By Lisa Parris
How to Obtain a Mexican Work Visa
Foreigners can and do earn a living south of the border. Getting the proper visa is a bit of tricky business as Mexican law states you cannot work if the position you're planning to fill takes a job away from a Mexican. You must secure a position that a Mexican cannot do, such as teaching English or selling timeshares to tourists, in order to obtain a work permit. Violation of these rules will get you deported and banned from re-entry. Here's how to obtain your FM3 work visa and legally earn your keep in
Mexico.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You'll Need:
- Education and training certificates
Letter from your employer
Current, valid passport with at least 1 blank page
FM3 work visa application
Employment contract
4 passport-style photographs
Tourist card
- Education and training certificates
- Letter from your employer
- Current, valid passport with at least 1 blank page
- FM3 work visa application
- Employment contract
- 4 passport-style photographs
- Tourist card
Step 1
Obtain the documentation you will need to prove your ability to do the job. Work permits are issued for specific positions within specific companies, so you must already have a job offer or contract prior to applying for the visa. Verification of qualifications can include university degrees, teaching credentials, professional certifications and official publications.
Step 2
Ask the nearest immigration office to recommend a notary public and translator as all professional credentials must be inspected and translated into Spanish. They must then have an apostille attached; this is a way of verifying the authenticity of all documents.
Step 3
Have your employer draft a letter on official letterhead, stating clearly (in Spanish) what your job title is, why you are being hired, the salary you're being offered, and his RFC number. If your employer is also foreign, then you will need a photocopy of their FM3 work permit, also.
Step 4
Go to the Mexican Immigration office nearest to the town you are going to be employed. Bring someone from the company that is hiring you, if possible, to act as a translator.
Step 5
Ask for and fill out an application for an FM3 work permit.
Step 6
Make photocopies of all of the following: the letter from your employer, your passport photo page, your tourist visa, any documents verifying your working skills and a copy of your employment contract.
Step 7
Get 4 passport style photos taken.
Step 8
Turn in the application, photos, all of your original documents or notarized copies and your passport. Retain the photocopies for your records in case something gets misplaced during processing.
Step 9
Submit the proper visa fee. The current price for processing an FM3 visa application is 1,200 pesos, but prices change regularly.
Step 10
Return in approximately 1 week to pick up your visa.
Resources
About the Author:
Lisa Parris is a freelance writer covering a variety of topics, particularly health and wellness. Her work has appeared in various publications including the "Journal of Comparative Parasitology" and "The Monterey County Herald." She holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Peru State College.
Photo Credits:
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