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Country Guide

Mexico

What you need to know to start investing in Mexico, in local currency and with regulated institutions.

Regulator & deposit protection

The CNBV (Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores) supervises banks and brokerages; CONSAR supervises the mandatory retirement system (Afores); Banxico is the central bank.

Bank deposits are protected by IPAB (Instituto para la Protección al Ahorro Bancario) up to a limit denominated in UDIs (inflation-linked units) per person per bank — check the current peso equivalent on ipab.org.mx before assuming a specific figure.

How to access government bonds

cetesdirecto.com is the government's own platform to buy CETES, BONDES and UDIBONOS directly, from around 100 pesos, with no broker commission — the simplest first step for most beginners here.

Common instruments here

  • CETES and other government bonds via cetesdirecto
  • Afore (mandatory retirement account — check your balance at consar.gob.mx)
  • Index funds and ETFs (Mexican and US-listed, via a CNBV-regulated broker)
  • Individual stocks on the BMV or BIVA exchanges
  • FIBRAs (real-estate investment trusts, similar to REITs)

Taxes, briefly

Interest and capital gains are generally subject to ISR (income tax); regulated brokers and cetesdirecto withhold what applies automatically. Rules and thresholds change — the SAT (sat.gob.mx) is the authoritative source, and a licensed accountant can confirm your specific case.

Your first steps

  1. Build your emergency fund and confirm you have no expensive debt (see lesson one).

  2. Open a free account at cetesdirecto.com with your CURP and a bank account in your name.

  3. Buy your first CETES with as little as ~100 pesos to learn the mechanics with real, small money.

  4. Once comfortable, compare CNBV-regulated brokers for low-cost index funds or ETFs for longer-term goals.

Frequently asked questions

Is cetesdirecto safe?
It is operated by the Mexican government through Banxico and Nacional Financiera — CETES carry the credit risk of the Mexican federal government, generally considered the lowest-risk peso instrument available domestically. Safe does not mean zero risk: inflation and currency moves still apply.
What is an Afore and can I choose mine?
An Afore manages your mandatory retirement savings, funded by employer/employee contributions. Employed workers can compare and switch Afores (subject to CONSAR rules on frequency); self-employed people can also open and contribute voluntarily.
Do I need a lot of money to start investing in Mexico?
No — cetesdirecto accepts around 100 pesos with no minimum balance requirement, and several regulated brokers have no minimum for index funds either. The barrier today is knowledge, not capital.

Educational content only — not financial or tax advice. Confirm current figures and rules with the regulator or tax authority before deciding.

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