Mexico · Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Mexico is broadly open to foreign investment under the Foreign Investment Law, with national treatment for most sectors and a few reserved or capped activities (energy, some transport and media). There are no exchange controls, so profits repatriate freely; incentives include IMMEX/maquiladora programs and USMCA-driven nearshoring advantages.
Foreign investment in Mexico is coordinated through Secretaría de Economía rules, the National Registry of Foreign Investments and sector-specific restrictions. Immigration for founders is usually analysed through investor or temporary-residence routes, not a generic startup visa.
- The National Registry of Foreign Investments is the federal registry for foreign investments that meet the registration conditions.
- Some sectors are reserved, restricted or subject to special ownership thresholds under foreign-investment rules.
- Investors should coordinate company formation, RNIE reporting, tax registration and visa/residence evidence before committing capital.
- 1
Check the investment regime
Mexico grants national treatment for most sectors under the Foreign Investment Law; the Economy Ministry oversees FDI.
- 2
Check reserved and capped sectors
A few activities are reserved to the state or nationals, or capped (some energy, transport, media, financial areas).
- 3
Choose your vehicle and register
Incorporate an S.A. de C.V. or S. de R.L., register in the public commerce registry, and register with SAT for the RFC tax ID.
- 4
Access incentives
Use the IMMEX/maquiladora program (duty deferral for export manufacturing) and nearshoring and state-level incentives.
- 5
Handle capital and repatriation
There are no exchange controls, so capital, dividends and profits can be repatriated freely.
- 6
Meet reporting and protections
File with the National Foreign Investment Registry (RNIE) and keep tax filings; USMCA and treaties protect investors.
- National treatment (Foreign Investment Law)
- Reserved / capped sectors check
- S.A. de C.V./S. de R.L. + commerce registry + RFC (SAT)
- IMMEX/maquiladora + nearshoring incentives
- No exchange controls (free repatriation)
- RNIE registration + tax filings
- USMCA / investment-treaty protection
- CTA to .com/.ai for AI-assisted planning
- Secretaría de Economía — Inversión Extranjera Directa
Official foreign-direct-investment and RNIE page.
- SRE — temporary resident visa
Official temporary-residence visa route including investor evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Which sectors are restricted in Mexico?
A few are reserved to the state or nationals or capped — parts of energy, transport, media and finance; most sectors have national treatment.
What is the IMMEX program?
A program that lets export-oriented manufacturers (maquiladoras) import inputs with deferred or waived duties, key to Mexico’s nearshoring appeal.
Can I repatriate profits from Mexico?
Yes — Mexico has no exchange controls, so capital, dividends and profits can be sent abroad freely (withholding tax may apply to dividends).
Government portals
- gob.mx — Government of Mexico — Single portal for federal agencies, procedures and official publications.
- SAT — Tax Administration Service — RFC tax registration, income tax and VAT filing, and CFDI electronic invoicing.
- National Migration Institute (INM) — Temporary and permanent residence cards, entry records and immigration procedures.
- Ministry of Economy — Company incorporation, foreign-investment registry and trade rules.