MIGRATORY PROCEDURES

Undersecretariat of Competitiveness and Business Regulations

Directorate General of Foreign Investment

Directorate of International Affairs and Public Policy

Information up to August 2016.

Foreigners who wish to invest in Mexico must comply with the requirements of the Law

on Migration, its regulations and other applicable legal provisions.

In this regard, all foreigners must obtain a visa before travelling to Mexico

, unless they

are nationals of countries with which Mexico has signed a visa abolition agreement or

countries to which visa requirements were removed by unilateral decision

. In these cases,

foreigners are able to arrive to the immigration inspection facilities and request the entry

into Mexico under the condition of stay of visitor without permission to perform

remunerated activities.

In addition, foreigners who submit one of the following documents do not require a

Mexican visa:

a. Document attesting permanent residence in Canada, United States of America,

Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or any of the

countries belonging to the Schengen area, as well as members of the Pacific

Alliance (Chile, Colombia and Peru);

b. A valid visa from Canada, the United States of America, Japan, the United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or any of the countries belonging

to the Schengen area;

c. APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) approved by Mexico;

d. A certificate stating that the foreigner is a member of the crew of the aircraft in

which he arrived; and

e. Seaman's book, if he is a member of the crew of the boat arriving to a Mexican port

in international crossing.

A. VISAS.

Nationals of countries to which the Mexican State requires a visa as well as those

foreigners who, regardless of their nationality, wish to enter and remain in Mexico for

more than 180 days must request one of the following visas to invest in Mexico:

Countries and regions that require a visa to travel to Mexico.

Countries and regions that do not require a visa to travel to Mexico.

Undersecretariat of Competitiveness and Business Regulations

Directorate General of Foreign Investment

Directorate of International Affairs and Public Policy

Information up to August 2016.

A.1 GENERAL ASPECTS OF THE PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING A VISA.

Where are the visas obtained?

Visas are processed and obtained personally in any consulate or embassy of Mexico

abroad

An appointment may be scheduled over the phone or online [MEXITEL]

Which documents are needed?

i. Visa application form.

ii. Valid passport or identity and travel document.

iii. A recent passport-size photograph, in color, with white background and frontal

view.

iv. Document accrediting legal entry and stay in the country (in case he is not a

national of the country where he is applying for visa).

What is the cost?

A.2 VISITORS VISA WITHOUT PERMISSION TO PERFORM REMUNERATED

ACTIVITIES (SHORT STAY)

This visa authorizes foreigners to enter the country, transit the national territory and

remain on it for an uninterrupted period that does not exceed 180 days from the date of

entry. However, this visa does not allow the foreigner to perform any remunerated

activities. In this regard, some of the specific activities that might be performed with this

visa are:

i. Establish, develop or manage a foreign investment;

ii. Provide specialized services previously agreed or referred to in a contract of

transfer of technology, patents and trademarks, sale of machinery and equipment,

technical training of personnel or of any other process of production of a company

established in Mexico;

iii. Attend meetings or sessions of boards of directors of companies legally established

in Mexico; and

Mexican consulates abroad and Mexican embassies abroad.

Appointments by phone and online.

Undersecretariat of Competitiveness and Business Regulations

Directorate General of Foreign Investment

Directorate of International Affairs and Public Policy

Information up to August 2016.

iv. Perform managerial or executive functions, or those that involve specialized

knowledge in a company or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates established in

Mexico.

Which documents are needed?

I. Visa application form.

II. Passport or valid travel and identity document (original and copy of the page

containing the photograph and personal data).

III. One recent passport-size photograph (measuring 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm maximum), face

uncovered, no eyeglasses, frontal view, in color and with white background.

IV. Original and copy of the migratory document that prove the legal stay in the

country, if the applicant is not a national of the country from where he is applying

for the visa.

V. Supporting documents as indicated under one of the following categories:

a. Personal ties (property, employment).

i. Original and copy of the deed to real estate duly registered under the

name of the applicant and proof of stable employment. In both cases

for a minimum period of two years, or

ii. Original and copy of the deed to real estate duly registered under the

name of the applicant and a document proving ownership or shares

in business, issued by the competent authorities of each country. In

both cases for a minimum period of two years.

b. Economic solvency.

i. Original and copy of documents showing that the applicant has an

employment or a pension with a tax-free monthly income higher than

the equivalent to 100 days of the general minimum wage in Mexico

City, during the past three months, and proof of stable employment,

for a minimum period of one year, or

ii. Original and copy of investment receipts or bank account statements

showing an average monthly balance equivalent to 300 days of the

general minimum wage in Mexico City, during the past three months,

iii. In the case of foreigners who are pursuing regular studies in

institutions of higher education, they must submit the original proof

of studies and the original proof of stable employment, pension or

scholarship with a monthly income equivalent to 60 days of the

general minimum wage in Mexico City, during the past three months.

VI. Payment of fees in cash for the processing of visa application for foreign passports

(if applicable).

Authority’s response time

Ten business days.

Undersecretariat of Competitiveness and Business Regulations

Directorate General of Foreign Investment

Directorate of International Affairs and Public Policy

Information up to August 2016.

A.3 VISITORS VISA WITHOUT PERMISSION TO PERFORM REMUNERATED

ACTIVITIES (LONG STAY).

The characteristics of this visa are similar to the visa for visitors without permission to

perform remunerated activities for a short stay. The only difference is that it is valid for

ten years.

Who should apply?

 Foreigners with high economic solvency.

 Frequent travelers.

 Prominent persons.

 Supervisors of a foreign company with a subsidiary in national territory.

 Executive personnel of subsidiaries or commercial offices of Mexican companies

abroad.

 Family of a Mexican, of a temporary resident or permanent resident, or of a

diplomatic or consular official accredited in Mexico.

Which documents are needed?

I. Visa application form.

II. Passport or valid travel and identity document (original and copy of the page

containing the photograph and personal data).

III. One recent passport-size photograph (measuring 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm maximum), face

uncovered, no eyeglasses, frontal view, in color and with white background.

IV. Original and copy of the migratory document that proves the legal stay in the

country if the applicant is not a national of the country from where he is applying

for the visa.

V. Submit supporting documents as indicated under one of the following categories:

a. Economic solvency.

i. Original and copy of investment receipts or bank account statements

showing an average monthly balance equivalent to 300 days of the

general minimum wage in Mexico City, during the past six months, or

ii. Original and copy of documents showing that the applicant has an

employment or a pension with a tax-free monthly income higher than

the equivalent to 100 days of the general minimum wage in Mexico City,

during the past three months.

b. Frequent traveler.

i. A copy of the passport containing three valid visas or migratory stamps,

providing these are not from neighboring countries to the country of

residence of the applicant.

c. Prominent person.

i. Statement from the applicant along with the supporting documentation

describing the activities or specialties with international recognition, or

indicating that he is a person of recognized national or international

prestige or another prominent person, or a scientist, researcher,

Undersecretariat of Competitiveness and Business Regulations

Directorate General of Foreign Investment

Directorate of International Affairs and Public Policy

Information up to August 2016.

humanist, artist, athlete, or journalist of national or international

prestige.

d. Supervisors of a foreign company with a subsidiary in national territory or

executive personnel of subsidiaries or commercial offices of Mexican

companies abroad.

i. Original and copy of the constituent instrument or the document

attesting the legal constitution of the company or subsidiary; and the

original of the letter of the company or the subsidiary in which it is

expressly stated that the applicant is the supervisor and that the

payment for the services that will be provided in the country will be paid

by the company, or

ii. Original and copy of the constituent instrument, the document attesting

the legal constitution of the subsidiary of a Mexican Company or the

document attesting the commercial representation; and the original of

the letter of the company or commercial office in which it is expressly

stated that the applicant is an executive or that he has been appointed

as a commercial representative.

e. In the case of family of a Mexican national, of a temporary resident or

permanent resident, or of a diplomatic or consular official accredited in

Mexico, please consult the documentation required in the General

Guidelines for Visas Issued by the Secretariat of the Interior and the

Secretariat of Foreign Affairs

VI. Payment of fees in cash for the processing of visa application for foreign passports

(if applicable).

Authority’s response time

Ten business days.

A.4 THE ELECTRONIC AUTHORIZATION SYSTEM (SAE, IN SPANISH)

Who can apply for an electronic authorization?

Foreigners of Russian, Turkish and Ukrainian nationality who wish to travel to Mexico by

airway for tourism, transit or business purposes, under the condition of stay of visitor

without permission to perform remunerated activities, to remain in the country for an

uninterrupted period not longer than 180 days.

Which documents are needed?

 Valid passport.

 Submit an application online at:

https://www.inm.gob.mx/sae/publico/solicitud.html

Lineamientos Generales para la expedición de visas que emiten las secretarías de Gobernación y de

Relaciones Exteriores, in Spanish.

Undersecretariat of Competitiveness and Business Regulations

Directorate General of Foreign Investment

Directorate of International Affairs and Public Policy

Information up to August 2016.

Which are the main features of the electronic authorization?

 The information of the electronic authorization system and the application is available

in Spanish, English, Russian and Turkish language.

 It is not necessary to obtain a consular visa.

 The electronic authorization is cost-free.

How long is the electronic authorization valid?

The electronic authorization is valid for 180 days from the date of its expedition. Although

it is valid for only one trip to Mexico, there are no limits on the number of authorizations

that may be obtained.

Authority’s response time

Immediate resolution.

A.5 TEMPORARY RESIDENCE VISA.

This visa is valid for a single entry, for 180 days. However, once in Mexico, the foreigner

may apply for a temporary resident card to remain in the country for no more than four

years.

In this case, applications for a temporary resident card must be submitted to the

corresponding office of the National Immigration Institute (INM, in Spanish)

, within the

following thirty days from the date of entry into the national territory.

Which documents are necessary?

I. Visa application form.

II. Valid passport or travel and identity document (original and copy of the page

containing the photograph and personal data).

III. A recent passport-size photograph (measuring 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm maximum), face

uncovered, no eyeglasses, frontal view, in color and with white background.

IV. Original and copy of the migratory document that proves the legal stay in the

country, if the applicant is not a national of the country from where he is applying

for visa.

V. Supporting documents as indicated under one of the following categories:

a. Economic solvency.

i. Original and copy of investment receipts or bank account statements

showing an average monthly balance equivalent to 5,000 days of the general

minimum wage in Mexico City, during the past twelve months, or

ii. Original and copy of documents showing that the applicant has employment

or a pension with a tax-free monthly income higher than the equivalent to

Office hours and locations.

Undersecretariat of Competitiveness and Business Regulations

Directorate General of Foreign Investment

Directorate of International Affairs and Public Policy

Information up to August 2016.

300 days of the general minimum wage in Mexico City, during the past six

months.

b. Investor.

i. Deed or policy from a Mexican company signed before a public notary, or a

document duly certified by the administrative body or a competent officer

thereof, stating that the foreigner has shares in the capital stock of a Mexican

company, and that the amount of the investment effectively disbursed for

the foreigner’s share in the company would exceed 20,000 days of general

minimum wage in Mexico City; this could be proven by a contract for the

purchase of shares or stocks, contract for the transfer of assets or rights to

the Mexican company, or a document issued by the company proving the

amount contributed for shares in the capital stock, original and copy;

ii. Document proving the ownership of personal property of fixed assets by a

foreigner, used for economic or business purposes, with a value exceeding

20,000 days of the general minimum wage in Mexico City, original and

copy; or

iii. Documentation proving the conduction of economic or business activities

in Mexican territory, which could be proven by documents such as (but not

limited to) contracts, service orders, invoices, receipts, business plans,

licenses and permits, or a certificate issued by the Mexican Social Security

Institute proving that the foreigner employs at least three workers, original

and copy.

VI. Payment of fees in cash for the processing of visa application for foreign passports

(if applicable).

Authority’s response time

Ten business days.

A.6 PERMANENT RESIDENCE VISA.

This visa authorizes the foreigner to remain in Mexican territory indefinitely. It has a

maximum validity for a single entry of 180 days. Once in Mexico, the foreigner must apply

for a permanent resident card at the corresponding office of the National Immigration

Institute (INM, in Spanish)

, within the following thirty days from the date of entry into

the national territory

Which documents are necessary?

I. Visa application form.

II. Valid passport or travel and identity document (original and copy of the page

containing the photograph and personal data).

Office hours and locations.

Undersecretariat of Competitiveness and Business Regulations

Directorate General of Foreign Investment

Directorate of International Affairs and Public Policy

Information up to August 2016.

III. A recent passport-size photograph (measuring 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm maximum), face

uncovered, no eyeglasses, frontal view, in color and with white background.

IV. Original and copy of the migratory document accrediting the legal stay in the

country (only in the case that the applicant is not a national of the country where

he is applying for visa).

V. Supporting documents as indicated under one of the following categories:

a. Retirees or pensioners.

i. Original and copy of investment receipts or bank account statements

showing an average monthly balance equivalent to 20,000 days of the

general minimum wage in Mexico City, during the past 12 months, or

ii. Original and copy of documents showing that the applicant has a pension

with a tax-free monthly income higher than the equivalent to 500 days of

the general minimum wage in Mexico City, during the past six months.

b. In the case of family unity applications, please consult the documentation

required in the General Guidelines for Visas Issued by the Secretariat of the

Interior and the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs

VI. Payment of fees in cash for the processing of visa application for foreign passports

(if applicable).

Authority’s response time

Ten business days.

B. STAY IN MEXICO.

In places intended for the international transit of persons by land, sea and air, foreigners

must submit a valid passport or travel and identity document, a visa and the Multiple

Immigration Form (FMM, in Spanish) properly completed at the immigration inspection

facilities of the National Immigration Institute.

B.1 THE MULTIPLE IMMIGRATION FORM (FMM, IN SPANISH)

The FMM is the document issued by the National Immigration Institute that allows

foreigners to prove their immigration status in the country, under the following

conditions of stay:

I. Visitor without permission to perform remunerated activities.

II. Visitor with permission to perform remunerated activities.

In the case of having a temporary resident visa or a permanent resident visa, the National

Immigration Institute will issue a Multiple Immigration Form for exchange with

(Lineamientos Generales para la expedición de visas que emiten las secretarías de Gobernación y de

Relaciones Exteriores, in Spanish).

Undersecretariat of Competitiveness and Business Regulations

Directorate General of Foreign Investment

Directorate of International Affairs and Public Policy

Information up to August 2016.

which the foreigner shall process the resident card that accredits the legal stay in national

territory.

Where is the FMM obtained?

There are two ways to obtain the FMM, personally, at the points of entry, and

electronically in the website www.gob.mx/inm

How long is the FMM valid?

FMM

Validity

Visitor without permission to perform

remunerated activities

180 days

Visitor with permission to perform

remunerated activities

180 days

For exchange

30 days

The FMM is valid from the date of entry into the national territory until the deadline

indicated in the corresponding section.

B.2 RESIDENCE CARD

The residence card is a document issued by the National Immigration Institute that

proves the legal stay of a foreigner and allows him to remain in national territory, with

multiple entries, for as long as it is valid.

The foreigner shall process this card at the office of attention to procedures of the National

Immigration Institute corresponding to his domicile

, or the domicile of his work, within

the following thirty days from the date of entry into the national territory.

How to obtain the card?

Applicants must begin the procedure by electronic means

and then attend the

corresponding office of the National Immigration Institute (INM, in Spanish).

Applications must be submitted from 9:00 to 13:00 hours on business days.

Multiple Immigration Form.

Office hours and locations.

Application format for migratory procedure of stay.

Undersecretariat of Competitiveness and Business Regulations

Directorate General of Foreign Investment

Directorate of International Affairs and Public Policy

Information up to August 2016.

Which documents are necessary?

i. Valid passport or travel and identity document (original and copy of the page

containing the photograph and personal data).

ii. Valid Multiple Immigration Form (FMM, in Spanish), original.

iii. Properly completed form (formato básico, in Spanish), original.

iv. Application format for the migratory procedure of stay, completed electronically

in the website and signed by the applicant, original.

v. Original receipt of the payment of fees.

vi. Three photographs (measuring 2.5 cm x 3 cm), in color, two of them with frontal

view and one profile photo showing the right side of the face, with white

background, face and ears uncovered, no earrings and no eyeglasses. Snapshots

are not accepted.

How long is the card valid?

The temporary resident card is valid for one year with the option to renew it for two, three

or up to four years.

The permanent resident card has indefinite validity, in the case of people over 18 years

old.

What are the costs?

Temporary resident card, up to 1 year

$3,715.00 MXN

Temporary resident card, up to 2 years

$5,567.00 MXN

Temporary resident card, up to 3 years

$7,050.00 MXN

Temporary resident card, up to 4 years

$8,356.00 MXN

Permanent resident card

$4,528.00 MXN

Authority’s response time

Fifteen business days.

C. CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF THE EMPLOYER.

Applicable to individuals and legal entities established in Mexico that issue an offer of

employment to a foreigner. It allows an employer to prove its legal personality,

attributions and normal operation so that, in subsequent procedures, the employer only

have to submit its updated certificate and powers of the legal representative.

Undersecretariat of Competitiveness and Business Regulations

Directorate General of Foreign Investment

Directorate of International Affairs and Public Policy

Information up to August 2016.

How to obtain the certificate?

Applicants must begin the procedure by electronic means

and then attend the

corresponding office of the National Immigration Institute (INM).

Does it cost?

The procedure is cost-free.

Which documents are needed?

Legal entities:

a) Deed of incorporation or the document attesting the legal constitution of the entity

as well as its modifications;

b) Document demonstrating the type of proxy or mandate conferred to the legal

representatives, if not included on the instrument of incorporation;

c) Valid official ID of the legal representative or holder of power of attorney;

d) Proof of address of the legal entity (expedition date must not exceed thirty days);

e) Certificate of inscription at the Federal Taxpayer Registry and certificate issued by

the competent authority proving the submission of the latest tax statement, and

f) List of employees and their nationality.

Individuals:

a) Valid official ID;

b) Proof of address (expedition date must not exceed thirty days), and

c) Certificate of inscription at the Federal Taxpayer Registry and certificate issued by

the competent authority, accrediting the submission of the latest tax statement.

How long is it valid?

The certificate is valid for an indefinite amount of time. However, it must be annually

updated in the same period of tax statements or within thirty days after any change of

address, legal representative or proxy.

https://www.inm.gob.mx/tramites/publico/empresa.html