Visas in Mexico

Tourist Visas

Most travellers will be given their tourist visas on the plane (I’m sure there are countries in which you have to apply first, though I don’t know which). The tourist visa is an unassuming little piece of paper that the immigration authorities will stamp and then give back to you with the number of days you can stay (no fewer and no more than 180, by law). This visa does not allow you to officially work or do any lucrative activities. Make sure you don’t lose it, as you will need it a) to leave the country, unless you have another visa, and b) to apply for a different type of visa. There are fines (and possibly airport delays) if you don’t have it. If you DO lose it, you’ll have to go to the Ministerio Público to make a legal declaration.

Work Visas in Mexico

I’ve independently processed my work visa (offically called the FM3) twice. The process can take from 1 to 6 months (I’ve also heard more than 6 months, but it hasn’t happened to me). The requirements, which you can check on the Immigration website (in Spanish: Work visa requirements ), are the following:

* application (available at your local Immigration office or online)
* your original visa (usually tourist)
* a letter, written in Spanish and signed by you, in which you declare why you want to change your visa
* a letter on official letterhead from your potential employer stating what you will do, how many hours you’ll work, and how you will be compensated for it
* a copy of your bachelor’s or other degree (I think a high school diploma also works, because I know people who never went to college who got their visa just fine)
* passport (they won’t keep it; they just check it once) and copies of every page
* payment of $400 pesos

Then, once you get approval from Immigration, you have to submit:

* some kind of proof of address, which is usually an electiricity bill. If you’re renting, you’ll also have to submit a letter from your landlord stating that you rent, as well as a copy of his/her official ID.
* several small color portraits (not instant)
* a form which notes your height, facial features, etc.
* a payment of $1900 pesos (about $190 USD)

Your tourist visa will last for one year, after which point you’ll have to renew it and pay another $1900 pesos.

*Disclaimer: You should check the visa requirements at your local Immigration office or online before you start the process. These lists are just meant to give you a general idea of what the process is like, and in some cases I’ve written the requirements from memory.