New Zealand citizens do not require a visa to travel to Mexico for up to three months, but to work in Mexico you will need a:

• FM3 (permanent resident/ work) Visa that allows foreigners to work legally in Mexico and is valid for 365 days, which can be extended each year. Foreigners working for foreign corporations with a branch or manufacturing facility in Mexico do need a business FM3 Visa or a
  
• FMN (temporary business) Visa that is handy for business visits of less then 30 days, such as attending conferences and conventions. It is recommended for frequent business visitors, sales representatives or consultants.

New Zealanders can obtain an FMN visa at the Embassy of Mexico in Wellington or at any airport, seaport or Mexican boarder. If you travel by air, most of the time the FMN Visa fee is included in the airfare ticket.

The FMN Visa must be accompanied by an invitation letter, in Spanish and under company letterhead, from the Mexican company you will be conducting business with.

You also must also show a letter from your employer (under your company’s letterhead and in Spanish) that describes:

• your company position.
  
• purpose of the trip.
  
• work to be performed in Mexico and
  
• stating that your salary and expenses while in Mexico are to be paid by your employer.

If you are in negotiations and plan to sign an agreement you should have a business visa to ensure any agreement has legal value.

• A Technician Card is also required if the purpose of your visit is to:
  
• Give technical advice,
  
• repair or install machinery,
  
• provide training or install computer programmes,
  
• perform an audit,
  
• give legal or professional advice,
  
• do scientific research or
  
• train personnel or lecture.

For more information on visas and Technician Cards, please contact the Embassy of Mexico in Wellington.

Mexico has some of the world's most diverse weather. The northern part of country has cooler temperatures (five to 10 degrees Celsius on average) during the winter. It is very hot during the summer (30 to 40 degrees Celsius).

In the south, temperatures are fairly constant year-round. Differences relate to elevation. Mexico City for example is 2.15 kilometres above sea level and the average temperature there is about 25 degrees Celsius. Almost anywhere along the coast, temperatures remain high throughout the year (20 to 30 degrees Celsius).

Spanish is the official language of Mexico. English is widely spoken in business circles. However, it is important to have someone in the mix able to confirm that ideas and thoughts are well and truly grasped.

Mexico has three time zones. Most of the country, including Mexico City, uses Central Standard Time   New Zealand 17 hours ahead during daylight savings time (April to October) and 19 hours during the normal time (October to April).

Northern Baja California has the same time zone as Los Angeles. North-west Mexico is in the Mountain Time Zone, the same as the US states of New Mexico and Arizona.

To find out the current time in Mexico, go to www.timeanddate.com.

Work hours are from 9am to 6pm, with lunch ranging from 2pm to 4pm. Weekends and public holidays are important for most business people, so try not to schedule meetings between Friday afternoon and Sunday.

• Public holidays in Mexico include:
  
• New Year's Day
  
• Mexican Constitution Day
  
• Benito Juarez Day
  
• Maundy Thursday
  
• Mexican Labour Day
  
• Mexican Independence Day
  
• Mexican Revolution Day
  
• Christmas Day

Some holidays are shifted a few days.

For an up to date list of when these days fall, see worldtravelguide.net.

The local currency is the Mexican Peso (MXN). The Peso had been relatively stable against the US dollar since 2000 due to a strong macro-economic environment. The Global Financial Crisis however created exchange rate fluctuations.

To get up to date currency rates see xe.com.

Business attire for Mexican business people is influenced by US etiquette. A suit, with a tie for men, is required for most industries.

Costs vary, depending on the city. Usually larger cities (Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara) are more expensive. Examples of costs you may face include:

• An airfare from New Zealand to Mexico, via Los Angeles or Santiago, Chile, is roughly US$1,500, depending on the season and seat availability. It is recommended you book flights at least one month in advance.
  
• Within Mexico, flights cost about US$300 for a return trip from Mexico City to Guadalajara or Mexico City to Monterrey.
  
• Hotels in the Polanco business district in Mexico City average US$250 a night. NZTE has special rates with some hotels.
  
• A taxi from the Mexico City airport to a hotel in Polanco (about 20 kilometres) costs US$14.
  
• A qualified interpreter costs about US$100 a day.
  
• A meal in a good restaurant in the Polanco area is about US$ 20-25 per person. Tips are usually 10-15 percent.

There is some risk to New Zealanders’ safety in Mexico due to the high level of violent crime. New Zealanders travelling to, or living in Mexico should remain security-conscious at all times and register their details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

You should also have comprehensive travel and medical insurance policies in place that provide for medical evacuation by air.

If you are planning to visit Mexico, consult the New Zealand Government’s travel advisory website for travel updates.