Mexico
Living, work, immigration, education & business — official links and practical guides
Key Facts
Basics
Currency
MXN
Region
North America
Local time
UTC-6
America/Mexico City
Economy
Population
130.86M
GDP (current US$)
$1.86T
GDP per capita
$14,186
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0) · 2024 · Last checked: 2026-07-06
Tax snapshot
Corporate tax
30%
VAT
16%
Top individual income tax
35%
Capital gains (no single rate)
Varies (10%)
- 8% in border regions (frontier stimulus program).
Source: National tax authority · Cross-check: OECD · PwC · KPMG · Last checked: 2026-07-16
Headline statutory rates. The income-tax figure includes national surtaxes; any regional or municipal layer is shown beside it. Social contributions and reliefs are excluded. Verify the current rate with the authority before relying on it.
At a glance
Nearshoring hub on the US border with a low cost base, a large domestic market and a residency system built around proven income or assets rather than employer sponsorship.
Best for
Remote workers and retirees with steady income, and manufacturers or founders serving the North American market.
Who this may not suit
People who need uniform safety and service levels across the country — conditions vary sharply by state and city, and local research matters more than a national average.
Main routes in
Temporary resident by economic solvency Granted on proven income or savings; applied for at a consulate before entering. Employer-sponsored work permit The employer must hold an INM employer registration before it can sponsor you. Temporary → permanent residence Four years as a temporary resident normally opens permanent residence.
Key trade-offs
- The consulate, not the airport, is where most residency applications must start — entering as a tourist first is a common and costly mistake.
- Spanish is needed for most jobs, tenancy and government offices outside a few international firms.
- Cost and personal-security conditions vary sharply by state and by neighbourhood.
First steps
- 1 Decide your route before you travel — solvency, job offer or family — since it determines which consulate file you open.
- 2 Book the consular appointment early; availability is the usual bottleneck.
- 3 Exchange the consular visa for a resident card at an INM office within 30 days of arrival.
- 4 Get an RFC (tax ID) and CURP for banking, contracts and payroll.
What changes often
- · Temporary-resident income and savings thresholds
- · Consular application rules and appointment availability
- · Tax-residency triggers and RFC registration duties
Income and savings thresholds are reset each year and differ between consulates — confirm current figures with the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) and the consulate you will apply to. Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM) ↗
Major cities
All cities (8) →Living
Housing
Renting and buying property in Mexico — typical rents, deposits, contracts, and official tenancy rules.
Healthcare
How the Mexico healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
Insurance
Insurance in Mexico — health, travel, and digital-nomad cover, what is mandatory, and how to choose a plan.
Work
Jobs
Where to find jobs in Mexico — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
Employers
Major employers hiring in Mexico, with links to their official careers pages.
Government Jobs
Public-sector and civil-service hiring in Mexico — the official government job portal.
Salaries
Typical salaries by role in Mexico — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
Immigration & Mobility
Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Startup Visa
Entrepreneur and startup visa programs, investment thresholds, and application criteria.
Student Visa
Student visa categories, eligibility, required documents, work rights, and application steps.
Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
Permanent Residency
Permanent-residence routes: eligibility, required years of residence, and the official application steps — including any investment routes where a country offers them.
Citizenship
Naturalization rules: required residence years, language and civics requirements, and each country's dual-citizenship policy.
Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Digital Nomad Visa
Remote-work visa programs, income requirements, duration, taxes, and application steps.
Education
Universities
Top universities in Mexico, admissions, tuition, and international-student support.
Online Courses
Online learning relevant to Mexico — accredited platforms, local MOOCs, and language courses.
Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in Mexico — government, university, and international programs.
Study Abroad
How to study in Mexico as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Business
Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Business Banking
Opening business and personal bank accounts, remote options, required documents, and fees.
Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Tax System
Corporate tax, VAT/GST, personal income tax, capital gains, and filing obligations.
Import & Export
Customs procedures, duties, de minimis thresholds, EORI/registration, and restricted goods.
Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Compliance
Corporate, tax, employment, data-protection, AML/KYC, trade and AI compliance — official regulators and registries.
Corporate Compliance
Annual filings, registered-agent and beneficial-ownership obligations, and the official company registry.
Tax Compliance
Filing calendars, registration thresholds and the official tax authority.
Employment Compliance
Mandatory contracts, payroll and social-insurance registration, and the official labor authority.
Privacy & Data Protection
The country's own data-protection regime, registration duties, and its official supervisory authority.
AML & KYC
Anti-money-laundering and customer-due-diligence obligations, regulated activities, and the official financial regulator.
Import & Export Compliance
Customs registration, controlled/restricted goods, sanctions screening, and the official customs authority.
AI Regulations
The country's own AI governance approach, risk tiers, transparency duties, and its official authority.