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Obtaining your Mexican Resident Visa is not as easy as some think. We know how hard it can be to navigate Mexican bureaucracy. And if you don’t understand perfect Spanish, the second part of your residency process in Mexico can be a nightmare.
We hear stories about people overstaying their visas or leaving the country every six months to avoid getting a Mexican Resident Visa.
Then, they are surprised when they get caught, fined, or turned away at the border. And the Mexican National Immigration Institute (aka INM) is starting to crack down on perpetual tourists.
If you are considering moving to Mexico, you should understand how to legally get a Mexican Resident Visa. And if you’re coming in as a tourist to check it out before moving here, you should also know how long you can stay.
Either way, the following information should help you decide what to do to legally be in Mexico.
That’s why I created this COMPLETE Guide to Mexican Resident Visas
But first, let me explain some of the terminologies for tourists vs. residents because it matters in your understanding of the process.
Learn how to get your Mexican Resident Visa the right way. We cover the process for Temporary and Permanent Residency. And get access to our directory of Immigration facilitators across Mexico in our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide.
Tourist Visa/FMM
You might be coming to Mexico to check it before making big decisions. That’s a great idea! I suggest exploring this beautiful and large country before getting a Mexican resident visa.
And why not? You can stay in the country for up to 180 days as a tourist if your passport is from one of the “no visa required” countries.
But remember that even though you can be given up to 180 days, there is no guarantee you will get the full 180 days. There have been many cases where tourists have come to Mexico and were given 30, 20, or even 15 days on their tourist visas.
And many people are surprised when they come to Mexico with plans of being here for more than a few weeks or months and are given only days on their tourist FMM.
Some people may have brought their pets, household goods, or something else they assumed could stay longer. Or maybe you’ve made reservations at an Airbnb for five months and may lose out on some of that expense.
So if you plan to be in Mexico for more than 180 days and can’t risk getting less than 180 days’ permission to stay in the country, you should consider a residency visa.
Flying Into Mexico
Some of you will be flying into Mexico to finish your residency visa process.
The fee of an eFMM is usually included in your ticket. Most likely, an agent will give you this form to fill out before entering Mexico. You’ll need to fill out a declaration form before arriving in Mexico, and you only need to fill one out per family.
If you’re coming in to finish your residency visa in Mexico, you’ll need to let an agent know they must mark you as “canje.” It’s super important, and I will cover that in detail later.
If you’re coming in as a tourist, an immigration officer will stamp your passport and issue you a slip with the time or days you are allowed to stay in Mexico.
Remember that you are not entitled to or automatically guaranteed 180 days as a tourist.
This is up to the immigration agent to process your eFMM upon arrival. You must check the time they write into your eFMM when you arrive in Mexico so that you don’t accidentally overstay your visa permit. Please keep in mind that as of 2024, all airports will issue Digital FMMs (eFMM).
Driving Into Mexico
A lot of people moving to Mexico decide to drive across the border. Makes sense to me. You might have pets. You might have household goods. Or this vehicle may be your transportation method in Mexico. And if you decide to get your residency in Mexico, you might need a car.
If you decide to drive to Mexico, you’ll still need to get an FMM. An FMM costs $717 MXN as of January 1st 2024
If you’re coming in as a tourist, you might read online that no one checks this while driving in Mexico. While this may be the case most of the time, you are required by law to get one upon arrival. Getting caught without one could cause trouble for you while you’re in the process of getting your residency visa in Mexico in the future. And no one at the border in Mexico forces you to get an FMM.
So it’s your responsibility to either buy one online ahead of time or get it at the border when you cross.
If you’re coming in for canje, you must get an FMM at the border crossing you drive on. Make sure they mark you as Canje and not as a tourist on your Mexican Resident Visa stamp.
Where to Get An FMM On The Land Border?
When you drive across the border, an INM office is usually for you to get your FMM. Usually, an immigration officer will give you an FMM for up to 180 days if you are from one of the “no visa required countries” and coming in as a tourist.
But suppose you’re coming in as a resident.
In that case, it’s extremely important to let an agent know you are coming in as a resident and not a tourist if you are in the process of residency in Mexico (also known as “canje”).
If they mark your FMM as a tourist, your Mexican Resident Visa will no longer be valid, and you will have to start again. So don’t let an INM agent brush you off.
FREE MOVING TO MEXICO CHEAT SHEET
Getting a TIP permit for your car
You must also apply for a TIP if you drive your car across the border. (Temporary Vehicle Permit) A TIP allows your foreign-plated vehicle to be driven while you are in Mexico.
The cost of a TIP is MXN 916.11 MXN approx $45 USD
You can ONLY apply through Banjercito, but I found the process on their website to be very easy!
And if you like to plan, you’ll be pleased to know that you can get your TIP permit from 7 to 60 days before travel. Usually, a TIP is good for up to 180 days. However, we do not recommend getting it weeks in advance because you never know if you will use that same car.
Residency Visas in Mexico
If you plan to stay in Mexico for more than 180 days, you must apply for a temporary or permanent residence visa. And yes, you can get deported if you’re caught overstaying your visa. If you only want to be in Mexico temporarily, you must leave by the 6-month mark and surrender your FMM.
The most popular visas for ex-pats are either the temporary resident visa (residente temporal) or the permanent resident visa (residente permanente).
Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for one or both. I’ll explain how to determine the right one for you and how to apply.
Mexican Temporary Resident (Residente Temporal)
For temporary residency, the following formula is used, and we have an approximate amount in USD based on an exchange rate of 18 MXN to 1 USD.
Monthly Income Requirement
- Formula: 300 x daily minimum wage
- Total in USD: Approximately $4,150 USD per month
- Or Proof of home ownership in Mexico worth at least $553,000 USD
Savings Requirement
- Formula: 5,000 x daily minimum wage
- Total in USD: Approximately $69,167 USD
The income requirements vary by consulate and are NET (after taxes).
Mexican Permanent Resident (Residente Permanente)
For permanent residency in Mexico, the economic solvency requirements are typically higher. Using a daily minimum wage of 249 MXN and an exchange rate of 18 MXN/USD, here are the updated totals:
Monthly Income Requirement
- Formula: 500 x daily minimum wage
- Total in USD: Approximately $6,917 USD per month
Savings Requirement
- Formula: 20,000 x daily minimum wage
- Total in USD: Approximately $276,667 USD
The income requirements vary by consulate and are NET (after taxes).
Get the latest Mexican Residency income requirements by consulate.
*It is worth mentioning that 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 without having the Temporary Resident VISA first. However, different consulates in the USA have different rules.
Additional Dependents
Most consulates expect only the main applicant to qualify with the income requirements I have shared above.
- However, if you are applying as a married couple, an additional $500-$1,500 per dependent needs to be demonstrated in monthly income.
Of course, this also varied according to the consulate. Some consulates require each applicant to qualify individually. This means they may require each applicant to prove they have the minimum economic solvency requirements. You must verify the requirements with the Mexican consulate you intend to apply to.
If you are a couple and each person doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, don’t worry! As long as one spouse can obtain Mexican residency, the other spouse can be petitioned from within Mexico without having to prove economic solvency. This is known as family unity/ unification.
Learn About Obtaining Mexican Residency for Family Members
Temporary Residents (Canje)
The first part of your residency process will almost always start in your home country. You have to secure a Mexican consulate appointment, and they will check to see if you qualify for residency in Mexico. The cost of this consular appointment is always $53 USD/ $74 CAD or the equivalent based on your home country’s currency. It is non-refundable regardless of whether you are approved or not.
The second part of the process takes place in Mexico and is known as CANJE.
Most temporary residents are initially given their residency cards for one year.
You can renew your residency card UP TO 30 days before it expires. Remember that dates in Mexico are formatted DD/MM/YYY. For example, the card below expires on August 9th, 2023.
If you are outside of Mexico and your temporary residency expires, you have up to 55 days to renew it after its expiration. Once you enter Mexico, you have up to 5 days to start the process at the INM office where you did your canje.
After the first year, you must renew your residency visa and can only do so for up to 4 years. You must renew within Mexico, and you can start the renewal process up to 30 days before it expires.
After 4 years, you can apply to make a switch from temporary to permanent residency. This also has to be done within Mexico.
You May Also Be Interested In: Learn What Canje in Mexico Is
Work Permit for Temporary Residents
If you wish to work in Mexico as a temporary resident, you must obtain permission to work from INM. Even if you rent an Airbnb in Mexico as a temporary resident, you have to ask INM for permission to work- because you are generating an income.
Permanent Residents are permitted to work without having to process any additional permits. You are supposed to notify INM of your intent to work and what you plan to do.
Permanent Residents
If you are given a permanent residency at the Mexican Consulate that approved your residency, your visa is indefinite and does not need to be renewed.
When you come to Mexico, you pay this amount to finish your process at the INM offices.
Learn How to Move to Mexico and Have a Better Life for Less! Check out our Complete Mexico Relocation Guide.
What Is The Process?
For most expats, you’ll have to start the process for a permanent visa in your country. Once granted a permanent resident visa, you must go to Mexico to finalize the process.
Your permanent visa is valid indefinitely. You don’t have to renew it as you do with a temporary visa. You’re also allowed to work without applying for a work permit. However, you must tell INM if you have a job offer in Mexico.
Fill out the application in English with this application form below
https://intranetdgsc.sre.gob.mx/images/stories/lineamientos/SOLICITUD_VISA_EN_JUL_15.pdf
Mexican Residency Through Family Unity
The same applies to the temporary visa; it is valid for up to 180 days, and once you arrive in Mexico, you have up to 30 days to exchange it for a permanent resident card. This is known as CANJE.
You may qualify to apply for residency without having to prove economic solvency if you have ties to a Mexican national or Mexican resident.
Temporary Residency (Residente Temporal) Application:
Foreigners may apply for Temporary Residency (Residente Temporal) in-country if they are:
- The spouse of a Temporary or Permanent Resident
- The parent of a Temporary Resident
- The son or daughter of a Temporary Resident (Children/dependents must be under 18 and not married)
- The son or daughter of a Temporary Resident spouse (Children/dependents must be under 18 and not married)
- The spouse of a Mexican national. Spouses of Mexican nationals obtain a 2-year temporary residency initially. Afterward, you can apply to obtain a Permanent Resident Visa.
Permanent Residency (Residente Permanente) Application:
Foreigners may apply for Permanent Residency (Residente Permanente) in-country if they are:
- The parent of a Permanent Resident
- The son or daughter of a Permanent Resident card (Children/dependents must be under 18 and not married)
- The sibling of a Permanent Resident (Children/dependents must be under 18 and not married)
- The son or daughter of the spouse of a Permanent Resident (Children/dependents must be under 18 and not married)
- The son or daughter of the spouse of a Mexican National (Children/dependents must be under 18 and not married)
- The parent to a child born in Mexico
- The sibling of a Mexican National (Children/dependents must be under 18 and not married)
For this process, you can apply at either a Mexican Consulate near you or start the process in Mexico. Those who are married to Mexican residents can start the process once their Mexican resident spouse obtains their residency card.
Also, current Mexican Temporary Residents may apply to exchange their Temporary Residency Visa for a Permanent Residency Visa after 4 years from Mexico.
Those who were born to a Mexican Parent are entitled to Citizenship in Mexico.
Residency in Mexico WITHOUT Proving Economic Solvency
Mexico raises its income requirements for economic solvency each year. This means that several people are giving up on their dream of moving to Mexico because they don’t have enough to prove they can qualify for residency.
Don’t give up, though! There’s a solution!
A special program that gives you a 4-year temporary residency WITHOUT having to prove any financials!
THIS IS A GAME-CHANGER FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY BASED ON ECONOMIC SOLVENCY. But to know if you are eligible, you have to know a few things first. The following is a baseline of requirements to qualify:
- You must possess an expired FMM (tourist permit).
- You should have visited Mexico at least once before end of 2022. Some offices require you to visit Mexico twice before 2022.
- No financial documentation is required.
- You get a 4-year Temporary Residency.
- You are required to stay in Mexico until your FMM expires.
- For children under 18, original birth certificates with apostille or legalization and certified translations are necessary.
- Upfront payment of immigration fees, approximately $16,000 Pesos (around $900 USD), is mandatory, excluding facilitator’s fees.
Read this article to learn the details of the Mexican Regularization Program.
Immigration Fees Mexican immigration fees 2024
Having A Mexican Resident Visa Has Benefits!
But what if you’re unsure if you plan to live in Mexico full-time? That’s ok! You don’t have to live in Mexico full-time to remain a resident of Mexico. The only caveat is that if you become a temporary resident, you must come back in person to renew it. So, if you think retirement or living in Mexico might be in your future, I encourage you to look into residency sooner rather than later.
There are some additional perks of being a resident in Mexico, such as:
- You can come in and out of Mexico as you’d like
- The ability to open bank accounts
- You can bring your foreign-plated car free of import taxes (Temporary only)
- You can bring your household goods to Mexico free of import taxes
- You have access to Mexico’s low-cost healthcare through IMSS
- Many private healthcare insurance companies require you to be a resident
- You can apply for a Mexican driver’s license
- You can work in Mexico or run a business in Mexico
- You can register/nationalize a vehicle in Mexico
- Retiree discounts available through INAPAM
- No capital gains are paid when you sell a property in Mexico
- Discounts for locals only
- The cost of getting a residency is very affordable compared to other countries.
- You can bring pets with you long-term
- You can invest in Mexico’s CDs, which currently have a great ROI
- And so many more!
Tips For Applying Under Economic Solvency
A question we get from time to time is, “Should I apply for residency while I am working or after I leave my job/retire?” Here are my two cents:
If you’re applying for Mexican Residency under economic solvency, we recommend applying while you are still working in most cases. This is especially true for those who will not be retired and will not be using savings/investments as their proof of solvency.
It’s always better to demonstrate to the consulate that you are earning a steady income so they will consider your approval. It’s harder to explain that you may be financially independent while you’re not retired for them to consider your approval.
I’m not saying this is 100% always the case, but in our experience, we recommend applying while you are still generating a regular income. Also, if you are applying based on monthly income, and you plan to quit your job after receiving your residency- DO NOT volunteer this information with any consulate. It’s a quick way for them to consider that you will no longer have this solvency, and they can deny you.
Should You Hire An Immigration Expert?
Getting an appointment at the Mexican Consulate in your country of origin might be impossible these days. Appointments are scarce, and you might have to dedicate a few days to calling and checking online every few minutes to see if you can get one.
You also might not feel comfortable visiting an immigration office in Mexico, especially if your Spanish isn’t strong. Or you might not know if you are filling out the paperwork correctly. And trust me, you want to fill it out right first. It’ll save you multiple trips back and forth.
So, hiring an immigration attorney or facilitator might be a good idea. We have a list of vetted and very affordable immigration facilitators nationwide.
All of them speak Spanish and English.
Some of them have dedicated staff to make appointments at Mexican Consulates for your initial interview. They’ll prepare you with the right kind of paperwork. And most importantly, they’ll know the best immigration offices in Mexico where you can do your residency exchange in a day or so.
Immigration facilitators charge between $4,000 and $10,000 Pesos (about $200-$500 USD) per person and per process. Please bear in mind that each case is different and this is just a range. We recommend hiring a reputable one to help you, as it’s worth every dime.
How To Decide Which Immigration Attorney Is Right?
Not all immigration facilitators are the same. They vary a lot in costs and services provided. And in some cases, they’ll never deliver what they promised to do. Leaving you unsatisfied and having to hire a different person.
When you hire an immigration facilitator, it’s a good idea to interview them to know what’s included. You should ask questions like:
- Will you translate the documents for me?
- Are government fees included in your price?
- Will you provide an official translator? (perito traductor)
- How long can I expect the process to take?
- Will you schedule an appointment with a Mexican Consulate?
- If I process two resident permits, are your fees the same per person?
You can expect reputable and efficient immigration facilitator’s fees to be around $4,000-10,000 Pesos per person. However, your final cost may depend on your specific situation and the paperwork they may need to arrange for you. But I’ve heard stories of expats being taken advantage of and paying thousands of dollars to scammer immigration lawyers who didn’t deliver. All because they didn’t do their research.
We only work with the best and most reputable immigration contacts around Mexico. And we only work with immigration lawyers whose fees are reasonable.
And we DON’T GET ANY KICKBACKS– so you can rest assured that I am not recommending anyone only because I get paid to do so. I earn our income when you buy the relocation guide.
Want to learn more about working with our recommended immigration facilitators? Get More Info On Which Ones We Recommend and the questions we recommend asking them in our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide.
Common Mistakes or Misconceptions
Here are some of the most common mistakes I see or hear about. Sometimes, the consulates are the culprits for giving you the wrong information. Get the facts:
- There is no guarantee that if you qualify for Permanent residency, you will get Permanent residency. The consulate has the final say on what residency visa you will receive. Don’t get upset- you can always get Permanent residency after 4 years as a Temporary resident.
- If you use an Airbnb or hotel address when you do your Canje, you are responsible for changing your address with INM within 90 days of settling in your long-term home in Mexico.
- Suppose you are applying for residency through economic solvency and with proof of your monthly income. In that case, many consulates will want you to bring a letter from your employer stating you will continue to be employed/earn an income even after moving to Mexico. Check your consulate’s requirements.
- If you are applying as a married couple, some consulates require each one of you to qualify independently. If only one of you qualifies, don’t worry. Get residency, and once you are in Mexico, you can petition your spouse without having to prove additional financials.
- You will receive a stamp on your passport when you are approved at a Mexican consulate. You have up to 180 days to come to Mexico and finish the process. This is known as Canje. Canje is the process by which you exchange that stamp in your passport for an actual card. You are not done with the process until you receive your residency card.
- From the time you enter Mexico, you have 30 days to at least start the process at the immigration office. If your appointment at INM for canje is past 30 days, don’t worry. You are not going to get in trouble. But it does mean you cannot leave Mexico unless you get permission from immigration. Otherwise, you cancel your whole process.
- If you are driving to Mexico to do your Canje, it is YOUR responsibility to stop at INM at the border and ask for your FMM. Without this, you cannot get your residency card. And it would be a bummer to have to drive back to the border.
- You might be asked to bring financials when you renew your temporary residency at INM. That doesn’t mean you have to prove the income requirements again. I’ve never known anyone to get denied for not having a specific amount. But be prepared to get asked for money in the bank when you renew your Temporary residency at INM. And not every INM office requires this.
- What you get in the Mexican consulate is what you get in Mexico. If you got temporary, you can’t request permanent residency once you go to INM (immigration) in Mexico.
- Most temporary residencies are initially for one year (except for the RNE Program). After the first year, you can renew for 1, 2, or 3 additional years. You can only be a temporary resident for up to 4 years. Afterward, you will either have to become a permanent resident or start over again. If you are married to a Mexican national, you may receive a temporary residency for 2 years- after which you can apply to become a permanent resident.
- Once you get your Mexican visa stamped on your passport, you need to finish the process in Mexico the next time you enter. You can’t come as a tourist while you have the visa in your passport and come back to the country later to finish it.
FREE MOVING TO MEXICO CHEAT SHEET
Must Watch Video On Mexican Residency Visa Facts (2024)
Mexican Bureaucracy Is Challenging
Ask any local or foreigner living in Mexico what they think about Mexican bureaucracy, and I guarantee you will get a few eye rolls. It’s one of the most frustrating things you will have to deal with when you move to Mexico, but trust me, once you learn to accept that nothing will be super easy, you will live a happier life.
Mexican government offices sometimes use very old-school procedures for handling procedures, and immigration is no exception.
And while doing the process on your own isn’t impossible, knowing and hiring the right people to help you can save you time, frustrations, and money.
For example, as of September 2024, all immigration offices in Mexico only take online appointments. From renewals to canje to family unification processes, you won’t be seen if you don’t have your online appointment confirmation. Many people don’t realize this. And they might come to Mexico thinking they might be able to finish their residency process in a matter of days. However, they discovered they needed to invest about 2-4 weeks or until an appointment was available. But what happens if you have a job to return to? Or pets or family?
It’s also not uncommon for some immigration offices in Mexico to run out of plastic. So what could have taken 1 day to complete might now take 3-4 days.
Knowing the right facilitators and having access to the right information can help you avoid some of these surprises. You have to keep in mind they do this for a living. They are at the immigration offices daily. They know what’s happening in real time. Plus, they can help you shorten your processing times and help you avoid unnecessary frustrations.
You’re paying for that when you hire a good immigration facilitator. Someone who can help guide you. Someone who knows the local procedure. What’s your time worth to you?
However, not all immigration facilitators are created equal.
And if you don’t know what to look for, you could get scammed. I see it all the time. “Reputable” immigration facilitators recommended by other “experts” end up wasting that person’s money or time. Not sure which is worse? I’ve seen people lose money because their facilitator made a crucial error and can’t fix it but won’t give them their money back. I’ve seen facilitators take payment and not return phone calls.
That’s why hiring the right people can make all the difference. And you can take the guesswork out of knowing who to hire with Our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide. This gives you access to the immigration facilitators we know as trustworthy, responsive, and professional.
That way, you have one less thing to worry about.
This is a great resource! I saw your updated page for 2021, but can you update this Residency-Cost-in-Mexico page for 2021, too? Also, can you discuss the UMA figures that are lower than required incomes for 2021? There has been talk that the Mexican immigration requirements for income will be tied to UMA in the future. Thank you so much for your hard work!
Thank you for this. It is very helpful! How do you know which consulate uses which rules for permanent visa and which consulates will give it out more easily?
Hi Chad
It changes from time to time and there’s really no way to know which ones are favorable other than to talk to a lot of people who have applied recently. We have thousands of customers who share their personal experiences with us consistently so that’s how I stay abreast of which consulates are easier to work with.
I think you might have made a mistake about the 4 yr temp residency : it’s not necessary to stay for the duration rather inform the INM at the airport of your departure and return date
Not sure I understand your feedback. But I assure you that the baseline information for the RNE program is correct 🙂
Didn’t see much about retirement visa. Could you please explain
Thank you
Hi there
There are two types of residency visas in Mexico. A permanent and temporary visa.
The qualifications for each are different. Most retirees apply for permanent
I detail the permanent visa in the article. Hope this helps!
how can i get pr in mexico?
The article covers how to get permanent residency 😉
Great article. What I didn’t see addressed is the requirement for permanent residents to have Mexico plates on their vehicle. Is that still requured? It’s the primary reason I’m leaning towards temporary residency.
Hi Cathy- yes it is still required. That information is included in our online guide along with the detailed instructions on how to get a temporary import permit and the contacts that can help you renew it when you renew your temporary residency.
Hi Mariana, I have Mexican permanent residency but no longer reside in Mexico, how do I return my permanent residency?
Hi Mariana,
How to I provide proof of address in Mexico for the Canje when I am living in a hotel until my funds arrive from my house sale in the uk?
Would printed out hotel booking reservations be OK?
Very much looking forward to hearing from you,
Kind regards,
Nick
Hi Nick
It depends on the INM office you are going to in Mexico. Not all of them require proof of address. And if they do, all they need is a utility bill (doesn’t have to be in your name). Either your Airbnb host may be able to give you a copy of theirs or your immigration facilitator can supply one.
Okay I am interested in the temporary resident Visa. I am retired (67) and I have a monthly income of 3,100.00. I am currently living in Cuenca Ecuador. Do I have sufficient income? I am a citizen of the United States. Is it possible to apply in Ecuador at the Mexican Embassy? I am very confused! Thank you for your help.
Hello Bob
I am not familiar with the Ecuador Mexican Embassy
However, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to apply there assuming you are legally living in Ecuador.
The first thing you need to do is go to their website and look into scheduling an appointment which most likely will be through the national scheduling site https://citas.sre.gob.mx/
Then you have to determine which residency visa you qualify for based on their requirements. https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/ecuador/index.php/servicios-consulares/servicios-para-extranjeros-2-0
If you need help with the process, scheduling an appointment, knowing what documents to bring to your appointment, and the final step of the process in Mexico check out our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide
In our guide we give you the basic steps of obtaining residency on your own. And we also give you a directory of immigration facilitators that can help you with the process.
Mexicorelocationguide.com/guide
Plus, our guide includes so much more than just the steps to residency.
Hi Mariana,
This is a great article and info platform, thank you for explaining all these in depth detail . I have been in relationship with a girl and she is muslim from arab country, we are planing to get marry soon,
before i bring her to mexico, i need to know the process ,
what documents are required,how i will start the process i.e paper work
embassy appointment,type of visa.INM permission ,
I have saw some detail but im still confused that to where i can start ,
And we have age difference is that bother us or the immigration authorities to get her to Mexico ?
She is muslim and im revert now is this something can hurdle our immigration process?
If you can answer me or explain the process, it will be highly appreciated.
Thank you so much in anticipation.
I will be waiting for this reply
After you get the temporary residency do you have to stay certain number of days per year in Mexico to qualify for the permanent status? What is the minimum stay? Thanks
After receiving temporary residency you do not need to stay in Mexico for a minimum amount of days to be eligible for permanent residency. However, you do have to be in Mexico physically to renew your temporary residence card
Hello, I have my temporary visa from USA, now that I’m moving to Mexico what do I need to bring to get my residency card? Thanks
Hi Marlene!
You should bring your temporary visa stamp along with your passport.
You have up to 180 days to travel to Mexico to do the “canje” or exchange for your residency card. Once you enter Mexico, you have up to 30 days to go to INM and start the “canje” process.
When you go to INM (immigration in Mexico), they will tell you what you need to exchange your residency visa for a residency card.
Where in Mexico are you moving to?
Thanks!
Mariana
Hello Mariana,
Under the requirements for a Temporary Residence visa, it says: emonstrate a minimum balance in investments or savings of approx USD $43,000 for the last 12 months. But shouldn’t the amount be quite a bit higher than just $43,000? To compare, the amount needed for a Perm. Resd. visa is listed at over $170,000.
Just wondering.
Sincerely, Jay
Hi Jay!
The amounts posted are correct. The differences between temp and perm residency in terms of savings is very large.
Each consulate has its own income requirements but they won’t vary too much from these amounts
Hi Mariana,
Thanks for your reply. I was just coming on to say that I found the same amount ($43,000) listed elsewhere, so no need to bother replying. lol
I guess the reason the difference in amounts required for Temp. and Perm. visas is so large is that, since people only have to apply once for the latter, the Mexican government wants to be fairly certain that people will be able to cover ever increasing cost of living expenses once they become permanent residents.
Thanks again!
Sincerely,
Jay (Taylor)
My pleasure!
I am interested in applying for the permanent residency visa, could you refer an attorney or agency to help me with the process? I am living in Dominica currently.
Thank you.
Hi JT,
Great! Yes in our Complete Mexico Relocation Guide we have a directory of immigration facilitators that can help you out.
Learn more here https://mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hello,
What’s the additional amount needed for a spouse if using investment or savings accounts? I know that when using monthly income there is an additional amount needed when adding a spouse but, can’t find an answer regarding savings or investments.
Thank you!
About $800 USD a month- but it varies by consulate
Thank you for your response. I might not be understanding correctly. You are saying $800 more a month but, if we are qualifying on savings what does that calculate as? Is it $800 x 12 months? If my spouse qualifies with a retirement account and I bring in $1900 a month can that qualify as the $800 or does it need to come from one spouse only?
You should talk to an immigration facilitator/expert about your specific situation
After 4 years of temporary residence, when you apply for permanent residency. Do you need to show the 170,000 Financials?
Hi! you do not
If you are married, can you apply for a temporary or permanent (Mexico) residence card without adding your spouse?
Yes
I am a handicapped adult that would like to move to mexico with my mother. I receive adult disability payments from the u.s. government. My mother is retired and receives social security. I recieve 1,200 per month. My mother receives 1,500 per month. Together do we qualify to live in Mexico? What about leaving the country every six months and reentering under a tourist visa as well and also. Thank you.
Hi John,
Unfortunately, you cannot combine incomes to qualify. One of you has to make enough to qualify on your own.
Hello Maria,
My sister is a permanent resident and Mexico. She obtained this status several years ago. If I move to Mexico could I start the process of Residency for Family Unification…once there?
Thank you
Hi Pamela,
Normally, siblings don’t qualify as family unification.
Mariana
As far as the 12 months of income rule goes does it have to be guaranteed you will make that income while in Mexico? Let’s say I’ve made $10,000 a month for the past 3 years but will most likely lose my job when I move to Mexico. Does that mean I’d still be able to get Temporary Residency?
Great question- they don’t need proof that you’ll have that job when you move to Mexico. Only that you have the income requirements when you show up to your interview
Hi ,can a person born I’m MEXICO and has lived for the past 45 years as a permanent resident in CALIFORNIA and is retired ,move back to MEXICO (Baja California) as a retiree and buy property ? Thank you for your time 🙂
Hi Lucy
Yes- as a Mexican National you will always be a Mexican. And yes you can buy property in Mexico
What if you are not yet 60 but retired and have the investments for the permanent visa? Will they allow you to get that if you are not retirement age and if so, what consulate?
The truth is that it is 100% up to the consul at each consulate to make those decisions. However, in my experience in the past 3 years it is not common for people under 60 who are not retired to get permanent residency. The ones that do get permanent residency under the age of 60, have usually received it because they were able to prove more than double the amount of savings/investments needed for permanent residency. But again, that is a 50/50 chance of getting approved.
Stated above under temporary resident is “You can also submit official documents issued by Mexican Notary proving the ownership of a property/company/business and one photocopy with a minimum value of $320,000 USD.”
I’m assuming this property/company/business would be located in Mexico but want to confirm.
Yes- you are assuming correctly. The property has to be in Mexico
Hello Mariana,
For proof of ownership, will a certified copy of the original deed by notario be sufficient to prove ownership of property or you need to provide the original of the deed?
Thanks,
Sebastien
A certified copy should be good enough. Although you may want to check with your local consulate if this would be sufficient as each consulate has its own rules.
Hi – just a quick question regarding permanent residency in Mexico; my wife and I are Canadian citizens, but we live in Arizona full time as we legally own and operate a business here, I’m wondering if we EACH have to “Demonstrate a minimum balance in liquid assets of approximately USD $170,000 for the last 12 months with bank statements showing this minimum balance each month”……?
I have approximately 700K CAD dollars worth of retirement investments back in Canada, she has approximately 130K CAD – plus we have a house in Arizona (mortgage free) worth 650K USD which we’d sell upon moving to Mexico.
Thanks in advance…
Hi there
No- only one of you has to meet the income requirements. The spouse has to meet $800-$1000 USD extra depending on the consulate.
The mortgage won’t be taken into consideration by the consulate but they will consider all of your financials. Bring copies of everything.
Great info!
I was wondering if there are any limitations on the length of time a person who becomes a permanent Mexican resident can be traveling outside of Mexico?
I can imagine wanting to be on the road in the US and other countries four or five months a year, but obviously wouldn’t want to jeopardize the permanent Mexican resident status.
Hi! You don’t have to live in Mexico to remain a permanent resident
Once you’ve been given permanent residency you can leave and come back as many times as you want and for as many months or years as you would like
I am wondering about working remotely in Mexico. If you work for a US company but want to live in Mexico, do you need a Mexican work visa? I anticipate travelling back and forth every quarter or so staying longer than 180 days is not an option. The job is 100% US and can be conducted anywhere there is internet connection.
As long as none of the services you offer are rendered in Mexico, you don’t need a work permit.
I am in a similar situation, I want to live in Mexico for a year or two with a temporary residence visa- economic solvency, and continue my US remote job, while still making a US income deposited into US bank account and while still being considered a US resident who pays US income taxes and will have a US address, however my company says I can’t do this with a temporary visa, are they wrong? or are they just refusing to support it because they don’t like the idea that they would be paying me more than the cost of living in Mexico if I move somewhere cheaper. It sounds like they are just being cheap. What is the legality of working remotely with a US based income in Mexico for longer than 180 days?
You can absolutely work for a remote company that is not based in Mexico with a tourist visa or a temporary residency. The only time you would need to consider a work permit in Mexico, is if your employer is in Mexico or if your income is generated in Mexico from customers living in Mexico.
Do you know that type of temporary residency to apply for working remote and just wanting to stay beyond the 180 days? They ask on the visa form and I’m not sure what to put as the reason for obtaining temporary residency?
Hello, My girlfriend and I, with our two kids, would like to get temporary resident visas to live in Mexico. We are unmarried, but we have been planning to get married. I’m wondering if the paperwork at the consulate would be simpler if we were married (or not). I know we have to bring our marriage license if we are married. But for couples who are not married, I am having trouble finding information on if we have to bring any documentation or “prove” anything about our relationship. We plan to have her submit her bank statements and have myself and the two kids all be dependents. She has the money in her bank account to cover it. I believe it would be around $46,000 that she would need. Thanks so much for any help.
In most cases, they will need proof that you two are a common-law marriage. Such as joint bank accounts, lease agreements in both names, and such.
BUT It all depends on the consulate.
And yes, a marriage certificate will always be the most straightforward way to prove your marriage.
Thank you!! That’s very helpful.
You need to have that marriage license notarized in the issuing country and also translated into Spanish by an accredited translator before entering the starting gate.
Hello. I am approaching the end of my 4 years as a Temporary Resident. What is the process at the INM to change to the Permanent Resident. Do they have paperwork there for me to complete or is it an online process? Thanks (great website!)
Hi Marianne,
My ex-husband and I would like to get a temporary residency for ourselves and three kids. Would we need to book separate appointments at our consulate or could we do it together? He will have two of the kids under him financially and I would have one.
Hi! It depends on the consulate. In most cases each one of you needs to have their own appointments or the co sulfate has to be aware that it is multiple people. It just depends on their booking system
Got it! Thanks Marianne!
Very informative! I am a US citizen planning to move to Mexico next year. For permanent residency, can I apply now or do I have to wait until I’m actually moved or have planned intentions to move? Also, any tips on moving household goods? I am in a border town but I’m hearing you can’t take a u-haul across. Appreciate your site!
Thanks! You don’t have to wait until you move to actually apply for residency. Many people get their residency nailed down sometimes years before they actually move. Especially since things change quickly.
I would however not mention you aren’t moving to Mexico yet whenever you are asked at your consular interview.
No – you cannot take a Uhaul to Mexico. If you need our recommendations on international moving companies or private drivers who will bring a small amount of household goods to Mexico, they are included in our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide
mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hi Mariana,
This is incredibly helpful!
My South African parents are planning to move to Mexico. They haven’t been able to get in contact with the consulate there at all, so they are planning to apply for temporary residency while in California, before traveling to Mexico.
Their plan is to demonstrate a minimum balance in investments or savings of approx USD $43,000 for the last 12 months. Their investment accounts are currently split between them, however, meaning that together they meet the $43,000 requirement, but apart, they don’t. Do they need to combine their investments into one of their names for 12 months before applying? Or can they use accounts from each of their names that together total $43k?
Really appreciate your help!
It depends on the local consulate in South Africa. Some consulates will let you combine investment accounts and savings. I would ask your local Mexican Consulate
I am English 86 and unvaccinated my girlfriend is Philippines 63. I am not allowed into her country she is not allowed into mine we both speak Spanish and have only communicated by Skype for 2 years. We would like to retire to Mexico to be together.
Mexico might just be your best bet! I hope it works out for you too. If you need a relocation tour check out our tours
Hello, I found your site this evening and read most every comment and submission. All of the information and answers to questions that you provide have been very helpful to me. I appreciate your site. Thank you.
When you arrive in Mexico and go to the immigration office to get the residency card, do you need to have a permanent address, or can you be staying in some kind of temporary residence like a hotel or Bed and Breakfast while you’re hunting for a house, condo or apartment?
We recommend working with an immigration facilitator who can help guide you through this process. It depends on the local INM office.
If you need a recommendation we have them in our Mexico Relocation Guide
mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hello,
Thank you for this valuable information. My wife and I are planning to apply for PR on the basis of 12 months of financial statements. We have two children, one who is 17 years old and the other who is 20. I have two questions for you:
1) Is it possible to include our daughter in our application for PR? I know that we can’t include our son until after we have our PR when we can apply on the basis of family reunification; and
2) What is the approximate time it takes to acquire the PR card once we are in Mexico; is there a way to speed up the process? We are planning to arrive in Mexico in the middle of June, but have to leave after only 2 weeks for a weekend wedding in the U.S.. After which we’ll return to Mexico for the foreseeable future. I know that we are allowed only one entry into Mexico on the PR visa, and we shouldn’t leave Mexico until we receive our PR cards.
Yes you can add your daughter to your original application. however, depending on the consulate, they may require each applicant to prove the minimum economic solvency. She’ll likely get temporary then and after 2 years can be a permanent residency.
In most cases right now, the canje process in Mexico is taking 3-4 weeks. And you normally can’t leave once you’ve started the process in Mexico because you can lose your residency. There is a special permit you can ask for if you had to leave but they rarely approve them.
There are some INM offices in Mexico that are faster than others such as La Paz, Huatulco, Mexico City, and Juarez. If you need a recommended facilitator in those areas, we have them in our Mexico Relocation Guide
Mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hi Mariana,
Thank you for your post this is really helpful. Right now I have my resident visa, I am wondering how long does INM to issue the card when I get to Mexico? I am thinking to go to the INM in Mexico City. Since the appointment website was off, I am wondering is that still possible to get my card on the same day I walk in?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Most INM offices are taking from 1 week to 4 weeks because you have to get an appointment in person first- which is usually for a future date. Then come back and do your biometrics. Then get your card.
I have a mex permanent card how can i change my last name after marriage, i am currently in california where i need continued cancer treatment. Thank you !
information very helpful
I know they are cracking down on border jumpers my question is can I live in Mexico for 6 months then in panama for 6 months without getting residency visas from either country
Hi Mariana,
I am married to a Mexican national. I am retired. She still works. We, live in the states. We, (in her name), own a casa in BCS. Is there a simpler way for me to gain residency than the usual way for Americans, being married to her?
As a gay American single male would I have trouble getting a temporary and/or permanent visa in Mexico? And if I were a married gay male couple would there be a problem getting either visa?
Hi David- no. Being gay doesn’t matter in terms of getting a residency. If you are legally married you can apply together
Hi Mariana,
Thank you for the valuable information. When you obtain a temporary visa within proven required income, will you have to prove income each time you renew your visa?
Thank you!
No- currently you don’t
We have had property in Baja Sur for a number of years. We are now having a local contractor building a home and separate bodega on the 1/2 acre piece. My husband and I are on social security, but neither makes the monthly requirement (total is $3400 for both). Because we are using our savings to build the home, we may be a little shy for the savings requirement for past 12 months for one of us to get a permanent visa (which is what we would like). Would it be better to get the temporary visa and then apply for the permanent one in a year after our home is completed in Mexico. It will be valued at approx $450,000? How do we get it appraised and notarized for the immigration office. Thank you
Hi Debbie
In my personal experience it is rare that a consulate will let you obtain permanent residency from property in Mexico valued at 6 million pesos or more.
I think your best course of action would be to first become a temporary resident, renew for up to 3 more years after the initial year, then become a permanent.
We have a property in Baja Sur. A local contractor is building a home and bodega for us. The total value will be approx $450,000. How do we get the value notarized so we can use to obtain a permanent visa. Currently, my spouse and I are on social security but neither make the required minimum monthly amount ($3400 for both). Our savings will be a little shy of the amount needed for a permanent visa once we build the home. Should one of us apply for a temporary visa for one year and then use the value of the home to apply for a permanent visa the following year? Would the other spouse be able to apply in Mexico the following year also.
Hi Mariana,
My wife and I meet the financials for PR, however we’re in our 50s. If we initially apply for PR but are rejected, will they give us TR or do we need to start the process over again?
I will be applying for my Temporary Residency very soon. I have a partner of 10 years that may or may not move to GDL with me. Should I/we apply as a Common Law “married” couple just in case she decides that she wants to become a resident. I have the savings to cover both of us. Or will the process be difficult if we decide to do it later?
I would absolutely apply as a common law marriage if you have any paperwork to support it. Such as join bank statements, leases together, etc.
Hello,
I know this does not belong here, but how do I post a question? We are traveling to apply for our 4-year temporary residency through the special program (rt-4). I see no postings in Facebook groups regarding this
Not sure what help you need regarding that program?
Feel free to send me an email.
Buenos dias Mariana, regarding the financial requirements for the permanent visa, we get quarterly statements from our investment companies. Will this work or do we need to contact them and see about getting everything redone as monthly statements?
Many thanks in advance,
Bill
I would ask my bank to give me monthly statements
You don’t want to give them any reason to deny you
I am a US citizen and have a flight to Mexico City booked for August 29. I need to stay for several months for academic research and may need to return several times over the next few years. I had hoped to apply for a temporary residence visa in New York but the consulate had no appointments available earlier in the summer. Is it possible to begin the application in Mexico or will I need to wait until I return to the US to start the process?
Unless you’re the family member of a Mexican National or resident, you have to start the process in the US. 😀
Buenos Dias Mariana! I have my temporary resident visa (as of today!) and am ready to begin my INM process. My challenge , over the next 6 months, is to be able to enter Mexico and complete the INM process for the card in a 3 week period. I will need to return to the US for business and family reasons -I can go beyond 3 weeks by just a few days if necessary.
I have been working with an expert facilitator in just one location for some time now and the appointment timing window is now at 1 month or more in her location. ( and seemingly exploding in many locations)
Do you have the ability, in your services to look across each INM location you have lawyers/facilitators in and guide clients to the most efficiency location at a point in time?
And – is it possible in any INM location for an appointment with the INM to be scheduled for me/on my behalf, without my in country presence? BEFORE my entry into Mexico in any region? This could help to better plan for arrival time and help ensure I have more time available after the initial appointment to finish up? ( vs waiting until I am in country before a facilitator can get an appt.) I am getting conflicting information elsewhere on this question.
Thank you in advance for any thought on this you may have!
Hi there
If you need to leave by 3 weeks, I wouldn’t recommend going where it takes a month. Because that’s a best case scenario
The offices I know of where the process is done the same day are
La Paz
Los Cabos
Mexico City
Huatulco
Juarez
So, there are no locations on the East side of Mexico?
Hello Mariana,
We have started our temporary residency in Canada and now need to complete it in Mexico. We will be driving and crossing at Reynosa, so from what I’m understanding we can finish the process in Juarez in one day? We have until December 9, 2022 to get to an INM office, how much time should we allow ourselves? Should we be there by December 1st? Etc? Thank you for any help you can offer is!
Hello!
Yes- Juarez is one of the offices that can process you in one day. But you should allow yourselves at least 3 days just in case their printers stop working or they run out of plastic cards. Which does tend to happen.
Hola!
If I don’t have a residence yet in Mexico, can I just use the address of my hotel/AirBnB?
Gracias
Hi
If you are referring to when you do your canje, the short answer is yes. However, you should be aware that it is your responsibility to change your address within 90 days with INM. They can do a random check to see that you are actually living in the home that you provided the address for. Although it is rare, I figure you should know this also.
Hi, I have a question that does not seem to get addressed anywhere. If one has a temp visa (have had it since January 2023) and has no immediate plans to move to Mexico yet, used a hotel address when in country to complete the Canje and get the visa, why do I keep seeing that you’re supposed to update an address within 90 days? If you’re not living in Mexico yet, how is this possible? Or is this only for people who have moved there already? Will not living in the country be an issue at the 1-year renewal point for the TR? Thanks so much.
The law states that if you move, you are required to notify INM within 90 days of that move. Bevcause if they do a random house check and you are not living where you said you were living on your application, they can fine you or revoke your residency visa. It’s very rare they do house checks but it can happen.
That is why we have several trustworthy immigration facilitators that have a database of addresses they provide for you and if INM ever checks, they can verify you live there without jeopardizing your residency status.
Many people use a hotel address, and never change their addresses. They are running a risk.
Probably a very small risk, but it’s a risk nonetheless.
Once you move to Mexico permanently in the future, you should absolutely change your address with INM.
Hope this helps
Hi Mariana
I will be relocating to the Puerto Vallarta area. I won’t be needing information on any other region/city. Does your guide have lots of PV specific information such as; immigration facilitators, lawyers, property managers, construction contractors etc?
Thanks
Hello Erik!
We have a lot of great info on Puerto Vallarta
Including a lot of local contacts. Although I don’t have any recommendations for construction contractors in the area, I’m positive we could get you a few recommendations through our contacts there
We have immigration facilitators, healthcare brokers, relocation tour guides, lawyers, people who can help you get a drivers license and more
Hi Mariana!
I am American, and have my 1 year residency. I recently got married (to another American citizen). What is the process to get residency for my wife? I intend to renew mine in December, and was hoping there was a process to petition to get her residency without having to leave Mexico. We no longer have a House in the U.S. and her Temporary Visa will expire soon. While we know she can “cross the border” and come back, this is increasingly risky with the new procedures on FMM visas. They are not giving foreigners 180 days by default any longer.
What are our options?
Hello!
Yes you can petition your spouse without having to leave Mexico.
The process is getting an appointment at the local INM and then showing up with an apostilled marriage certificate, copies and original, your current address with proof through an electric bill, and pay the immigration fees. Some INM offices offer same day service while others give you an appointment for the future.
If you’d like to ensure you do it the right way from the very start, I recommend hiring an immigration expert/facilitator. If you need a recommendation, we have a directory of recommendations throughout Mexico
Check out our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide
mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
What form of payment do your facilitators accept from clients outside of Mexico?
For example, payment of retainer fees, etc.
Thank you.
Hi John
It fully depends on the individual
But most of them accept PayPal, bank transfer through Remitly or Wise, or cash
I am 60, retired, I have enough funds to qualify for permanent residency (combined over prescribed 222K CAD). However, for a few months I kept about 90K in a joint account with my son, which brings me below minimum if counts only my only accounts. Is this a problem?
Also, how do they treat investment accounts. Does only cash matter, or bonds and stocks too?
Regards,
Alexei
Hi Alexei,
the truth is it all depends on the consulate. Some consulates may be okay with you showing joint statements and will give you residency. But not all of them will.
My best advice is to check with your local consulate first- email them please
You rock! I just found your YT channel and signed up for your newsletter. YOu cut through all the hype and you answer all the questions!
I am just figuring it all out but really appreciate your insights.
I am looking at either Mexico, Nicaragua or Colombia to travel and then move so really appreciate all your work.
Let me know how I can help promote your work…
Eric Davis
Thank you so much Eric!
If you find my blog posts or videos to be helpful, feel free to share them!
Find all my content at mexicorelocationguide.com/blog
Saludos!
Hi Mariana
My wife has a temporary Mexican visa and a vehicle from Canada registered in her name fully insured for Mexico and TIP in place, I have a permanent Mexican visa is there any problem for me to drive her vehicle in Mexico? Of course we both have driver’s licenses from Canada.
Yes there is a problem. If you are stopped with the vehicle and the TIP is not in your name, the car could get impounded.
My husband is a dual Mexican/American citizen. We are retiring in Mexico (in the process of buying a home there) and we want to start the process of getting me my temp residency. Our local consulate (in AZ) is telling us to do this from Mexico.
Upon researching, the docs I need are simply my FMM, my American passport, my marriage license, and lease/deed/utility bill from a property in Mexico.
However, my husband changed his first name to his long time “nickname” when he became American, and I legally married him under his new American name.
He has been traveling to Mexico as an American… we recently corrected that and now has a Mexican passport under his birth name as well as a CURP in order to take property title.
We have a clear paper trail to show his birth name and American name are the same person…. But it is a combination of Mexican and USA docs.
Do I have to remarry him in Mexico under his birth name in order to achieve residency, or will proof that he is the same person through a series of documents/picture IDs from both countries suffice?
This is tricky and I would recommend consulting with an immigration expert. If you need our recommendations to reputable immigration facilitators in Mexico, we include them when you purchase our Mexico relocation guide
mexicorelocationguide.com/guide
For the canje process, is it possible to get it done within couple of days in Mexico City? That is I fly into CDMX with temporary residence visa and go very early in the morning to local INM office and stand in the queue. Can I get the residence card the same day or next day?
Mexico City does not offer same-day service anymore, unfortunately. But assuming you start lining up pretty early in the AM (before 4am) there is a good chance you’ll get an appointment for the following day. At which point they usually give you the card that same day
Marianne, I have my visa for PR and will be returning to Mexico in February 2023. Is there info out there to help me figure out the best city to do the Canje? I will be in San Miguel de Allende but could travel to Queretaro or Mexico.
Thanks,
Sharon
Hi Sharon
It all depends on whether you have to leave Mexico before a specific time or not. If you don’t, then you should do canje in the city where you plan to live
Hi Mariana! I have had my PR visa for Mexico for about 5 years now but since then have come back to work in USA and hold a USA state driver’s license. Do I still need to get a Mexico state driver’s license while driving in Mexico? I go back 3-4 times a year to spend time with my wife and kids. TIA!
Hi Kong,
There are thousands of people living in Mexico driving with only their foreign driver’s license. But if it were me, I would get a Mexican driver’s license. If you get pulled over you will likely be treated better with a local DL
And it is always easier to replace a Mexican DL than your foreign one. Plus, the only way to get local discounts is with a local ID in most cases.
Hi Mariana. Since a few weeks we are thinking of retiring in Mexico. But just wondering : the monthly incomes you have to prove are quiet high, aren’t they? We live in Belgium. And I must say, not many Belgian workers will have a monthly pension of €3.000 or $3.300. A lot of Americans are not even comming close to that amount as a pension income I guess. Yet many Americans are retiring in Mexico. If an avarage Mexican income is some $650-$700, how come they’ve set the requirements so high? Or are the requirements for retiries difirent? Greetings from Belgium.
Hi
Yes those income requirements are correct. And unfortunately we know some people will not qualify
However, The requirements are high because of the formulas they use. Not because it’s based on cost of living
Can I live in 2 different parts of Mexico with a Temp residency. I am on year 3 of my temp and i live in Cozumel. I would like to live 6 months here and 6 months in another part of Mexico. Is this achievable on a temp residency?
Yes it is possible and allowed. However one thing to keep in mind is that immigration in Mexico expects you to change your address within 90 days if you permanently move somewhere. Which they can find out if they do a random house check. It’s rare that these happen but want to let you know of what could happen
Hi Mariana
We have a four year temp residencia, and for the first time are flying into Mexico. I know we use the Residencia card at immigration, but do we book our flights with the Residencia or our passports?
Thanks
you book flights with your passport number
Hi, wondering what the requirements are to maintain PR.
Is there a minimum amount of time annually that must be spent in MX?
Gracias,
T
Hi! No- you don’t have to remain in Mexico to keep your residency. The only time being in Mexico is necessary is if you wish to renew your temporary residency. Or if you wish to apply for citizenship at some point
Hi, Mariana. In the case of a couple where one spouse has a Canadian birth certificate, the other has a French birth certificate (to replace one lost at birth from Morocco), and marriage certificates issued in both Israel and in France, what would be the easiest process? To get the apostilled marriage certificate from France or from Israel? Can the Mexican lawyer or facilitator handle the French part since it has to go through some court in France for the apostille?
Thanks.
We have a directory of apostille brokers who can help you get your documents authenticated from different parts of the world.
When you purchase our online guide, you get instant access to our directory of recommended contacts.
Mariana, I was approved for Temporary Residency but my girlfriend was not. I was told that even though I met more than twice the financial threshold to support a dependent and we showed proof that we had been in a common-law relationship for the past 8 years, they still denied her, saying that she did not meet the financial test herself and that we were not legally married. I was told that I could appeal once I am in Mexico but most of my advisors have told me that this is not possible. Any thoughts?
Sorry but common law marriages between foreigners are not usually accepted in the Mexican INM offices unless you applied for this in a Mexican court. My advice would be, get married and bring that to your consular appointment. Or get married in Mexico and petition her in Mexico.
Hi Mariana,
I’d like to apply for temporary residency. Despite meeting the criteria, I’ve been told by someone with knowledge in Latin American residencies that my type of proof for income/savings wouldn’t be accepted.
My preferred method of applying would be through the savings/investment option. However, I don’t have the the required amount in a bank going back 12 months. What I do have is a portfolio of crypto based assets (well over the amount required). I can show proof that the total value of the portfolio has exceeded the necessary amount for the past 12 months.
The other option would be to show the required income going back 6 months. Every month I withdraw the minimum amount required for my living expenses, and any left over earnings get reinvested back into my business. The withdrawals are made from my PayPal account to my bank account.
I’ve read online that some consulates that don’t dig in too deeply into the source of funds, as long as it looks like consistent income that’s all that matters.
I’d like to know which consulates out there are most likely to accept my application, and what my best options are to make this work (investments or income). I’m based in Toronto, but I’d be willing to travel anywhere if there are more flexible consulates out there.
Hi Marianna,
What are the chances of getting a regularization visa? I would love to move to Mexico but don’t meet the financial requirements anymore. I was in Mexico December 2017-February 2018. It is not stamped in my passport. I drove into Mexico.
Thanks very much!
Hi there!
If you did not go to INM when you drove across, there is no way for Mexico to know that you entered the country in those dates. And therefore you would not qualify for the special regularization
Hello Mariana,
Thanks for all this valuable information! You are very kind. My wife lost her PR here in California. She has finished all the stateside requirements at our local Mexican Consulate. We are now ready to fly back to Mexico and complete the Repositioning Process. We sold our Mexican condo that we owned at the time of her initial PR application. We are concerned about what documents will be required when go to the INM office in Mexico to get a replacement PR. Can you help?
Thanks, Mike
Hi Mike!
Depending on how long ago she lost her PR, she may have to start the process all over again at a Mexican Consulate near you.
But if you need help from an immigration facilitator to help you with the process, we can give you our recommendations
Our recommendations are included in our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide.
When you buy the guide, you get instant access to our guide on moving to Mexico and our directory of contacts.
Check out what’s included here https://mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Dear Mariana:
I am from the U.S and my wife is Mexicana . I am 57 and we have been married for 35 years. We have about 350k in Roth between us . Is it better for us that she is on the application ? I heard the visas are different in my situation . I would rather apply for permanent so we can buy a house in Mexico as well.
Hi James,
You can buy a house with either temporary or permanent residency by the way. You don’t need permanent residency to buy a house in Mexico.
If your wife is Mexican and has a Mexican passport, you can obtain residency without having to prove financials. This can be done from within Mexico.
Or you can also apply from a Mexican consulate abroad and they will ask you for between $800-$1000 USD monthly depending on the consulate.
You will also need your marriage certificate. And once approved, you finish the process in Mexico.
If you need help in the process, I highly recommend hiring an immigration facilitator. if you need our recommendations, check out our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide
mexicorelocationguide.com/guide
In the guide we include the steps to completing your residency as well as our extensive directory of contacts including immigration facilitators, realtors, real estate lawyers, notarios and more.
Hi, I have a question that I have not seen addressed anywhere. If one has a temp visa (got it in January 2023) and has no immediate plans to move to Mexico yet, used a hotel address when in country to complete the Canje and get the visa, why do I keep seeing that you’re supposed to update an address within 90 days? If you’re not living in Mexico yet, how is this possible? Or is this only for people who have moved there already? Will not living in the country be an issue at the 1-year renewal point for the TR? Also how many days before the 1-day anniversary of the TR can you renew it? Thanks so much.
Hello-
Bringing our car down along with items for our home in Baja Sur on a Temp Visa. Do we need to apply for the TIP if we have no intention of driving the car to non free zones i.e mainland? And if not what do we need to prove all this if pulled over withouit a TIP?
Also do we need to declare our house hold items or or car and pay a fee to bring them into Mexico?
Hi Alex,
No you don’t need a TIP if you don’t plan on driving your car outside the “free zone”
However, you do need to declare your household goods. If you are a resident, you qualify for one tax-free import with a Menaje de Casa certificate given to you at the consulate.
Although some people cross the border without it, and it’s a 50/50 chance that the border agents won’t make you pay anything if it seems like it’s only suitcases and clothes.
Hi, I am a US citizen and have Mexican permanent residency from having previously worked in Mexico for many years but I now live in California. (My understanding is that there is no time limit on how long I can remain outside of Mexico and keep Mexican permanent residency.)
Is it allowed for a Mexican permanent resident who lives in the US to drive his/her own US (California) plated car into Baja California?
I would never leave Baja California (Norte) with the car. My understanding is that a Mexico permanent resident cannot drive a US plated car anywhere where a TIP is required, but I have received conflicting information regarding what is allowed in (at least what used to be regarded as) the free zone. (i.e. Baja California, the special zone in Sonora and within 21 km of the border.)
Also, as a Mexico permanent resident do I need to stop for an FMM at a land border each time I cross the border between California to Baja California? The FMM is used not only as a visitor permit but also is used for “statistical purposes only” for those with resident visas. I needed to have one to cross from San Diego to Tijuana airport using CBX. The immigration official marked the FMM as “unicamente para efectos estadisticos” and “tarjeta residente permanente”. At CBX the IMN official asked me if I was living in Mexico. I told him that I was not currently living in Mexico (i.e. the truth) and he told me that I should be living in Mexico to use the permanent resident card and he would enter that I was living in Mexico. It is pretty clear that I cannot have both a visitor permit and a permanent resident card, so my only option is to enter Mexico with the permanent resident card, but the need for the statistical FMM is not clear.
Mexican immigration at auto crossings between California and Baja California is most definitely not set up to accommodate all non-Mexican nationals crossing into Mexico stopping to have an FMM reviewed.
I have just received an appointment with the Mexican consulate for a permanent visa. I am rethinking the requirements since my husband would also like to apply for a temporary visa. Should I instead ask if I can change my request to a temporary visa so that our joint bank accounts will better qualify us? We are building a house in Mexico that is almost finished so the resident visa is very important to us.
Do the consulates combine the monthy income with the bank account information to assess the individual qualifications?
Hi Deborah,
The truth is that every consulate is a bit different in the way they handle the requirements for residency.
However, most consulates do consider combined/joint accounts when determining their decision. And in some cases, some consulates want each individual to qualify independently.
Meaning that each person needs to prove $2600-$3300 USD (depending on the consulate) in income each month for the last 6 months or
43,000-54,000 USD in savings or investments each
The best thing to do is to ask the consulate directly what their requirements are. Because, again, each consulate varies slightly.
If you’d rather have an immigration facilitator check for you and help guide you, then you can hire one for this part of the process as well. If you’d like our directory of recommendations for immigration facilitators as well as all of our other contacts, I’d suggest checking out our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide. In the guide, you get instant access to a lot of the steps of obtaining residency. As well as a complete directory of facilitators across Mexico.
https://mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
I’m currently a tempory resident and that status expires in early Jan 2025. I’m trying to find information on the process to change that status but you didn’t address that issue at all.
Hi Mike
That process is explained in detail in our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide.
If you’d like to buy the guide we give you exactly the steps to follow for switching from temporary to permanent residency.
And if you need help with that process, we also give you our directory of recommended immigration facilitators that can help you.
Check out what’s included here
Mexicorelocationguide.com/guide
Hola! We are going to start the process of moving to merida soon. Me and my 2 daughters are citizens of Mexico. My wife is not. We want to get my wife permanent resident visa, how do we get it? What are the requirements? Can we get it here while in the USA? thank you!
Hi Jose
Yes you can receive permanent residency through your wife as long as you guys are legally married.
You will need to secure an appointment at your nearest consulate and bring
Your marriage certificate
An apostille for your marriage certificate
your current valid passport
And once you can prove you have ties to a Mexican national, they will likely ask you why you want to gain residency.
If you get approved, it is usually the same day. And you pay your $51 Immigration fees at the consulate the day of the appointment
If you don’t have enough income or savings to qualify for a Temporary Resident visa, can you combine income and savings?
Alternatively, can I get a Student Temporary Resident visa, which has much lower income and savings requirements (even though I’m 59)? I’d want to learn Spanish, maybe at UNAM, so would this work? Would it also turn into a Permanent Resident visa or citizenship after 4 years?
Hi Steve! Great question.You cannot combine savings and income. However, you CAN send yourself money from your savings account to your checking to make up the difference each month. After you have 6 months of bank statements with the minimum income requirement you can be eligible to apply for residency!
We are a married couple, age 65 and 60 from California. We want to move to Mexico in 3 years. Based on assets, we easily qualify for permanent residency now based on retirement savings alone, but given the uncertainty of the future, we wonder if it would be a smart move to apply for a residency visa now using an “address” in Mexico, so that we have mastered that hurdle already instead of waiting another 30-or-so months?
I would definitely secure your residency sooner than later even if you don’t plan to move to Mexico for another few years
Does the cost of your guide happen to include any discounts that could be applied to any immigration facilitators you provide contact info for?
Hi Reuven
Yes- some of the immigration facilitators we have on the COMPLETE Mexico relocation guide give our customers exclusive pricing
I just finally got my temp residence visa today, at mexican consulate in Calexico,paid the $51 fee..they said I needed to cross within 30 days “to get it stamped” so I walked into Mexico they stamped my passport and marked my fmm box” canje” 30days…I waited in line 2 hours to return to the US.
Now after reading your article I am worried I didn’t do the process correctly. It will be more than 30 days before I enter Mexico again..Did I invalidate my temp visa ?
If necessary I can cross back again within 30 days to try again.
When you get your FMM marked Canje, you have up to 30 days to go to the nearest INM office in Mexico and get your residency card. If you don’t do it in 30 days you have to start all over again.
If you need help with this process, you can hire a facilitator to help you out. Otherwise, you will cancel your residency if you don’t do it.
If you need a facilitator recommendation, we can help mexicorelocationguide.com/guide
Hi Mariana,
I’m planning to apply for Temporary Residency. My bi-weekly salary splits. Part goes to my bank account and a portion goes to my wife bank account for bills. What happens if the monthly amount going to my account does not meet the total economic solvency amount per month, but I can provide monthly pay stubs showing that I make more than the required monthly amount? How do I navigate this?
I would bring in both bank accounts to show that your entire paycheck is split. Your paystubs may not be enough to show the consulate because they will want financial documents to prove that you have that amount in your account each month.
So, to help you navigate this I would bring both bank accounts.
You’d also have to make sure both bank accounts have your name in them since you are the applicant.
Otherwise, you could use savings/investments as an alternative way to prove you make the annual requirement for financial solvency
All this to say, it also depends on the consulate you are applying at.
My wife and I just received our temporary residency visa’s in our US Passports on July 28th at the Del Rio Mexican Consulate.
We both put Puerto Vallarta on our visa applications, as our planned port of entry.
After reading your blog, it looks like Puerto Vallarta is not on the list of IMN offices that process visa’s in a shorter period of time. Since we currently live in Houston TX, we are considering going to Juarez (across the border from El Paso) to complete the temp residency process and then change our address once we secure a rental in Puerto Vallarta later this year.
Would that be allowed to get the appointment at the Juarez IMN office if we put Puerto Vallarta on our visa application ?
thanks
regards,
Bill Vannerus
Remember those things change constantly. Puerto Vallarta in 2023 is actually one of the top INM offices I recommend. They are very efficient with residents coming in for Canje
Thanks so much for the speedy feedback Mariana!! Greatly appreciated!.
I think we’ll move ahead with PV since we also want to explore more in that area to find the best rental scenario for us before we buy a few years down the road.
It’s my pleasure. I hope you find your ideal place in Mexico. Saludos!
Thanks so much Mariana! We are super excited to be getting closer to that goal.
In order to complete the “Canje” portion of our temporary visa process, do we need to show proof of international health insurance as part of this process when we go to the IMN office ?
Do US Citizens with temporary resident card/status qualify for the IMSS health coverage ?
thanks
best regards,
Bill/Mariana, can you confirm if PV does the Canje process the same day now from your experience with it?
Thanks
Ulf
PV does the Canje on the same day- but it’s very important who you hire to ensure it is done efficiently
WOW – you are still answering comments on this. That is great!! You have a lot of great information here.
We are looking to complete our “Canje” portion of our visas this month. We are considering Cozumel but really open to where we go.
1. Do you know – is the Cozumel INM one of the updated locations with the same day (when plastic is available etc (-; ) processing equipment and procedures? If not Cozumel – do you know if Playa del Carmen is updated?
2. Regarding the use of the hotel address as your “address’… is that really common? Do you just ask at the front desk of the Hilton for a copy of the power bill? ( ha ha). Actually – I asked the potential AirBNB host the question and await their reply. But it feels awkward or almost rude to ‘borrow’ their address. Or possibly you know if Cozumel is strict on this address question?
BTW – I don’t think it matters – but I am applying for my Perm visa and my wife for her own Temp visa – just in case there are special cases for those related to these questions.
Keep up the good work and THANKS for all the info!!
I would suggest Cancun or Playa del Carmen instead. And yes, using the airbnb or hotel address you are temporarily staying at is common. Make sure you write it down so you can refer to it in the future, when you try to make a permanent change of address.
Mariana, with a PR, one does not have to pay property taxes on the gain of a real estate sale, can you confirm that is the case?
What if one of the spouses has PR, the other don’t, but owned together and both are on the title?
As a resident of Mexico who owns property you are eligble to wave up to a certain amount of capital gains taxes.
To do this, you need to have an RFC and you will need to prove certain things about the property to write them off. Which means you need facturas and other official receipts.
Hola Mariana!
I am going to Mérida in a few weeks to finish my temporary residency process, but I only have 7 days set aside for my trip. Is there a facilitator in your list or that you know who could potentially help that process along?
Gracias!
Hi lex
7 days should be enough time for you to get the whole process done.
As long as there are no issues or mistakes with the residency – which is rare but it does happen
Yes, we have facilitators in Merida that can help you.
Check out our Mexico Relocation Guide. mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Thank you for the very informative article and for all comments. I had a question regarding another way to get a temp visa after COVID. I can’t seem to find any comments about that. I was told you can get a residency if you had entered MX before 2021 and left and re-entered again later. Do you know much about the details of this method? Thank you for all your help!
Wonderful article – Thank you!
A couple of questions:
How long is the Visa Sticker (issued by Mexican Consulate in United States) valid for before I have exchange it for a temporary residency in Mexico?
Do any of the Faciliators you recommend stay with the applicant through the whole immigration process in Mexico?
Again, thank you so much!
Yes all of the facilitators we recommend stay with you throughout the whole process until you obtain your residency card in Mexico.
The pre-approval sticker is valid for 180 days. But once you enter Mexico, you have up to 30 days to start the process at INM
Saludos!
Hi Mariana. Your advice & videos have been extremely helpful to our process.
I do have a question about an INM office. We have our consulate appointment in December of this year & are planning to check out the Lake Chapala area in March or so of 2024. Do you know if the INM office or offices in that area process the residency cards in a timely manner & if so, do you have any idea of the time frame? Just trying to get an idea of how long we should plan on being there.
Hola, Mariana,
Thank you for your valuable information. I just got my permanent residency visa in US as a retiree and will go to Canje in puerto vallarta in couple months. Would you help me what type of documents I need prepared? Will all people with PR visa, like my situation, 100% Canje to PR card? Any possible hurdles during this process as you know?
I don’t have any property, gonna stay in Airbnb or with friends. I remember you said PV INM is really good and efficient, I do feel lucky to live there, stayed there 3 months last winter, loved it 😍. Gracias 🙏
Hi Lucy
Congrats on obtaining your pre-approval residency stamp!
The steps and documents needed for Canje at INM in Mexico are all detailed in our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide
mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
When you buy the guide you get instant access
Mariana
Hi Mariana,
I am trying to get a temporary residence visa. I have been to the Mexican consulate in Houston where I presented my documents. I needed an employment verification letter, which I now have.
Getting another appointment for a visa has been challenging on the website.
Can any consulate issue the sticker for my passport, or do I have to get an appointment at a consulate that specifically says that it will process a visa?
The consulates in Brownsville, Eagle Pass and Del Rio specify that they will process Pasaporte, Matrícula Consular e INE. Can I still get a temporary resident sticker for my passport at one of these offices? If so, what service do I specify?
If you are booking an appointment online, you should only book an appointment if the appointment type is visa.
In my experience booking any other type of appointment is a 50/50 chance you will be asked to book the right appointment.
This is especially true if you are traveling to your appointment from out of town. You don’t want to waste those previous miles.
If you need help booking an appointment and with your residency visa process, I suggest working with one of our recommended immigration facilitators
In our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide, you get instant access to our directory of recommended contacts
See what’s included and buy it here mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hola Mariana – I am retired. If I get a Permanent Residency Visa am I automatically subject to Mexican Income taxes? I plan to spend part of the year in Mexico and recently read that if you spend more than 183 days in Mexico, you have to file taxes. I have Social Security Income and non taxable income via ROTH IRA’s.
Thanks – Irene
You are subject to taxes in Mexico if your income is generated in Mexico or you offer your services in Mexico.
If I have an online company that sells worldwide but not in Mexico (US LLC selling books on Amazon, earning royalties), am I liable to pay taxes in Mexico? I want to change tax residency because the tax rate in my country is too high…
No you are not liable for taxes in Mexico unless your income comes from Mexico or you sell in Mexico
Are there any drawbacks to having a US LLC and applying for temporary residency through financial proof? Will the LLC (EIN number be required or my personal SSN for the financial proof ?Guess I’m asking if it’s one or the other (SSN or EIN)that they will want, not both combined.
Hi Mariana,
I have received my temporary residency card in October. My wife and I have secured a 1 year rental lease in Puerto Vallarta, but my wife does not have her residency yet. I have heard that there is a “family unit” residency application process where you can submit an application at an IMN office in Mexico, if your spouse is a temporary resident. You just have to provide a valid marriage license and birth certificate of the spouse that is trying to apply for residency under “family unit” process. Is this true ?
Correct! As your legal spouse she is entitled to residency as long as you are a resident
You have to bring an apostilled marriage certificate and then need to have it translated by an official translator
Thank you for the feedback Mariana!! Really appreciated!!
I watched a YouTube video recently that was stating that ‘If a person had entered Mexico for even just a vacation, got a stamp on their US passport and then left back to the US between 2011 and 2021 that they can go back to Mexico in 2023 and 2024 and apply for a temporary residence at a Mexican immigration office in Mexico. This seems too goo to be true.
What are your thoughts on this?
I have a stamp dated 2015 on my US passport, I entered through the airport stayed one week then departed through the same airport.
Hi! This is the regularization program. It does exist and it is true that you can receive temporary residency in Mexico without proving financial solvency.
HOWEVER – you must be in Mexico and currently have an expired FMM (the tourist permit you get when you come to Mexico).
If you are not currently in Mexico, you would need to travel to Mexico and wait until your tourist permit expires. Because most land borders and immigration agents automatically give visitors 180 days, you would not qualify until your FMM expires. And because word on the street is that this program is ending in 2024, I don’t promote it or encourage anyone to fall back on this plan anymore because you’d have to wait 180 days to qualify and we don’t know if it will even still be available in 2024.
We have to wait and see what happens in 2024 before I can feel confident to tell our audience this is still an option.
But for anyone currently in Mexico with an expired FMM this is still an option they can take advantage of
I will be flying into Mexico for a 10 day trip from Phoenix, AZ. I am a USA citizen and have a Mexican Permanent Residency Card. I know I need to use my US passport, but do I do anything different when arriving in Cabo San Lucas? All of my previous trips have been driving and this is the first time flying into Mexico from the States.
Yes. It is VERY important that when you come to Mexico as a resident you DO NOT enter as a tourist. That means paying attention to what immigration marks on your passport. Make sure they see your residency card, and that they do not give you an FMM or that they do not ask you to download an FMM from a QR code- that means they entered you as a tourist. If you are entered as a tourist, you lose your residency visa and have to start all over again.
Hi Mariana,
I am retired and plan to apply for residency for Mexico. I plan to move to the Puerto Vallarta area sometime in 2024. Based on my retirement income, which consists of both my guaranteed for life pension (I am a retired educator) and my social security, I do meet the qualifications for a permanent residency now. I plan to apply for either my temporary or permanent residency within the next 6 months. Not sure which is the best route to take. Again, I do meet the financial qualifications as a retiree for both types of residencies. Which one is best for me at this point?
Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing helping those like me who are looking to make a change.
Hi Ron!
You should apply for the residency that best suits your needs based on what benefits they each have. For example with a temporary you can bring your foreign plated car for up to 4 years without paying import taxes. However you have to renew your residency after the first year and after 4 years you would have to either import your foreign plated car or drive it out of Mexico and sell it.
With permanent residency, you cannot take advantage of the temporary import of a foreign plated vehicle, but you also never have to renew your residency. You are forever a resident. Also with permanent residency it seems to be easier to open a bank account and do some other things like get an RFC.
So you see, it depends on your specific life and needs.
Hi Mariana
My wife and I just received our Permanent (her) and Temporary (me) Residency Visas in Ottawa, Canada and will be driving to our condo in Playa del Carmen at the end of this month. You mentioned in the Dec 2 email to Ron that “with a temporary you can bring your foreign plated car for up to 4 years without paying import taxes.” That is what we are planning to do this trip; once there, we will look for and purchase a car under my wife’s name. Depending on how it works out, we may defer purchasing until a year or two down the road given that we have our foreign plated car to rely on for transport im Mexico. Is there anything I need to do at the border other than getting an FMM and a TIP? Do I need to tell them I want to keep the car in Mexico beyond the 180 day allowance on a TIP? Or is there an additional process that we need to follow to keep our car in Mexico beyond the 180 day deadline?
I have a question I am a Canadian Citizen I plan on moving to Morelia Mexico as that is where my girlfriend lives how do I go about getting a Temp Visa
Also do I need to wait a specific time to apply for that or do I need to stay in Mexico for a certain amount of time.
Thank you very much
If you marry your Mexican girlfriend you can obtain residency right after getting married.
Otherwise, the process starts at a Mexican consulate near you in your home country
Hello Mariana.
My husband and I would like to apply for permanent resident cards. I am a retired nurse, (but not over 62 and not collecting a pension or SS) and my husband is still working remotely. We own a home in Baja Sur and make sufficient monthly income to qualify. We plan on being in Mexico 6-9 months a year and eventually retiring there full time. It seems like Mexican Consulate’s in the states have different requirements for this type of visa?? I’m reading a lot of conflicting information on this subject. We would prefer to become permanent residents instead of temporary for 4 years then converting. Could this be possible with our age and situation? Or, do you have to be over 62 years of age to apply for PR? If it’s possible, could you recommend a lawyer in the Portland or Seattle area to assist us. Thank you so very much for your help:)
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for your message. In my experience, out of thousands of people we have talked with about the residency visa topic- whether or not you can get permanent right away is dependent on the consulate you apply in, and whether or not they require you to be over 60 to qualify. Having said that, we have had many customers successfully receive Permanente even though they are not 60. Usually because they have more than double the investments/savings amount to qualify for permanent residency. So in lieu of age, they were given permanent residencies
Hello Mariana. My wife is working with a facilitator who processed my TR last month. She will be applying through Family Unity. I don’t completely understand what she is saying though. She said that we need to get name verification for my wife from the US Consulate. Also for me because our marriage certificate says junior, but my passport/visa does not. Do I do that in the US or in Mexico?
Hola Mariana,
Muchas gracias por tanta información valiosa. Yo tengo residencia permanente – soy alemán, mi esposa es Mexicana, aparte tenemos una hija que nació en México. Así que fue relativamente fácil de pedir la residencia en el consulado mexicano en Alemania.
¿Quisiera saber cuanto tiempo puedo salir del país sin perder mi residencia permanente?
Tal vez tengo que salir unos meses por razones familiares. Hasta ahora he recibido informaciones contradictorias y me quedaron dudas.
Muchas gracias y saludos cordiales
Michel
Hola Michel
Mil gracias por ser parte de nuestra comunidad de leedores.
Una vez siendo residente permanente, no tienes un tiempo limite a cuanto tiempo puedes estar fuera de Mexico. De hecho es un beneficio de la tarjeta permanente- que no tienes que vivir en Mexico para seguir siendo residente permanente de por vida. Ahora, si quieres algún día ser ciudadano Mexicano, entonces ahi si importa cuanto tiempo estuviste fuera de Mexico.
Thank you so much. Muchas gracias Mariana por tu amable respuesta.
Recomiendo mucho a amigos y conocidos su página y servicios.
I have searched and searched and have received both a yes and a NO to this question! I retired in Nebraska. I purchased a condo in Puerto Vallarta to live. Due to a mixup at the Mexican Immigration in Nebraska I qualified for a Permanent Residency (long story short -my ‘approved’ left on vacation, and a temporary employee finished my process without verifying my approval so stamped a Temporary Residency sticker in my passport). All that aside, I was approved as a Temporary Resident and obtained a Temporary Residency card for one year and now have renewed for 3 more years. I travel through Tijuana to see family in San Diego. Twice I have been scolded at immigration saying I needed to fill out an FMM form and provide to them to return through CBX. Twice I was told No …. Since I live in Puerto Vallarta and have a Three year temporary residency card, I don’t need to fill out what I understand is a Tourist Visa. Can you PLEASE clarify once and for all if an FMM applies to me?!?!? Thanks so much for a clear response 🌹
As a resident you should NEVER allow an immigration agent to register you as a tourist. However, I think you may be misunderstanding what immigration is telling you. The FMM is not only for tourists.
It may be that immigration is asking you to register your entry and exit when you come and go from Mexico- even if you are a resident.
I am entertaining getting the permanent resident visa. Currently living in Las Cruces NM. I meet the financial requirements. Is the El Paso, TX a consulate I should use or AZ consulates. Can I finish process Juarez? … as I don’t know when I would move. I will get your guide also. Starting to learn Spanish somewhat, enough to embarrass myself.
Thanks
Bruce
Love these articles. I’m a temporary resident in my third year. I’m changing my name in the US. How do I update my residency card? Is it at the consulate in the US, or is it at INM in Mexico?
If it’s at INM, how would I get over the border with a mismatched name in my travel docs?
I cannot find this information anywhere. There is an INM tramite for name change but I have no idea how I would even get to INM, isn’t the agent at the airport going to turn me away if my residency card has a different name? Or worse, mark me as a tourist?
Hola Dania,
To get help with your specific residency renewal process I would recommend working with an immigration facilitator.
If you’d like our directory of vetted contacts check out our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide.
mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
I have been trying to make an appointment at the Mexican consulate in San Diego, without success. My computer skills aren’t very good, which I believe that is a major problem. Would you happen to know who could help me out?
Thank you, Ellen
Hi Ellen,
In these cases, yes. I have a couple of recommended immigration facilitators that will schedule the appointment on your behalf.
To get instant access to our directory of contacts, check out our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hi Mariana.
Thank you for supplying this information regarding a complicated subject!
I live in Texas and have been to Mexico twice in the past two months. This last trip, had some thoughts. I am 61. Plenty of savings. My 85-year old mother lives in Guanajuato. I will eventually inherit her home. Can she and I transfer ownership to myself now toward gaining permanent residency? Also, I have a 56 yr old wife and three children – how does my gaining PR work with spouses, minor and adult aged children (22, 19, and 16). Or does it?
Thanks in advance!
Hi. Thanks for the great advice on here. My husband qualifies for the Regularization but myself & the children do not. I read your post which confirms that it is possible for him to petition myself & the kids later under family unity. What I want to ask is when sponsoring us under family unity do either of us have to prove income? Thank you so much :-)!
Hi Vanessa!
Thanks for your message. If your husband qualifies for residency under the RNE program, he can certainly petition you and your kids.
If you’d like help through this family unification process, I highly suggest working with a good immigration facilitator in the city of Mexico where you plan on applying for the RNE program.
If you need our recommendations, we have a complete directory of vetted contacts in our complete Mexico Relocation Guide mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Does every US consulate require a physical meeting to apply for a TRV? Do they do any online zoom/Skype meetings. The consulates are very far from where we live and just wondering if they have done such at all?
Thanks!
Hi Zetta
Yes- all consulate applications for residency are done in person at the consulate where you intend on applying. Some of them will ask you to send your documents ahead of time to ensure you qualify
Great article, thanks for sharing all the informative insights. Although I do have confusions when reading “*In some cases, you also have to be of retirement age. I’ll go over that further down. “. I am in my early 30th living in the US, and fulfills permanent residency financial requirement. What would be the best way to get permanent residency approved without going through the temporary residency status first?
You can try to apply for permanent residency, even if you aren’t over 60 yet. The worst that can happen is you’ll get temporary residency. There is no magic trick
Mariana
if i am from guatemala and was given a temporary resident visa for 6 months and planning to stay in mexico for not more than six months, i just need to attend a course for 3months, do i still have to process my canje or what process do i need?
No, in this case you just wouldn’t renew your temporary residency when you leave.
Hi Mariana,
I am a US citizen, I’m in my mid 30s. I am college educated with a good career where I live, I make around 55k-60k a year, with some fair savings.
I’d like to know what is the best way to get started to get a dual citizenship? The Yucatan area has been a dream for me since I visited the Mayan pyramids as a child. I plan on becoming a profitable day trader in stocks and options. I also fly drones for a living. Overall I feel like I have some skillsets to help me assimilate into Mexican society.
Hey Saul! That’s so awesome you have so many interests.
Assuming you don’t have ties to a Mexican national (you are not married with a Mexican, or the son of Mexican parents or grandparents.) then you would first have to apply for residency in Mexico. Most people in your case first get temporary residency. After 4 years you can apply to become a permanent resident. And you can choose to remain a permanent resident, or after 5 years of consecutive residency, you can apply to become a citizen of Mexico.
You will have to pass a language, culture and history exam and the process for naturalization takes about anywhere from 6 months to a year.
If you want help with your residency visa process, check out our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
We also give you our directory of vetted immigration facilitators that will help you with your residency visa process.
After meeting the requirements, how long does the approval process take?
The initial approval process at a consulate is usually the same day. Some consulates may have you return a few days later to pick up your passport and residency pre-approval stamp. The second part of the process in Mexico can take longer. Depending on how soon you travel to Mexico, how soon you secure an appointment at Immigration (INM) and which INM office you go to. Assuming you are wanting to do it fast, you can do the second part of the process in a couple of days (assuming all your paperwork is correct, you have paid all the fees to immigration, and you go to an office with a quick turnaround time). But truly it depends on each case.
Some cases take longer because things can happen along the way such as immigration offices running out of supplies.
Some people take weeks and for some it takes days.
We also explain this info on most of our residency videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1opjgVlJ95XJ6SYTmwKhbtJZuCJPS1iS
I don’t understand the “and up to” part of the financial requirements for getting a temporary resident visa. $2,530 “and up to” $4,600 monthly income or $42,164 “and up to” $73,000 in savings/investments. Why the variable amount?
Hi Jay
I know it’s confusing. The variances in income requirement happen because every Mexican consulate has its own economic solvency requirements. If you look at this chart (also included in this blog post) you will understand how the requirements vary
https://mexicorelocationguide.com/visa-requirements-for-mexico/
Hi tocaya…..my question is if you change your address in Mexico, do you have to reported to INM being a Permanent resident…thank you
Hola Tocaya! Yes all residents should report a change of address with INM
Hola!
I am a temporary resident card holder. How do I notify the INM that I got married?
Gracias!
You need to make an appointment in person at your nearest INM and do a cambio “notificacion cambio de estado civil”
There is some paperwork you must fill out and if your marriage certificate is foreign, then you must translate it and have it apostilled.
If you’d rather hire someone to help you with any immigration processes such as change of name, address or marital status you could also hire a good immigration facilitator.
If you need a recommendation, we have a directory of vetted contacts across Mexico that can help you. When you purchase the complete Mexico Relocation Guide you get instant access to our directory of contacts across Mexico. See our customer reviews and what’s included here mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Mariana,
Is the facilitator quote old? 3 Quotes I have 2 of them from your recommendations from the MRG is easily over $1,000- $1,500 USD per facilitator. Perhaps the video needs to be updated, since it says 50% of that price quote?
Facilitators charge from $4-10k pesos per person per process. Without knowing your entire process or the details of what the facilitator is providing it’s hard to know if you are being overcharged or not. It’s important that you ask for a breakdown of fees so you know the f their fees are reasonable or not. Are they including immigration fees? Are they having to do an apostille on your behalf? Hire an official translator? All these things can add up. I’d recommend asking for a breakdown of costs and compare. And yes, some facilitators charge more than others because they either do more or because they have more prestige. Which can translate to a faster and smoother outcome. Or it can also be that they may just be overcharging you. I would need more details.
Also, you have various recommendations you can work with in our online guide. If you don’t like the prices quoted from one of the recommended contacts, you can work with a different one.
I’d love more details if you want to directly email us- mexicorelocationguide.com/contact-us/
Hello Mariana,
My four years of Temporal Residente is nearly complete. Almost ready to start the process of switching from Temporal to Permanente. My question is what all do I need to bring to the Immigration office to complete the process. Do I need: photocopies of my passport? do I need passport sized photos? do I need to fill out the Formato Basico again? financial statements?
I want to make sure I go prepared and have all the documents that the immigration office will be expecting.
Thanks
The requirements can vary slightly from one INM to the next. But the baseline requirements can be found here https://www.inm.gob.mx/mpublic/publico/inm-tramites.html?a=thgeGuQHx2k%3D&tr=aMGJUsAf0Tk%3D&h_sdp00=giUnJ9XgtISVcdYJXduIGw%3D%3D&h_dsplp02=en
However, if you need help you should consider hiring a reputable immigration facilitator in your location that knows the specific requirements for that office.
If you need a recommendation, we have dozens of recommended and vetted immigration facilitators across Mexico that can help you. You get instant access to our directory of contacts when you buy the complete Mexico Relocation Guide. See our customer reviews and what’s included here mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hello Mariana!
Thanks so much for this in depth guide. I am trying to go through the process to obtain a Temporary Residence Visa through economic solvency now.
As a passport holder of the UK and Hong Kong, do you know if I am able to apply for this visa in a Mexican Consulate in the US? I’m much more familiar with things in the US having lived there for 8 years, but I don’t currently live there anymore due to my US visa expiring. Any idea if I HAVE to apply for this visa in the UK or Hong Kong?
Thank you for your help!
Hi Jason,
You can apply at several Mexican consulates in the USA even if you don’t live in that state. However, you will have to prove you have a visa to be in the United States. Depends on the consulate. Each consulate has different requirements.
Hi Mariana,
From the sounds of things, you don’t need a work permit for Mexico if you are intending to work remotely for your employer in your home country? I’m from New Zealand and hoping to spend a year living in Mexico, but still working for my current employer. The info I have is all really conflicting, so would appreciate confirmation!
The other question is around the arrivals process. I was intending to transit through Mexico on my arrival, visiting Central America before I officially take up my temporary resident card. Basically, I spend the night in Mexico City and return to Mexico three weeks later, when I was hoping to finish the process. I arrive at Christmas, so it simply isn’t possible to go to the immigration office then.
Am I reading it correctly, that once I arrive in Mexico for the first time, I actually can’t leave again until I get the card/complete the canje process?
Thanks!
Hola Mariane! Thank you for your great videos.
We are Canadians looking for a plan B. Do you know if the Regularization program is still in effect in Mexcio? If so, do you help with that? Sorry, I am not yet familiar with all of your services.
We are able to come to Mexico in the next month or two if the program is still available.
Thanks in advance, Wendy
Hola Wendy! Yes- the RNE/Regularization program is still in effect and you should def take advantage of it if you qualify.
We do have the steps to know if you qualify but we highly recommend hiring a reputable immigration facilitator that is familiar with the program to help you. We have recommended and vetted facilitators across Mexico that we can connect you with.
When you purchase our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide, you get instant access to the steps for moving to Mexico as well as our complete directory of vetted contacts.
See our reviews and what’s included in the guide here mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hi, thanks for the great content. Your page is very informative. I recently applied for temporary residency at the NYC office and was denied. They wouldn’t tell me why but I am sure if was because I didn’t meet the economic solvency requirements.
My mother has taken a sudden interest to Mexico City after a recent trip and has agreed to apply with me. I would be the secondary applicant as she is retired and meets the financial requirements for the temporary resident visa.
I read somewhere that the NYC office requires both applicants to meet the financial requirements individually.
I attempted to make an appointment at the Raleigh office but was told that I must be a resident of the state and denied an appointment.
Can you recommend a Consulate office. I am not really sure where to go.
thank you.
Hola! As long as you qualify for residency, you can petition your mother from Mexico without having to prove economic solvency for her. It is part of the family unification process. Mexico is very family oriented and will want to keep families together.
If you want help with your residency visa process, we include the steps in our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide. But because we know Mexican bureaucracy is hard to navigate on your own, we also include our directory of immigration facilitators in Mexico.
When you buy the guide, you get instant access to the easy to follow steps, and also our complete directory.
Find out what’s included here https://mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hello Mariana,
Your website has a wealth of information. I have 3 questions:
1. You wrote: “…You will receive a stamp on your passport when you are approved at a Mexican consulate. ..”
Does the application get his/her passport back (with the stamp) at the end of the interview
OR
the consulate keeps the passport and mail it to the applicant’s address when approved?
I have heard that if the applicant is not approved at the interview, the consulate keeps the applicant’s passport and when approved the consulate put a stamp in the passport and mail it at the applicant’s address. The applicant receives his/her passport back by mail within 10 days from the interview.
2. If the applicant does not get his passport back at the interview and does have another passport from another country (dual nationality american and canadian), can the applicant enters MX with his 2nd passport (canadian)?
3. Your website shows McAllen PR 12mths SAV of $230,489. However, MX Consulate website for McAllen shows $103,524.
https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/mcallen/index.php/servicios-para-extranjeros/visas-extranjeros
I understand you have contacted each consulate. Is it possible you can double check that economic solvency? If yes, at the same time can you please ask them when about they will accept out-of-state applicants? (currently only TX applicants)
¡Hola, Mariana! I’ve been addicted to your YT channel for about a month now. Thanks for the special with that you do!
Does your Guide have facilitators in Chihuahua. I’m strongly considering obtaining my CANJE in Juarez next month, unless it is not advised for safety reasons. Thanks.
Hi Tina
I don’t have someone in Chihuahua but I do have a variety of recommended facilitators that can help you with all the paperwork remotely. You’d just have to secure your appointment in person on your own
Thanks for your prompt response, Mariana. I’ll find another location, as I’ve been advised not to go there so would only do so if I was meeting a person familiar with the area.
Keep up the greatness!
Hola Mariana,
My spouse and I may have to enter Mexico with an expired 1 year RT. It will only be expired by a day or two. I understand we will have 5 days to go to INM to get the extension. Will this be more complicated than if we renewed before expiry date?
Does it matter that I qualified as family when we made application at embassy?
Your vast knowledge has guided us to this point. We thank you so much for your dedication to helping those looking for the correct path.
Hi Anthony- thank you for the support! Not sure if it will be more complicated or not because you let the card expire before renewing- but then again the very best people to help guide you in that question are the immigration facilitators for that area. Because the little nuances of immigration do vary from one office to another. If you’d like help with your renewal and need an immigration facilitator recommendation check out our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide- mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
On the list of documents for our application, Temporal, McAllen, TX, it says
• Valid US visa for multiple entries and one photocopy*
I am not sure what this is. We have our passports and they have been stamped several times. Do I need to copy these stamps?
We leave Saturday to drive to McAllen. I have everything else.
Thanks!
If you are not a US Citizen, this refers to your visa which allows you to be in the USA. If you’re a US Citizen, you only need your valid passport.
PLEASE NOTE THAT AS OF SEPTEMBER 17 2024, MOST INM OFFICES REQUIRE APPOINTMENTS TO BE MADE ONLINE.
Hi – Have the rules for changing from temp to perm also changed? the link you posted upthread shows that bank statements are required with the usual multiples, also some point system which they say has not gone into effect yet.
Hi Mariana,
Thank you for all the helpful information. I’m a Mexican national married to a US citizen, and we have two kids. I know I can apply for dual citizenship for my girls, but I’m not sure what’s the best approach when it comes to my husband’s residency. Is it easier/better to go with a tourist visa and then apply for residency once in Mexico?
And if so, would we need to get remarried in Mexico or is our US marriage license sufficient?
Thank you for your time and help.
Jackie
Hi Jackie!
We recommend trying to apply for your husband’s residency at a Mexican consulate near you first if you are not in Mexico yet. If you’re applying at a Mexican consulate, your US marriage certificate should be enough. However, check with that local consulate on exactly what they require.
Hi Mariana
Thank you for this wealth of information. I am an Indian national and have a question on the RNE Program. I am a former US resident and I visited Mexico once in Dec 2014 so my guess is that I would qualify for the RNE program at some INM offices but am not sure.
Also, about overstaying or letting the FMM expire – will this not lead to a problem with immigration because of violation of terms of entry?
Hi Mariana,
Great information! Wondering if you can help me with a question about transitioning from a tourist visa to temp residency.
My husband just transitioned from tourist visa to temp residency. We were told to show up at the INM office in our local city, a day after his FMM form expired. They charged him the fine for letting the FMM expire, I understand that is their process, which isn’t fair because we showed up a week prior to expiration but they wouldn’t let us renew then. I get that it’s their process and he obtained his temp residency.
The question I have is, my FMM expires on a Saturday, so can’t go the day after, is that an issues? Do the charge a fine for each day I stay past my expiration date? And then another issues is that my FMM form expires on December 21, and I am told that the offices close for two weeks? Can you provide me any info or direction on what I can do?
Then another level of complications, we have a foreign car and the TIP form is under my name. We were told that the car will also receive an extension according to my Temp Residency dates. But I am concerned with the closure of the office, with the Aduana office extend the TIP form when it’s days past its expiration date?
Thanks for any help or info!
Hola Mariana,
I am in the process of returning to PV for my three year temporary residency this coming January. The first time around, the INM office ran out of plastic and I had to return the following month just to pick up the card. My question is, can I actually purchase the plastic that is used for the card and bring it with me…just in case they run out? What type of plastic is used? Thickness? Someone suggested http://www.quill.com to purchase it, but I am not sure exactly what type is used for the cards or if its even allowed to present at the INM office. Thanks in advance for your guidance. Love your channel and all that you do!
After some thought I imagine that for security reasons, the INM office generally relies on their own vendors and secured sources for these materials, so they probably don’t accept externally sourced plastic.
I guess this was misinformation given to me regarding bringing my own plastic and wishful thinking. LOL I am guessing my best bet is to check in with the INM office before my visit to see if they expect any delays in card production. However, I already planned my trip…airline, housing etc. already so hopefully everything will work out.
Yeap- they won’t allow any external materials
How much money do I need to show in the bank to get permanant residency in Puerto Vallarta?