Corner Office Anywhere

While considering options for longer stays as a digital nomad, I’d be remiss as an American not to take a close look at Mexico. I keep returning to Mexico again and again, not just because of its convenience to the US, but because of its lovely people, food, and endless options for vibrant and interesting places to visit. Mexico does not offer a digital nomad visa, but Americans enjoy both a six month tourist visa and access to a temporary resident visa that seems to be liberally granted. Here are some details on the Mexican temporary residency:

Mexico Temporary Resident Visa Eligibility and Requirements

Validity

Up to 4 years

Where to Apply & How Long It Takes

You would apply for a temporary residency visa prior to entering Mexico, at a Mexican consulate in the US. Then you would need report to an immigration office after arrival in Mexico to receive your residency card. According to the website this could happen in as little as one day. Anecdotally, I have heard that this is not the norm, and you will have a much smoother and timely experience with this process by hiring a Mexican immigration attorney.

Basic Eligibility

Proof of economic solvency, met by either:

• Maintaining a minimum balance across bank accounts of approximately $62,232.50 US Dollars, OR
• Maintaining a job or pension that yields a monthly minimum income of approximately $62,232.50 US Dollars with proof of the income from the previous six months.

Application Fee

$54 USD

Taxation

Similar to the US, Mexico taxes all residents on world-wide income. Whether you are tax resident in Mexico, and whether it matters that if your income is foreign and paid to foreign accounts, seems to be a giant grey area. Your mileage may vary greatly depending on both the fine details of your situation and you should probably seek the advice of your lawyer or accountant rather than navigate this murky situation on your own.

My Initial Thoughts

Similarly to my considerations for Panama, continuing to explore as a tourist for now seems to make the most sense for me as I continue to pursue spending most of the year traveling, in any case. Mexico remains an attractive option to me for residency once I decide to settle down somewhere, so I will probably do more information gathering in this area.

Where to Find More Information

Keep in mind that these are my own high-level notes on the information I found about obtaining a temporary resident visa in Mexico. If you are interested in applying for temporary resident visa in Mexico, I encourage you to do your own research. A good place to start is the official Mexican government guidance.

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