---
title: "Mexico Visitor with work permit requirements 2026"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/visitor-paid-work/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Mexico · Work

# Mexico Visitor with work permit

**First stay:** 6 mo

Visa de visitante con permiso para realizar actividades remuneradas

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **First stay:** 6 mo (Stay of up to 180 days without interruption from the date of entry.)
- **Who can apply:** Any passport (Visa requirement depends on nationality.)

## Key facts

Visitor with work permit is a work route for Mexico. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

- **Government fees:** MXN 248 ≈ $14 · +2 more
- **Processing:** 20 working days
- **First stay:** 6 mo

## Cost, time and long term

To apply: 3 government fees listed below; decision: 20 working days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

**Government fees: MXN 248 ≈ $14 · +2 more**

- MXN 247.96 (≈ $14) INM authorisation of a visa request by family unit or job offer, filed with INM (Ley Federal de Derechos art. 14 Bis).
- MXN 990.79 (≈ $54) Consular visa fee, Ley Federal de Derechos art. 22 (III d); paid at the consulate.
- MXN 4,340.77 (≈ $240) Document for visitor with permit for paid activities, issued by INM in Mexico (Ley Federal de Derechos art. 8 II).

**Renewal: Not renewable**

The Migration Law allows this stay for no more than 180 uninterrupted days from the date of entry. Work that lasts longer than 180 days goes through temporary residence with a job offer.

[Cámara de Diputados / Instituto Nacional de Migración](https://www.inm.gob.mx/micrositio/1/docs/mj/LMig.pdf) [Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores / Diario Oficial](https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/houston/images/lineamientos-visas-25-jul-2025.pdf)

**Permanent residence: Time here doesn't count**

Visitors cannot change their stay category in Mexico, apart from humanitarian cases and people with a family link to a Mexican or a resident.

[Cámara de Diputados / Instituto Nacional de Migración](https://www.inm.gob.mx/micrositio/1/docs/mj/LMig.pdf)

**Processing: 20 working days**

The immigration institute decides on the job-offer authorisation within 20 working days, then the consulate decides within 10 working days of the interview.

[Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores / Diario Oficial](https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/houston/images/lineamientos-visas-25-jul-2025.pdf)

**Where to apply: From abroad**

The employer first obtains an authorisation from the immigration institute; you then take the consular interview abroad.

[Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores / Diario Oficial](https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/houston/images/lineamientos-visas-25-jul-2025.pdf)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Can't be renewed
- Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
- Applications are made from outside Mexico, not after arriving
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Mexico

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- A person or company legally established in Mexico extends a job offer for work of no more than 180 days.
- The employer is registered with INM (constancia de inscripción del empleador).

#### What you must show and pay

- **A fee of MXN 247.96 (≈ $14)** · INM authorisation of a visa request by family unit or job offer, filed with INM (Ley Federal de Derechos art. 14 Bis).
- **A fee of MXN 990.79 (≈ $54)** · Consular visa fee, Ley Federal de Derechos art. 22 (III d); paid at the consulate.
- **A fee of MXN 4,340.77 (≈ $240)** · Document for visitor with permit for paid activities, issued by INM in Mexico (Ley Federal de Derechos art. 8 II).

#### Documents

- The offer letter states the occupation, duration, workplace and pay.
- A valid passport is required.

#### Steps

1. The employer applies to INM for authorisation of the visa, which stays valid for 30 working days.
2. A consular interview follows the INM authorisation.

#### After you arrive

- Stay is allowed for up to 180 days from entry.

## When you become tax resident

How Mexico decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Foreign-source income:** Worldwide income of Mexican residents; Mexican-source income of non-residents without a permanent establishment.

[All tax rules for Mexico](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/tax/) Tax records checked 11 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

For short-term remunerated activity in Mexico where the relevant authorization applies, commonly based on a prior INM authorization/offer. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4)

#### What you must show and pay

- A fee of MXN 247.96 (≈ $14) · INM authorisation of a visa request by family unit or job offer, filed with INM (Ley Federal de Derechos art. 14 Bis). (sources 3, 2)
- A fee of MXN 990.79 (≈ $54) · Consular visa fee, Ley Federal de Derechos art. 22 (III d); paid at the consulate. (sources 3, 2)
- A fee of MXN 4,340.77 (≈ $240) · Document for visitor with permit for paid activities, issued by INM in Mexico (Ley Federal de Derechos art. 8 II). (source 3)

#### Requirements

- A person or company legally established in Mexico extends a job offer for work of no more than 180 days. (source 2)
- The employer is registered with INM (constancia de inscripción del empleador). (source 2)
- The offer letter states the occupation, duration, workplace and pay. (source 2)
- A valid passport is required. (source 2)
- The employer applies to INM for authorisation of the visa, which stays valid for 30 working days. (source 2)
- A consular interview follows the INM authorisation. (source 2)
- Stay is allowed for up to 180 days from entry. (source 4)

#### Stay

- Stay of up to 180 days without interruption from the date of entry.
- First stay: up to 6 months, decided case by case.
- Not renewable according to our source.

#### Nationality

Visa requirement depends on nationality.

#### Work

Paid activity under a job offer, an invitation from an authority or an academic, artistic, sports or cultural institution, or seasonal work under an inter-institutional agreement.

Checked 2026-10-12

## Official sources

1. [Visas for foreign persons — visitor with permit for paid activities](https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/denver/index.php/visasparapersonasextranjeras) · SRE · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Lineamientos en materia de visas (DOF 25 July 2025): Trámites 5, 6, 7, 10](https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/houston/images/lineamientos-visas-25-jul-2025.pdf) · Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores / Diario Oficial · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2025-07-25
3. [Ley Federal de Derechos, arts. 8, 11, 14 Bis and 22 (text current to DOF 7 Nov 2025, amounts for 2026)](https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LFD.pdf) · Cámara de Diputados · checked 2026-10-11
4. [Ley de Migración (arts. 52 to 56 and 111; text as last amended DOF 29 April 2022)](https://www.inm.gob.mx/micrositio/1/docs/mj/LMig.pdf) · Cámara de Diputados / Instituto Nacional de Migración · checked 2026-10-12

## Visitor with work permit and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Visitor with work permit | – | 6 mo | – |
| [Job-offer residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/temporary-resident-job-offer/) | – | 4 yr | – |
| [Internationalisation visa M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/m-fomento-internacionalizacion/) Colombia | – | 3 yr | – |
| [Scientist/professional permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/costa-rica/temporary-professionals-scientists/) Costa Rica | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| [Work visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/brazil/vitem-v-work/) Brazil | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Visitor with work permit?

A fee of MXN 247.96 (≈ $14). INM authorisation of a visa request by family unit or job offer, filed with INM (Ley Federal de Derechos art. A fee of MXN 990.79 (≈ $54). Consular visa fee, Ley Federal de Derechos art. A fee of MXN 4,340.77 (≈ $240). Document for visitor with permit for paid activities, issued by INM in Mexico (Ley Federal de Derechos art.

### How long can I stay on the Visitor with work permit?

Stay of up to 180 days without interruption from the date of entry.

### How long does the Visitor with work permit take to process?

The immigration institute decides on the job-offer authorisation within 20 working days, then the consulate decides within 10 working days of the interview.

### Can I work on the Visitor with work permit?

Paid activity under a job offer, an invitation from an authority or an academic, artistic, sports or cultural institution, or seasonal work under an inter-institutional agreement.

### Does the Visitor with work permit lead to permanent residence in Mexico?

Time on the Visitor with work permit doesn't count toward permanent residence in Mexico.

## More in Mexico

[Student residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/temporary-student/) [Mexican nationality by descent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/citizenship-by-descent/)

## Work visas elsewhere

[🇨🇦 Express Entry · Skilled Worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/express-entry-pr/) [🇺🇸 Gold Card · Corporate $2M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/gold-card-corporate/) [🇵🇦 Friendly Nations residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/panama/friendly-nations-permanent/) [🇨🇱 Paid work residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/chile/paid-activities/) [🇪🇨 Company executive visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ecuador/temporary-legal-representative/) [🇩🇴 Managers and technicians](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/managerial-staff/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Visas for foreign persons — visitor with permit for paid activities](https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/denver/index.php/visasparapersonasextranjeras) · SRE · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Lineamientos en materia de visas (DOF 25 July 2025): Trámites 5, 6, 7, 10](https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/houston/images/lineamientos-visas-25-jul-2025.pdf) · Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores / Diario Oficial · checked 2026-10-12
3. [Ley Federal de Derechos, arts. 8, 11, 14 Bis and 22 (text current to DOF 7 Nov 2025, amounts for 2026)](https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LFD.pdf) · Cámara de Diputados · checked 2026-10-11
4. [Ley de Migración (arts. 52 to 56 and 111; text as last amended DOF 29 April 2022)](https://www.inm.gob.mx/micrositio/1/docs/mj/LMig.pdf) · Cámara de Diputados / Instituto Nacional de Migración · checked 2026-10-12

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.