Mexico digital nomad visa (temporary residence)
Mexico has no visa called a digital nomad visa, but temporary residence by economic solvency does the job. You show income of about USD 4,000 to 4,600 a month, or a large savings balance, depending on the consulate, and you must apply before you travel.
At a glance
- The visa
- Residente Temporal, economic solvency
- What you need
- About $4,050 to $4,630 a month (USD 4,049 a month, sources differ); in pounds, about £3,040 to £3,480 a month
- What counts as proof
- Income over the last six months, from a job or a pension. Savings as an average balance over twelve months.
- Who can apply
- Employees of a company abroad: yes. Freelancers: through savings (most consulates only accept income from a job or a pension, so freelancers usually qualify through savings. The Las Vegas consulate also accepts self-employed income). Owners of a company abroad: through savings (most consulates only accept income from a job or a pension, so owners usually qualify through savings. The Las Vegas consulate also accepts self-employed income).
- How long
- One to four years, then permanent residence
- Without a visa
- British and American visitors: up to 180 days, at the border officer's discretion
The catch. Every consulate prints its own figure. Check the sheet for the one you will apply at, and apply before you travel: it cannot be done inside Mexico.
See where you stand against Mexico and every other country. Check your income
How to apply
- Book an appointment at a Mexican consulate outside Mexico through MiConsulado, then go in person for the interview and fingerprints. You can't apply inside Mexico.
- If you aren't a citizen of the country you apply in, you must show legal status there.
- The visa is single entry. Within 30 days of arriving, apply at an INM immigration office to swap it for your residence card, valid for one to four years.
Fees and timing
- Consulate visa
- USD 56.
- Residence card
- Set by INM. Immigration sites quote about MXN 11,141 for one year and MXN 25,058 for four in 2026, after the fees roughly doubled.
- How long it takes
- Up to 10 working days at the consulate, sometimes the same day.
The documents
The main items. Your consulate's own checklist is the one that counts, so check it before you start.
- Application form, one photo, and your passport with copies
- Proof of legal stay in the country you apply in, if you aren't a citizen
- Original bank statements, stamped by the bank
- Employees: a letter on company letterhead with your role, time there, salary and agreement to you working from Mexico
- Documents from outside Mexico or the US apostilled and translated into Spanish
Health insurance
Not required by the consulates we checked.
Nomad policies differ on cover limits, excess and whether they're accepted for a visa. Compare nomad health insurance
Family, renewing and tax
- Family
- Las Vegas asks for USD 1,498 a month more income, or the same average balance, for each dependant. Other consulates set their own figures.
- Renewing
- Renew with INM inside Mexico before the card expires. After four years you can switch to permanent residence.
- What it leads to
- Citizenship after five years, with exams
- Tax
- No day count: tax residence follows where your home is
Worth knowing
- 2026: consulates published new income and savings figures, and INM's residence card fees roughly doubled.
- The Las Vegas consulate also accepts self-employed income; San Diego still asks for income from a job or a pension.