🇹🇭 Thailand vs 🇲🇽 Mexico
Tax residency, treaties and PE risk compared.
| Dimension | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 🇲🇽 Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Residency rule | 180 days in a calendar year | Permanent home in Mexico OR center of vital interests |
| Day threshold | 180 days | 183 days |
| Warning band | from 150d | from 90d |
| Tax range | 0–35% | 1.92–35% |
| Tax treaties | 61+ | 60+ |
| PE risk | Medium | Medium |
| Digital nomad visa | Yes | No |
| Best for | Long-term remote workers on the DTV or LTR visa | RFC-registered freelancers using RESICO (1–2.5% flat) |
| Common pitfall | Since 2024, foreign-source income remitted to Thailand IS taxable for residents. | Mexico uses 'permanent home' not days — owning property can make you resident. |
Verdict
For most nomads optimising for residency safety, 🇲🇽 Mexico is the lower-risk base versus 🇹🇭 Thailand. Thailand's medium PE risk and 180-day rule make it easier to trip into full residency.
Deep dive
🇹🇭 Thailand residency rules →
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🇲🇽 Mexico residency rules →
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