To the question asked in the title of the publication, most of our readers will answer that yes, it is allowed.
Now let’s put the question differently: is it possible to purchase a Mexican resident card while abroad? Answer: no, you can't.
It is the resident card, temporary or permanent, that is the only confirmation that a foreigner has a residence permit in Mexico. You have the opportunity to begin the process of obtaining a residence permit while outside of Mexico. But you have no right to complete it and receive a resident card if you do not come to Mexico.
To begin the process of obtaining a residence permit in Mexico while abroad, you should contact a Mexican diplomatic mission to purchase a visa. No other way works except:
- first obtain a resident visa from the consulate,
- enter Mexico with such a visa,
- Already in Mexico, apply for the purchase of a resident card.
In other words, you are not allowed to become a resident of Mexico before entering the country.
To acquire a residence permit in Mexico, you must meet certain criteria. All of them are described more than once in publications on our website. And to the diplomatic mission to obtain a resident visa, you should provide documents confirming compliance with these conditions:
- resident status for work — an invitation from a Mexican employer, issued through the National Institute of Migration of Mexico,
- resident status based on family ties — a birth certificate proving your relationship to a Mexican citizen or resident,
- resident status based on economic solvency — papers confirming such solvency,
- residency status by owning real estate or company in Mexico — relevant purchase or equity participation agreements,
- residence permit for study — confirmation from a Mexican university that you have been accepted for study.
Is it possible to find an employer in Mexico who will offer a foreigner an invitation to work remotely? This is rare, but it happens. Typically, companies prefer to understand who they are hiring. Hotels, travel companies, and service businesses will have no problem hiring you when you come to Mexico and show them your skills. At the same time, we know of enough cases where a Mexican employer sent a formal invitation to work to a foreigner abroad.
Is it possible to buy real estate in Mexico without coming to the country? If we are talking about real estate outside the «restricted zone» (a strip of land 50 km wide from the coastline), then yes, it is allowed. But it is the plots and houses on the coast that are in greatest demand among foreigners. You can buy them only by opening a bank trust, and for this you need to come to Mexico at least once.
Is it possible to buy a Mexican company remotely? You can remotely buy both the company itself and a share in the company.
A study visa in Mexico cannot be issued for taking language courses or participating in other educational projects. Is it possible to enroll in a Mexican university while outside of Mexico? At the undergraduate and graduate levels, it is unlikely that you will be able to pass the entrance exams without coming to Mexico. On the other hand, if you have already proven your academic skills and scientific achievements, you have the right to remotely negotiate to continue your education and obtain an academic degree in Mexico.
Do you want to know more about all the options for obtaining a residence permit in Mexico? Read thispublication
So, almost all basic opportunities for obtaining a residence permit in Mexico are in one way or another connected with a preliminary visit to the state. First, you enter Mexico on a state visitor visa, collect all the required documents, leave and then apply for a resident visa at one of the Mexican consulates abroad.