it to 1 year temporary residence (is that even possible?).
Would really appreciate your Queretaro Lawyer and see if we can work some magic.
Thanks again for spreading value and helping others,
Hi Trisha, what a wonderful article. Thanks for all the pertinent information. I am looking for this type of visa, can you provide me with your lawyers contact information please.
Hi Trisha,
At the end of the 4 years, when the 4 year version of the “digital nomad visa” switches to a permanent residency visa, what happens as far as taxes if my company is based outside of Mexico? (P.S. I am based in Queretaro, so I would love it of you could email me your Lawyer contact. Thanks!)
hi Trisha, I love your blog and your Instagram posts talking about your trips and life in different countries.
I would like to ask you something if you can help me. My husband and I will move back to Mexico from Uk, he will obtain the temporary residency and he can work remotely with his foreign company, however he doesn’t believe me he doesn’t have to pay taxes in Mexico if he doesn;t work for a Mexican company.
as info online is confusing he wants to make sure this is correct to tell his company as he needs to find out if he can keep paying his taxes here in Uk even if we don’t live here. this is another story.
I’ve tried to find the information in the mexican websites that states this that he doesn;t have to pay taxes in Mexico. maybe just declare? would you know who can help me to find out?
thank you and I hope life keeps bringing you blessings in all of your experiences.
best
Hi Trisha, really useful article. Did your company (I know you own it) have to pay any social security while in Mexico or corporate taxes? Or were they all dealt with in the country that your company is registered in? I ask this as I am planning on applying for a temporary visa and understand I would not need to pay income tax as I would pay that in the country where I am a resident (UK). However, I wanted to understand if that is the case with corporation tax/social security.
Thanks,
Tom