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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 get a Mexican Resident Visa legally. 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 be in Mexico legally.
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.
If you prefer to watch a quick video, watch the one below. Otherwise, the whole guide is further down.
Learn how to get your Mexican Resident Visa the right way. We cover the process for Temporary and Permanent Residency. Get instant 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? As a tourist from the USA, Canada or one of the countries below, you can stay in Mexico for up to 180 days as a tourist. You are issued a visa upon arrival if you fly to Mexico and you don’t need to apply for a visa before hand. These are all the “no visa required” countries to travel to Mexico.
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.
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 Mexican 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.
Coupled with that is the unfortunate and terrible advice some “experts” give their audiences on YouTube, advising you to just overstay your FMM. But believe me when I tell you that what they don’t explain is that you can easily get detained by immigration authorities in Mexico if you are caught with an expired FMM and be deported back to your country. While that happens, you will be detained in an immigration jail in Mexico. Trust me, you won’t like it. This isn’t meant to scare you, but rather to give you a realistic view into the risk you run.
Flying Into Mexico
Some of you will be flying into Mexico to finish your residency visa process.
The fee for an FMMD 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 FMMd upon arrival. You must check the time they write into your FMMd when you arrive in Mexico so that you don’t accidentally overstay your visa permit. Please remember that all airports will issue Digital FMMs (FMMd).
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 $861 MXN as of January 1st, 2025.
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, you have to find the nearest INM office. Usually they are at the land border. Once you register your entry to Mexico, 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 $1,084.19 MXN, approx $53 USD– depending on the exchange rate. And you have to pay a deposit, which ranges between $300-500 USD, depending on the vehicle.
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. 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.
Solvency Requirements for Mexican Temporary Residency
For temporary residency, the following formula is used, and we have an approximate amount in USD based on an exchange rate of 20 MXN to 1 USD.
Monthly Income Requirement
- Formula: 300 x daily minimum wage
- Total in USD: Approximately $4,083 + USD per month
Savings Requirement
- Formula: 5,000 x daily minimum wage
- Total in USD: Approximately $68,066 USD
The income requirements vary by consulate and are NET (after taxes).
Solvency Requirements for Mexican Permanent Residency
For permanent residency in Mexico, the economic solvency requirements are typically higher. Using a daily minimum wage of 278.80 MXN and an exchange rate of 20 MXN/ 1 USD, here are the updated totals:
Monthly Income Requirement
- Formula: 500 x daily minimum wage
- Total in USD: Approximately $6,806 + USD per month
Savings Requirement
- Formula: 20,000 x daily minimum wage
- Total in USD: Approximately $272,270 + USD
The income requirements vary by consulate and are NET (after taxes).
The solvency requirements for a temporary or permanent residency visa in Mexico vary depending on which consulate you apply to. See 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-$1,800 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 to which you intend to apply.
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 $54 USD/ $80 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 at a Mexican Consulate. 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.
Immigration Fees Mexican immigration fees 2025
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.
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
- Reduced capital gains taxes owed 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 to 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 Mexican Residency 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:
- When arriving through an airport, do NOT use the automated kiosks designated for tourists. These will automatically register your entry as a tourist and will invalidate your residency visa. Always speak to a human.
- 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 fret- you can always get Permanent residency after 4 years as a Temporary resident without proving economic solvency.
- 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. If you are not living in Mexico yet, don’t worry- update your address with INM as soon as you have a permanent home in Mexico.
- Suppose you are applying for residency through economic solvency 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 local Mexican consulate’s requirements.
- If you are applying as a married couple, some consulates want you to bring apostilled marriage certificates. Even if the document is from the same country as the location of the consulate. Be over prepared!
- 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 for Canje, 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.
- When you arrive at the airport or a border crossing, always present your residency card first. If you don’t, you might be mistakenly marked as a tourist, and in some cases, this could result in losing your residency visa.
- 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 at 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 for Canje.
- Most temporary residencies are initially for one year. 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.
- Don’t forget that dates in Mexico are formatted DD/MM/YYYY- don’t miss renewing your temporary residency because you read the expiration dates wrong.
- When being interviewed at a Mexican Consulate for residency, don’t volunteer any information you are not asked. For example- mentioning that you will no longer be employed after moving to Mexico which means you won’t have a steady income anymore. Only answer what you are asked ☺️ And focus on what makes Mexico magical- the people, the culture, the food, the beauty!
- Getting your Mexican Residency Visa is an important part of the process for moving to Mexico- Be patient. Allow enough time when you travel to Mexico to finish the process. A one day turnaround is NOT guaranteed.
FREE MOVING TO MEXICO CHEAT SHEET
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 immigration, and it 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.
Many 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.
