In short
Mexico has no federal licence for real estate agents. Licensing, where it exists, is set by state law, and the picture is uneven: Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Chihuahua and Yucatán have texts that create a registry with a licence, Jalisco has a registry but accreditation is voluntary, and for many states no law was found. A state licence is not a guarantee of quality, and the portals for checking one are not always published. Where nothing is established below, this guide says so rather than guess.
What exists at federal level
No federal text read creates a licence for individual agents. What the federal level does regulate is the contract. The consumer standard NOM-247-SE-2021 (published in the federal gazette on 22 March 2022) applies “únicamente a los proveedores que sean fraccionadores, constructores, promotores y demás personas que intervengan en la asesoría y venta al público de inmuebles destinados a casa habitación”. Their adhesion contracts, including those for real estate services and for sales of homes, “deben ser registrado ante la PROFECO”. That is a registration of the contract form, not an approval of the person. Compare buying off-plan in Mexico.
State by state: what the law read says
| State | Text read | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Quintana Roo | Ley de Prestación de Servicios Inmobiliarios, last reform 16 Dec. 2025 | A Padrón de Prestadores de Servicios Inmobiliarios “para elevar la calidad, seguridad y transparencia”; a licence is issued by the state’s territorial development secretariat; presenting oneself as a provider without the licence is listed among the infractions the law sanctions |
| Sinaloa | Regulation published 6 Dec. 2024 | Agents “están obligados a solicitar… su inscripción en el Registro y la obtención de la Licencia… como requisito indispensable” (art. 17); the licence lasts four years and is renewable (art. 9) |
| Chihuahua | Law of 2 June 2018 | Only persons with the licence from the secretariat may present themselves as “agencias o agentes inmobiliarios con licencia” (art. 13) |
| Yucatán | Regulation of 21 May 2025 | Licences of three types (A certified adviser, B agency, C affiliated adviser) issued by the state property-security institute, with exceptions for notaries, public brokers, appraisers and lawyers who advise only to give legal certainty |
| Guanajuato | Law of 2014, reform of 2016 | A state register (padrón) of agents; individuals dealing in their own properties are not covered (art. 3). Later reforms were not checked |
| Jalisco | Law of 2023 | An “access-public” register where advisers and agencies that “de forma voluntaria” hold accreditation are listed |
| Durango | Decree 395, LXX Legislature | Creates a state register of agents and provides in its first transitory article that it “entrará en vigor el día primero de enero de 2027”: not in force on 15 October 2026 |
Guerrero, Tabasco, Baja California and Baja California Sur may also have agent laws or regulations, but their texts were not read for this guide, so no rule is asserted for them.
Not established
For the other states, either no official text was found after searching, or the official page was unavailable. In particular, no agent law in force was found for Mexico City, and for Tamaulipas, Coahuila and Morelos no official text in force was confirmed. Do not read “not found” as “not regulated”. Ask the state economic or territorial development secretariat.
Mandatory or voluntary matters
The difference changes what the reader should expect:
- Mandatory: in Sinaloa the regulation makes registration and the licence “requisito indispensable” to provide the service. Quintana Roo lists presenting oneself as a provider without the licence as a sanctionable infraction. In Chihuahua the licence governs the title “agent with licence”.
- Voluntary: Jalisco lists only those who choose accreditation, so absence from the register does not itself mean unlicensed.
- Own property: Guanajuato’s text excludes individuals who deal in their own properties.
How to check someone
No consultation address was confirmed for the registries of these states, and the registers’ terms of use were not read. The practical steps are therefore:
- Ask the agent which state law and licence number apply.
- Look for the register on the website of the state secretariat named in the table.
- Ask the notary who will execute the deed whether the state law requires any check of the agent.
A licence shows registration, not honesty. The register will not tell you whether a contract is fair.
What it costs
No state law read sets a standard commission, and none is given. The price of the agent’s service is by contract. If the agent offers a developer’s contract, the NOM-247 rule says the adhesion contract must be registered with PROFECO. The seller’s commission is deductible in computing the taxable gain under article 121(IV) of the federal income tax law; see selling a home in Mexico.
Which professional to consult
- A real estate lawyer can read the agency contract and the state law that applies.
- A notary will ask for the documents of the property, not for the agent’s licence, unless the state law says otherwise.
- The state secretariat named in the law can confirm the registry rules.
See the real estate agent profession page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mexico have a national real estate licence?
No federal licence was found. Rules are in state laws.
Is an agent in Quintana Roo required to be licensed?
The law read creates a licence and lists presenting oneself as a provider without it as a sanctionable infraction. The consultation address was not established.
Is accreditation in Jalisco compulsory?
No. The law describes a registry of those who hold accreditation “de forma voluntaria”.
Does the PROFECO registration check the agent?
No. It concerns the contract form that developers and promoters use.
What if my state is not listed?
No rule is asserted. Ask the state’s economic development secretariat whether a law exists.
More guides on owning and inheriting
- HOA and condo fees in Mexico (cuotas de mantenimiento)
- Inheritance and gifts of Mexican property: income tax
- Making a will in Mexico: the public open will
- Mexico house prices: what the SHF index measures
- Probate and succession in Mexico: who inherits
- Property tax (predial) in Mexico: how municipios set it
Sources
- Ley de Prestación de Servicios Inmobiliarios del Estado de Quintana Roo (Congreso; last reform 16 Dec. 2025) (consulted 15 October 2026)
- Ley que Establece el Registro y Acreditación de los Prestadores de Servicios en Materia Inmobiliaria del Estado de Jalisco (Congreso de Jalisco, 2023) (consulted 15 October 2026)
- Reglamento de la Ley de Prestación de Servicios Inmobiliarios del Estado de Sinaloa (Periódico Oficial, 6 Dec. 2024) (consulted 15 October 2026)
- Ley de Prestación de Servicios Inmobiliarios del Estado de Chihuahua (Congreso; POE 2 June 2018) (consulted 15 October 2026)
- Ley que regula a los agentes inmobiliarios en el Estado de Guanajuato (Congreso; last reform 1 July 2016) (consulted 15 October 2026)
- Decreto 73/2025, Reglamento de la Ley que crea el Instituto de Seguridad Jurídica Patrimonial de Yucatán (Diario Oficial, 21 May 2025) (consulted 15 October 2026)
- Decreto 395, LXX Legislatura de Durango (registry of real estate agents) (consulted 15 October 2026)
- NORMA Oficial Mexicana NOM-247-SE-2021 (Diario Oficial de la Federación, 22 Mar. 2022) (consulted 15 October 2026)