Mexico has approved the General Operating Guidelines for the VELAGRO Platform for Obtaining Agricultural Export Labor Certificates, which was published in Mexico’s Official Journal of the Federation on September 15, 2026.
Created for the purpose of facilitating the import and export of Mexican agricultural products, the Agricultural Export Labor Certificate (“CLA”) was established through its publication in Mexico’s Official Journal of the Federation (“DOF”) on May 1, 2026. Subsequently, on June 15, 2026, the procedures for obtaining the CLA were published in the DOF. As part of the most recent update, the VELAGRO platform was created to apply for and maintain the CLA. The general operating guidelines for the platform were published in the DOF on September 15, 2026.
What are the new regulatory criteria?
The Mexican Department of Labor and Social Welfare will develop and administer a website, VELAGRO, for the processing and application of the CLA. All requirements, procedures, and applications will be carried out through this website, and any participant in the agricultural value chain involved in activities related to the production, processing, and marketing of agricultural products for export may apply for the CLA.
Once issued, the CLA will remain valid for the applicable period and may be used to cover export transactions carried out during such period, with no limit on the number of export customs declarations that may be filed under the same CLA, provided that the CLA remains valid.
Likewise, notifications, including those regarding omissions or issues with the application, will be sent to the email address registered in VELAGRO. Applicants will have five business days to respond to any requests for additional information and make the necessary corrections, and the authority will have the same period to resolve the application.
The program is intended to be implemented progressively, with potential modifications in the future.
| Applicant Registration | Value Chain Registration | Incorporation of Employer Registration Records | Phased Technical Factor | Transition to the Permanent Regime | |
| Application period | September 15–30, 2026 | November 1–7, 2026 | January 7–15, 2027 and, beginning in February, within the first 7 days of the applicable month | First 1–7 days of the applicable month | First 1–7 days of the applicable month |
| CLA validity | 1 month (+7 days) | 2 months (+7 days) | 1 month (+7 days) | 2 months (+7 days) | 3 months (+7 days) |
| Information to be provided | Information required to create the CLA user profile, and statistical information regarding the applicant’s operations during the preceding 12 months | Information regarding producers, farms, and other participants in the value chain | Documentation required to evidence, during each period, the progressive registration of the employer registration records of the participants in the value chain with the Mexican Social Security Institute | Information required for the CLA application | Information required for the CLA application |
In conclusion, the CLA and the VELAGRO platform are a recently implemented program that is currently still in its pilot phase in Mexico. We suggest completing the applicable procedures, while also collecting and documenting all information regarding complications, issues, and failures that may need to be addressed by the Mexican authorities.
For registration in VELAGRO, applicants should make sure to have the following readily available: a valid e.Signature; tax and employer information; information related to the participants in the value chain; and documentation evidencing compliance with labor and social security obligations in Mexico.
Contact Information:
Pablo Sáenz | psaenz@ccn-law.com.mx
Yazmín Martínez | ymartinez@ccn-law.com.mx
Fernando Govea | fgovea@ccn-law.com.mx
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