The Hard Truth About Moving to Mexico City to Work

No, you cannot legally move to Mexico City and simply "get a job" without proper work authorization, you need Mexican citizenship, permanent residency with work authorization, or temporary residency with employer sponsorship. Even with legal status, local wages are drastically lower than US/European salaries (minimum wage ~$14 USD/day), and the 48-hour, 6-day work week is standard. Successful expats typically bring remote income, retirement funds, or start businesses with investment visas.

The Visa Problem

Let's start with the biggest obstacle: you cannot simply move to Mexico and get a job. This isn't about being unwelcoming—it's the law.

What You Need to Work Legally

• Mexican citizenship (through birth, naturalization, or descent)
• Permanent residency with work authorization
• Temporary residency with a work permit (requires employer sponsorship)

What Won't Work

• Tourist visa: You cannot legally work on a tourist visa, period
• Student visa: Allows you to study but generally not work
• Just showing up: Working without authorization is illegal and can result in deportation

The Sponsorship Reality

To get a work visa, you need an employer to sponsor you. Here's the catch: companies will only do this for highly specialized positions where they cannot find a qualified Mexican candidate. Restaurant jobs, service industry work, teaching English—these will not get you sponsored. Why would a company go through the legal hassle and expense when there are plenty of qualified locals?

The Economics Don't Add Up

Even if you could legally work in Mexico, the economics are often brutal for foreigners expecting US-level wages.

Working Hours

Mexico ranks #1 globally for hours worked annually. The standard work week is 48 hours across 6 days. Part-time employment is rare. If you're coming from the US expecting work-life balance, prepare for a shock.

Wages

Mexico City is one of the most expensive cities in the world when adjusted for local wages. What seems "cheap" to someone earning US dollars becomes very different when you're earning Mexican pesos.

• Minimum wage is around 250 pesos per day (roughly $14 USD)
• Restaurant work pays poorly—bilingual waiter positions are saturated and tips-dependent
• Even professional jobs pay a fraction of US equivalents

As one local bluntly put it: "If we can't find jobs, what makes you think you will?"

The Remote Work Exception

The people who successfully "move to Mexico City" typically fall into one of these categories:

• Remote workers earning US/European salaries while living in Mexico
• Retirees with pensions or savings
• Entrepreneurs who start their own businesses (with proper investment visas)
• Dual citizens who can work legally
• People married to Mexican citizens

Specific Career Realities

Restaurant Work

Hoping to work in restaurants? The market is saturated, wages are low, and no restaurant will sponsor a work visa for a server or cook. Even if you speak perfect Spanish, you'll be competing with locals who have networks, experience in the local market, and legal work authorization.

Teaching English

This is a common fallback plan, but it's not the golden ticket people imagine. Pay is low, hours can be inconsistent, and legitimate schools that sponsor visas are selective. Many English teachers work in legal gray areas.

Academic Fields (Like Anthropology)

Academic and research positions in fields like anthropology are extremely limited. Most are government jobs requiring Mexican citizenship or permanent residency. Private sector opportunities in these fields are essentially nonexistent. One long-time resident noted: "Many people work as civil engineers or architects, but even then, they don't usually earn much. Only a few researchers, after decades of studies funded by someone else, manage to land a good job."

The Legal Path Forward

If you're serious about living and working in Mexico legally, here are your options:

Temporary Residency

Requirements typically include:

• Proof of income (varies, but often $2,500+ USD monthly) or savings
• Clean criminal record
• Application at a Mexican consulate in your home country

Work Permit

Must be requested by an employer who:

• Demonstrates they couldn't find a qualified Mexican for the position
• Goes through the immigration bureaucracy on your behalf
• Takes legal responsibility for your employment

Student Visa

If you want to study anthropology in Mexico:

• You can get a student visa for legitimate university enrollment
• This generally does not permit employment
• You'll need to fund your living expenses through savings or family support

Investment/Business Visa

If you have capital to invest in starting a business, different rules apply. This requires significant funds and a solid business plan.

What Actually Works

The expats who thrive in Mexico City typically:

• Have remote work lined up before they arrive
• Maintain income sources from their home country
• Build networks before making the leap
• Understand the legal requirements and follow them
• Have realistic expectations about cost of living relative to local wages

A Word on Attitudes

There's growing frustration among Mexicans about foreigners who assume they can casually move to Mexico without following legal processes—the same processes that Mexicans face (often with more difficulty) when trying to move to the US. As one commenter noted: "Saque sus papeles y pague sus impuestos" (Get your papers and pay your taxes).

If you want to be welcomed as part of the community, respecting immigration law is the baseline.

The Bottom Line

Moving to Mexico City to "start over" by working locally is, for most Americans without dual citizenship or specialized skills, essentially impossible to do legally. The dream of escaping to a cheaper country and working your way up doesn't match the reality of visa requirements, wage structures, and job market competition.

The expats who make it work either bring their income with them (remote work, retirement, savings) or have legal status that permits employment. If you're planning to move without either of those, you're setting yourself up for frustration at best and legal problems at worst.

Do your research. Consult with an immigration lawyer. And be honest with yourself about whether the numbers actually work.

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