If you are considering establishing a business in Mexico or expanding your enterprise into the country from abroad, obtaining an Investor Visa in Mexico is essential. This type of visa not only allows you to register and operate a business in Mexico, but also plays a key role in your eligibility for permanent residency status. An Investor Visa in Mexico is particularly beneficial for foreign entrepreneurs seeking to engage in commercial activities and establish a long-term presence in the country. This guide details the two primary investment routes, the required financial thresholds, and the step-by-step process for securing temporary residency in Mexico.
Key Takeaways: Mexico Investor Visa
| What are the two main investment options for the visa? | 1. Investment in a Mexican Company 2. Investment in Real Estate |
| What residency status does it grant? | The visa grants temporary residency, typically for one year initially. After four years, a temporary resident can apply for permanent residency. |
| What is the minimum investment amount required? | The minimum investment amount is tied to a multiple of the daily minimum wage and is updated annually. It is roughly equivalent to USD $250,000 for an investment in a company or approximately USD $500,000 for an investment in real estate. |
| Where can you get the visa? | The application process starts at a Mexican consulate outside of Mexico. |
Investment Pathways for the Investor Visa
An investor visa in Mexico is intended for foreigners looking to do business or buy a property, and who plan to remain in the country for a period greater than 180 days, and for up to four years. With an investor visa in Mexico, you will have the opportunity to live and work in the North American nation, while also having the option of qualifying for permanent residence.
While a foreign citizen can invest in Mexico without having to visit the country, residing in the country will enable you to better understand and participate in all aspects of your commercial operations, as well as to make connections, detect potential additional business opportunities, and minimize risks.
The 3-Step Application Process
Expert Tip: The Consular Interview
From our experience, the consular interview is a critical stage of the Mexican investor visa process. Applicants must be prepared to clearly and concisely explain their investment and its legitimacy.
It is crucial to have all your documentation perfectly organized and to be able to answer questions about the source of your funds and the nature of your business or property purchase.
We advise clients to treat the interview with the same seriousness as the written application. A confident and well-prepared presentation can significantly impact the outcome.
The process of obtaining an investor visa in Mexico consists of three key steps:
Step 1: Make the Qualifying Investment
You must complete your investment, either by purchasing shares in a Mexican corporation or by purchasing real estate, and obtain all the official notarial documents to prove it. The minimum investment amount is tied to a multiple of the daily minimum wage and is updated annually. It is roughly equivalent to USD $250,000 for an investment in a company or approximately USD $500,000 for an investment in real estate.
Step 2: Apply for the Visa at a Mexican Consulate
You schedule an interview at a Mexican consulate abroad and present your application along with your passport, financial records, and the official deeds proving your investment. If approved, a temporary resident visa will be placed in your passport.
You must request an appointment with a Mexican consulate located in a foreign country, fill out the application form, submit the corresponding documentation, and pay the application fee, which currently ranges between $40 and $60. The documents required to prove investor status can be any of the following:
- Deed legalized before a public notary indicating the constitution of a company in Mexico or a document that proves that the foreign investor participates in the capital stock of a company established in the country.
- Documentation that proves the ownership of real estate or fixed assets in Mexico.
- Documentation that certifies the development of economic or business activities in Mexico. This may be proven through contracts, service orders, invoices, receipts, business plans, or proof issued by the Mexican Social Security Institute, indicating the employment of at least three workers.
Note that the review and approval of these documents can take up to two days.
If all documents submitted are approved, the Mexican consulate will grant a provisional visa that will allow you to enter the country to continue with the application process for an investor visa in Mexico. You must also pay a government fee to the National Institute of Migration (Instituto Nacional de Migración — INM). This fee depends on the length of stay requested and can be from one year to four years, with an approximate cost of between $2,200 and $5,000. This process can take up to three days to complete.
Note that the shorter the time requested to do business in the country, the greater the probability of approval of the application. This stay can be prolonged each year before the INM.
Step 3: Finalize Residency in Mexico
After entering Mexico with the visa, you have 30 days to report to the National Institute of Migration (INM) to exchange your visa for a formal Temporary Resident Card (Tarjeta de Residente Temporal).
Apply for a permanent residence visa
Once you have an investor visa in Mexico, you can apply for permanent residency. This is the best option if you expect to live in Mexico beyond the four years your visa allows for. With a permanent residence visa, you will be able to do business, invest, study, carry out banking operations, and travel within the country for an unlimited period of time.
The process of applying for permanent residence in Mexico can take up to six months to complete after submitting the required documentation. Note that no permanent resident holder will be allowed to be outside of Mexico for more than 18 months within five years. In such a case, the residence will be withdrawn.
Governing Body: The INM
The National Institute of Migration (Instituto Nacional de Migración – INM) is the government agency in Mexico responsible for all immigration matters. While the initial visa is issued by a consulate, the INM manages the process of converting the visa into a formal temporary residency card once the applicant arrives in Mexico.
Frequently Asked Questions: Mexico Investor Visa
The minimum investment amount is tied to a multiple of the daily minimum wage and is updated annually. It is roughly equivalent to USD $250,000 for an investment in a company or approximately USD $500,000 for an investment in real estate. It is essential to verify the exact amount in Mexican Pesos at the time of application.
Yes, the temporary residency card obtained through the investor visa includes a work permit, allowing you to legally work and earn income in Mexico.
The initial temporary residency card is usually valid for one year. It can then be renewed for one, two, or three additional years. After a total of four years of temporary residency, you are eligible to apply for permanent residency.
The application process must be initiated outside of Mexico, at a Mexican embassy or consulate in your home country or country of legal residence. You cannot apply for this visa while in Mexico as a tourist.
Why invest in Mexico?
Mexico is the second-largest economy in Latin America and the 15th in the world, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $1.46 billion (all figures in USD unless otherwise indicated) in 2022, according to the World Bank. Meanwhile, a gross national income (GNI) of $10,410 per capita, places the country at the higher end of upper-middle income nations.
With a population of more than 128 million people, Mexico is considered a major manufacturing hub in the continent and has seaports giving trade access to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The nation is also a member of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), boosting Mexico’s potential attraction for foreign investors looking to relocate to the country and develop commercial operations in North America.
Some of Mexico’s main export commodities include cars, vehicle parts, computers, delivery trucks, and telephones, exporting mostly to developed markets such as Canada, Germany, Japan, and the United States, as well as China.
Read on to understand the advantages of obtaining an investor visa in Mexico and how to apply for one. Or go ahead and reach out to us now for specialized assistance.
Biz Latin Hub can help you get an investor visa in Mexico
At Biz Latin Hub, our full range of market entry and back-office support services can help you enter the Mexican market. Our multilingual team of visa processing specialists is equipped to assist you with securing an investor visa, as well as any other legal or accounting concern regarding doing business in Mexico, or any of the 15 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean where we are present.
Contact us for more information about commercial opportunities in Mexico.
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