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If there was ever a time to have a plan B to move to Mexico, it is now!
Thousands of foreigners relocate to Mexico yearly, mainly because of the increasing cost of living in the US and Canada. Coupled with the rising tensions in politics that divide people.
The laid-back lifestyle of Mexico and its more affordable cost of living, plus all the beautiful and diverse landscapes- It’s no wonder many are looking for a better life in Mexico!
But moving to Mexico is not as easy as packing your bags, showing up, and starting a new life sipping a margarita by the beach. Although we wish it were
The Mexican immigration and bureaucracy are challenging, especially with limited Spanish. And with the end of the year coming soon, we can almost guarantee there will be changes in 2024. Because historically, there has always been a change to immigration requirements in Mexico yearly since we’ve been in business.
Now, I am not one to usually write articles or give advice, which makes someone act fast. That’s not my style. I always advise you to rent before buying a home, visit before moving here, and do a lot of research before settling on any one place.
When it comes to immigration and resident visas in Mexico, I’d hate for someone to miss out because they didn’t know that changes happen often. That’s why I think if you’ve been thinking about living or retiring in Mexico, you should move fast on getting a residency in Mexico.
Residency Visas in Mexico- How Long Does It Take?
Here’s Why…
The time when expats in Mexico could be perpetual tourists doing border runs every six months is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Mexico has done much in the past few years to improve its immigration databases. This means the country is getting smarter about who lives here illegally and who is just a visitor.
Plus, you will need a residency visa if you plan to live in Mexico.
You’ll need residency to open a bank account, get a driver’s license, sign up for Mexico’s healthcare system IMSS, get specific private health insurance policies, work in Mexico, get a retiree discount card, and even buy and register a car.
It’s becoming increasingly necessary for anyone living in Mexico to have an RFC, which is only given to residents.
While there are several ways to get residency, the most common option is through financial solvency. Mexican authorities use a formula based on the current daily minimum wage of MXN $207 to determine financial solvency.
Residency Qualifications in 2023
For temporary residency, you need a minimum monthly income of $2600 and up to $3500 USD or $43,000 and up to $55,000 USD in Savings/Investments.
For permanent residency, you need a minimum of USD $5,400 a Month in most cases, and you most likely need to be retired.
To make Mexican bureaucracy even more complicated, Mexican residency income requirements vary by consulate. Which is my I give you a range of income requirements.
And because things are changing so quickly in Mexican immigration procedures (almost daily, it seems), it’s never been more important for you to apply for residency sooner rather than later.
Just because you qualify in 2023 for Mexican residency doesn’t mean you’ll qualify in 2024.
Moving to Mexico? Here are 5 Steps to Follow.
My advice: apply sooner rather than later.
You are not required to live in Mexico to remain a resident. So, even if you have plans to move to Mexico years in the future, I’d recommend securing your residency visa first.
And while it may seem very simple to qualify for residency, unfortunately, the process isn’t. Mexican bureaucracy can be complicated and very inconsistent. Because of this, we recommend hiring an immigration facilitator familiar with local customs, laws, and requirements.
Others may tell you that hiring an immigration facilitator isn’t needed. And while that may have been the case 10 years ago, things change so rapidly today that it’s easy to make a mistake.
Oftentimes, the worst mistakes are made by the people you think you should trust the most: the employees at immigration, who are usually poorly trained. So hiring the right person who is up to date on immigration requirements and will know the law better than most is almost a no-brainer.
Who Do You Hire?
If you need a reputable immigration facilitator recommendation, we have a directory of them throughout Mexico in our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide.
In the video, I explain more about hiring an immigration facilitator.
In our complete Mexico Relocation Guide, we included detailed step-by-step instructions on how to apply for residency on your own. However, because we know Mexican bureaucracy can be hard to navigate on your own, it also connects you to the right people who can help you.
That way, you’re not spending time figuring out who to hire—or making mistakes by hiring the wrong people.
Move to Mexico the right way with the COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide. And don’t just take it from me, check out our reviews here.
I don’t know if it will make this article too long, but I think it might be helpful to at least mention the savings/investments option. I didn’t really have a way to show the required income, but because I’ve been saving for retirement for decades, I was able to show economic solvency through savings/investments. And now, six months later, I’m sitting in Mexico :-).
great point! I will update it
Oh! Thank you for reminding me!! Great point!
Thanks Mariana Lange, we have been following you for two years on YouTube. Your information and insights have been very helpful to us. We are coming to Guadalajara in January 2023 to obtain our permanent residency at the immigration office. We are looking forward to relocating to Mexico. Thanks for all your awesome videos that helped us receive our permanent residency visas. Wishing you all the best.
Hi! Just made the decision to move to Mexico in 2023. I’m a bit older – 78 years old – but very active and healthy. I’m definitely interested in a group tour next year – how do I find out the dates and sign up soon?
Hi Cecile
All of our tour information can be found on this page. Although I should let you know that we offer private relocation tours only
Mexicorelocationguide.con/tours/
Tour dates please.
The date is whenever you schedule it. All tours are private and only limited to your party
mexicorelocationguide.com/tours/
Hi, my name is Tina Brady, and I am interested in joining your group, and using your services, as I am interested in moving to Mexico. I have been following you for a while, and feel confident about your ability to guide, and assist me.
Hi Tina! Welcome
We would love to help you. If you need the steps to move to Mexico and our directory of contacts check out our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide
mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hello, Mariana! I’ve just returned from Ajijic, where I had a consultation with your recommended immigration attorney. (She is delightful to work with and her scope of knowledge is impressive!) I recognize the sense of urgency, however the roadblock at this point is the Seattle Consulate.
An update, if anyone else is planning to work with Seattle: They are still not processing applications for residency visas and aren’t responding to queries about when they think they will start again. (I’ve been “on hold” with them since early July, when they thought they’d reopen in September, but others have been waiting even longer.) Turns out Seattle is the smallest Mexican Consulate office in the US (!!!) and it’s simply a waiting game. The immigration attorney I consulted said it took one of her clients six months to get an application appointment.
you may need to travel to a different consulate at this point.
They have currently opened appointments at the Seattle consulate.
You are so right Mariana. I got my permanente April 2020 during the height of Covid. The financial requirements jumped lots from 2019 to 2020 and have increased significantly yearly since then. I still have my home in the USA but am glad I can move to Mexico any time I want. Please don’t wait!
Hi Mariana. Love your channel. My husband and I are in our 70’s and plan to relocate to Queretaro ASAP. Just waiting on our passports. We have never had one.
We plan to use both our retirement incomes to prove financial solvency since our
bank statements are from several joint accounts. This way, he would quality for permanent residency for himself only. After he has been approved, we plan for me to apply via family unit. My question is, will we need to show another or “different” source of income on my application, since he has already used my income for his application?
Hi Audrey!
Thanks for watching my videos!
There are a few ways to go about it
If you both apply together at a Mexican consulate near you, then yes most likely each one of you will need to prove economic solvency individually. it depends on the consulate you go to. Each one has its own special requirements.
However, if only one of you qualifies based on income, then one of you gets residency first. And then the other spouse no longer have to “prove” economic solvency if you do the family unification petition for residency in Mexico.
They have currently opened appointments at the Seattle consulate.
In the past I attempted to get an appointment at other consulates and was told they would not accept anyone not residing within their area.
I am permanent..my esposo missed his date at renewal in Puerto Vallarta due to a bad accident…We are legally married in Mexico..My understanding is after 2 years of temporal he can become permanente..How do we accomplish this in Ajijic,,His temporal expires in june
Hi John
I’m confused, did he miss his renewal date or is it coming up in June?
Thanks for clarifying
I’ve heard that you need a Mexican address to get residency. I’m not yet at retirement age but would like to apply anyway. Would a virtual mailbox work?
You can use your short term rental as the address you use for residency.
Either a hotel or airbnb is good enough. Once you move into your long term rental, you have up to 90 days to make the changes with immigration.
Hi Mariana,
Thank you for raising the sense of urgency. I heard Canje could take anywhere from 2 days to 1 month from beginning to completion. During that time, I would not be able to leave the country.
Since I am still a year away from retirement, I will have to take time off from work to stay in Mexico for up to a month to do my Canje. Unfortunately, I do not have a month of vacation time to stay in Mexico for the Canje process if it takes the full month or more.
Your article outlines the risks of delaying the start of my residency process. I am trying to weigh that against the risk that Canje would take a month and I will miss returning to work.
Do you have any suggestions? Should I just wait till I retire in a year before I start the process?
Thanks.
Unless there is a serious issue with your documents or at the immigration office you are doing canje in, it shouldn’t take more than a week at the most.
Most offices are doing canjes in 1 day these days. Best to work with a local immigration expert who knows their local INM offices and will help you be efficient.
I would love to start my residency process now, but I work. The process on the second part, done in Mexico, can take days to weeks. You can’t leave Mexico in that time. I only get 3 weeks vacation per year. I can’t take that chance, I’ll have to wait…
Hi James,
Most INM offices do your canje in 1-3 business days.
Having to wait a week or more is unusual.
Hola mariana.tengo una pregunta.aserca Delos requicitos Para Residencia de una persona que es casada con una persona Mexicana ambas personas somos naturalizados en usa.una de Las personas es nacido en central America. Me podrias orientar por favor te lo agradesco de ante mano. Gracias y k tengas un buen Dia
I will be hiring an immigration facilitator when I apply for temporary residency, but I would like the person to be present with me since my Spanish is limited. Is the immigration facilitator allowed to be present in Puerto Vallarta or do you know of any other location.
Hi Anthony- if you hire a facilitator they are typically present with you to help you navigate the immigration process at the Mexican immigration offices. However, it’s important to ask your facilitator this question because they all work a bit differently. In our guide, we have an excellent recommendation in Puerto Vallarta that will accompany you
Hi – so if your married and still working for a few more years (3 more max) and we each have a retirement account that surpasses the lump sum amount to qualify, that works? Our monthly income now qualifies, but we can’t use our employment income, correct?
You can absolutely use your employment income. In fact I would encourage you to show that you are working and are more than qualified for residency.
The consulates will want to see your bank statements and your balances each month. So in the end, all income matters.
Hi Mariana
I came across another reduced $ option to “Permanente” that was outlined to me by one of your MRG recommended facilitator (Claudia), whom I used to get my temporal this past June. Maybe you outlined this option somewhere in the guide and I just missed it, but here it is. My original consulate application this year was for Permanente, as I was fortunate to be able to meet the financial requirements. However as I was not retired at the time, the consulate would only issue the 1 year temporal (for which I was grateful) Claudia outlined to me, that at the end of the one year temporal period, I could renew the temporal of course, or alternatively I could apply directly for my Permanente with a reduced financial proof (about 1/3 less) I am not clear whether they still would require the retired part, but it won’t be an issue for me.
Just an FYI, if you weren’t already aware of this.
Regards
John
Hello John- yes this is an option only for retirees who are earning a pension or social security benefits and only with specific INM offces.
Glad that you were given this option and that you’re going for it.
Saludos!