Remote Work in Mexico for Citizens and Foreigners
Capital
Mexico City
Official Language
Spanish
Currency
Mexican Peso
Payroll cycle
Bi-monthly
Quick facts about Mexico
Located at the southern end of North America, Mexico is one of the most important economic partners to the United States and Canada. Mexico’s rich history and its ever growing economy has turned the country into an appealing destination for digital nomads. The country’s strong university system also makes Mexico one of the best places to recruit developers, marketers, and other knowledge workers.
Remote work in Mexico is booming, both for foreigners relocating to the Latin American country and for companies looking to build tech hubs abroad.
In this complete guide, we’ll give you a breakdown of remote work in Mexico including what citizens and foreigners will need to know before applying for remote jobs within the country or as digital nomads working for a company outside of Mexico.
Why companies choose to build a remote hub in Mexico
In the past, companies looking to build a local HQ in Mexico needed to spend thousands of dollars and months of time establishing an entity. Today, companies can build remote hubs of 20-100+ workers in Mexico using a global EOR provider like Via.
Here's why companies are partnering with an EOR and building tech teams in Mexico.
Tap into local talent pool
Mexico is the perfect destination to build a recruiting brand. Mexico has an educated workforce and many citizens speak both English and Spanish. Plus the tech and startup scene in Mexico and throughout Latin America is booming which gives businesses access to a wider talent pool to hire from.
By focusing on one country as a remote talent hub, you can better recruit and retain talent. The more employees that you hire in one country, the easier it will be to network and connect with top talent.
Centrally located
Mexico is centrally located and has some of the best international relationships with the US, Canada, Costa Rica, and other parts of Latin America. This makes hiring in Mexico an
For European and Asian countries, companies can make Mexico a remote work hub to broaden their expansion and reach a wider customer base in the US/Latin America, all while keeping employer costs low. Using an EOR service like Via allows you to test these markets at a lower capital investment.
Internet connection
Mexico has increased the amount of wifi hotspots around the country. You can pay around $30 USD per month to get 250 mbps of download spee and 50 mbps of upload speed.
However, businesses should consider where they want to hire in the country itself, since larger cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey are going to have better internet access than some of the more rural areas.
Lower employer costs
Mexico’s lower cost of living means lower employment costs. Companies can hire top talent and offer competitive salaries and compensation packages at a lower cost compared to large tech hubs like New York and San Francisco.
Remote work laws in Mexico
The growing trends towards remote work in Mexico make it easy for citizens and permanent residents to find a remote job that fits their talents and needs. The post-Covid shift to remote work prompted the government to pass legislation to protect remote workers' rights.
NOM-036
In 2021, the Mexican government published an official decree called Project NOM-036 amending the Federal Labour Law about the terms and conditions of telework and telehealth for Mexico citizens and permanent residents.
According to the Federal Labour Law in Mexico, anyone who performs more than 40% of their online work at home or at a location other than the employer’s official business is considered a teleworker. Remote work must be specified in the employment agreement.
NOM-037
The Ministry of Labour and Social Work established a decree in 2022 outlining an employer’s workplace safety and health obligations for teleworkers.
Employers must:
Keep an updated list of teleworkers and the requirements of the working relationship in the employment contract
Provide a telework policy
Provide ergonomic chairs to support employee’s performance and health
Document the differences between in-person work and remote work
Pay for, install, and maintain the necessary equipment to perform telework
Pay for internet expenses and electricity (they are responsible for calculating the benefit and tax expenses)
Respect employee’s work/life balance at the end of the working day
Register remote workers for social security
Protect their personal data like email, name, social security, etc.
Under this amendment, employees also have obligations to uphold in order to remain compliant as teleworkers.
Employees must:
Have safe conditions for employer to visit the home or working area to verify compliance with health and safety regulations
Comply with employer’s telework policy
Provide employer with notice of address change or workplace change
Inform employer of occupational hazards
Comply with employer’s privacy policy for protecting sensitive data
Comply with employer’s provisions for occupational health and safety
These official regulations only dictate remote work for citizens of Mexico or for long-term, permanent residents. Remote work for foreigners and digital nomads aren’t as strictly regulated, but the visa process can take some time.
Working remotely in Mexico as a foreigner
Mexico is one of the best places for digital nomads and remote workers alike.
Why foreigners choose to work remotely in Mexico
Low cost of living
Cost of living has increased in Mexico, especially in Mexico City neighborhoods like Condesa and Roma. However, compared to many cities in the US and across Europe, the cost of living in Mexico is relatively low. On the cost of living index, Mexico ranks 381 out of 490. Do your research before making the decision, because living costs will vary from city to city.
Work/life balance
Because of the relatively lower cost of living, remote workers in Mexico can create a healthy work/life balance, improving their overall quality of life.
Can you work remotely in Mexico for a company based in the US, Canada, or Europe?
With the influx of technology and growing popularity of remote work, the Mexican government has made it fairly simple to work remotely in the country as a foreigner, even if you are not employed by a Mexican company. However, you will need your employer's permission unless you are an independent contractor.
You’ll only need to pay taxes in your home country as a remote worker in Mexico as long as you don’t receive any funds in a Mexican bank account.
Digital nomad and work visas
Right now, there is no official digital nomad visa in Mexico. However, you can apply for a 6-month tourist visa. If you want to stay longer, you’ll need to apply for a temporary residence visa.
Tourist visa
You don’t need to apply for a Mexican work permit. You can apply for a tourist visa if you meet all of the following criteria:
Your company that you work for full-time or as a contractor is based abroad
You have proof of income of $2,600 USD per month
You receive income in a non-Mexican bank account
Temporary residence visa
If you plan to stay in Mexico longer than the 180 days, you’ll need to apply for a temporary residence visa. Residence visas are relatively straightforward and easy to obtain with the right documentation.
Residence visas in Mexico can range from 6 months to 4 years. After 5 years of temporary residency, you can apply for permanent residency.
Residence permits and work visas have a bit more detailed application process. The government wants to make sure that you have adequate funds to support yourself. You’ll need to show around $2,500 USD per month or around $37,000 in your savings account.
Before you enter the country, you should make sure you have everything ready for your application (including valid passport and completed application) to apply for the temporary residence permanent at a Mexican consulate or embassy outside of the country. Book an appointment well in advanced of when you plan to move. The interview fee is $40 USD and another $150-300 USD, depending on the length of your stay. The residence permit fee must be paid annually.
Work visa holder
In most cases you won’t need to apply for a work visa in Mexico as a foreign remote worker. All digital nomads and non-Mexican remote workers will qualify for either a tourist visa or a temporary residence permit.
You should apply for a work permit only if:
You perform any paid activity for a Mexican company
You need to register as self-employed
You have Mexican clients
You will be paid with a Mexican paycheck from a Mexican bank
Remote jobs & companies in Mexico
If you want to work a remote job in Mexico, you can use Flexjobs to find remote positions that enable you to work from anywhere in the world. The job board lists exactly where the position is located. It also tells candidates whether they can work from anywhere in the world or if they have to work in a specific country.
Popular remote jobs in Mexico:
Project managers
Data analysts
Marketing managers
Bilingual customer service representatives
Call center agents
Popular companies hiring in Mexico:
Why companies partner with Via
As a global EOR provider, Via makes hiring Mexican talent and building your global team seamless and fast. Whether you need to hire remote workers or independent contractors in Mexico, we can help you navigate the entire process.
Via helps you manage local HR processes for direct employment such as work visas & permits, benefits, payroll, background checks, and more. Our team of local labor lawyers and on-the-ground experts ensure that your company remains compliant while expanding abroad. As your employer-of-record/entity in Mexico, Via assumes responsibility for employment liability, so that you can focus on what matters: recruiting and managing your team.
With Via’s transparent pricing, you can pay full-time employees or contractors in Mexico with no hidden set-up fees, no foreign exchange or transaction fees, and no minimums–start with 1 employee and scale up at your own pace.
