MexicoWork

Mexico work visa: visas authorised by the INM on a job offer

Visa authorised by the INM: visitor with permission for paid activities or temporary residence based on a job offer

In short

To work for a Mexican employer, the employer or another sponsor in Mexico first obtains an authorisation from the National Institute of Migration (INM). You then have 30 working days to attend a Mexican consulate for an interview, pay a fixed fee of USD 321 and receive a visa that is either a visitor visa with permission for paid activities or a temporary resident visa.

Apply on gob.mx – SRE-01-039 INM-authorised visas checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay: Depends on the authorised category: up to 180 days as a paid visitor, or temporary residence of more than 180 days up to 4 years
Validity: Visa valid for 180 working days to enter Mexico
Fee: US$321Fixed fee for 2026 under SRE-01-039, covering receipt, study and authorisation; the fee for the migration document applies for visas with permission to work.
Processing time: 7 working days at the consulate after the INM authorisation
Work: Yes, for the activity and employer authorised by the INM
Family: Family members can follow through family unity once you hold residence
Path to permanent residence: Temporary residence can lead to permanent residence under the Migration Law
Where to apply: Employer applies to the INM in Mexico; you attend a consulate abroad

Which visas are covered

SRE procedure SRE-01-039 covers visas the INM has authorised in advance: the visitor visa with permission to carry out paid activities, the humanitarian visitor visa, and temporary or permanent resident visas processed through the INM. A job offer from a Mexican employer is the typical basis for the first two work-related categories.

Fees

The SRE lists a fixed fee of USD 321 for this procedure in 2026, payable at the consulate, and states that the fee for issuing the migration document is due when the visa carries permission for paid activities. Fees are calculated on the basis of SRE official letter 349-B-1-II-138 of 19 December 2025.

Two-stage procedure

The procedure starts in Mexico: the employer or sponsoring organisation (the promovente) applies to the INM, which issues an authorisation under a single procedure number (NUT). Once notified, you book an interview through Mi Consulado and must attend within 30 working days of the notification, or the permit lapses.

At the consulate you complete the visa form, hand over a copy of the INM authorisation, your passport and proof of legal stay if you are not in your own country, sign the form in front of the official and attend an interview that checks your identity and that the purpose of travel matches the authorisation. The whole process must be finished at the same office where it started.

Agree the job with a Mexican employer, which files the request with the INM.
Wait until the employer is notified of the INM authorisation and gives you the NUT.
Book an interview through Mi Consulado and attend within 30 working days of the notification.
Complete the form, present your documents, sign before the official and pay the fee.
Collect the visa (about 7 working days) and travel within its validity.
After entry, complete the INM procedure for your residence card if you hold a residence visa.

After entering Mexico

Holders of a residence visa present it to the INM after entry to obtain the residence card that documents their status. Visitors with permission for paid activities may work only in the activity and for the employer authorised by the INM.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

Original passport or valid identity and travel document

Money

Payment of the USD 321 fee

Work

Copy of the INM authorisation (NUT) obtained by your employer or sponsor in Mexico

Other

Completed visa application form, signed before the consular officer

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Identity

Proof of legal stay if you apply outside your country of nationality

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for a Mexican work visa myself?

Not directly. The procedure begins with an INM authorisation requested in Mexico by the employer or sponsor; only then can you apply at a consulate.

How long do I have to attend the consulate?

30 working days from the date the sponsor in Mexico was notified of the authorisation.

How much does it cost?

The SRE lists a fixed fee of USD 321 for 2026.

Can I work on a tourist visa while waiting?

No. The visitor visa without permission for paid activities does not allow work in Mexico.

Official sources

gob.mx (SRE) – Visas authorised by the INM (SRE-01-039) · checked 23 October 2026

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.