Mexico

Location: North America

Broadcast Regulator

Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones México (IFT) (Federal Telecommunications Institute)

Q. Are there any requirements, when sending MXN?
A. Just your purpose of payment, your details, the beneficiary details (for Mexican beneficiaries, you will require their 18 digits account number (CLABE)) and the beneficiary bank SWIFT BIC. For beneficiaries that are not in Mexico, the beneficiary bank may also require CLABE to be quoted, so it is important to check with the beneficiary on the payment instructions.

Q. Can I send inbound and outbound payments?
A. Yes, there are no restrictions on sending money into or outside of Mexico, but it is important that all of the requirements are fulfilled when making payments.

Q. How much can I send?
A. As much as you want.

Q. How long will it take for my funds to be received?
A. Standard international payment times. Please note that the working days in Mexico are from Monday to Saturday.

Q. Who can I send MXN to?
A. Both individuals and businesses can receive funds.

Q. Is sending MXN expensive?
A. Not if you use the right currency broker, who will be able to offer you bank-beating exchange rates and significantly lower payment charges.

Q. Can you use forward contracts with MXN?
A. Yes. With the right currency broker, you can book an MXN exchange rate forward, protecting you against any adverse currency movements. With these contracts, you will always know exactly what is coming out of your bank account.

Information courtesy of Currencies Direct

Film Commissions

Comisión de Filmaciones de la Ciudad de México (Mexico City Film Commission)

Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones (Comefilm) (Mexican Film Commission)

Filma Jalisco

Visas & Permits

Visas & Work Permits

Crews travelling on passports from Western countries can enter visa-free for stay of up to 180 days.

There are no special work permits required to film in Mexico.

Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry who may be able to assist.

Film Location Permits

Mexico can be quite slow and bureaucratic, when it comes to permitting.

Most permits are arranged at a local level and permission from several departments may be required. Depending on the location and specifics of the shoot, permits can take anywhere from a few hours to a few months. Allow as much time as possible for shoots requiring exclusive use of public space.

For shoots in national parks or historic sites, allow at least a month lead time for permitting.

Filming Pre-Columbian ruins (Mayan, Aztec, Teotihuacan, etc.) is possible, but this involves going through a rigorous approval process with the board that governs these protected areas. The process can take up to a month and there is no fee to submit the permit application.

Permission to film at Mayan ruins is typically not granted for commercial productions. If it is granted for a commercial project, it is usually only for general shots of the location, not for any action taking place with actors or presenters. Permission is more likely to be granted, if the shoot is for the promotion or benefit of Mexico tourism or culture.

Mexico is open to drone filming in most unrestricted areas.

Customs

For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Mexico is an ATA carnet country.

When to Film

When to Film

The climate of Mexico varies considerably, depending on the region and time of the year.

Mexico is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed.

Public Holidays

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Mexico.

Costs & VAT

Filming in Mexico is much less expensive than filming in the US.

Mexico is a large country and many locations require extensive travel. Although some crew and equipment can be found around the country, Mexico City is the main service centre.

The standard VAT rate in Mexico at the time of writing is set at 16%.