Can a Canadian citizen work and live in Mexico?

Question

What amount of time can a foreigner stay there? Can you apply for Mexican citizenship? What are the requirements to do either of these? I just spent a few months in Cabo San Lucas, I got my FM3 Visa by going through my school, and already having a internship with a hotel. After the internsip ended my working visa was cancelled because it was through the job, I dont plan on going back to school but would like to live and Work in Cabo permenantly..how can I go about doing this?

Answer 1

similar to what you did.  well, you need to get a job and that company can request the visa for you.  if you are doing something such as teaching english, or working in tourism where you will speak english, you have a good chance of getting the visa.  you must be able to provide a service that the average mexican cannot provide.

your visa will be renewed by the year, and after three years (i believe) you may apply for permanent residency.  after 5 years, you may apply to be a citizen.

of course if you were married to a mexican citizen, you would have permanent residency as soon as your application goes through.  but everyone must wait 5 years to be a citizen.

Answer 2

Other answerers gave good info.  You must find an employer who will write a letter stating that he is giving you a job and that he cannot fill that position with a Mexican national...in order to get a work permit.  You can staty 6 monrhs on a tourist visa.  You can stay for one yr on an Fm3 and renew it yearly, But you must have proof of steady income from the states, like a pension, OR you must qualify for a work permit.  Jobs here pay very little...teachers here make 1/10 of teachers in the states, nurses too.  Most Americans or Canadians who live here are retired and have pensions.  Supporting yourself and a family is very difficult. you could go back to Cabo on a tourist visa and go job hunting. Good luck in your efforts.

Answer 3

Hola rocks girl.  Glad you had a nice time and good on you for staying!  I love it.

A foreigner can stay for 180 days at a time.  Your best bet now is to come home to Canada for a few days then go back on a new tourist visa.  If you can find work that will sponsor your new FM3 then you can stay.  You can also apply for an FM3 on your own but this is a harder process and easier to do when you are in Mexico.  There are many things you have to provide and prove...

You can apply for Mexican citizenship in La Paz after being in mexico for some time.  This is a long process and some of the weird things are like being tested on your spanish skills, etc.  

There are lots of ways around the processes, including fasttracking but you have to know someone.  

Good luck to you!

Answer 4

totally agree with WEECHI. The best option for u would be to be hired by a hotel. My friend, think it very very well. Wages are the starving kind and life's dammnn expensive!!!

Answer 5

All very good answers.

What they forget to mention is the cost of a FM3, that's why not all companies want to hire aliens, usually you will have to pay it, and it's about $400 USD. All timeshare companies work with "pagadoras", a third company that take care of the paper work for you, an also it's the legal employer.

Answer 6

Here is the goverment pages with the requirements to get the Mexican nationality:

http://www.sre.gob.mx/tramites/nacionali...

If you don´t have a visa, 3 months, the same if you already stayed 1 year with FM3, you can remain 3 additional months as tourist.

You have 3 possibilities more:

**There is a internship program in differents hotel chains, for exemple Marriott, the program suration is 2 years, and you can do the Management training in differents countries/ hotels.  Check this possibility, to work for a Marriott in Canada and request after 1 yera your change to a Marriott in México.

**Otherwise you have to look for a company, who want to invest time in request your FM3 (the oncle of a friend got one thruh his company for her German husband).

** Invest in a small store, so you can get your permission, maybe you can associate with other person.