Countries › Mexico › Guide › 8. Immigration › Work permits in Mexico: the job offer route, permits for residents, students and the self employed, quotas, the 10 percent cap and regulated professions

Work permits in Mexico: the job offer route, permits for residents, students and the self employed, quotas, the 10 percent cap and regulated professions

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Last verified: 2026-10-26 · Status: Changing

In Mexico the right to work comes from the condition of stay: permanent residents and humanitarian visitors have it implicitly, while temporary residents and visitors need a permit tied to a job offer from an employer registered with the National Migration Institute (INM). The usual path for a hire from abroad is a job offer visa that the employer files with INM, a consular visa abroad and a temporary resident card with work permission issued in Mexico within 30 days of arrival, valid for the length of the offer up to four years. In 2026 the work authorization for an existing temporary resident costs MXN 4,341, residence cards for job offers from registered employers are half price, and at least 90 percent of each company's workers must be Mexican, with directors and general managers exempt.

USD conversions use MXN 18.6638 per US dollar, the US Federal Reserve H.10 noon buying rate in New York for 23 October 2026 (FRED series DEXMXUS), the latest observation available when this page was verified. Conversions are for orientation only.

Key facts

Work authorization for a temporary resident, 2026 fee	4341 MXNLFD art. 13 section III; RMF 2026 Annex 4, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
INM authorization of a visa for a job offer or family unity, 2026 fee	248 MXNLFD art. 14 Bis; RMF 2026 Annex 4, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Reduction on residence card fees for stays based on a job offer from a registered employer or family unity	50 %LFD art. 8 final paragraph, added DOF 7 November 2025, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Deadline for the consular interview after the worker books it, for visas authorized by INM	12 business daysReglamento de la Ley de Migración art. 117 section II b), as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Deadline to apply for the residence card after entering on a residence visa	30 calendar daysLey de Migración art. 59, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum share of foreign workers in a company (directors and general managers excluded)	10 %LFT art. 7, as of 2026-10-26 · in force

The rule

1. Who may work. Permanent residents have permission to work for pay, and the permanent resident card also proves the work permit for adults. Humanitarian visitors have permission to work. Temporary residents may obtain a permit to work subject to a job offer, in the activity related to that offer; if the temporary residence was granted for a job offer, the card itself must say that the holder has permission to work. Temporary resident students may work only in higher education, postgraduate studies or research, with a letter of consent from the institution and a job offer related to their field. No visa allows paid work unless it says so explicitly.
Cost to do it: Work authorization for a temporary resident or temporary resident student: MXN 4,341 (USD 233) (LFD art. 13 section III). Not payable by foreigners authorized under a mobility instrument or international cooperation agreement on reciprocity grounds.
Example: A foreign spouse living in Monterrey as a temporary resident through family unity receives a job offer from a local hospital; the spouse files for a work permit with INM using the hospital's job offer and employer certificate (MXN 4,341). / Work permit about USD 233 at 18.6638.Ley de Migración, DOF 25 May 2011 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 15 January 2026); Reglamento de la Ley de Migración, DOF 28 September 2012 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 23 May 2014), Ley de Migración arts. 40, 52 sections V, VII, VIII and IX; Reglamento arts. 157 and 164, 2011-05-25 official text · verified 2026-10-26

2. The job offer route for a hire from abroad. A company established in Mexico that makes a job offer to a foreigner files the visa authorization with INM, proving it holds an employer registration certificate and stating the worker's name and nationality, occupation, pay, required duration and place of work, and that it will pay the worker's trip. INM checks the requirements and both parties' records and, if approved, notifies the consulate; the consular interview must take place within 12 business days after the worker books the appointment, and the consulate may ask INM to reconsider only once, within five business days. INM authorizes a visitor visa with permission for paid activities or a temporary residence visa according to the length of the offer. The temporary residence visa is valid 180 days for a single entry, and the worker must apply to INM for the residence card within 30 calendar days of entry; when a temporary resident has a work permit, the card is valid for the length of the job offer. The applicant must also show the experience, skills or knowledge required for the occupation.
Cost to do it: Government fees: INM visa authorization MXN 248 (LFD art. 14 Bis); temporary resident card for one year MXN 11,141, two years MXN 16,693, three years MXN 21,143, four years MXN 25,058 (LFD art. 8 section VI), half when the stay is based on a job offer from an employer with a valid registration certificate (LFD art. 8 final paragraph, added DOF 7 November 2025). Consular visa fee charged abroad (Houston lists USD 54).
Example: A Mexican subsidiary hires an Argentine engineer for two years at MXN 90,000 a month: INM authorization MXN 248, then a two year temporary resident card at 50 percent of MXN 16,693.36, about MXN 8,347. / About USD 13 plus about USD 447 at 18.6638, before the consular fee and any professional fees.Ley de Migración, DOF 25 May 2011 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 15 January 2026); Reglamento de la Ley de Migración, DOF 28 September 2012 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 23 May 2014), Ley de Migración arts. 41, 59, 127 and 128; Reglamento arts. 107, 115, 117, 138 section II and final paragraphs, and 156, 2012-09-28 official text · verified 2026-10-26 · changed: From 1 January 2026 temporary and permanent residence card fees were raised and a 50 percent reduction was added for stays based on a job offer from an employer with a valid registration certificate (decree DOF 7 November 2025).

3. Adding or changing a work permit inside Mexico. A temporary resident (including a student in higher education or research) applies to INM with the valid residence card, the fee receipt and a job offer from an individual or company stating the activity, duration, place of work and the employer certificate data. For self employed activities, the applicant instead files a sworn statement of the occupation and place of work and, where applicable, proof of RFC tax registration; a temporary residence may also be based on RFC registration for paid activities that do not involve a job offer. INM may visit to verify the offer and employer. If approved, INM issues a new card stating that the holder has permission to work. Changes of place of work must be reported within 90 days.
Cost to do it: MXN 4,341 (USD 233) for the work authorization (LFD art. 13 section III). Late or missing notice of a new place of work: fine of 20 to 100 UMA, MXN 2,346.20 to MXN 11,731 at the 2026 UMA of MXN 117.31 (Ley de Migración art. 158).
Example: A temporary resident retiree in Mérida who starts a consulting business registers with SAT for an RFC and applies for a work permit as self employed with a sworn statement of the occupation and place of activity (MXN 4,341). / Work permit about USD 233; late notice fine about USD 126 to USD 629 at 18.6638.Reglamento de la Ley de Migración, DOF 28 September 2012 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 23 May 2014); Ley de Migración, DOF 25 May 2011 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 15 January 2026), Reglamento arts. 138 section III, 165 and 167; Ley de Migración art. 63, 2012-09-28 official text · verified 2026-10-26

4. Quotas and occupational classification. Visas and conditions of stay based on a job offer are subject to a quota system that the Interior Ministry may set on a proposal from the Labor Ministry, by occupational group under the national classification of occupations, region, condition of stay or a combination. Quotas are published in the DOF for one year, with possible extra provisions for hard to fill vacancies. Where no quota has been set, the authorization depends only on the existence of the job offer. INM classifies each offer by occupation and checks whether a quota exists and has room.
Cost to do it: No fee for the quota check.
Example: A hotel group recruiting foreign chefs checks whether any published quota covers the occupation and region before filing; if none is in force, INM only checks that the offer is genuine. / Not applicable.Reglamento de la Ley de Migración, DOF 28 September 2012 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 23 May 2014), Reglamento arts. 119 to 123, 2012-09-28 official text · verified 2026-10-26

5. Ninety percent Mexican workers and regulated professions. Every company or establishment must employ at least 90 percent Mexican workers; in technical and professional categories, foreigners may be hired only temporarily when there are no Mexicans in that specialty, up to 10 percent of the specialty, and the employer and foreign workers must train Mexican workers. Company physicians must be Mexican. Directors, administrators and general managers are excluded. A visa or residence card does not authorize activities that require certifications, licences, degrees or permits: the foreigner must obtain them and the employer must check that they exist or obtain them. The Constitution also reserves to Mexicans by birth roles such as crew of vessels and aircraft under the Mexican flag, harbour masters, pilotage services and aerodrome commanders.
Cost to do it: No fee; the cost is in workforce planning and in licensing for regulated professions.
Example: A 60 person engineering firm may employ at most 6 foreign workers outside its director and general manager roles, and a foreign structural engineer counts toward both the overall 10 percent and the 10 percent within the engineering specialty. / Not applicable.Ley Federal del Trabajo, DOF 1 April 1970 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 14 May 2026); Reglamento de la Ley de Migración, DOF 28 September 2012 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 23 May 2014); Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (consolidated text, last reform DOF 7 October 2026), LFT art. 7; Reglamento art. 140; Constitution art. 32, 1970-04-01 official text · verified 2026-10-26

6. USMCA professionals and intra company transferees. For US and Canadian citizens, Mexico may not require labor certification tests or numerical limits for traders and investors, intra company transferees and professionals listed in Appendix 2 of Annex 16-A, and may not require prior approval procedures or petitions for professionals, although a visa may be required and the person must otherwise comply with Mexican entry measures.
Cost to do it: Mexican migration fees as in the rules above.
Example: A Canadian mining engineer listed among Appendix 2 professions and hired by a Mexican mine is not subject to a labor market test or a numerical cap under the treaty. / Same USD amounts as the Mexican fees above.United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA, T-MEC), in force 1 July 2020, Annex 16-A Sections B, C and D and Appendix 2, 2020-07-01 official text · verified 2026-10-26

Condition of stay	Permission to work	What it is tied to	2026 fee for the permit
Visitor without permission for paid activities	No	Not applicable	Not available
Visitor with permission for paid activities	Yes, up to 180 days	The job offer or paid invitation	MXN 4,341 (USD 233) condition of stay
Temporary resident	Only with a permit	The job offer or declared self employed activity	MXN 4,341 (USD 233), or included when residence is granted for the job offer
Temporary resident student	Higher education and research only	Institution consent and related job offer	MXN 4,341 (USD 233)
Permanent resident	Yes, implicit	No employer tie	None
Visitor for humanitarian reasons	Yes, implicit	No employer tie	None

Permission to work by condition of stay (Ley de Migración art. 52; Reglamento arts. 157 and 164; LFD arts. 8 and 13; USD at 18.6638).

Worked example

A Spanish industrial group's Mexican subsidiary in Guanajuato hires a Spanish plant engineer for a three year assignment at MXN 120,000 a month (about USD 6,430 at 18.6638).
The subsidiary already holds its INM employer certificate. It files a job offer visa authorization with INM (MXN 248, about USD 13), naming the occupation, salary, three year duration and the plant address.
The engineer attends the consular interview in Madrid within the 12 business day window, enters Mexico on the 180 day single entry visa and applies for the temporary resident card within 30 calendar days, paying 50 percent of MXN 21,142.58, about MXN 10,571 (about USD 566).
Total government fees about MXN 10,819 (about USD 580), plus the consular fee. The engineer counts toward the subsidiary's 10 percent cap on foreign technical staff.

Step by step

1. Confirm the employer's INM registration certificate is valid and its last tax return proof is updated.
2. Check the 10 percent cap by specialty, and whether the occupation needs a Mexican licence or degree recognition.
3. Prepare a written job offer with occupation, salary, duration, place of work and trip funding, plus evidence of the worker's experience or qualifications.
4. File the visa authorization with INM; once notified, the worker books the consular interview, which must take place within 12 business days of booking.
5. After entry, apply for the temporary resident card within 30 calendar days, claiming the 50 percent reduction with the employer certificate, then obtain the CURP and register the worker with IMSS and SAT.
6. For workers already in Mexico as temporary residents, file the work authorization with INM and update the place of work within 90 days of any change.

Common traps

Starting work on the visa alone. The residence visa only allows entry; the card with work permission must be requested within 30 days (Ley de Migración art. 59; Reglamento art. 164).
Assuming a work permit moves with the worker. A temporary resident's permit is tied to the activity in the job offer, and a new place of work must be reported within 90 days (Ley de Migración arts. 52 section VII and 63).
Forgetting the experience test. INM may require proof that the foreigner has the experience, skills or knowledge for the occupation (Reglamento art. 138, final paragraphs).
Not claiming the 50 percent card reduction. It applies only if the stay is proven to INM to be based on an offer from an employer with a valid certificate (LFD art. 8).
Hiring foreign technicians over the cap. Directors and general managers are exempt, but technical and professional staff count against the 10 percent limits (LFT art. 7).

Sources

← Business visitors to Mexico: meetings, paid short stays, long term visitor visas, USMCA business persons and the APEC cardEmployer obligations when hiring foreigners in Mexico: the INM employer certificate, verification visits, reporting duties and sanctions →