Under a «work visa» Most often, 2 documents are meant: a resident visa upon invitation to work and a resident card upon invitation to work. A resident visa serves the sole purpose of entering Mexico and exchanging it for a resident card. But the resident card already represents confirmation of a residence permit in Mexico and ensures that you can legally live and work in the country.
To stay in Mexico for a long time, you need to have residency status. To prepare for residency status, you must have a basis. There are not many reasons. But you have a job offer — solid foundation, which is why you received your card. We’ll talk about the Mexican temporary resident card based on an invitation to work.
A temporary resident card based on an invitation to work opens up all the same chances as resident cards received on other grounds. The main ones:
- live legally in Mexico,
- leave and enter the country an unlimited number of times without problems and without a return ticket, while there are no restrictions on the duration of absence from Mexico,
- have access to social medicine and education,
- take advantage of local benefits for residents,
- open an account in a Mexican bank,
- acquire a Mexican driver's license, buy and register a car,
- apply for a visa at the US consulate in Mexico,
- «drag» the whole family to Mexico.
But most importantly, the temporary resident card — this is a direct path to citizenship. It will be possible to apply for it in 5 years.
We talked about opportunities for residents of Mexico in thispublications.
But unlike other cards, the temporary resident card has one advantage: it includes a work permit by default. Mexican employers do not want to hire foreigners unless they have a resident card or the card says “permiso para trabajar.” It is for this reason that it is so difficult to find work in the country without a residence permit. For other residents, purchase a work permit inscription on the card — This is a whole epic. But with a card that already has a work permit, everything becomes much easier, if there were vacancies. The holder of such a card has the right to work at least 100 jobs simultaneously.
In parallel, the holder of a resident card with a work permit can run his business as a self-employed person, that is, having moved to Mexico, he can immediately continue to engage in the same activities as before. But you will have to pay taxes. Tax rates are the same for residents and citizens. He needs an employer nominally, only to renew his card.
A temporary resident card upon invitation to work for the first time is always issued for 1 year, like most other temporary resident cards. It can then be extended for 1, 2 or 3 years, depending on the length of the contract with the employer.
Then you are allowed to acquire a permanent resident card. It is indefinite and does not need to be renewed. If you do not plan to apply for citizenship, it is possible to leave Mexico indefinitely. No matter how long you are away, you will still remain a resident of Mexico.
Then citizenship. You have the right to apply for citizenship on a general basis, that is, 5 years after you become a resident of Mexico. To apply for citizenship, you must live in Mexico for the last 2 years, leaving for no more than 180 days, and pass exams on knowledge of the Spanish language, history and culture of Mexico. Within the country, residents of Mexico have the same rights as citizens. But outside the country, a Mexican passport opens up great opportunities in terms of visa-free travel.
To summarize, a job offer — this is a sought-after and reliable basis for purchasing a residence in Mexico. And the residence in Mexico — This is the only and direct path to legally obtaining a Mexican passport.
If you need assistance in obtaining a work visa and a Mexican resident card upon invitation to work, write to us.