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Before buying our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide from us, I’d like to ensure you know the basic qualifications to obtain legal residency in Mexico.
Obtaining residency in Mexico will almost always start at a Mexican Consulate or Embassy near you- unless you have ties to a Mexican national or resident. Mexico has 67 Consulates and 80 embassies worldwide. There are 50 Mexican Consulates in the U.S. and about 7 consulates in Canada. So finding one near you should not be a huge problem.
Residency Through Economic Solvency
The following 2026 formula is used, and we have an approximate amount in USD based on an exchange rate of 18.50 MXN to 1 USD.
Solvency Requirements for Mexican Temporary Residency
Monthly Income Requirement- Monthly Balance Over 6 Months
- Formula: 680 x UMA
- Total: ~ $4,300 USD/ $5,566 CAD
Savings Requirements- Balance Over 12 Months
- Formula: 11,460 x UMA
- Total: ~$72,541 USD/ $93,860 CAD
Income requirements can vary by consulate, so it is important to be able to qualify financially according to the standards set by each consulate.
Solvency Requirements for Mexican Permanent Residency
For permanent residency in Mexico, the economic solvency requirements are typically higher, and some consulates require you to have a pension/social security benefits or be of retirement age (over 60) to qualify for a Permanent Resident Visa. However, different consulates in the USA have different rules.
Monthly Income Requirement
- Formula: 1,142 x UMA
- Total: ~$7,212 USD/ $9331 CAD
Savings Requirement
- Formula: 45,850 x UMA
- Total: $290,101 USD/ $375,300 CAD
The income requirements vary by consulate and are NET (after taxes).
The income requirements vary by consulate and are NET (after taxes).
You can apply for Mexican residency through income or savings. You do not need both. And you also DO NOT need to live in Mexico to remain a resident. So, it’s a good idea to secure your residency NOW because these requirements increase yearly.
Please understand each consulate has its own economic solvency requirements.
Additional Dependents
If you have direct economic dependents (spouse, parents or children) you must prove the family bond with a marriage license and/or birth certificates.
Accurate birth and marriage certificates are essential identification documents required for residency and citizenship applications in Mexico, and any discrepancies can cause delays or obstacles. You must also prove financial solvency for them by adding 220 x the current UMA amount. Or about $1,390 USD monthly.
Ties to A Mexican National
If you are the spouse, parent, or underage child of a Mexican national or resident, you qualify for residency in Mexico WITHOUT having to prove economic solvency. If you are born to Mexican parents, you qualify for Mexican dual-citizenship without having to prove economic solvency.
For help with this, we recommend hiring our recommended immigration facilitators. Their contact information is provided when you purchase our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide.
Dual Citizens
If you were born in Mexico, you will ALWAYS remain a citizen. Mexico allows dual citizenship with other countries, and you do not lose your rights in Mexico. As a Mexican citizen, you do not need to apply for a Mexican residency visa.
To apply for your Mexican passport, you need to visit a Mexican consulate near you. They will require a certified copy or original copy of your Mexican birth certificate.
Citizenship Through Ancestry
If one of your parents is a Mexican national, you are entitled to Mexican citizenship. And you do not need to renounce your current citizenship. Mexico does allow dual citizenship. Or if you were born in Mexico- you will ALWAYS be a Mexican citizen. You do not lose your citizenship if you were raised in the United States or Canada.
To claim your dual citizenship, you can start the process at a Mexican Consulate in the “Registro Civil” department. Or you can also travel to Mexico, and start the process here. The process to obtain your dual citizenship is free, but you will have to pay for your Mexican passport.
Do You Have To Live in Mexico?
There is nothing in immigration law requiring temporary or permanent residents to live in Mexico to remain a resident. This means you can apply for residency years before moving to Mexico.
For temporary residents, you must travel to Mexico to renew your residency before it expires. Expiration dates are DD/MM/YYYY. Also, Temporary residents can become permanent residents after 4 years WITHOUT having to prove financial solvency again. And Permanent residents do not need to renew their residency visas.
Buy The Complete Guide
To learn the steps for moving to Mexico and our directory of vetted professionals, consider buying the COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide.
In the guide, you get an easy-to-follow plan that covers:
- Residency Visas
- Knowing How to Apply for Residency and mistakes to avoid
- How to bring your household goods
- Driving vs Flying
- How to get healthcare coverage in Mexico
- How the medical system works in Mexico
- Bringing your pets to Mexico
- What to know about taxes in Mexico as a foreigner
- How to find the best rentals
- Scams to avoid
- And a lot more!
Plus, we also give you access to our complete directory of contacts across Mexico that help make your move a lot easier.
We give you our list of vetted contacts across Mexico such as:
- Immigration Facilitators
- Rental Agents
- Realtors
- Healthcare brokers
- Medicare Advantage brokers
- International moving companies
- Relocation tour guides
- Private drivers
- Pet transport companies
- and so many more
We save people hundreds of hours of research with the online guide, and we have helped thousands of people move to Mexico THE RIGHT WAY.
Also, because we continuously update the online guide, you can feel confident that even if you move in a few years, you will still have the most up-to-date information. The online guide is a good resource for any foreigner considering moving to Mexico.
Buy the guide here – https://mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Other Options
We think it’s a good idea to have a plan B. And our Plan B has always been living in Panama. Panama only requires you to have $1,000 USD a month in guaranteed lifetime income, such as social security or a pension.
For more information about moving to Panama, check out “Moving to Panama As A Plan B.”
