Mexico Residency
Move to Mexico as a Remote Worker
Keep your job. Trade the commute for a casa.
Expatsi helps remote-working Americans get Mexican residency and settle into life south of the border.
Why Mexico?
A warm, affordable life, close to home.
Mexico pairs a low cost of living with year-round sunshine and short, cheap flights home. It has some of the largest, most established American and Canadian communities anywhere, so you'll find support, friends, and English-speaking services in the expat hubs while you pick up Spanish.
Low cost of living
Live well on a fraction of U.S. prices.
Close to home
Short, affordable flights and shared time zones.
Big expat communities
Established American and Canadian communities to land in.
Mexico Residency
Live in Mexico, keep working for home.
Mexico doesn't have a separate digital nomad visa, and it doesn't need one. Remote workers qualify for temporary residency the same way everyone else does: by showing enough monthly income or savings. It's renewable for up to four years, gives you legal status and access to local services, and you keep earning from your job or clients back home. When you're ready to stay for good, you can convert to permanent residency.
The Requirements
Residente Temporal
Allows living in Mexico for up to four years. Application is made at a Mexican consulate, including an interview and submission of financial documentation. The visa is valid for 180 days to enter Mexico, after which residency is formalized locally.
- Processing time
- ~1 days
- Timeline
- Up to 4 years (renewable)
- Difficulty
- Easy
Key requirements
- Application at Mexican consulate
- Proof of financial means
- Interview
- Valid US passport
- Must enter Mexico within 180 days of visa issuance
Scouting Trips
Before you move, see Mexico like a future resident.
- We walk neighborhoods
- Meet local experts and guides
- Tour healthcare and housing options
- Get a real feel for daily life and cost
- Figure out which town actually fits you
Mexico partners who can help
Armando Robles
Querétaro, Mexico Local Guide
Querétaro, Mexico
Jen Barnett
Expat Planning Coach
Mérida, Mexico
Life in Merida
Mérida Relocation Specialist, Mérida Local Guide
Mérida, Mexico
Miss Rosa Spanish Lessons
Spanish Language Teacher
Mexico
Silvia Galambosi
Move Abroad Coach, Riviera Maya Local Guide
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Kendra Scheerer
San Miguel de Allende Local Guide
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Shasta Townsend
Mexican Visas & Relocation, Puerto Vallarta Local Guide
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Buho Insurance Broker
Mexico Car Insurance
Mexico
Heather Borquez
Baja Local Guide
Baja, Mexico
Donna Shields
Oaxaca Local Guide
Oaxaca, Mexico
Holly & Sean Hirshberg
RV Nomad Coach
Mexico
Popular Areas
Where Americans are building a new life.
Mérida
The safe, walkable colonial capital of the Yucatán, with a fast-growing expat community and grand old architecture.
San Miguel de Allende
An artsy colonial town with a temperate climate and one of the largest American communities in Mexico.
Puerto Vallarta
A welcoming Pacific beach city with a big, established expat and LGBTQ+ community.
Lake Chapala & Ajijic
Mexico's classic retirement haven near Guadalajara, with spring-like weather all year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your questions, answered.
What about taxes if I live in Mexico?
You'll still file U.S. taxes, and you may pick up Mexican tax obligations depending on your situation. It's worth getting cross-border advice before you move.
How long does Mexican residency last?
Temporary residency is renewable for up to four years, after which you can convert to permanent residency and stay for good.
How much income do I need?
Roughly $4,300 a month in income, or about $73,000 in savings, for temporary residency. The numbers change yearly and vary by consulate, so confirm before you apply.
Can I work remotely legally on Mexican residency?
Yes. Temporary residency lets you live in Mexico while you keep earning from clients or an employer outside Mexico.
Is there a digital nomad visa for Mexico?
Not a separate one, and you don't need it. Remote workers qualify for temporary residency by showing enough income or savings.
Other ways to move to Mexico
Retire in Mexico: Permanent Residency
Sunshine, low costs, and a short flight home.
Mexico Temporary Residency
The flexible first step to living in Mexico — for retirees, remote workers, and more.
You can move abroad.
Thousands of Americans have already done it.
Why not you?