{"id":371,"date":"2026-09-21T02:17:21","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T08:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/b4bit.com\/blog\/?p=371"},"modified":"2026-09-21T02:17:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T08:17:21","slug":"freelancer-in-mexico-how-to-get-paid-by-foreign-clients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/b4bit.com\/blog\/en\/freelancer-in-mexico-how-to-get-paid-by-foreign-clients\/","title":{"rendered":"Freelancer in Mexico: How to Get Paid by Foreign Clients"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve just finished the project your client asked you to work on. You send over the files and the client tells you everything looks great. Now comes the question nobody teaches you how to answer when you start working as a freelancer:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow do I pay you?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If your client is in the United States, Canada, or any other country, things can get a little more complicated than simply giving them your bank account details. Between the dollars your client pays and the pesos that finally reach you, there may be fees, an exchange rate you weren\u2019t expecting, and several days of waiting.And here\u2019s the thing: it\u2019s not always easy to see how much it really cost you to get paid.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You can receive the same $500 USD<\/strong> you agreed on and end up with different amounts in pesos depending on how you receive the money and how the conversion is handled. That\u2019s why, before sending your payment details to your client, it\u2019s worth knowing which option you\u2019re using, how much it could cost you, and what you need to take care of from a tax perspective.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We\u2019re not going to make silly promises like \u201cyou\u2019ll get paid with no fees,\u201d but you can invoice knowing which option makes more sense for you and how to avoid getting into trouble.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"b4bit_freelancer_sat_invoice_foreign_client\"<\/p>\n

First, the tax side: RFC and invoicing your foreign client<\/h2>\n

Before thinking about how the money is going to reach you, you need to look at the SAT<\/a><\/strong>. Just because your client is in another country doesn\u2019t magically mean the payment is outside Mexico. If you work as a freelancer from Mexico and receive income for your services, you need to review your tax obligations in Mexico.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is where the well-known foreign generic RFC comes in, which you\u2019ll probably come across when preparing your invoice. When invoicing a client who lives outside Mexico and doesn\u2019t have a Mexican RFC, use the generic foreign RFC: XEXX010101000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That said, knowing which RFC to use is one thing, and having everything else on the invoice set up correctly is another. If you regularly work as a freelancer, it\u2019s worth reviewing your situation with an accountant<\/strong>, especially if you\u2019re just starting to work with foreign clients and aren\u2019t sure which tax regime applies to you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"b4bit_foreign_client_generic_rfc_sat_invoice\"<\/p>\n

Steps for invoicing a foreign client<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s look at the steps you need to follow to invoice correctly:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Register with the RFC under professional or business services.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    If you work for yourself, your tax regime will depend on your situation and the type of activity you carry out. The SAT includes, among others, the Simplified Trust Regime (RESICO<\/a>), but that doesn\u2019t automatically mean it applies to every freelancer<\/strong>. Check the requirements directly in the SAT<\/a> information about RESICO.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Issue your CFDI.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      When the client is a foreign resident who is not registered with the Mexican RFC, the SAT establishes the use of the generic RFC XEXX010101000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Include the client\u2019s country and, when applicable, their tax identification number.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Don\u2019t just copy and paste information without checking it. Review the country of tax residence, name or company name, and, when applicable, the tax identification number your client has in their country.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        The SAT has specific information requirements for transactions with foreign residents, so if your client is in the United States or Canada, check which information you need to request before issuing the CFDI.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Keep the invoice together with proof of payment.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

           <\/p>\n

          It may seem like a small thing until, months later, you need to figure out which payment corresponded to which invoice.<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

          If you\u2019re paid in dollars, also keep a record of the exchange rate used for tax purposes. And if you\u2019re not sure how that exchange rate applies to your specific situation, this is where it\u2019s worth asking an accountant.<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

          \"b4bit_international_bank_transfer_dollars_mexico\"<\/p>\n

          Three ways to receive the payment and what each one charges you<\/h2>\n

          Now we get to the part you\u2019re probably most interested in. Your client has already agreed to the price. Let\u2019s say you agreed on $500. The question is no longer how much you\u2019re going to charge. The question is: how many pesos will actually be left when the money arrives?<\/strong><\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

          There are several ways to receive an international payment, and each one has its own costs and processing times.<\/p>\n

          <\/h3>\n

          International bank transfer<\/h3>\n

           <\/p>\n

          This is the most traditional<\/strong> option. Your client sends the dollars and the money eventually reaches your account. The catch is that there may be several charges<\/strong> along the way:<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n