If you plan to spend a decent amount of time in Mexico, it can be very useful to know how to open a bank account in Mexico as a non-resident.
As an increasing number of digital nomads and remote workers are choosing to spend their time in Mexico, this has become one of the most common questions we get asked.
A bank account in Mexico can be essential for your everyday needs. Including paying your rent, health care insurance, local bills, and much more.
While nearly all banks in the country will require you to have residency in order to open an account, there are some ways to open a bank account in Mexico without it.
Read on for everything you need to know about how to open a bank account in Mexico as a non-resident and whether or not it’s the right decision for you.
Can Non-Residents Open a Bank Account in Mexico?
Opening a bank account in Mexico is possible for non-residents. But, without a resident card, it can be challenging. Overall, you probably will only want to open an account if you plan on living here. In this article, we share everything you need to know about how to open a bank account in Mexico as a non-resident.
But, before diving in, if this is your first time visiting GlobalBanks, don’t forget to download your FREE Non-Resident Banking Starter Guide. It’s designed to help non-residents open accounts in the top banking hubs around the world.
Here’s a look at the specific topics we’ll cover in this article…
Table of Contents:
- Benefits of Opening a Bank Account in Mexico
- Challenges of Opening a Bank Account in Mexico
- Types of Accounts You Can Open in Mexico
- Requirements to Open a Bank Account in Mexico
- How to Open a Bank Account in Mexico as a Non-Resident
Benefits of Opening a Bank Account in Mexico
While yes, a non-resident can open a bank account in Mexico. We can say with confidence that it’s not for everyone.
It’s especially not for those looking to enter the world of offshore banking. There are many other offshore banking jurisdictions where it is much easier and more worthwhile to open accounts than Mexico.
However, if you’re planning on moving to Mexico, temporarily or long term, then opening a bank account in the country makes sense. In fact, it can actually be quite beneficial. Here’s why…
Benefits of Opening a Bank Account in Mexico:
- Is more convenient for making everyday purchases and paying local bills
- Helps in the process of acquiring residency in Mexico
- Reduces international withdrawal charges from bank in your home country
- Comes with accessible online banking platforms (varies by bank)
- Can be used to pay for local health insurance
- Makes it easier to receive income in Mexico
- Enables you to acquire a local debit card
As you can see, having a Mexican bank account is necessary for some key aspects of life in Mexico.
With this in mind, it’s important to note that each Mexican bank has its regulations, requirements, and guidelines non-residents need to follow.
And unfortunately, this can significantly impact the benefits you can unlock.
This is why, before applying, it’s crucial to understand the benefits you’re after and the requirements your specific client profile can meet.
Before we dive into uncovering the account opening requirements, let’s first look at the challenges non-residents often face when opening a bank account in Mexico.
Challenges of Opening a Bank Account in Mexico
The biggest challenge to opening a bank account in Mexico is that most banks will not open accounts for non-residents. But if you know where to go, it is possible to get around this.
From there, you will also face the standard challenges that come with opening an account almost anywhere outside of your home country. To help you prepare, here’s a look at the challenges you could face during the account opening process.
Challenges of Opening a Bank Account in Mexico:
- Finding a bank that will accept your client profile
- Finding a bank that will meet your banking needs
- Lack of English-speaking customer service
- In-person account opening is often required (varies by bank)
- Being unable to meet bank-specific requirements
There are also some challenges that you may face when it comes to using your Mexican bank account.
Challenges of Using a Bank Account in Mexico as a Non-Resident:
- Higher fees can apply
- Withdrawal limits
- Limits on the number of monthly transactions
As you can see, there are challenges to opening and maintaining a non-resident bank account in Mexico.
These challenges can be avoided if you choose the right bank. In other words, if you choose a bank that accepts your client profile and requires documents that you can provide.
Additionally, you want to make sure you choose a bank that meets your banking needs. This means, finding a bank that offers the type of account you need and the benefits you’re seeking.
If you’re not sure of the type of account you can open, you’re in luck. Read on as we uncover the different types of accounts available to non-residents in Mexico.
Types of Accounts Non-Residents Can Open in Mexico
There are a few different types of accounts non-residents can choose from when opening a bank account in Mexico.
Of course, the account available to you will depend on your client profile and whether or not you can meet the account opening requirements.
But, generally speaking, non-residents can open one or more of the following bank accounts:
- Deposit accounts
- Checking Accounts
- Savings Accounts
- Payroll Accounts
- Investment Accounts
Let’s look at the top three accounts in more detail…
Deposit Accounts
This type of account can be broken down into two different forms and functions.
The first is a sight deposit account, which allows non-residents the ability to withdraw funds without any restrictions.
And second, is a notice deposit account, which requires non-residents to hold a sum of money for a set period of time.
Checking Accounts
A checking account in Mexico can be used by non-residents for everyday purchases, paying bills, and even international transfers.
Depending on the bank you choose to open with, a checking account can come with specific restrictions. For instance, some banks in Mexico require non-residents to hold a minimum balance, make routine deposits, and not exceed the monthly withdrawal limit.
Savings Account
A savings account in Mexico operates similar to other retail banks around the world. However, most Mexican banks do limit the number of monthly withdrawals you can make with this type of account.
Of course, to open any of these accounts, you will need to be able to meet all of the bank’s specific requirements. Read on for what those are.
Requirements to Open a Bank Account in Mexico
Like banking anywhere, knowing how to open a bank account in Mexico means understanding the specific account opening requirements.
This can be challenging as requirements can vary from bank to bank, branch to branch, and even banker to banker.
And as you’d expect, requirements can also vary depending on your client profile and the type of account that you are trying to open.
So, before applying, it’s crucial to understand the bank-specific requirements that those of your specific client profile need to meet.
To help you get started, here are the general requirements non-residents need to meet when opening a bank account in Mexico.
Documents Needed to Open a Bank Account in Mexico:
- Proof of address in home country (e.g. bank statement)
- Bank-specific application forms
- Government-issued identification (e.g. passport)
- Account opening deposit (varies from 0 to 1,000 MXN)
If you don’t read or speak Spanish, it can be challenging to know which specific requirements you need to meet. Especially, since certain banks require you to translate all account opening documents into Spanish. That said, not all banks require this.
How To Open a Bank Account in Mexico as a Non-Resident?
To recap, it is 100% possible for a non-resident to open a bank account in Mexico.
If you’re not expecting to live in Mexico, you might want to consider opening a bank account elsewhere. This is because other banking jurisdictions can offer more benefits, banking products, and services to non-residents specifically.
Not to mention, the process of opening a non-resident bank account is a lot simpler in other countries.
With this in mind, if you are planning on moving to Mexico, a Mexican bank account might be essential.
As mentioned above, though almost all banks will require you to be a Mexican resident in order to open a bank account, there are some select banks that will open bank accounts for non-residents.