Mexico Work Permit for Temporary Residents: Job Offer, Fee, Steps
A temporary resident card does not include the right to work by default. How the INM work permit, the employer registration and the self-employed option fit together.
A temporary resident in Mexico can work for pay only after the National Migration Institute (INM) adds a work permit to their status. The permit needs a job offer from an employer registered with INM, or a sworn statement and tax registration for self-employment, and the fee is MXN 4,341 as of November 2026. Permanent residents already have the right to work.
Who needs a work permit in Mexico?
Temporary residents and temporary resident students need one before they take paid work. Article 52 of the Migration Law (Ley de Migración) describes temporary residency as a stay of up to four years “with the possibility” of a work permit subject to a job offer. Permanent residency, under section IX of the same article, already includes permission to work.
| Status | Paid work allowed? |
|---|---|
| Visitor without permission for paid activities (tourist entry) | No |
| Temporary resident | Only with an INM work permit tied to a job offer or self-employment |
| Temporary resident student | Only for higher education, postgraduate or research students, with the school’s consent letter and a job related to their studies |
| Family members of a temporary resident | Same rule as the temporary resident: a permit subject to a job offer |
| Permanent resident | Yes, no separate permit |
Working without the permit counts as an activity your status does not allow. Article 134 of the Migration Law then requires regularization with a fine, which our page on INM regularization covers.
What is the employer registration (constancia de inscripción del empleador)?
The employer registration certificate (constancia de inscripción del empleador) is INM’s record that a company or individual may hire foreigners. Your job offer letter must quote its details, so the employer has to hold one, and keep it updated, before you apply.
The employer files it in person at INM (homoclave INM-03-005-C). As of November 2026, the gob.mx page lists a fee of MXN 391 and a response time of 10 business days. A company brings its articles of incorporation (acta constitutiva), the legal representative’s power of attorney and ID, proof of address no older than 30 days, its tax registration (RFC) with proof of the last tax return filed, and a list of employees with their nationality. An individual employer brings ID, proof of address, RFC with the last return, and the employee list. INM has a separate procedure to update the certificate (INM-03-005-B).
What documents does the work permit need?
The INM procedure is called obtención de permiso de trabajo (homoclave INM-03-005-A). The official gob.mx page for the work permit lists:
- INM’s residency procedure form (formato para solicitar trámite migratorio de estancia), printed and signed.
- Your valid temporary resident or temporary resident student card.
- An original job offer on letterhead from a company or individual, stating the activity, the period, the workplace and the details of the employer’s updated INM registration.
- For self-employment instead: a signed statement under oath (bajo protesta de decir verdad) naming your occupation and where you will carry it out, plus a copy of your RFC registration.
- For students: the school’s consent letter (carta de conformidad).
- For applicants aged 14 to 17: the permits that Mexican labor law requires.
- Proof of payment of the government fee.
If you plan to work on your own, get the RFC first. Our guide on how to get an RFC as a foreign resident covers the SAT appointment.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
The gob.mx page lists a fixed fee of MXN 4,341 and a response time of 20 business days as of November 2026. INM asks for the payment once it approves the application, so you do not pay up front. Fees are updated each year under the Federal Law of Fees (Ley Federal de Derechos), so check the amount on the payment form INM gives you.
How do you apply for the work permit at INM?
- Make sure the employer’s INM registration is current, and get the signed offer letter quoting it.
- Fill in the residency procedure form on INM’s online procedures microsite, choosing the work permit procedure, and print it.
- Book an appointment on INM’s online services portal at the office that covers the address on your form. In Mexico City, that is the city’s INM office.
- Go on the appointment day with the form, the appointment QR code, your card and the documents, plus copies.
- Keep the receipt with your procedure number (NUT) and check the status online. When INM approves, pay the fee at a bank and bring the receipt.
- Collect the updated document. INM tells you whether a new card is printed with the permit.
What changes if you switch jobs?
The permit is tied to the activity in your job offer. A change of employer is one of the changes residents must report to INM within 90 days under Article 63 of the Migration Law, with a letter from the new employer; see our page on INM 90-day notices. If the new job is a different activity, ask INM at the counter whether the notice is enough or a new permit is needed.
Your employer also has its own steps, such as registering you with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), which is separate from INM.
Bottom line
Ask the employer for its INM registration details before you accept an offer, and get the offer letter to match INM’s wording: activity, period, workplace and registration data. Book the INM appointment as soon as you have it, and start work only once the permit is approved. This is general information, not legal advice; INM decides each case, and an immigration lawyer can review an unusual one.
FAQ
Can I work remotely for a foreign company on a temporary resident card?
The Migration Law and INM’s work permit page speak of paid activities in Mexico and of employers registered with INM, and do not mention foreign remote employers. Our page on working remotely in Mexico legally covers the visa and tax side; for your own case, ask an immigration lawyer.
Do permanent residents need a work permit?
No. Article 52, section IX of the Migration Law gives permanent residents permission to work for pay. They still report a change of employer to INM within 90 days.
Can a student on a temporary resident student card work?
Only students in higher education, postgraduate programs or research, with the school’s consent letter and a job related to the field of study. INM grants the permit on that basis.
Who pays the MXN 4,341 fee?
The law does not say who must pay. INM issues the payment once it approves the application, and the employer and the worker agree between themselves who covers it.
