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Are you dreaming of living in Mexico permanently? Whether you want to retire in paradise, start a business, or enjoy a new lifestyle, obtaining permanent residency in Mexico can be a game-changer.
But navigating the complex immigration system can be daunting, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the requirements and procedures or the language.
That’s why I’ve put together the ultimate guide to obtaining permanent residency in Mexico.
From the different types of visas to the application process and the benefits of becoming a resident, we’ve got you covered. Our comprehensive guide is designed to help you achieve your goal of living in Mexico hassle-free.
You’ll discover the steps, the documents you need, and the common pitfalls to avoid. So whether you’re a digital nomad, a retiree, or a semi-retired, read on to learn everything you need to know about obtaining permanent residency in Mexico.
Benefits of Permanent Residency in Mexico
There are many benefits to obtaining permanent residency in Mexico. One of the most significant benefits is the ability to work legally.
With a permanent residency visa, you can work for any employer in Mexico without a work permit. And if you have social security benefits or other pensions paid to you by your home country, you do not have to pay taxes in Mexico.
Another benefit of obtaining permanent residency in Mexico is the ability to travel in and out of the country without restrictions.
With a permanent residency visa, you can leave and re-enter Mexico as often as you’d like with no issues. This is a significant advantage for those who frequently travel back and forth to visit family in the U.S. or Canada.
And there is no law requiring you to live in Mexico permanently, so you can leave Mexico for an extended amount of time and still remain a resident.
Qualifying For Permanent Residency
There are four types of permanent residency visas in Mexico. Each visa has its requirements and benefits. They are:
Economic Solvency
Most Mexican Consulates require applicants to be retired and at least 60 years old to qualify for permanent residency. And some consulates require you also to be retired and no longer actively working.
To qualify for this visa, you must prove that you have had a monthly income of at least $4,300 USD for the past 6 months or savings of at least $43,000 USD for the past 12 months. However, the income requirements vary by consulate. Here are the most up-to-date income requirements for residency in Mexico.
Family Unity Visa
A Family Unity visa is for individuals with family ties to a Mexican citizen or permanent resident. The benefit of residency through family unity is that you don’t need to prove economic solvency.
To qualify for this visa, you must be
- A parent to a Mexican citizen child.
- A parent to a Mexican permanent resident child.
- The child to a permanent resident parent, even if you are adopted. As long as you are under 18 and not married.
- A child declared incompetent and under the permanent resident card holder’s legal guardianship.
Eligibility Requirements for Permanent Residency in Mexico
You must meet certain requirements to be eligible for permanent residency in Mexico. The requirements vary depending on the consulate you are applying in. Some general requirements include the following:
– A valid passport
– Proof of financial solvency- varies by consulate
– Be of retirement age
Documents Needed for Permanent Residency in Mexico
You must provide several documents to apply for permanent residency in Mexico. These documents will vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for. However, some common documents include the following:
– Valid passport
– Birth certificates when applicable
– Marriage certificates when applicable
-Financial statements
It is essential to ensure all your documents are in order before submitting your application. Any missing or incorrect documents can result in a delay or rejection of your application.
Application Process for Permanent Residency in Mexico
The application process for permanent residency usually begins at a Mexican Consulate near you. However, it depends on whether you are applying based on economic solvency or through family ties in Mexico.
- Set an appointment at your nearest Mexican consulate.
- Receive an answer from the Mexican Consulate on approval or denial of residency.
- If approved, you get a temporary stamp on your passport.
- That residency stamp is valid for up to 180 days.
- Need to travel to Mexico to exchange that stamp for a card- aka Canje.
- Once in Mexico, you have up to 30 days to go to INM– aka Immigration In Mexico.
- Schedule an in-person appointment at INM -either the same day or a future date.
- INM will ask you for some documents, your temporary stamp, pictures and fingerprints, and payment.
- Receive your residency card. And now you’re done with the residency process.
Additional Reading:What Is Canje?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are several common mistakes that applicants make during the application process. These mistakes can result in the rejection of your application or delay the processing time.
Some Common Mistakes Include:
- 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 four years as a Temporary resident.
- 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.
- When you enter Mexico, you have 30 days to start the process at the immigration office nearest you in Mexico, aka INM.
- You cannot leave Mexico until you receive your residency card if you have to leave while in the Canje process, you must ask for permission from INM. Otherwise, you lose your residency.
- 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. Make sure they mark Canje on your FMM and NOT Tourist.
- The stamp you get at your Mexican Consulate dictates the type of residency card you get at INM. If you received a temporary residency stamp, you can’t request permanent residency once you go to INM.
Cost of Permanent Residency in Mexico
The cost of permanent residency in Mexico depends on the number of people in your family applying, if you need to get documents apostilled and translated, and whether you hire an immigration facilitator.
The application fee at your local Mexican Consulate in 2023 is $51 USD.
The cost of an immigration facilitator range between $4,000-$8,000 Pesos per person.
And the fee paid to INM for 2023 is $6,226 Pesos per applicant.
Having documents apostilled can cost between $20 USD- $200 USD. It depends on whether you hire a 3rd party to help you or request the documents yourself.
Benefits of Hiring an Immigration Facilitator
Navigating the immigration system in Mexico can be challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with the laws and procedures or speak Spanish.
Hiring an immigration facilitator is money well spent and will help you avoid any mistakes that could result in the rejection of your application or a significant delay. An immigration facilitator can also help you book your consulate appointment, help you prepare for your interview, and make the tedious process in Mexico seem like a breeze.
But you also must consider that not all immigration facilitators are good at what they do. And there are A LOT of scammers out there taking advantage of people who don’t know any better. Many scammers claim to be professionals who take money from their victims and deliver fake documents.
And some “facilitator” also charge outrageous amounts for the process because their customers don’t know any better.
That’s why you want to hire a reputable immigration facilitator who is reasonably priced and also very good at what they do.
Next Steps
Obtaining permanent residency in Mexico can be a game-changer for those who want to live in Mexico long-term.
With the ability to work legally, access affordable health care, and the freedom to travel in and out of the country without restrictions, becoming a permanent resident in Mexico is an attractive option for many.
However, the process can be complicated, and making mistakes is easy if you don’t know what to watch out for.
That’s why we created our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide. Our online course gives you simple-to-follow steps, up-to-date requirements, and a directory of vetted and reputable immigration facilitators, apostille brokers, and so much more!
That way, you get your residency in Mexico the right way and with the least amount of headaches.
Hi
With regards to same sex married couples, each person must qualify separately and there is no option for having marriage certificates to be used as proof of marriage as it’s not recognized at the federal level for immigration.
Please add this to the document.
The option to do the following is not possible.
“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.”
This is not accurate. Same sex marriages don’t have to qualify independently
One person can qualify and petition their same sex spouse in mexico as long as they are legally married
Luik, This is not true. My same sex marriage was recognized by the Mexican consulate and we received our temporary residency cards and going to permanent after 4 years. We are both US citizens.
Hello Mariana, my wife is a Mexican citizen born & raised , would I qualify for family unity visa or permanent resident visa ? Thanks for all your help and information.
Hi Ronald
Yeap you sure do! As long as you are legally married, the process for you to obtain permanent residency is fairly straightforward.
If you live abroad, you start the process at your nearest Mexican consulate. If you live in Mexico, you start the process at your nearest INM
Immigration facilitator? How to know one’s authenticity?
Why not an approved Immigration Attorney?
Because you don’t need an immigration attorney to help you in Mexico unless your case is very complicated- such as seeking asylum or seeking refuge because of some crime in your home country. A facilitator doesn’t need to be an immigration attorney in Mexico to provide expert guidance. And regarding how to know one’s authenticity- it takes a lot of research and knowing what questions to ask. We’ve done all that research and we know how to find only the most reputable facilitators that have excellent reviews. That’s why our online guide is so valuable. If you’re a newbie and know no one, our guide introduces you to the best network of people in Mexico. We save you hundreds of hours of research and save you money by not hiring the scammers. And we never get paid by our recommendations so we only recommend the people we absolutely trust
mexicorelocationguide.com/guide
Looking to move to huatulo. Have been reading all you have posted. Need housing 3bed furnished have good retirement, 1 level. My husband is a us veteran, married for 59 years. We live in oregon. Thank you
Hi Marilyn thanks for following us!
You can easily find houses in Huatulco- my biggest advice is that you will find some of the best rentals by actually spending some time in Huatulco and finding the best gems not advertised online. But if you need to find something before you get here, then I would suggest renting an Airbnb for at least 2 weeks so you can explore and find something in person
Hello Mariana,
Can my husband and I qualify for temp res if I am still working but don’t plan on working in mexico just using the income for qualifications. ? He is not working nor taking social security yet.
Yes you can receive temporary residency if you are still working. However some consulates may require you to bring a letter from your employer stating you will continue to be employed after moving to Mexico. If they don’t ask you for this letter, I would NOT volunteer that you don’t plan to work after moving to Mexico because that could make you seem like you won’t have a way of supporting yourself after moving.
My son was born in Mexico but lives in the US. My wife and I wish to retire early @ 58 years old. We also qualify financially now, but I want to work a few years.
What is the best approach? Do we use our son’s citizenship? Does he need to live Mexico? Or can we just demonstrate we have the funds?
Thanks!
Your wife and you can obtain residency through your son. You can start the process at a local Mexican consulate.
Hello Mariana,
Thanks for all the advice and guidance on this site! 🙂
I have just completed my permanent residence application at my local consulate in London. (my wife is a Mexican citizen, and both my children are Mexican citizens)
Phase one is complete, as I now have my 180-day entry permit in my passport.
However, for phase two “Canje”, I am concerned about the time it takes as I am still working and we are planning to move to Mexico later in life, and thus cannot spend weeks waiting for the whole process.
Do you need to apply at the INM in the same state where we are planning to live?
Do they issue the residence card at the local INM, or does this get sent somewhere else like Mexico City for processing?
For the Canje, do I need the family present, or is it sufficient to only show their applicable documents?
Is it possible to make an appointment with INM without being in Mexico?
Is there any way to speed up the process?
Your advice and guidance are greatly appreciated!
Thanks
EB
I MAKW $2000 CANDIAN PER MONTH CAN I APPLY FOR MEXICAN RESIDENCE I AM SINGLE WHITE MALE 72 YRS WOULD LIKE TO BUY PRPERTY IN MEXICO THANKS GIL
Hi Gilbert.
Unfortunately in 2023, the minimum income requirement for residency in Mexico is $4500 CAD a month
However they also take savings and investments as proof of income. You have to prove you have at least a balance of $77,000 CAD for the past 12 months
Hello Mariana,
My husband qualifies for permanent residency, I will not. However, I found this on the web. Will this be the best approach? We have been married for 50 years and are retired age 70 & 69.
“If one of the partners applies for Permanent Residency alone, the other partner can enter Mexico as a visitor, and afterwards apply for residency in Mexico under the Family Unit rules.
When residency is applied for this way, the immigration office in Mexico will grant the dependent spouse/partner two years of Temporary Residency and, after those two years, you can apply to exchange that for Permanent Residency.”
That would save me time and money.
Good news! You can apply for residency under your husband as his dependent 😊
I’d recommend working with a facilitator to help you with this process.
If you’d like our directory of recommended contacts which includes immigration facilitators check out our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide. See what’s included here Mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
We are in Mexico for the winter on a 180 day tourist visa. We have purchased a condo and would like to apply for permanent residency and would qualify under the Economic Solvency requirement. Can we apply for permanent residency while we are in Mexico or do we need to return to Canada to start the process?
You will need to apply for residency outside of Mexico at a Mexican Consulate or Embassy. You can however, likely apply for the RNE residency while you’re in Mexico. However you will only receive a temporary residency visa not a permanent residency. See the requirements here https://mexicorelocationguide.com/regularization-program-residency-in-mexico/
Hi Mariana
Your site is the most complete and clear I’ve seen. Thank you especially for the information on the different income requirements of the different consulates. In terms of qualifying does my 401K balance qualify?
Hola- thanks for the support! Yes 401ks should qualify you for the savings/investment requirement for residency in Mexico. To be absolutely sure of the requirements, it all depends on which consulate you apply in. So please verify the requirements with the consulate directly.
would we have to give up our US citizenship?
No- you never have to give up your citizenship to become a resident in Mexico.
Hi,
Excellent content!
We are a Canadian family of 5 living in Texas with my dependent spouse and children ages 13, 15, and 18.
Do I apply for the Mexican permanent residency at the US or Canadian Consulate here in Dallas, Texas?
Would I then apply for family reunification for my spouse and children once in Mexico?
Thanks!
Hi! Thanks for the support. Assuming you are applying through economic solvency you would apply at your local Mexican consulate. Not Canadian consulate. And since you are in the USA there is no US consulate in the USA 😉
I would recommend trying to apply for your family at the Mexican consulate you plan to apply in. If for whatever reason they are denied or they don’t get approved, you can then petition them from within Mexico. But you are required to have more documents translated and apostilled. So if you can apply for them at the Dallas Mexican Consulate go ahead and try that first. Your 18 year old does not qualify as a dependent unfortunately. They are considered an adult and would have to prove their own economic solvency.
Hi, do you have a list of Immigration Facilitators that you can recommend?
Hi Christine- I do.
Its’ part of what you get when you purchase the COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide. You get instant access to our directory of vetted and recommended contacts- which includes immigration facilitators. And we have recommendations all over Mexico. see what’s included here mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hi Marina,
I would like to obtain permanent residency. My wife and son are duel USA/Mexico citizens. The financial requirements are not an issue. However, I am not old enough to retire and we do not live in Mexico. Will I still be able to obtain permanent residency?
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Patrick
Hi Patrick
As the father of a Mexican national, you can apply for permanent residency in Mexico.
Thank you.
Hello, I just retired at age 56 1/2 (minimum early retirement age). Do I have to wait until I am 60 to qualify?
You can apply for temporary residency before turning 60. That way you apply sooner than later
That would be my recomendation
Then once you have been a temporary resident for 4 years, you can apply for permanent residency from within Mexico
Hi Mariana,
Thank you for all this valuable information.
If I am granted a permanent residency visa from Mexico, would I be considered a taxable resident of Mexico if I am only there for a couple weeks each year?
Hi Tara,
You are required to pay taxes in Mexico if your income is generated in Mexico, regardless of how many weeks or months you spend in Mexico. For example if you own a rental investment property, if you sell services in Mexico, if you work for a Mexican company, etc.
If you don’t work in Mexico and your income is not generated in Mexico, then you do not have to pay taxes in Mexico currently. However, you have to check what the tax laws are for your home country when living in a foreign country.
Saludos!
Thank you so much for replying!
hi i am with my partner for over 20 years she is Mexican national but we are not legally merit in Canada as here we are as merit couple can i apply for Mexican residency
Unless you are legally married, she cannot petition you as a family member. However, if you are willing to get married in Mexico then she can easily petition you under family unity.
You will first get a 2 year temporary residency before you can apply for a permanent residency.
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 mexicorelocationguide.com/guide/
Hi Mariana,
I have very much enjoyed your YouTube channel. Thank you! I can’t seem to find the answer to this question anywhere, so I thought I would ask you. My daughter is married to a Mexican citizen and they have two children who are also Mexican citizens. They currently live in the US, but are seriously considering moving to Mexico within the next couple of years. Would having Mexican grandchildren, make it possible for my husband and I to obtain temporary or permanent residency without the financial requirements? We would actually like to start the process now, before they move. My daughter doesn’t yet have any sort of Mexican residency.
You could ask for residency through your daughter whenever she becomes a resident. Grandchildren aren’t a direct relative to be able to receive residency.