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This is a long blog post. But I promise it will help you understand the changes happening. So please read it entirely to fully get the point I am trying to make about the upcoming changes. Thanks- Mariana 😉
There’s been a recent announcement from the head of the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF) that could impact the financial requirements for Mexican residency applications for those applying under economic solvency.
How Things Were in 2025
In 2025, most Mexican consulates calculate the financial requirements for temporary residency based on Mexico City’s current daily minimum wage.
So here’s what you’re typically required to show in 2025:
- Monthly income of around $4,400-$4600 USD
- OR $68,000–$80,000 USD in savings/investments
Again, this varies slightly depending on which consulate you apply through and what the exchange rate is at the time you apply.
Projected 2026 Increases for Solvency
Mexico’s minimum wage went up 13% in 2026 to 315.04 pesos daily.. So if consulates continued to use the minimum wage formulas, then income and savings requirements will also go up.
Here’s what that wouldlook like in 2026 for a Temporary Residency Visa
- Income requirement: ~$5,100 or more USD/month
- Savings/investments requirement: ~$86,000+ USD
UMAs Were Introduced
But then, a big announcement was published in the DOF on Friday, July 25th 2025, and now things are looking a little different…
The announcement in the DOF suggests that Mexican consulates SHOULD begin using the UMA (Unidad de Medida y Actualización) instead of minimum wage as the base for calculating residency income requirements.
We expect the changes to be implemented across all Mexican consulates in 2026 and going forward.
If UMAs Are Adopted, What Would the Requirements Be?
If the UMA becomes the new base calculation, the income and savings requirements would actually drop slightly or stay the same. But NOT increase!
So instead of a jump to about $5,000+ USD/month, the monthly income requirement stays at about $4400 USD in 2026. That’s a big difference and game changer!
Depending on the exchange rates.
And instead of needing $86,000+ in savings, you need closer to $72,000 USD for the past 12 months.
Please keep in mind you need to prove one or the other. Not both.
For the latest information on solvency requirements for a Mexican Residency Visa, see our FREE Mexican Residency Visa Guide
What Is UMA and How Is It Calculated?
UMA stands for Unidad de Medida y Actualización. It’s a unit of measure used in Mexico for things like fines, penalties, and government calculations. It’s adjusted annually, but typically goes up only around 3–5% each year, unlike minimum wage which has jumped 12% per year recently.
For 2026, UMA is set at $117 MXN per day. Each year it increases by about 3-5%.
Why This Change Matters
This shift would help keep the residency requirements more stable year after year.
And here’s why that’s important:
- Minimum wage has been increasing fast, creating higher barriers for residency applicants. The solvency requirements for Mexican Residency were $2k/ Month in income USD in 2022 and now they are over $4k/month in income. That’s how minimum wage impacts your eligibility.
- UMA increases are smaller and more predictable. About 3% Year over year vs a 20% increase Year over Year.
- This change would let you plan ahead financially without worrying about huge, unpredictable jumps in requirements.
For the latest information on solvency requirements for a Mexican Residency Visa, see our FREE Mexican Residency Visa Guide
Mexican Immigration Fees
You should also not confuse the income requirements with the immigration fees. The solvency requirements are what is used to qualify for residency. Whereas the immigration fees are what you pay to INM to process your residency visa.
As of 2026, here are the latest immigration fees for Mexican residency visas.
Another Rumor to Clear Up: “No, You Do NOT Need to Live in Mexico To Be A Resident”
There’s another rumor going around saying that you now must live in Mexico in order to apply for a residency visa. That is false.
Mexican laws would have to be changed very clearly to enforce something like that, and that has not happened.
I’ve seen some people online (including some so-called “immigration experts”) saying this, and frankly, it might be because they don’t know how to properly guide their clients and want to avoid bad reviews. So instead of admitting that they’re not prepared, they spread confusion.
Please don’t let fear or misinformation guide your decision-making.
What Did I Miss? Was This Helpful?
Remember, this is a game changer moving forward. This helps all of you have more clarity in the future on what the solvency requirements will be every year.
I’ll keep watching this closely and will post any updates across my channels, email, livestream, blog, and anywhere else I can. So, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter here– this is where I first post any updates.
