Get help to plan your approach when you apply for residency in Mexico, and practical tele-assistance as you make your own way through procedures related to applying for and managing your residency status in Mexico.

How the Tele-Assistance support service works

The tele-assistance support service saves you time and helps avoid common mistakes made by applicants.  This section describes the application stages and support offered at each stage.

Tele-Assistance Service Plans and Fees

Our associate’s service fee options are designed to flex with your individual situation. Consulting and assistance fees exclude the government fees applicants must pay to apply for residency in Mexico.

All service plans include an initial consultation by phone/videocall/email/chat, confirmation of the required procedures, completion of the forms and letters, custom checklist of documents you’ll need to carry, and written instructions about where to go and what to do when you arrive at the immigration office.

Make a service request for Tele-Assistance

To hire our associate to assist you, please complete the request form below.

What happens next?

• After you complete the form, our immigration assistance associate will contact you to request payment for the Tele-Assistance service.
• When you’ve paid, they’ll get in touch to schedule your initial consultation and begin the Tele-Assistance service.
• Mexperience will send you an email to confirm these details.

The visa sticker the Mexican Consulate issues in your passport gives you one-time entry to Mexico as a legal resident, and you must arrive at a port in Mexico before it expires (usually six months after its issue date), and you must exchange this sticker for a residency card within 30 days of your arrival in Mexico.

Assistance with the visa-to-card exchange process

A special process exists to exchange the residency visa sticker in your passport for a residency card, and this must be done in person at a local immigration office in Mexico.

The procedures involve completing some forms, and writing a letter (in Spanish) requesting the exchange. You must attend your local immigration office in Mexico with the paperwork correctly completed to finish the residency application process and  exchange the visa sticker in your passport for a residency card.

Tele Assistance or Accompanied Assistance

Our associates offer a choice of tele-assistance that enables you to attend the immigration office in Mexico yourself fully prepared with all the forms and other paperwork duly completed and ready to file, and they offer accompanied assistance at selected locations in Mexico if you want someone to prepare all the paperwork and accompany you to file at the immigration office.

Time scales to exchange your visa for a residency card

You must arrive in Mexico and begin the exchange process before the visa expires, which is usually 180 days (six months) after its issue date, and within 30 days of your physical arrival in Mexico—and we recommend that you don’t leave it to the last minute!

Some immigration offices process exchanges and issue the residency card(s) on the same day you attend the immigration office in Mexico, and sometimes offices ask applicants to return, usually within 1-3 weeks after their filing date, to complete the process.

You can learn more about current time scales on this article.

Learn more and make a service request

Our immigration associates are experienced professionals who have helped thousands of people through immigration procedures over the years.

• Learn about tele-support services for immigration
• Learn about accompanied services for immigration
• Don’t have a visa yet? Apply for Residency for the first time
• Residency card renewal? Renew an existing residency card

• You intend to retire in Mexico or are already retired and want to move here.
• You own a house, or intend to buy a house, in Mexico.
• You live in Mexico part of the year and don’t want the hassle and risk of using visitor permit for your regular stays here.
• You intend to make a significant change in your life and work style and move your life situations to Mexico.
• You move to Mexico primarily for work reasons, usually under the auspice of a formal work contract.

Qualifying for residency in Mexico

When you have made the decision to apply for legal residency in Mexico, you will need to consider which route you will use to apply.

• Our article about the principal routes for obtaining Mexican residency summarizes the main routes most people use.
• Most applications are made via the ‘economic solvency’ route—i.e., proving that you have sufficient funds to sustain yourself here.
• If you have specified types of family connections in Mexico, you may apply for residency via the Family Unit rules.
• If your income or savings are insufficient due to the recent rises in those qualification criteria, there are some other routes that might be open to you.

Type of residency in Mexico

Mexico offers two main residency types: Temporary Residency (Residencia Temporal), and Permanent Residency (Residencia Permanente).

Permanent residency is obtainable without having temporary residency first, but the situations that allow this are very limited, and thus most applicants begin holding temporary residency first.  After four consecutive years of holding temporary residency, you may apply to exchange this for permanent residency.

• Learn about the difference between temporary and permanent residency.
• If you’re a couple applying for permanent residency together, read this.
• Note that temporary residency does not automatically come with permission to work in Mexico—this needs to be applied for and granted separately.

The residency application process

When you have determined how you will qualify, and what type of residency you will apply for, you can begin the application process.

• Most applications for residency must begin at a Mexican Consulate abroad.
• If your application through a Mexican Consulate abroad is successful, a residency visa sticker will be placed in your passport. This sticker must be exchanged for a residency card in Mexico before the visa’s expiry date—usually six months after its issue date.
• Family Unit applications and applications through special procedures can be made at an immigration office in Mexico.
• If your application is one of the few that can be made at an immigration office in Mexico, you will exchange your visitor permit (or other visa type you might have) for a residency card in-country.
• Learn more about the government fees for residency permits, and typical time scales for obtaining residency in Mexico.

Residency card renewals and exchanges to permanent residency

When you take possession of your residency card, you will gain certain legal rights and obligations as a resident in Mexico and you’ll need to manage your ongoing status, thus:

• In most cases, your first temporary residency card is issued for only one year*
• After the first year, you can apply to renew your temporary residency for a further 1, 2 or 3 years.
• After holding temporary residency for four consecutive years, you may apply to exchange this for permanent residency.
• If you don’t want permanent residency, you can allow the temporary residency card to expire and restart the process with one year of temporary residency.
• Permanent residency cards issued people aged 18 years and older never expire. Minors (aged under 18 years) need to renew their permanent residency cards periodically until reaching the age of 18.

*Temporary residency cards issued by immigration offices in Mexico to foreigners who are married to Mexican nationals are issued for two years.  Temporary residency cards granted through this temporary Special Procedure are issued for four years.

Mexico residency card use and management

Your Mexico residency card serves as a form of official identification in Mexico, and may be accepted abroad as form of government-issued ID.

• You must present your residency card when you enter Mexico, and each time you leave the country.
• If you’re a temporary resident, you’ll need to manage renewals to keep your legal residency status valid.
• You need to file notifications about certain changes in your personal circumstances at your local INM office.
• If you lose your residency card, or it becomes damaged beyond use, you’ll need to apply for a replacement.

For more details, read our article about managing your resident card and residency status in Mexico.

Learn more about residency in Mexico

Mexperience publishes information and resources to help you learn about how to apply for and obtain legal residency in Mexico:

• Learn about the principal routes to obtaining legal residency
• The difference between temporary and permanent residency permits
• Financial criteria for residency in Mexico
• Time limits on Mexico’s visitor and residency permits
• Rights and obligations when you have legal residency
• Renewing your residency permit
• Temporary residency: expiry and renewal

When you plan to apply for legal residency in Mexico, Mexican immigration law states that applicants for residency need to fulfill certain criteria.

Most applications for residency are granted on the basis of ‘economic solvency’ and these criteria intend to ensure that people applying for residency by this route have the economic means to sustain themselves in Mexico.

Financial qualification criteria for 2024

There are four principal routes to qualify for residency in Mexico using your financial means / assets.  They are:

• By demonstrating you have a minimum monthly net income; or
• By holding a minimum balance in personal savings/investments; or
• By owning a house in Mexico with a specified minimum value; or
• By making a specified capital investment in a Mexican company.

You must qualify financially with the minimum amount required under one of the above.  You cannot mix means/asset types; for example, you cannot mix income & savings, or savings & house value.

The financial account statements (or property title deed, if you use your Mexican house value) must be in the name of the applicant.

Typical amounts required by means/asset type

This section describes the monetary amounts Mexican Consulates typically ask for to qualify for Temporary or Permanent residency under each means/asset type mentioned in the previous section.

Residency in Mexico using your monthly income

When you intend to use your monthly income to apply for a residency visa at a Mexican Consulate abroad, you need to demonstrate monthly net income as described in the table below.

See also: Difference between temporary and permanent residency.

Residency in Mexico using your personal savings/investments

When you intend to use your personal savings/investment balances to apply for a residency visa at a Mexican Consulate abroad, you need to demonstrate savings and/or investment balances as described in the table below.

Residency in Mexico using the market value of your residential house

You can apply at a Mexican Consulate for Temporary Residency if you own a residential property in Mexico (not abroad) and you can demonstrate that:

• the property has a minimum market value of MXN$9,957,000 pesos (approximately $586,000 US dollars), and:
• the property must be situated in Mexico;
• the property value must be free of any liens (debts, charges, or mortgages);
• the value to demonstrate is that noted on the title deed/sales contract, or from a recent official valuation;
• the name(s) on the title deed/sales contract must match that of the applicant.

Residency in Mexico using a capital investment

You can qualify for Temporary Residency if you commit to investing in a private Mexican-owned company or a company or companies listed on the Mexican stock exchange.

• You must make a capital investment of at least MXN$4,978,600 pesos (approximately US$293,000); and
• the capital must be invested in one of a prescribed set of ways; and
• these applications are considerably more complex than applications made using the other three ‘economic solvency’ routes.

Notes and FAQs

This section contains some accompanying information about the amounts quoted above. Also read the next section (Appendix) to learn about Mexico’s Minimum Daily Wage & UMA and how these affect economic qualification criteria.

See also: FAQs: Obtaining Residency in Mexico via ‘Economic Solvency’.

Exchange rates

We used an exchange rate of 19 Mexican pesos (MXN) to 1 US dollar (USD) to calculate the USD-equivalent amounts in the illustrations.  Mexican Consulates abroad and immigration offices in Mexico may apply distinct exchange rates that might not reflect these illustrations, and/or the latest market rates.

Financial requirements vary by consulate

It’s common for ‘economic solvency’ requirements to vary between consulates. The differences usually arise due to the variation in the exchange rate applied by each consulate to calculate the figures in the local currency where the consulate is situated.  However, requirements quoted by Mexican Consulates are broadly aligned with Mexico’s 2024 Minimum Daily Wage multiples—see next section for more details.

Dependent spouse
(married couples/common law partners)

If you’re applying for residency as a couple, you do not need to demonstrate double the amounts expressed above.

Instead, one spouse/partner will need to demonstrate income or a savings balance in the amounts above (as the principal applicant) plus an additional sum of income or savings balance equivalent to 100x Minimum Daily Wage (MDW) or UMA for the dependent spouse/partner.

If you are legally married, you will need to show your marriage certificate.  Common-law partners need to consult with the consulate they apply at to ask about what proof of common-law partnership they ask for; requirements vary by consulate.

Read this if you are applying for Permanent Residency as a couple.

Also read these FAQs for more details about couples applying together.

Dependent minors

If you’re applying for residency with dependent children, note that only minor children (aged under 18 years) can be included on the application as your dependents.

For minor children dependents, you will need to demonstrate income or a savings balance in the amounts above for the principal applicant plus an additional sum of income or savings balance equivalent to 100x Minimum Daily Wage (MDW) or UMA for each dependent minor child. (See the next section in this guide about how figures are calculated regarding MDW and UMA.)

Also note: Both parents must be present at the interview to sign the application for the dependent child(ren), otherwise a notarized letter from the absent parent authorizing the application must be submitted alongside the application.

Family Unit applications

“Family Unit” applications are those where the applicant has specific family ties or roots in Mexico, for example, Mexican parentage or a Mexican spouse or common-law partner. Learn more about Family Unit residency applications.

Permanent residency

Mexican Consulates are requiring applicants ‘to be retired’ to grant applications for Permanent Residency right away—even when applicants meet the economic solvency requirements.

If the applicant has the economic means for permanent residency but does not otherwise qualify, the Consulate will usually offer to grant Temporary Residency instead.  Read this if you are applying for Permanent Residency as a couple.

Student residents

Financial qualification criteria for student residency permits are considerably lower (see the tables in the next section) but note that student residency permits carry restrictions that non-student residency permits don’t have.  Work permissions can optionally be sought with student residency permits.

All applications

Every application is dealt with on a per-case basis and the Mexican consulate abroad or immigration office in Mexico retain ultimate discretion to accept an application—and thereafter grant or deny that residency application.

Appendix: How the amounts are calculated

Under Mexico’s immigration law, applicants seeking residency in Mexico via the route of ‘economic solvency’ need to demonstrate amounts of money based on “multiples” of either Mexico’s official Minimum Daily Wage (MDW) or Unidad de Medida y Actualización (UMA).

The values of MDW and UMA rise in January each year, and the value of these determine the financial criteria to qualify for residency in Mexico.

UMA 2024: $108.57 pesos; MDW 2024: $248.93 Mexican pesos

• Minimum Daily Wage for 2024 is $248.93 pesos
• UMA for 2024 is $108.57 pesos.
• Mexican consulates abroad continue to use Minimum Daily Wage (MDW) for their calculations, and do not appear to be adopting UMA in 2024 to calculate their residency qualification criteria.
• Immigration offices in Mexico are using UMA values for their calculations.

How qualifying ‘multiples’ work

Depending on the type of residency applied for, applicants must demonstrate varying (x) multiples of UMA or Minimum Daily Wage (MDW).

The table below illustrates the legally-stipulated multiples required for various residency types.

* Family Unit applications are those whereby the applicant has specific family ties or roots in Mexico.

UMA 2024: $108.57 pesos; MDW 2024: $248.93 Mexican pesos

‘Multiples’ table based on monthly income

This table illustrates the minimum monthly income that must be demonstrated in the 6 months preceding your application date (some consulates ask to see 12 months).

The amounts below are expressed in Mexican pesos (MXN) with an approximate equivalent in US dollars (USD), based on the legal multiples of UMA or Minimum Daily Wage (MDW) required for qualification.  See the section above to learn about how the ‘multiples’ are applied in these calculations.

US dollar amounts illustrated in these tables use an exchange rate of 17 Mexican pesos to 1 US dollar.

* Family Unit applications are those whereby the applicant has specific family ties or roots in Mexico.

UMA 2024: $108.57 pesos; MDW 2024: $248.93 Mexican pesos

‘Multiples’ table based on savings/investments

This table illustrates the minimum savings/investment balance (cash or investments) required, and this minimum balance must be demonstrated for at least a full 12 months preceding your application date.  For monthly income, see previous section.

The amounts below are expressed in Mexican pesos (MXN) with an approximate equivalent in US dollars (USD), based on the legal multiples of UMA or Minimum Daily Wage (MDW) required for qualification.  See the section above to learn about how the ‘multiples’ are applied in these calculations.

US dollar amounts illustrated in these tables use an exchange rate of 17 Mexican pesos to 1 US dollar.

* Family Unit applications are those whereby the applicant has specific family ties or roots in Mexico.

UMA 2024: $108.57 pesos; MDW 2024: $248.93 Mexican pesos

Learn more about residency in Mexico

Mexperience publishes information and resources to help you learn about how to apply for and obtain legal residency in Mexico:

• FAQS: Obtaining Residency in Mexico via ‘Economic Solvency’
• Learn about the principal routes to obtaining legal residency
• Learn about the difference between Temporary and Permanent residency
• Find the latest residency-related fees charged by Mexico’s government
• Our free Mexico Immigration Guide encapsulates essential information about visas and residency permits for Mexico.

The figures and calculations quoted in this article are based on legally-stipulated multiples of income/savings/assets, and the exchange rate cited for US dollars.  They are provided in good faith, without warranty. For personal assistance with your application, consider requesting our associate’s Mexico Immigration Assistance Service.

Foreign birth certificates and foreign marriage certificates are the most common, but there are others.  This article describes what the notarization and apostille procedures are and what circumstances commonly call for them.

Certification of foreign-issued documents for use in Mexico, or to submit to Mexican consulates

Before the Mexican authorities will receive certain types of foreign-issued legal documents for processing, it’s necessary to get these “Apostilled.”

In practice this means that when you need to submit foreign-issued legal documents in Mexico or at a Mexican consulate abroad, you need to go to a “competent authority” in the country where the document was issued, and get certified copies Apostilled.

Documents that most commonly need this Apostille include birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates; institutional diplomas; and certificates of company incorporation.

Each country has its own procedures for doing this and you should search online for more information, e.g. “apostille of documents in [country] or [state]” to ensure that your documents are properly apostilled for use by the Mexican authorities.

The international Apostille Convention

The Apostille Convention, as it’s known, is an international treaty that many (but not all) countries are signatory to. The convention sets out a procedure through which a document issued in one of the signatory countries can be certified for legal purposes in all the other signatory countries.

Mexico signed up to the treaty in 1995, making it simpler for people to present their foreign-issued legal documents here.  The USA, most countries in Europe, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Russia, India, South Africa, and Japan are among major countries also signed-up to the treaty.

Signatory and non-signatory countries

To find out if the country where your document(s) were issued is a signatory to the convention, check this list on Wikipedia.

If the country that issued your document(s) is not a signatory, alternative certification procedures may exist, and you should contact the Mexican consulate or Mexican government office you are treating with for advice about the alternative requirements.

Notarizing documents for Apostille

Official documents issued by governments (e.g. birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates) can be directly apostilled (or in Canada, authenticated) by the government of the country in which they were issued.

Any other documents, e.g. bank statements, investment statements, need to be Notarized first and then sent to be apostilled.

The difference between Apostille and Notarization

A certified copy or notarized document by itself is not apostilled.

An Apostille is a specific type of legal certification (as per the International Convention) given by a government department with the authority to certify documents issued in that country for legal purposes abroad.

You need to contact the government department responsible for apostilles in the country where the documents were issued to get documents apostilled.  Online services also exist in some countries that will do this on your behalf for a fee.

A Notarization is a seal given by a Notary Public to certify the authenticity of the document(s) they have reviewed. The seal is the equivalent of swearing verbally under Oath in a court of law that the facts contained in the document are true.

Apostille of legal documents issued in Mexico

If you have official documents. e.g. Birth Certificates and Marriage Certificates, that have been issued in Mexico and need to get them apostilled for official use outside of Mexico, you can find information about notarizing Mexican documents here.

You might also want to contact a Notary Public in the state where the documents were issued for further advice.

Apostille of Mexican marriage certificates

If you get married in Mexico and live abroad (or plan to live abroad) it’s a good idea to get your Mexican marriage certificate Apostilled in Mexico in case you need this for official use outside of Mexico; it needs to be done in the Mexican state you were married in.  The local Registrar’s office or your wedding planner will be able to advise you about how to do this.

Applying for legal residency in Mexico

If you apply for legal residency in Mexico from your home country, the Mexican consulate will not normally ask for your home country issued documents, e.g. marriage certificates, bank statements, etc., to be notarized or apostilled (in Canada, ‘authenticated’) to accept them.

However, if your key documents were not issued in your home country (e.g. you got married abroad, or you use bank/investment accounts outside your home country to qualify economically) or you are applying for Mexican legal residency from a third country instead of your home country, the Mexican consulate will ask for key documents to be apostilled.

When you you intend to exchange your residency visa for a residency card, you need to allow for the necessary time required to make the exchange, and thus complete the residency application process.

Applying for the visa exchange

To apply for the visa-to-card exchange, you must visit the local immigration office nearest to your (intended) home address in Mexico within 30 days of your physical arrival in Mexico.

• The electronic booking system as immigration offices in Mexico is offline and therefore, you must attend your local immigration office in person to request a future appointment date for the exchange, or to request a ficha ‘token’ for your exchange. Some offices will attend you that same day.
• Whether you are asked to request a future appointment date or ask for a token depends on which office you attend; procedures vary by location.
• Future appointment dates are usually given within 1-2 weeks from the date you request it—depending how busy the local office is.  Visa-to-card exchanges are typically completed within 4 weeks from the date you request your appointment/token.
• There are only a limited number of tokens issued each working day and whether you are attended that day or asked to come back another day will depend on how busy the local office is when you go to process your paperwork.

Your visa will remain valid when you begin the exchange process

Once you have a future appointment date set (or a token), your residency visa will not become void, even if the residency cards are issued after the visa’s expiration date—that is 30 days from the date you arrived in Mexico, and no more than 180 days from its original issue date.

Leaving Mexico during the exchange process

It’s important to note that once you enter Mexico with your residency visa(s) you cannot leave Mexico while you wait for your appointment date.

If you leave the country before you file the visa exchange (canje) paperwork, the residency visa will become invalid, and you’ll have to reapply for residency from the start.

Once you have filed the paperwork, you can optionally apply for a one-time exit/re-entry visa if you need to leave Mexico and return.  See the section below about this.

Residency cards might be issued on the appointment date—but not always

When you attend your interview on the set appointment date (or you get a ‘token’ for the exchange at the local office), the residency card(s) might be issued the same day; but many offices issue them two-to-three weeks afterward.

If your card is not issued on the same day, the immigration office will issue you with a case number (“pieza”) instead, and their system will send you an email inviting you to return to the immigration office to complete the procedure and get your residency card(s). Almost all visa-to-card exchanges are currently being completed within 2-3 weeks from the date you request your appointment/token.

If you have filed the exchange request, you can apply for an exit/re-entry visa

If there’s a delay in issuing your residency card(s) and you need to leave Mexico, you can apply for a one-time exit/re-entry visa.  Note these important points:

• You cannot apply for a one-time exit/re-entry visa if you are waiting to file your paperwork; you must have a case number to request an exit/re-entry visa. (You get a case number when you file your paperwork at the local immigration office.)
• The one-time exit/re-entry visa needs to be requested using a special form with a covering letter explaining the force majeure that requires you to leave. There is a fee to pay as well.
• If your request is approved, the one-time exit/re-entry visa will be issued and valid for only 60 calendar days. You must return to Mexico before the 60-day period expires: if you don’t, your entire residency application will become void.

Assistance with the visa exchange procedure

If you already have your Mexican residency visa(s) in your passport(s) and now need help with the exchange procedures, our associate can assist you.

The service begins with a personal consultation with our associate to explain the procedures to you in detail and ensure that your paperwork is in good order; they will also answer any questions you have.  The service goes on to provide practical help and support as you make your own way through the visa exchange procedure including:

• providing you with a checklist of all the documentation you’ll need to gather as part of the visa-to-card exchange procedure;
• review of your documentation for accuracy and completeness;
• filling-out the various application forms;
• writing the necessary letters (in Spanish); and
• the service also provides ad-hoc advice and troubleshooting (if needed), as you move through the application.

Please note that our associate cannot guarantee time scales, ‘fast track’ nor obtain preferential treatment for any applicant.

Learn more about the visa-exchange service and make a request

Learn more about residency in Mexico

Mexperience publishes information and resources to help you learn about how to apply for and obtain legal residency in Mexico:

• Once you have your residency card, you need to present it each time you leave and re-enter Mexico. Learn more about entry and exit procedures.
• These are the typical time scales when applying for Mexico residency visas and cards
• Learn about the principal routes to obtaining legal residency
• Read about the financial criteria to qualify for residency in Mexico
• See the latest residency-related fees charged by Mexico’s government
• Learn about the typical time scales involved when applying for residency in Mexico
• Download our free eBook: Mexico Immigration Guide that encapsulates essential information about visas and residency permits for Mexico.

See also: The differences between Temporary and Permanent residency.

Financial qualification requirements

If you apply for residency in Mexico as a couple using the route of “economic solvency,” the principal applicant must show the income or savings/investment amounts required for qualification, plus an additional 100x Daily Minimum Wage or UMA for the dependent spouse/partner.  The additional amount required for the dependent spouse is the same whether you apply for Temporary or Permanent Residency.

Key points about applying for Permanent Residency in Mexico

When you apply for permanent residency on the basis of economic solvency, you don’t have to hold temporary residency before applying for and being granted permanent residency, but:

• the financial criteria to qualify for permanent residency are higher; and
• Mexican consulates abroad now require the applicant(s) “to be retired” to apply for permanent residency right away—even if they qualify economically; and
• if you apply for permanent residency as a couple, the dependent spouse/partner will only be granted Temporary Residency to begin with (as described in this article).

A dependent spouse/partner can only obtain Temporary Residency to begin with

A quirk exists in the rules when you are applying for Permanent Residency as a couple.

When you apply for Permanent Residency as a couple (married couples, common-law partners, including same-sex partnerships are all recognized by Mexican immigration law), the principal applicant will be offered Permanent Residency, but the dependent spouse/partner will only be offered Temporary Residency to begin with.

This can later be exchanged for Permanent Residency: after four years if the application is made at a Mexican consulate abroad; or after two years if the application is made at an immigration office in Mexico—as described in the sections that follow.

Options for couples who want to apply for Permanent Residency in Mexico

If you and your partner intend to seek Permanent Residency in Mexico together, these are three options to consider:

Apply at a Mexican consulate abroad as a couple

Applying together as a couple at a Mexican consulate abroad, you will present your application with your marriage certificate (or proof of common-law partnership—check with the consulate about what they require for this).

The principal applicant will need to show the income or savings/investments required for Permanent Residency plus and additional 100x Daily Minimum Wage.

If the application is accepted, the principal applicant will be given a Permanent Residency visa and the dependent spouse will be given a Temporary Residency visa. These need to be exchanged for residency cards in Mexico.

The dependent spouse will need to renew the Temporary Residency card after one year for a further three years, and at the end of the fourth year can apply to exchange the Temporary Residency card for a Permanent Residency card.

One partner applies for residency at the Mexican consulate, the other applies in Mexico

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.

When you go to the immigration office in Mexico to apply for your dependent spouse/partner’s residency permit, no additional proof of economic solvency requirements are usually asked for, but note that when you apply with your partner/spouse for residency in Mexico under the Family Unit rules you will need to have your marriage certificate apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator in Mexico.  If you are not legally married, you need to ask the local immigration office what proof they require of your common-law partnership.

Both partners apply separately, not as a couple

If you’re a couple seeking Permanent Residency and you each have sufficient income or savings/investments to qualify in individually named account(s), you can apply separately for Permanent Residency. You do not need to show your marriage certificate in this situation.

If your income or savings/investment accounts are in joint name accounts and you apply separately, those accounts will need to show double the income or savings/investments required, and you will need to show your marriage certificate.

Learn more about residency in Mexico

Mexperience publishes information and resources to help you learn about how to apply for and obtain legal residency in Mexico:

• Learn about the difference between Temporary and Permanent residency in Mexico
• Learn about the process for applying for residency in Mexico
• Read about the financial criteria to qualify for residency in Mexico
• Read our free Mexico Immigration Guide that encapsulates essential information about visas and residency permits for Mexico
• Get assistance with applying for residency in Mexico as a couple

Differences between Temporary and Permanent residency

The most significant difference is that temporary residency permits need to be renewed at least once if you stay in Mexico more than a year, whereas permanent residency permits issued to persons aged 18 and over never need to be renewed and never expire.

Temporary residency permits

Mexico’s temporary residency permits last for between 1 and 4 years.

Your first temporary resident permit is always granted for only one year* initially and you can thereafter renew your temporary residency for 1 to 3 more years (for a maximum of 4 consecutive years).

At the end of a consecutive 4-year period of temporary residency, you can:

• apply to exchange your temporary residency status for permanent residency status within 30 days before your card’s final expiry date; or
• purposely allow the permit to expire and then enter a regularization process to restart an application for temporary residency within a specific time period; or
• leave the country and surrender your legal residency status.

Financial criteria: The financial qualification criteria for temporary residency are lower than those needed to apply for permanent residency and, after holding four consecutive years of temporary residency, you can optionally apply to exchange your temporary residency for permanent residency, usually without the need to prove economic solvency.

Working: Note that not all temporary residency permits carry permission to work in Mexico. Work permissions need to be requested and granted separately.

Time allowed in Mexico: When you have temporary residency in Mexico, you can enter and leave Mexico as many times as you wish and there are no time limits on how long you have to remain in Mexico each year to keep your residency status, although renewals and notifications of changes must be processed at an immigration office in Mexico, in person.

*Married to Mexican national or existing foreign resident? Learn more about residency through marriage or common-law partnership.

Permanent residency permits

When you apply for permanent residency on the basis of economic solvency, you don’t have to hold temporary residency before applying for and being granted permanent residency, but:

• the financial criteria to qualify for permanent residency are higher; and
• if you apply for permanent residency as a couple, the dependent spouse/partner will only be granted Temporary Residency to begin with; and
• Mexican consulates abroad now require the applicant(s) ‘to be retired’ to apply for permanent residency right away—even if they qualify economically.

Path to permanent residency: For those who don’t qualify for Permanent Residency right away, there is a path to exchange temporary residency for permanent residency (see next section below).

No expiry date for adults: Once permanent residency is granted, your residency card never expires and you do not have to renew your residency status as you do with temporary residency, although note that minors under the age of 18 years must renew their permanent residency cards periodically—see section below.

Changes & notifications: As an adult, you don’t need to renew your permanent residency card but you do need to notify your local immigration office of any change of address, civil status, as well as any changes in employment if you work in Mexico. These notifications must be made at an immigration office in Mexico, in person.

Time allowed in Mexico: When you have permanent residency in Mexico, you can enter and leave Mexico as many times as you wish and there are no time limits on how long you have to remain in Mexico each year to keep your residency status; although if you intend to apply for citizenship, you will need to prove that you have been situated physically in Mexico for at least 18 months in the past two years preceding your application date.

Residency cards issued to minor children

If you have minor dependent children (aged under 18 years) in Mexico, note that special rules apply in regard to the issuance and renewal of their residency cards, thus:

• children under 3 years of age are given temporary or permanent residency cards for one year at a time, and these must be renewed in Mexico annually; and
• children between the ages of 3 and 17 years are issued with temporary or permanent residency cards for a maximum of 4 years at a time and must renew them in Mexico; and further note that
• children under 18 years of age holding permanent residency cards need to renew these as above. When they turn 18, their permanent residency will become indefinite and the card will no longer expire or need to be renewed.

Exchanging temporary residency for permanent residency in Mexico

People who want to live in Mexico indefinitely but only qualify for temporary residency can apply for temporary residency to begin with and, after four consecutive years* of temporary residency can apply to automatically exchange their temporary residency status for permanent residency in Mexico.

Near the end of the four consecutive years holding temporary residency, you can apply to exchange your Residente Temporal permit for a Residente Permanente permit. The transfer from temporary to permanent residency is undertaken at your nearest immigration office in Mexico with an application procedure and payment of the processing fees.

You do not need to redemonstrate your economic solvency when you have held temporary residency for four consecutive years and apply to exchange this for permanent residency.

*Married to Mexican national or existing foreign resident? Learn more about residency through marriage or common-law partnership.

Should I apply for temporary or permanent residency in Mexico?

Choosing to apply for temporary or permanent residency will depend on whether:

• you plan to live in Mexico only for a defined (temporary) period and then leave the country; or
• you are not yet decided about your longer-term plans when you apply; or
• you intend to stay in Mexico very long term (indefinitely); or
• you intend to stay very long term (indefinitely) but don’t qualify for permanent residency right away.

Temporary residency

Applying for Temporary residency is the better choice if:

• you plan to stay in Mexico for a while and then leave; or
• if you want to stay indefinitely but don’t qualify for permanent residency right away.
• If your plans evolve and you decide to stay in Mexico for longer, you can extend your temporary residency (for a maximum of 4 years) and after four consecutive years apply to exchange temporary residency for permanent residency if you want to.

Permanent residency

Applying for Permanent residency is the better choice if:

• you intend to live in Mexico indefinitely and qualify with the higher income or savings / other criteria required for permanent residency; but
• note the quirk in the rules, and application options, if you intend to apply for Permanent Residency as a couple.
• Applying for and being granted permanent residency right away negates the need for you to apply for renewals of a temporary residency permit, which translates into less processing time and less cost.

Learn more about residency in Mexico

Mexperience publishes information and resources to help you learn about how to apply for and obtain legal residency in Mexico:

• See our detailed summary about how to apply for residency in Mexico
• Learn about the principal routes to obtaining legal residency
• Read about the financial criteria to qualify for residency in Mexico
• Learn about applying for Permanent Residency as a couple
• See the latest residency-related fees charged by Mexico’s government
• See our free Mexico Immigration Guide that covers all of the essential information about visas and residency permits for Mexico.

Continually revised & updated guide to visas and residency permits for Mexico

Mexico Immigration Guide 2024

Our continuously updated guide to Mexico Visas and Immigration is an exhaustive resource that enables you to learn about Mexico’s visas and residency permits, and how to visit and/or apply for legal residency in Mexico.

This Quick Reference page helps you to navigate the rules, latest information, and processes —from applying for residency at a Mexican Consulate to managing your residency card— and connects to extensive knowledge and resources on Mexperience.

Planning your visit and arrival in Mexico

Whether you plan to visit Mexico as a tourist, for business, to volunteer, or you want to apply to obtain legal residency in Mexico, this section helps you to plan for your visit and arrival in Mexico.

Applying for legal residency in Mexico

If you intend to stay in Mexico for longer, spend defined periods of time here, or intend to live in Mexico part-time or full-time, this section helps you to consider your choices, learn about qualification criteria, and make your application.

Mexico legal residency essentials

When you have obtained legal residency in Mexico, this section shares practical insights and advice about exchanging your visa for a residency card and managing your legal residency card and status in Mexico.

This article shares insights about choosing a consulate, describes how to request an appointment, outlines the format of the residency interview, and highlights certain types of document that you might need to get notarized/apostilled.

Choosing a Mexican Consulate

Most people applying for legal residency in Mexico will go to the Mexican Consulate nearest to where they live.

If the consulate nearest to you is not accepting residency applications, if their appointment availability is limited, or if there’s no Mexican Consulate in the place where you live, you may choose to apply at a different consulate.

Not all Mexican Consulates accept “out of area” applications. If you intend to apply at a consulate that isn’t near your usual place of residence, or isn’t situated in your home country or state, contact the consulate to ask if it accepts applications from people who are are not resident in the state or country where the consulate is situated.

Our associate can help you to identify a suitable consulate and assist you with making the appointment for your residency interview.

Requesting a residency interview at a Mexican Consulate

How Mexican Consulates schedule appointments for residency application interviews varies by location.  Typically, consulates accept requests for residency applications in one of three ways:

Online booking. Many consulates use the Mexitel online appointment scheduling system. To use this, you create an account, choose the consulate’s location where you want to schedule an appointment, and then select an available date using the online calendar.

By email. Some consulates require you to send an email requesting an appointment. Response times vary, and when the consulate writes back, they will offer you available date(s) for interview.

Walk-in dates. Some consulates operate walk-in dates, whereby applicants show up in person on the ‘walk-in date’ days and get a service token for attention that day.

To find out which method the consulate you intend to apply at uses, visit the consulate’s website, or if you want assistance with the appointment scheduling, our associate can help.

Lead times for appointments at Mexican Consulates

Appointment availability and lead times varies widely between different Mexican Consulates, and the situation is often in a constant state of flux—driven by varying levels of local demand vs appointment supply.

Some consulates only ‘open up’ dates once a month or so on the online calendar, others update their availability more frequently.

If the consulate nearest to you doesn’t have much availability, or has very long lead times for appointment dates, you might consider applying at a consulate that’s farther away from where you live—though not all accept out of area applications, so check before you make the appointment.

Our associate monitors appointment availability. They know which consulates accept out of area applications, or can contact a consulate to find it if they do.  They can help you identify a suitable consulate, and help you schedule appointments, and/or assist you in contacting a consulate to request an appointment in situations where the consulate will only accept correspondence from applicants.

Interview process at the Mexican Consulate

When you arrive for your interview at the Mexican Consulate, you ought to have your application form completed, and all of your supporting documentation prepared to present to the Consulate Officer.

Interviews are usually conducted in the Consular offices of the Mexican Embassy. During the interview, the Consulate Officer assigned to your application will:

• Review your application for accuracy and completeness.
• Check that you have all the requirements present and in order, for example, your photographs, passports, and supporting documentation.
• Take payment of the fees for your procedure. (We recommend you carry the amount needed in cash in case the consulate does not accept electronic payments.)
• Check the documentary evidence you provide to support your application, e.g. bank statements, marriage certificates.
• Conduct an interview with you (and your partner, and family as relevant) to talk about your intentions for moving to Mexico.
• The consulate will also take a digital photograph and digital fingerprints of you and any other family members who are applying with you (including minors).
• If you’re applying with dependent minors (aged under 18 years), both parents must be present at the interview to sign the application for the dependent child(ren), otherwise a notarized letter from the absent parent authorizing the application must be submitted alongside the application.

Notification of outcome, visa validity

You will be notified on the same day of the interview if your application for a residency visa is approved.

When your application is accepted, the consulate will keep your passport(s) and place a residency visa sticker inside. They will usually issue the visa and return your passport(s) within 10 working days after your interview date.

The visa sticker is usually valid for six months from its issue date. Check the expiry date printed on the visa.  You must arrive in Mexico before the visa expires and exchange it for a residency card within 30 days of your arrival date.

If you allow the visa to expire, or delay the exchange more than 30 days after your arrival date in Mexico, the visa becomes void and you’ll need to restart the application at a Mexican Consulate.

Key documents that might need to be apostilled

Depending on the situation, some types of key documents might need to be apostilled before you present them to the Mexican Consulate to support your application for legal residency.

Key documents include:

• Birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates.
• Academic, professional, and corporate certificates.
• Bank statements, investment fund statements.

Some documents can be directly apostilled, whereas others must be notarized first and then apostilled.  This article describes the apostille system.

Key documents must be apostilled when:

• The document(s) was not issued in Mexico; or

• The document(s) was not issued in the country where you are making the application.

Document translations

Documents might also need to be translated, for example, if your key documents are not presented in English or Spanish, or are in a different language to the official language of the country where you apply.  If in doubt, check with the Mexican Consulate in the country where you’re applying—our associates can also help.

How to get documents notarized and apostilled

Learn about preparing key documents with apostilles where this is required for submission to a Mexican consulate by reading our detailed article about the notarization and apostille (legalization) of documents for use in Mexico.

Learn more about Mexico visas and immigration

Mexperience publishes extensive information about visas, immigration and residency in Mexico, including:

• Learn about the principal routes to obtaining legal residency.
• Read a detailed summary of the application process for a Mexico residency permit.
• Our article about temporary and permanent residency describes the two main types of legal residency in Mexico.
• Our latest articles about visas and immigration keep you apprised of current situations including financial criteria for residency, fees, and managing your residency.

This service saves you time and helps avoid common mistakes made by applicants. Accompanied Assistance provides a combination of tele-support and in-person accompaniment at the immigration office in Mexico.

Accompanied Assistance at immigration offices in Mexico

Accompanied assistance provides all the benefits of our associates’ tele-assistance consultation and paperwork completion, with added benefits including:

• Attending the immigration office ahead of time to request your appointment or to wait in line early in the morning so you don’t have to do this.
• Printing out and organizing all the paperwork and forms ready for you to sign and file the application.
• Meeting with you in person to guide you through the procedures.
• If the immigration office raises any issues with forms or letters, the associate can swiftly correct and reprint papers for you, minimizing the disruption time.
• If you need to return another day to complete the process, they will meet you again at no additional charge.

Accompanied Assistance is currently offered at the following locations:

How the Accompanied Assistance service works

Accompanied Assistance provides a combination of tele-support and in-person accompaniment at the immigration office in Mexico. This section describes the application stages and support offered at each stage.

Accompanied Assistance Service Plans & Fees

Our associates charge a fixed fee per person for the accompanied service at immigration offices in Mexico.  Fees vary depending on the location.  You must pay the government fees separately.

All service plans include an initial consultation by phone/videocall/email/chat, confirmation of the required procedures, completion of the forms and letters, custom checklist of documents you’ll need to carry, and in-person accompaniment at the immigration office in Mexico.

Make a service request for Accompanied Assistance

To hire our associate, please complete the request form below.

What happens next?

• After you complete the form, our immigration assistance associates will contact you directly to request 50% of the Accompanied Assistance fee in advance.
• When you’ve paid, they’ll get in touch to schedule your initial consultation and begin the Accompanied Assistance service.
• Mexperience will send you an email to confirm these details.

FAQs about Mexico’s residency visas and residency cards

This page contains Questions & Answers related to seeking legal residency: visas and permits for longer-term stays in Mexico.

What are the requirements to acquire a living/working/retirement permit in Mexico?

Mexperience publishes information and resources to help you learn about how to apply for and obtain legal residency in Mexico:

• Learn about the principal routes to obtaining legal residency
• Detailed outline about how to apply for residency in Mexico
• Read about the financial criteria to qualify for residency in Mexico
• Learn about the difference between temporary and permanent residency in Mexico
• See the latest residency-related fees charged by Mexico’s government
• Download our free eBook: Mexico Immigration Guide that encapsulates essential information about visas and residency permits for Mexico.

Are there minimum financial requirements required to move to and live or retire in Mexico?

Mexican immigration law stipulates that foreigners applying for residency in Mexico must be able to prove sufficient economic means to sustain themselves while in Mexico.

Read the article about financial criteria for residency in Mexico, as well as the related FAQ about obtaining residency on the basis of ‘economic solvency.’

See also: FAQs: Obtaining Residency in Mexico via ‘Economic Solvency’

How long does it typically take to obtain a residency permit for Mexico?

Timescales vary depending on availability of appointments at the consulate you apply at, as well as how busy the local immigration office is where you exchange your visa for a residency card.

For further details read: Typical time Scales for residency visas and cards – we keep this article regularly updated.

How long do Mexican residency permits last for?

Temporary residency permits last for up to 4 years, a permanent residency permit gives the holder the right to remain in Mexico indefinitely and does not expire.  See our article about time limits on Mexican visas and residency permits for details.

What is the difference between Temporary and Permanent residency?

Temporary residency permits last for between 1 and 4 years, and must be renewed to remain valid.  After four consecutive years of holding Temporary Residency you may apply to exchange Temporary residency for Permanent residency.

Permanent Residency permits have no expiry date and do not need to be renewed each year.

Read more about the similarities and differences between temporary and permanent residency in Mexico.

Do I need to have Temporary Residency before I can apply for Permanent Residency?

You don’t have to hold temporary residency before applying for and being granted permanent residency, but:

• the financial criteria to qualify for Permanent Residency are higher; and
• if you apply for Permanent Residency as a couple, the dependent spouse/partner will only be granted Temporary Residency to begin with; and
• Mexican consulates may require the applicant(s) ‘to be retired’ to apply for Permanent Residency—even if they qualify economically.

Financial criteria: Read the article about financial criteria for residency in Mexico, as well as the related FAQ about obtaining residency on the basis of ‘economic solvency.’

Couples: See this additional information if you are applying for Permanent Residency as a couple.

How long can I remain outside Mexico when I have legal residency status?

When you hold a legal residency card in Mexico, you can leave and re-enter Mexico as often as you like, and there are no time limits on how long you have to remain in Mexico, nor limits on how long you can remain outside of Mexico, each year.

However, temporary residency renewals and reporting changes in personal circumstances must be undertaken in person, in Mexico—they cannot be done abroad nor by proxy.

Read our article about time limits on Mexican residency permits for details.

What happens if my residency visa or card expires?

Visa stickers and temporary residency cards carry an expiry date; permanent residency cards issued to minors need to be renewed periodically, and permanent residency cards issued to adults do not expire.

See also: How to renew your Mexico residency card and dealing with an expired residency card.

How can I apply for a work permit in Mexico?

For information about working and work permits in Mexico, see our articles and guides about Working & Self-employment in Mexico. If you would like personal advice based on your individual situation, consider using our Mexico Immigration Assistance service.

Does Mexico have a points-based system to qualify for residency?

Mexico’s 2012 immigration law references a points-based qualification system as one of the routes non-Mexicans may use to acquire residency in Mexico.  However, the points-based system has not been implemented and there is no known date as to when it might be implemented.

Until then, foreigners seeking residency in Mexico need to pursue other routes, and you can learn about the principal routes to obtain residency in Mexico here on Mexperience.

Can I leave Mexico while my residency permit is being processed or renewed?

When you are exchanging your Residency visa for a Residency card, or renewing your existing residency permit (card) you must remain in Mexico.

In exceptional circumstances, you can request a one-time temporary exit and re-entry permit from the local immigration office that is processing your residency permit.  Read our article about renewing your Mexico residency permit for details.

How can I import my personal goods to Mexico when I relocate there to live?

Mexico allows foreign residents to import personal goods tax-free when they first move here under a one-time procedure known as the Menaje de Casa. You can find details about this procedure by reading our article: importing your personal goods to Mexico.

Am I covered by Mexican Social Security for healthcare if I am legally resident in Mexico?

You can find the answer to this question on our article about health insurance options in Mexico.

How long do I have to live in Mexico before I can apply for Mexican citizenship?

You can find the answer to this question on our article: becoming a Naturalized Mexican.

Do I need to supply financial information every time I renew my temporary resident permit, or when I exchange my temporary resident permit for a permanent residency permit?

Under the immigration rules, you do not have to re-present your financial information when you renew your temporary residency permit, or exchange a temporary residency permit for a permanent residency permit after four consecutive years.  However, the immigration office reserves the right to ask for proof of financial solvency, although it is rare that they do this.

Read this article about renewing your residency permit for more details.

How do I replace a lost, stolen, or damaged residency card?

If you lose your Mexico residency card, or if it becomes damaged beyond use, you will need to apply for a replacement.  The procedures for this vary depending on whether you are inside or outside Mexico when you discover the loss.

Learn about how to replace a lost or damaged Mexico residency card

Learn more about residency in Mexico

Mexperience publishes information and resources to help you learn about how to apply for and obtain legal residency in Mexico:

• Learn about the principal routes to obtaining legal residency
• Detailed outline about how to apply for residency in Mexico
• Here are the latest financial criteria required to qualify for residency in Mexico
• Compare the difference between Temporary and Permanent residency
• Find the latest residency-related fees charged by Mexico’s government
• Our free Mexico Immigration Guide encapsulates essential information about visas and residency permits for Mexico.