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If you are applying to become a resident in Mexico, there are specific immigration fees you should be aware of. These usually increase each year and are different based on which residency visa or immigration process you will be applying for.
Check out our Mexican resident visa guide for a full explanation of the application process (beyond fees).
Visitor Visa (tourist)
When you travel to Mexico as a tourist, you will either drive across the border, fly in or take a cruise. And in case you didn’t know this, there is a fee that Mexico charges foreigners to process their FMM or forma migratoria multiple, which is essentially your tourist permit to travel around Mexico.
The cost of this is $861 MXN (about $45 USD)
You can pay for your FMM at the INM offices on the land borders if you are driving across. However, if you are traveling to Mexico for less than 7 days, it is free.
All foreign tourists must stop at INM on their way into Mexico and process their FMM even if you are staying for just a day or two. There are checkpoints where, if you get caught without an FMM, you can be sent to a temporary immigration jail. If you are a resident or national, you don’t need to stop at INM or pay the FMM fees.
If you are flying to Mexico, the airline automatically charges you this amount when you reserve and pay for your ticket. No need to pay for this again. If you are not a tourist, you can apply for a refund. But in my experience, getting a refund is a marathon.
If you are taking a cruise to Mexico, the cruise line automatically charges its passengers for this permit to enter Mexico. However, you aren’t given an FMM as you’d normally get if you were flying or driving to Mexico.
Temporary Residents
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 $54 USD/ $80 CAD or the equivalent based on your home country’s currency. The consular fee 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.
Because most Temporary Residents are initially given their residency card for one year, you can expect the cost of this to be $5,570 MXN.
After the first year, you will have to renew your residency visa and can only do so for up to 4 years. These are the costs for renewal
- 1 Year $5,570 MXN
- 2 Years $8,347 MXN
- 3 Years $10,571 MXN
Permanent Residents
If you are given permanent residency at the Mexican Consulate that approved your residency, your visa is indefinite and does not need to be renewed. You only pay $6,789 MXN once (about $340 USD).
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.
RNE Program- Regularization Program
- The 4-year Temporary Residency Fee: $12,529 MXN
- An RNE Fee for Immigration to do a Study on Your Case: $1,780 MXN
- And a Fine For Overstaying your FMM Allowed Time: $2,171.40-$10,857 MXN- varies by case and by INM office.
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.
The cost of this work permit is $$4,182 MXN
Permanent Residents are given permission 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.
Temporary Residents Changing to Permanent Residency
After 4 years as a Temporary Resident, you can become a permanent resident. The process is very straightforward and needs to be done in Mexico.
The cost of this change in your residency status is $1,780 MXN.
Exit and Re-Entry Permit
Any new resident of Mexico who is coming to process their canje (the exchange of their residency stamp for a residency card) CANNOT leave Mexico without written permission from INM. Doing so will cancel your residency process, and you will have to start over again.
For this, INM has a special exit and re-entry permit for people in special circumstances. With this permit, you are allowed to leave Mexico for a period of up to 60 days. At this point, you will have to come back to Mexico and cannot leave until you have your residency card in hand.
The cost of this permit is $569 MXN
Read this to determine if you are eligible for residency in Mexico.
Who Can Help You To Obtain Residency in Mexico?
Mexican bureaucracy can be challenging and time-consuming, especially for anyone who has never had to deal with immigration in Mexico.
And although it isn’t impossible to process your residency on your own, the process can be frustrating and confusing. So, who can help you ensure you have a smoother experience?
Hiring An Immigration Facilitator
However, remember that an immigration facilitator’s fees are on top of immigration fees. And you can expect to pay an immigration facilitator anywhere from $5,000-$10,000+ MXN per person (approx $250-500 USD). Depending on who you hire, what services they offer, how much they will do for you or expect you to do on your own, how many people in your family they are helping, and a few other factors.
A good and reputable immigration facilitator can help guide you through the residency process in Mexico. And because the process varies slightly from one INM office to another in Mexico, it’s important to hire a facilitator familiar with local norms.
Hiring a local expert who knows the immigration processes will not only save you time, but it can save you money. Not to mention saving you some frustrations.
Because of this, I have put together a directory of my recommended immigration facilitators across Mexico. I have them in a variety of cities in different states of Mexico. If you’d like one of our recommendations, check out our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide.
