Do you want to get dual citizenship in Mexico? Then, now have a few options in hand to get this done in the first place. The idea of having an Alternate ID for international travel or as a part of an offshore investment strategy is quite intimidating. It attracts lots of attention from big-scale investors. Finding a new market to grow, having the luxury of dual citizenship, and avoiding those big tax amounts, there are many advantages of having dual citizenship. For U.S. citizens, dual citizenship has remained limited to mostly Canada.
However, now it’s high time that investors and entrepreneurs consider other potential options like Mexico. Dual citizens of the United States and a country outside the United States have always needed to take extra precautions when traveling. However, there is one small loophole that some dual citizens might be able to exploit: Mexico. Numerous benefits come with dual citizenship in Mexico, including the ability to travel visa-free and receive huge potential for your offshore investment strategy.
You may be surprised at how simple it is to become a citizen of Mexico. The Mexican Constitution grants dual citizenship, so there are plenty of perfectly legal ways that might suit your needs. You can choose from establishing residency, applying for and being granted asylum, or even getting married and giving birth in the country. Back in 2016, when U.S. elections were going on, there was a lot of hype about leaving the country and getting second citizenship as a backup. With huge financial turmoil and market unpredictability due to the global pandemic, it’s never too late to have a backup in place.
Mexico can offer you a greater level of personal freedom and huge scope for business growth. You can easily relocate with your family to a culturally rich Mexican land. According to global stats of 2020, the Mexican passport is the 26th strongest passport globally and allows you visa-free travel to nearly 158 countries. You can even enter all of Europe’s Schengen area. Talking about getting Mexican citizenship, there are many ways for you to become eligible for citizenship from Mexico.
- Some Common Ways To Enter Mexico As A Foreigner
There is a significant difference between entering and becoming a citizen of Mexico. Entering is generally referred to how you reach the country legally to start your journey toward citizenship. Different ways of entering depend upon different circumstances, from using your visa-free access or coming to Mexico as a tourist. Here are a few common ways through which you can enter Mexico as a foreigner:
- The first option here is to visit this country as a tourist. You can apply for a tourist visa from your country and simply visit Mexico for a few months (duration depends upon your visa & country you are coming from).
- If you want a work-permit visa, you need to produce a proof of job in Mexico and pay $155. Another catch is applying for work after entering Mexico to avoid paying a work-permit fee. Once your permit is finalized, you can start with your job in the country.
- Those belonging to the U.S. and major countries of West Europe, Latin America, or any other nation with visa-free access to Mexico can simply visit here for as long as 180 days. For others, they can obtain a visa by applying and paying a fee of USD 15 (332 pesos).
- By getting married to a Mexican national and meeting the required residency requirements, you can become eligible for citizenship.
- If you have foreign capital to invest in Mexico, you can also qualify for citizenship by creating ten jobs or investing $250,000 (or equivalent).
These are some of the options for you to enter and taste what it feels like to live in Mexico. Other less commonly known options for you include a student visa and adoption visa. If you have made up your mind about staying here for good, you need to start looking for application options to get citizenship.
- What is Your Option To Get a Temporary Resident Visa?
The most common and easiest way to get temporary residency is to live in Mexico, which makes you eligible for Mexican citizenship in as little as two years. It involves spending more time in Mexico than in your home country, whether it’s vacation or work-related. The length of time required to gain automatic citizenship depends on the legal process you choose and where you are at the moment. There are different options for temporary residency that require more effort than others.
Every single option has different requirements, but they all have one thing in common: a significant amount of time spent inside the country borders of Mexico. You can go through all these options of getting temporary citizenship to make the best choice for yourself.. So without any further ado, let’s start by understanding each one of them in detail:
- Get a Mexican Visa for Work or Study Opportunities
If you’re planning to live and work in Mexico, you should get a proper visa from the government. You can do this by applying for an “ FM3 ” working visa. This allows you to stay in the country for up to three years from the day of your arrival. It will be valid as long as your employer-sponsor can prove no issues with your work permit. However, if it gets canceled or your company stops paying your salary, it will automatically invalidate your visa, and you might be deported back to Canada out of Mexico.
Even after that period ends, you can keep living and working in the country under another type of visa called an “ FM2 ”. The difference with the first one is that it is valid for only 180 days. Whether or not you can get one of these visas depends on your status in Mexico (and all other countries). If you’re outside Mexico while your application is pending, you will be unlikely to be granted these visas to live and work in the country.
- Temporary Residency By Residing
The easiest way to obtain temporary residency in Mexico is by doing what many Mexicans do: live there and visit the United States when you want to. At first glance, this might seem counterproductive; however, this can help strengthen your ties to Mexico.
To become eligible for temporary residency, you need to spend around one to four years on this land. Even if the Mexican government grants you a temporary resident status, you still need to apply for a “permission to work” visa to work here.
This method allows you to practice your Spanish, meet other Mexicans, and generally become more comfortable in a country that shares a close relationship with the U.S. This can also allow you to explore your heritage further or learn about the culture of one of your parents without committing fully to the U.S.
- Temporary Residency Through Real Estate Investment
This one is quite straightforward. You can invest in real estate in Mexico to gain temporary residency. You do not need the formalities of a real estate license to invest, just owning half of a house or land. The temporary residency is granted automatically upon the expiry of your visa. There are two ways to obtain a residency card:
- Apply for landed property, which gives you full access to this country and the ability to work on it; and
- Apply for personal property; this card allows you full right of passage (including work) but does not include landed status.
However, you should be aware that buying property for other people is illegal in Mexico, so don’t try to buy a property for yourself and then apply for citizenship. You need to have an investment in this country equal to 40,000 days of the current value of the minimum wage. As per the data available from 2020, currently, this value turns out to be approximately 233,473 US Dollars.
- Temporary Residency Through Investment
This one is also similar to the previous method but involves your investment in a business. The value of your investment pool should be equal to $123,330 as per the current exchange rates (which equals out to 20,000 days of minimum working wage) along with an $86,000 share in any Mexican corporation.
On top of it, you need to provide necessary documents and complete paperwork, including receipts, invoices, work permits, business plans, and licenses from Mexican authorities. Additionally, you need to have r=a registry with the Social Security department of Mexico indicating that you have employed at least three people in your business.
You need to know that once you gain temporary residency status through investment, it’s difficult to subsequently obtain permanent residency through this method. For example, suppose you decide not to become a permanent resident later. In that case, your residency status will expire after five years from the day of your arrival here with a temporary residence card.
- Getting Qualified For Permanent Citizenship From Mexico
After many years of living and working on this land, permanent Mexican citizenship is granted. If you or your parents have ever lived in this country, it is much easier to obtain it. You will have to show proof of your birth or marriage certificate which establishes your Mexican origin. It can take a lot of time to acquire citizenship, so you should not rush it as soon as possible. You will gain all rights and privileges associated with this status once the immigration authorities grant it in Mexico. Take a look at all your options to get permanent citizenship from Mexico:
- Citizenship Through Investment
Mexico offers several options for foreign citizens to apply for full citizenship. These types of citizenship are offered to invest in the country and provide jobs and wealth to the nation. Foreigners like Americans or Canadians can get these benefits provided enough proof that they have invested their lending money in Mexico.
In addition, a foreign investor has to gain permanent residency status by investing 48,000 Mexican pesos. The only condition is that he or she has to prove that they’re contributing something valuable to the nation through making a living or creating jobs for locals. They can live anywhere in Mexico without having any state-specific permit as long as it is within the legal limits of residency permission from this country.
- Citizenship Through Naturalization
Becoming a citizen of Mexico through naturalization is a difficult process. It includes submitting substantial documents (which can be well over 100 pages) to immigrate to the country, going before the authorities, and even going through an interview to get your citizenship. If you expect this process to be simple and short, you will be disappointed. What you will have to do:
- Fill out the application form and submit an attestation that you meet all requirements for permanent residency;
- Pay the fees for filing;
- Meet with Mexican consular officers and provide them with all required information about your military service, marriage or birth certificates, etc.
- Once all your documents are taken care of, you will need to pass a knowledge test;
Then, you need to go through a personal interview before getting a residency card. Finally, after three years of living in the country with a permanent residency card, you can apply for Mexican citizenship.
- Citizenship Through Descent (Parents Born in Mexico)
If both your parents were born in Mexico, it’s much easier to become eligible for citizenship here. You only need to prove that your parents have lived here and have obtained permanent residency here. Then, all you have to do is provide the necessary documents and your DNA information or birth certificate indicating that you are a descendant of Mexican citizens. What you need to do:
- Prepare all essential documents connecting the dots to any of your ancestors having Mexican citizenship.
- Once the authorities verify your documents, you will need to take a language test;
- You have another interview with an immigration officer to get a physical and health check.
If you can prove any ties to Mexican citizenship back in your family history, this could be the best option for you to get Mexican citizenship.
- Citizenship Through Marriage
If you have a spouse (or if your spouse is already a Mexican citizen), then you can apply for permanent residency through marriage. Moreover, it will be easier to get citizenship after your marriage than others. What you need to do:
- Fill out the application form and provide some proof of your relationship;
- Once approved by immigration authorities, you will be required to take a language test;
- You will also need to go through an interview with immigration officials.
If you want to work in Mexico, you will need to obtain a work visa. You might need to fulfill some specific requirements before receiving this type of visa.
You need to think of your income and tax implications before coming to Mexico. It is important to understand your tax obligations, and if you do not, then there are high chances that you can end up paying a lot more tax than intended. You will also have to show that you can financially support yourself during your stay in Mexico.
- Benefits of Getting Dual Citizenship
Comparing the different benefits of dual citizenship, we can see that Mexican citizenship might not be the best option for you. However, it is still an important step in your life. From offering tax benefits an great support for offshore business to better level of freedom than US, your dual citizenship from Mexico can prove to be a great deal for you. Here are some of the most important benefits of getting Mexican residency as your second citizenship:
- Tax Benefits
If you have dual citizenship and live on both sides of the border, you will be exempt from paying taxes for each country in which you are qualified for dual citizenship. The minimum tax liability is 49,500 pesos until December 31st ($4,657 per month). After that, you will only have to pay 5,000 pesos per year if you meet the minimum requirements for this status.
- Freedom of Movement
You are entitled to travel anywhere in the world without worrying about what country’s passport you hold or if it will be accepted. It will be easier for you to navigate immigration lines when entering another country because your passport is recognized worldwide. You can make money on both sides of the border and save it in banks located on either side of the border.
- Multiply Your Business
Since you have dual citizenship, it is easier to run a business on both sides of the border. For example, you can open up a company with offices on both sides of the border. In addition, it will be easier for you to expand your business operations by taking advantage of people who live on both sides of the border.
- Secured Passports
You will be able to get a secure passport whenever you travel outside the country because your passport is recognized by all countries that you are planning to visit and/or enter into. A secure passport will make it easy for you to get health care services when traveling outside Mexico since these services are recognized in different countries around the world.
- Access to International Credit
Many international financial institutions will consider you for a loan since you have dual citizenship. If any of these banks are located on either side of the border, it will be easier for you to get credit when accessing money from international sources. These institutions are also more likely to provide loans in foreign currency if you have dual citizenship and will be making a bridge loan.
If you want to live in Mexico permanently and prove that you are not a danger or risk to the community, then the Mexican government will let you stay in this country permanently. It is important to understand that to qualify for dual citizenship. You need to establish your residence in Mexico beforehand. If you want to live in Mexico either permanently or as a resident, this step will be crucial for becoming a Mexican citizen.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I get Mexican citizenship through birth if my parents are not legally residing in the country?
Yes, you can obtain Mexican citizenship if you are born to parents living permanently in Mexico. If one or both of your parents are Mexican citizens, they need to take legal actions to register their child as a permanent resident, and he/she will be granted a Mexican passport.
- What do I need to be eligible for dual citizenship?
Very few Mexicans choose to become dual citizens. Dual citizenship is only granted in specific circumstances. You must have a close family member or someone with whom you have a genuine long-term relationship, a Mexican citizen, that you are willing to marry. You also need to be over 18 and either living in Mexico as a permanent resident, or you must be married to an eligible Mexican citizen (see the above article for more details).
- What are the requirements for obtaining Mexican citizenship?
The requirements vary depending on what type of dual citizenship you want to obtain. For example, in some cases, you must have a close family member that is a Mexican citizen to obtain dual citizenship. In addition, if your child or grandchild has dual citizenship and you want to obtain it, you will need to show that they have been residing in Mexico for over six years.
Final Words
Mexican citizenship is one of the most important things to possess. It gives you a lot of opportunities and freedom that you never thought possible. Many people choose not to travel outside their home country, but they should do it at least once to have a taste of what it is like. When traveling with a Mexican passport, it is easier for you to move around the world and access different countries.