Guide to temporary entry into Mexico under CUSMA

This guide is for a Canadian business person temporarily travelling to Mexico to do business. It provides general information about temporary entry requirements for business people under CUSMA and under Mexican law.

This guide aims to facilitate the entry of Canadian business people into Mexico for the purposes of exploring, entering and/or expanding operations in the Mexican market. You will find relevant links and summaries of the main steps for visa applications for the categories of business people covered in CUSMA.

There are 4 types of business people covered under CUSMA:

In order to be eligible for temporary entry into Mexico under any of these categories under CUSMA, you need to be a Canadian Citizen.

• Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) – Chapter 16 – Temporary entry for business persons
• For any questions regarding the U.S. or Mexico's temporary entry commitments under CUSMA, please contact: enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca

This guide is for information only. It is not the official text of CUSMA or U.S. or Mexican law. Always verify information using the text of the Agreement and official government sources of the country you wish to do business in. You may also seek advice from licensed or authorised individuals like an immigration lawyer or immigration consultant.

Under CUSMA, a business visitor is a Canadian traveling to Mexico for one of the following activities:  

• research and design
• growth, manufacturing and production
• marketing
• sales
• distribution
• general service
• after-sales service

A detailed description of each activity can be found under Appendix 1 Section B of Chapter 16 of CUSMA.

If you are a business visitor performing one of these activities to qualify for temporary entry under CUSMA, you must also meet the following requirements:

• the business activity is international in scope
• you are not seeking to enter the Mexican labour market
• the primary source of payment for the business activity is outside Mexico
• your main place of business and the actual source of profits is outside Mexico

Canadian business visitors visiting Mexico for business or technical activities for a period not exceeding 180 days, who will not receive any remuneration at all in Mexico, do not require a visa.

To enter Mexico, at the port of entry Canadian business visitors must present:

• a valid passport or travel document
• a properly completed multiple migratory form, which can be completed electronically for air travel

For more information on the electronic multiple migratory form, please see the section on electronic multiple migratory form for air travel, below.

Canadian nationals must present a valid passport to prove their nationality. Mexican authorities do not require a minimum period of validity of passports, however, this document must be valid at the time of entry and during the period you wish to be in Mexico.

Permanent residents of Canada must present their permanent resident card and either a valid passport or refugee travel document.

Migratory authorities at the port of entry may request documents proving the purpose of your trip, depending on the activity you will undertake in Mexico, including, for example:

• For business activities: a letter in Spanish from the company indicating that you are an employee of the company and that the services you will provide in Mexico will be paid for by that company.
• For non-remunerated activities: a letter of invitation from a public or private institution to perform non-remunerated activities in Mexico, indicating the purpose of the trip, estimated time of stay and taking responsibility for your travel and lodging costs.
• Technical activities: a copy of the contract for the transfer of technology, patents and brands, purchase of machinery and equipment, technical training of personnel, or any other related to the production process of a company established in Mexico.

The temporary resident visa is required for Canadian business visitors who intend to enter and remain in Mexico for a period greater than 180 days and less than 4 years.

For more information on how to apply for this visa, see the section below on the temporary resident visa.

To apply for a temporary resident visa as a business visitor, you must also submit the following documentation:

• an original and a photocopy of documents proving that you have the necessary experience, capacity, skills or expertise to develop the activity for which you have been invited.
• an original letter from the public or private organization or institution of renowned integrity inviting you to participate in a non-remunerated activity in Mexico. The letter must contain the following:
  1. full name and nationality of the applicant or interested party
  2. business or company name of the organization
  3. official registration number, if applicable
  4. purpose of the organization or private institution
  5. complete address and contact information for the organization or institution
  6. Information on the activity to be conducted or the project in which you will participate. The activity must be related to the objectives of the inviting organization or institution.
  7. estimated length or approximate end date of the activity
  8. a statement of the binding responsibility for the inviting organization to cover your living expenses during your stay in Mexico, and to ensure your return to Canada
  9. a copy of the official identification of the person signing the letter of invitation
• To prove that the inviting organization or private institution is able to cover your living expenses, it must present the original and a photocopy of the investment receipts or bank statements showing an average monthly balance of $1,728,700.00 Mexican pesos or its equivalent in Canadian dollars during the past twelve months. Public and private institutions belonging to the Mexican national educational system do not need to prove economic solvency.
• In the event that the inviting institution will not cover living expenses, you must provide an original and a photocopy of one of the following:
  1. investment receipts or bank statements showing an average monthly balance of $55,655.00 Canadian dollars during the past 12 months, or
  2. documents showing that the applicant has employment or a pension with a monthly tax-free income greater than $2,226.00 Canadian dollars during the past 6 months.

A trader or investor is a Canadian business person who is:

• carrying on substantial trade in goods or services between Canada and Mexico, or
• that has committed or are committing a substantial amount of capital, or whose enterprise has committed or are committing a substantial amount of capital, and
• who is establishing, developing, administering or providing advice or key technical services for the operation of that investment.

Their role must be supervisory, executive or involve essential skills.

Canadian nationals and permanent residents who wish to visit Mexico for business activities, for a period not exceeding 180 days, and who will not receive any remuneration at all in Mexico, do not require a visa.

To enter Mexico, at the port of entry, Canadian traders/investors must present:

• a valid passport or travel document
• a properly completed multiple migratory form, which can be completed electronically for air travel

For more information on the electronic multiple migratory form, please see the section on electronic multiple migratory form for air travel, below.

Canadian nationals must present a valid, current passport to prove their nationality. Mexican authorities do not require a minimum period of validity of passports, however, this document must be valid at the time of entry and during the period you wish to be in Mexico.

Permanent residents of Canada must present their permanent resident card and either a valid passport or refugee travel document.

The temporary resident visa is required for Canadian traders/investors who intend to enter and remain in Mexico for a period greater than 180 days and less than 4 years.

For more information on how to apply for this visa, please see the section below on the temporary resident visa.

To apply for a temporary resident visa as a trader/investor, you must also submit an original and a photocopy of one the following:

• documentation proving the conduct of economic or business activities in Mexico, including contracts, service orders, invoices, receipts, business plans, licenses and permits, or a certificate issued by the Mexican Social Security Institute proving that you employ at least three workers
• a deed or policy from a Mexican corporation signed before a commissioner of oaths, or a document duly certified by the administrative body or one of its officers, stating that you have shares in the capital stock of the Mexican corporation, and that the amount of the investment effectively disbursed for your share in the corporation would exceed $3,457,400.00 Mexican pesos or its equivalent in Canadian dollars
• a document proving the ownership of personal property by a foreign corporation, with a value exceeding $3,457,400.00 Mexican pesos or its equivalent in Canadian dollars

Under CUSMA, an intra-company transferee is a Canadian business person employed by a Canadian enterprise transferred to a subsidiary, affiliated branch, or other enterprises with a clear relationship with the Canadian enterprise located in Mexico.

Their role must be managerial, executive or involve specialized knowledge.

Under CUSMA, a Canadian intra-company transferee must have been employed continuously by the Canadian enterprise for 1 year within the 3-year period immediately preceding the date of the application for admission into Mexico.

An intra-company transferee will require a visitor visa with permission to conduct remunerated activities for a stay of 180 days, or a temporary resident visa with a work permit for a stay of over 180 days, if remuneration will be received in Mexico.

Please see the sections below on the Visitor visa with permission to conduct remunerated activities or Temporary resident visa with a work permit for more information on how to apply for these visas, including the documents required.

A professional is a Canadian citizen at the professional level providing services or performing training functions in Mexico in one of the 63 professions listed under Appendix 2 of Chapter 16 of CUSMA.

Please note, in order to qualify as a professional, you must have the credentials indicated in parenthesis beside the profession under Appendix 2.

A professional who has a job offer in Mexico, whose duration is up to 180 days, will need a visitor visa with permission to carry out paid activities. If the job offer is greater than 180 days and up to 4 years, a professional will require a temporary resident visa with a work permit.

Please see the sections below on the visitor visa with permission to conduct remunerated activities or the temporary resident visa with a work permit for more information on how to apply for the visas, including the documents required.

The electronic multiple migratory form for air travel (FMME aérea) allows Canadian business visitors and traders/investors to remain in Mexico (without engaging in paid activities) for up to 180 days.

To obtain this form, you must:

1. Go to the following link: https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/solicitud.html
2. Fill out the application from any electronic device connected to the internet
3. Print the multiple migratory form and keep it with you to be validated at the airport, where the immigration authorities must stamp it.

Once the form has been printed, it will be valid for 30 days.

For further information, consult: Multiple Immigration Form

To apply for the temporary resident visa, a trader/investor or a business visitor staying in Mexico for longer than 180 days will need to:

1. Submit a visa application form (PDF) printed on one page, double sided, properly completed and signed.
2. Have a valid passport or travel and identity document, original and a photocopy of the page containing the photograph and personal data.
3. Include an original and a photocopy of the migratory document proving your legal migratory status in Canada (only for applicants who are not Canadian citizens).
4. Include one photograph measuring 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm, face uncovered, no eyeglasses, frontal view, in colour, with white background.
5. Provide payment of fees in cash for the processing of the visa application.

A professional who has a job offer in Mexico for a duration of up to 180 days will require a visa with permission to conduct remunerated activities.

The Mexican institution or person who intends to hire the foreigner must submit the visa application directly to the National Migration Institute in Mexico. The Embassy or Consulate can only issue a visa if it has been authorized by the Institute.

Once the foreigner has the corresponding authorization, he must make an appointment at the consular office closest to his place of residence and appear in person with the following documentation:

1. Photocopy of the authorization from the National Migration Institute, which will be valid for 30 working days, after which we won't be able to continue with the processing of the visa in the consular office.
2. Visa application form (PDF) printed on one page, double sided, properly completed and signed.
3. Valid and current passport or travel and identity document, original and a photocopy of the page containing the photograph and personal information.
4. Original and a photocopy of the migratory document accrediting your legal stay in Canada (only for applicants who are not Canadian citizens).
5. One photograph measuring 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm, face uncovered, no eyeglasses, frontal view, in colour and with white background.
6. Payment of fees in cash for the processing of visa application for foreign passports. When the period of stay is less than 180 days, the applicant must also pay the migratory fees.

A professional who has an offer of employment in Mexico for a duration of more than 180 days and up to 4 years, will require a temporary resident visa with a work permit.

The Mexican institution or the person who intends to hire the foreigner must submit the visa application directly to the National Immigration Institute in Mexico. The Embassy or Consulate can only issue the visa if it has been authorized by the Institute.

Once the foreigner has the corresponding authorization, they must make an appointment at the consular office closest to their place of residence and present themselves personally with the following documentation:

• Photocopy of the authorization from the National Institute of Migration, which will be valid for 30 working days, after which it will not be possible to continue with the processing of the visa at the consular office.
• Visa application form printed on one page, double-sided, duly completed and signed.
• Valid and current passport or travel and identity document, original and photocopy of the page containing the photograph and personal data.
• Original and photocopy of the immigration document proving your legal stay in Canada (only for applicants who are not Canadian citizens).
• A photograph of 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm, uncovered face, without glasses, front view, in color and white background.

Within the first 30 calendar days of entering Mexico with a temporary resident visa, the professional must apply to the National Migration Institute for the temporary residence card that accredits their legal stay in the country and allows them to remain in Mexico for a period greater than 180 days.

CUSMA does not cover spouses or dependants of covered business people. Spouses and dependents must meet Mexico's existing temporary entry immigration regulations in order to accompany a Canadian business visitor. In order to perform work in Mexico, spouses and dependents must also comply with its regular job validation process for temporary foreign workers.

If you have a job offer or signed contract from an employer in Mexico, but you do not qualify under the 4 categories of CUSMA business people, you may still qualify for entry under Mexican general immigration provisions. More information on working or doing business in Mexico is available on the Embassy of Mexico in Canada website.