Mexico Immigration https://www.mexperience.com Experience More of Mexico Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:32:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 124046882 Get Assistance with Your Mexico Residency Procedure https://www.mexperience.com/get-assistance-with-your-mexico-residency-application/ Wed, 07 Aug 2024 19:32:48 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=39039---954a7d3a-195d-4b6c-a4ff-9ef96984081f_365b8c62-ee6e-4d27-9bd3-0d969c0b1a48 When you need assistance and practical support with a Mexico residency permit application, renewal, exchange, or troubleshooting—our associates can help

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Obtain a detailed consultation and practical tele-support for your Mexico residency application and other immigration procedures

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.

Tele-Assistance —vs— Accompanied Assistance

Our associates offer Tele-Assistance regardless of your location, and they offer Accompanied Assistance at immigration offices in selected locations across Mexico.

Tele-Assistance is ideal if you are comfortable going to the immigration office in Mexico to file by yourself. Our associates consult with you about your situation and plans and check that your  supporting documentation is in good order.  They complete the application forms and letters, and help you arrive fully prepared to file your application.

Accompanied Assistance provides in-person support at immigration offices in selected locations across Mexico. The associate consults with you, prepares and prints out all the application forms and letters—and meets you at the immigration office in Mexico to help file your procedure.  Accompanied assistance is not available at Mexican Consulates outside of Mexico.
Learn more about the Accompanied Assistance support service.

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.

Stage Tele-Assistance Support
Initial consultation The service begins with a personal consultation. Our associate will consult with you to understand your situation, describe the relevant application procedures, and plan your custom tele-support service.
Tele-support for Mexican Consulate procedures If your procedure involves an appointment at a Mexican Consulate, our associate will provide tele-support for this stage, including identifying a suitable consulate, help with appointment booking, and support to help you prepare for your interview at the Mexican Consulate, including review of your supporting documentation for accuracy and completeness.
Preparatory work To prepare for your procedure, our associate will send you a customized checklist of the documents you need to gather. They’ll ask for copies of some documents you’ll need to send to them in advance so they can pre-prepare your application.
Forms and letters The associate will correctly complete all the application forms and write the covering letters, in Spanish.
Scheduling Our associate will coordinate with you about dates for your intended procedure and filing that are mutually convenient, and which meet the stipulated deadlines for the procedure.
Preparing to file your application Visa exchange: If you have a residency visa to exchange for a residency card, our associate will work to prepare your visa exchange (Canje) application forms and covering letter, in Spanish.

Other procedures: If your procedure involves an existing residency card renewal, replacement, or exchange, or other matter, our associate will brief and assist you according to your individual situation.

Dates: Our associate will coordinate with you about your intended arrival date in Mexico, or the intended filing date if you’re already in Mexico, and provide you with details of the immigration office’s address and opening hours.

Files to print, and checklist: They’ll email the files of the forms and letter for you to print out and sign. They’ll also send you a customized checklist of required documents you need to carry with you to file.

Filing the application Our associate will send you a document with detailed guidance about what to do at the immigration office in Mexico on the day based on your intended procedure and location. Depending on the location, you will either attend the office in person to ask for an appointment date and return another day, or you’ll need to line up and wait for a service token.
Tele-contact and assistance Our associate will provide you with a contact number/email in case you have questions or concerns, or need to troubleshoot any issues as you work your own way through the procedures and file your application.
Leaving the immigration office When you have completed filing your procedure, you can advise our associate about the outcome. They may ask you to send them a copy of your card/papers for review and ensure everything is in good order.

This is not a line-hopping service

Our associate assists and guides you through the procedures in good time, but cannot obtain preferential treatment for any applicant, and they cannot guarantee appointment date availability or ‘fast-track’ appointments or processing time scales at the immigration office.

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.

Tele-Assistance Service Plans Service Fee

First time residency applications

When you want to apply for residency, this service plan combines the initial consultation, tele-assistance for the Mexican Consulate appointment and interview preparation, and tele-assistance to help you exchange your visa(s) for a residency card(s) at an immigration office in Mexico.

US$299
Single applicant, or couple applying together.+US$99 for each additional applicant in the same family (3+).

Visa to residency card exchange

If you already have a residency visa issued by a Mexican Consulate, get tele-assistance to help you exchange your visa for a residency card at an immigration office in Mexico.

US$129
Principal applicant.+US$99 for each additional applicant.

Residency card renewal

When you have an existing Residency Card and want to renew your status, get tele-assistance to renew your residency card for further years at an immigration office in Mexico.

US$219
Principal applicant.+US$99 each additional applicant.

Change from Temporary to Permanent residency

After four consecutive years of holding temporary residency (2 years if married to a Mexican National) get tele-assistance to apply to change from temporary to permanent at an immigration office in Mexico.

US$219
Principal applicant.+US$99 each additional applicant.

Family Unit residency applications

If you’re married to a Mexican National or have certain other family connections in Mexico, get tele-assistance to apply for residency using the Family Unit rules.

US$219
Per applicant. (Application from within Mexico.)US$319
Per applicant. (Application starting at a Mexican Consulate abroad.)

Lost residency card replacement (Inside Mexico)

If you lost your residency card while inside Mexico, get tele-assistance apply for a replacement at an immigration office in Mexico.

US$219
Per applicant.

Lost residency card replacement (Outside Mexico)

If you lost your residency card while you are outside of Mexico get tele-assistance with the Mexican Consulate procedure and tele-assistance at the immigration office in Mexico to get the card replaced.

US$319
Per applicant.

Personal details update notification

When you move home, change marital status or nationality, or change jobs, get tele-assistance to file a change notification at an immigration office in Mexico.

US$129
Principal applicant.+US$99 each additional applicant.

Regularization procedure

If you allow your residency card to expire or need to do other ‘regularization’ procedures related to residency, get consultation and tele-assistance to address your situation.

US$119
Per Hour.One hour minimum. Time over one hour billed precisely as used.

Personal Consultation

If you want to talk to an English-speaking experienced immigration associate about your situation using telephone/email/chat you can hire our associate per hour.  Ideal for exploratory conversations and to talk through potential options for residency in Mexico.

Upgrade: If you buy the Personal Consultation, and subsequently decide to apply for residency, our associate will discount the consultation fee from the First Time Residency Application plan fee (see above).

US$119
Per Hour.One hour minimum. Time over one hour billed precisely as used.

RNE Special Program Support

If you qualify and wish to apply for residency in Mexico using the Special ‘RNE’ Program, our associates offer a support package for this.  Learn more about the Special RNE Program.  The fee includes the consultation and tele-assistance with the forms and paperwork.

US$219
Principal applicant.+US$99 each additional applicant.

Questions before you request the service?

If you have a question or need guidance about how the immigration assistance service works before you make a service request, please contact us.

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.
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Assistance to Exchange Your Mexico Visa for a Residency Card https://www.mexperience.com/assistance-to-exchange-your-mexico-visa-for-a-residency-card/ Wed, 07 Aug 2024 18:11:45 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=47666---e3b38ce1-d2ae-4a22-b6fa-1f92b62fa160 When you need assistance to exchange your residency visa sticker for a residency card when you arrive to Mexico, our associates can help

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When you have been granted a temporary or permanent residency visa in Mexico and need assistance exchanging the visa sticker(s) in your passport(s) for a residency card, our associates can help.

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.

Tele-Assistance for Visa Exchange

Consultation and paperwork. Our associate will consult with you about your situation, confirm the procedures and afterwards complete the forms, write the covering letter, and email the documents for you to print and sign so you arrive prepared at the immigration office.

Instructions and checklist. Our associate will provide you with a checklist of documents you’ll need to take with you and detailed instructions about where to go and what to do when you arrive.

Learn more and make a request for Tele-Assistance

Accompanied Assistance for Visa Exchange

Consultation and paperwork. Our associate will consult with you about your situation, confirm the procedures and afterwards complete the forms, write the covering letter, print and prepare the documents for you to sign.

Appointment or service token. Depending on the location, our associate will either attend the immigration office ahead of time to obtain an appointment date for you, or they will line up early in the morning to hold your place in the line for a service token on the day you intend to file.

Accompaniment and instructions. Our associate will provide you with a checklist of documents you’ll need to take with you on the day. They will meet you on the filing date and provide you with all the paperwork to sign and present to the immigration office.  If they cannot accompany you inside (some offices allow this, others don’t) they will provide you with detailed instructions about what to do when you enter.

Learn more and make a request for Accompanied Assistance

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.

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How to Apply For Residency in Mexico — Detailed Summary https://www.mexperience.com/how-to-apply-for-legal-residency-in-mexico/ Wed, 07 Aug 2024 17:01:39 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=61450_a549f133-8437-4fe8-a511-1076fd750ec0 This article describes the steps to apply for legal residency in Mexico and also includes information about managing your residency status and card

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There are lots of different reasons why people decide to apply for residency in Mexico.  The most common scenarios are:

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.

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.

Immigration Assistance

When you need assistance with an initial residency permit application, or residency card renewals, regularization procedures, expired permits, or troubleshooting, consider using our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service.

If you already have your residency visa in your passport and need help exchanging that for a card in Mexico, our associate offers a visa-to-card exchange assistance service.

Learn more about the services and make a request here

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:

*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.

Renewals, exchanges, and notifications must be done in Mexico

Although there are currently no time limits on how long you need to be in Mexico each year to retain your legal residency status, card renewals, exchanges, card replacement, and official notifications MUST be done in person, in Mexico—they cannot be done by proxy.

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.

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

Immigration Assistance

When you need assistance with an initial residency permit application, or residency card renewals, regularization procedures, expired permits, or troubleshooting, consider using our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service.

If you already have your residency visa in your passport and need help exchanging that for a card in Mexico, our associate offers a visa-to-card exchange assistance service.

Learn more about the services and make a request here

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:

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Financial Criteria for Legal Residency in Mexico 2024 https://www.mexperience.com/financial-criteria-for-residency-in-mexico/ Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:24:38 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=25074---09cb9ff5-78e5-40e2-9f6f-a1484129e4d0 This guide describes the routes and financial criteria required to qualify for legal residency in Mexico under the auspice of 'economic solvency'

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This guide describes the routes and amounts required to qualify for residency under Mexico’s immigration rules for economic solvency.

Financial Criteria for 2024

This guide has been fully revised with figures for 2024.

Mexican Consulates do not appear to be adopting UMA for their calculations in 2024.  UMA was introduced in 2016 and Mexican Consulates have never used it for their residency qualification calculations.

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.

Key points about the figures quoted in this section

To find out what types of income and savings qualify, read these detailed FAQs about obtaining residency in Mexico using your ‘economic solvency.’

The amounts in USD are approximations based on Mexico’s current Daily Minimum Wage and the exchange rate of 17 pesos to 1 USD we used for these illustrations.

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.

Residency Type (2024) Monthly Income
Temporary Residency A regular income of at least c.US$4,350 per month, every month, over the last 6 months. (Some consulates request 12 months.)
Permanent Residency A regular income of at least c.US$7,300 per month, every month, over the last 6 months. (Some consulates request 12 months.)

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 Type (2024) Savings/Investments
Temporary Residency Qualifying savings/investments showing account balance(s) totaling at least c.US$73,200 over the last 12 months. (The total must not fall below the minimum amount required at any time over the last 12 months.)
Permanent Residency Qualifying savings/investments showing account balance(s) totaling at least c.US$293,000 over the last 12 months. (The total must not fall below the minimum amount required at any time over the last 12 months.)

Cryptocurrencies and Precious Metals do NOT qualify

Note that Mexican Consulates abroad and Immigration Offices in Mexico do not accept cryptocurrencies or precious metals as a form of savings/investment.

To find out what types of income and savings qualify, read these detailed FAQs about obtaining residency in Mexico using your ‘economic solvency.’

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.

Mexico Immigration Assistance

When you need assistance with your Mexico residency application, renewals, or regularization procedures, our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service provides consulting, advice, and practical support that assists you through the entire residency application or renewal process, including visa exchanges, regularization procedures, and troubleshooting.

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.

Mexico Immigration Assistance

When you need assistance with your Mexico residency application, renewals, or regularization procedures, our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service provides consulting, advice, and practical support that assists you through the entire residency application or renewal process, including visa exchanges, regularization procedures, and troubleshooting.

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.

Most applications must start at a Mexican Consulate

Most initial applications for residency must begin at a Mexican consulate abroad unless your situation is one of the few that allow initial applications for residency to be made within Mexico—most of these are related to ‘Family Unit’ applications, whereby the applicant has specific Mexican family ties or roots.

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.

Residency Type Multiple: Monthly Income Multiple: Savings Balance
Temporary Residency 300x UMA or MDW 5,000x UMA or MDW
Permanent Residency 500x UMA or MDW 20,000x UMA or MDW
Dependent Spouse 100x UMA or MDW 100x UMA or MDW
Dependent Minor 100x UMA or MDW 100x UMA or MDW
“Family Unit”* 100x UMA or MDW 100x UMA or MDW
Student
(Temporary Residency)
100x UMA or MDW 1,000x UMA or MDW

* 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

Mexican Consulates Abroad vs Immigration Offices in Mexico

When you apply for residency at a Mexican Consulate abroad, the consulate will quote a monetary amount in the currency of the country where the consulate is situated, e.g., USA/CDN dollars, UK pounds, France euros, etc. Their calculations are based on Mexico’s Minimum Daily Wage. It’s quite common for consulates’ requirements to vary from one another, and the exchange rates they apply may also vary.

When you apply for any immigration procedure at an immigration office in Mexico —for example: residency on the basis of Family Unit, renewal of temporary residency, exchange from temporary to permanent, regularization, etc.— the immigration office will quote Mexican pesos (or a foreign currency equivalent) based on the multiples of UMA if an ‘economic solvency’ requirement is asked for within the scope of that procedure.

‘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.

Residency Type Minimum Daily Wage
(Monthly Income)
UMA
(Monthly Income)
Temporary Residency MXN$74,679 | USD$4,393 MXN$32,571 | USD$1,916
Permanent Residency MXN$124,465 | USD$7,321 MXN$54,285 | USD$3,193
Dependent Spouse MXN$24,893 | USD$1,464 MXN$10,857 | USD$639
Dependent Minors MXN$24,893 | USD$1,464 MXN$10,857 | USD$639
“Family Unit”* MXN$24,893 | USD$1,464 MXN$10,857 | USD$639
Student
(Temporary Residency)
MXN$24,893 | USD$1,464 MXN$10,857 | USD$639

* 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.

Residency Type Minimum Daily Wage
(Savings/Investments)
UMA
(Savings/Investments)
Temporary Residency MXN$1,244,650 | USD$73,215 MXN$542,850 | USD$31,932
Permanent Residency MXN$4,978,800 | USD$292,859 MXN$2,171,400 | USD$127,729
Dependent Spouse MXN$24,893 | USD$1,464 MXN$10,857 | USD$639
Dependent Minor MXN$24,893 | USD$1,464 MXN$10,857 | USD$639
Family Unit* MXN$24,893 | USD$1,464 MXN$10,857 | USD$639
Student
(Temporary Residency)
MXN$248,930 | USD$14,463 MXN$108,570 | USD$6,386

* 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

Mexico Immigration Assistance

When you need assistance with your Mexico residency application, renewals, or regularization procedures, our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service provides consulting, advice, and practical support that assists you through the entire residency application or renewal process, including visa exchanges, regularization procedures, and troubleshooting.

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:

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.

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Getting Your Documents Apostilled (Notarized) for Mexico https://www.mexperience.com/getting-your-documents-apostilled-for-mexico/ Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:02:46 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=14611---afc7fe24-662a-404c-b163-5ba9493cdb98 Some foreign-issued documents need to be Apostilled (Notarized) by your home country before you submit them for legal procedures in Mexico

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For certain legal procedures, usually related to immigration, residency applications, investment, or marriage (or a combination of these) it may be necessary to present Mexican authorities (or Mexican consulates abroad) with foreign legal documents as part of an application procedure.

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.

Documents might also need to be translated into Spanish

If your original document(s) and its accompanying notarizations and apostilles are not issued in Spanish, you will need to get these translated into Spanish by a translator in Mexico authorized to translate official documents.

Learn about getting your documents officially translated into Spanish

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.

Apostille for US-issued legal documents

If the document(s) you need to Apostille for use in Mexico were issued in the United States, Apostille.net offers a service that will notarize and/or Apostille documents and ship them to you by express courier to any country.

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.

Canada has ratified the convention, but it’s not yet in force

If you have Canadian-issued documents to certify, note that Canada signed the convention in May 2023 but it will not take effect until January 11th, 2024.

Until then, the Apostille convention procedures do not apply to documents from there. Canada has instead a document authentication procedure for legal documents.

If you are applying for residency in Mexico, Canadian documents that need to be apostilled for use in Mexico (or a third country) will need to be authenticated by the Canadian government and then sent to a Mexican consulate in Canada to be legalized for use in Mexico.

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 for US-issued legal documents

If the document(s) you need to Apostille for use in Mexico were issued in the United States, Apostille.net offers a service that will notarize and/or Apostille documents and ship them to you by express courier to any country.

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.

Avoid getting your legal documents turned away

If you show up at the application center —most commonly an Immigration office or Registrar’s office in Mexico, or a Mexican consulate abroad— without certain types of documents having been properly apostilled where this is required, they will turn your application away and ask you to return with properly certified documents.

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.

Mexico Immigration Assistance Service

If you would like assistance with your legal residency application, whether you are applying for the first time, renewing an existing permit, or need help with troubleshooting, consider using our Mexico Immigration Assistance service.

As part of the service, our associates provide a personalized check list of documents you will need to prepare for your application and will also advise which ones, if any, need to be apostilled before they will be accepted.  Learn more about the service.

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Time Scales to Exchange a Mexico Residency Visa for a Card https://www.mexperience.com/time-scales-to-exchange-a-mexico-residency-visa-for-a-card/ Wed, 07 Aug 2024 14:54:22 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=50533---e2592ded-c4b0-439f-9819-df399a8e01a3 Time scales to exchange your residency visa for a card vary by location, and you need to allow enough time for your legal residency application to be completed

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As we described in a related article, when your Mexico residency application is granted at a Mexican consulate abroad, the consulate places a visa sticker in your passport. This sticker needs to be exchanged for a residency card in Mexico.

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

Mexico Immigration Assistance – Visa Exchange 

Our associates charge a fixed fee for tele-support to prepare all the paperwork and help you prepare for your appointment to make the visa-to-card exchange at the local immigration office in Mexico.

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:

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Applying for Permanent Residency in Mexico as a Couple https://www.mexperience.com/applying-for-permanent-residency-in-mexico-as-a-couple/ Tue, 06 Aug 2024 17:26:27 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=54121_4460895d-138f-45c4-85bf-9f6dc892c1d9 When you apply for Permanent Residency in Mexico as a couple, the dependent spouse/partner will only be offered Temporary Residency to begin with

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When you apply for residency in Mexico you may, depending on your situation, apply for Temporary Residency (Residencia Temporal) or Permanent Residency (Residencia Permanente).

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.

If one of the partners is a Mexican citizen or legal resident in Mexico

The information on this page assumes both partners are non-Mexicans, or non-residents in Mexico.  If one of the partners is a Mexican citizen, or a legal resident of Mexico, then you can apply for residency using Family Unit rules instead.

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.

Important: If your income or savings/investment accounts are in joint names and only one of the two named people applies for residency at the Mexican consulate, the account(s) will need to show double the income or savings/investments required.

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.

Mexican consulates also require Permanent Residency applicants ‘to be retired’

The income or savings/investments required to qualify for Permanent Residency are substantially higher that those required for Temporary Residency and even if you have the money on account, Mexican consulates will only grant Permanent Residency to “people who are retired.”

If you don’t qualify for Permanent Residency right away you can apply for Temporary Residency to begin with and apply to exchange that for Permanent Residency after four consecutive years of having Temporary Residency.

Mexico Immigration Assistance for Couples

If you need assistance with your Mexico residency application, renewals, or regularization procedures, our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service provides consulting, advice, and practical support that assists you through the entire residency application or renewal process, including visa exchanges, regularization procedures, and troubleshooting.

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:

The post Applying for Permanent Residency in Mexico as a Couple first appeared on Mexperience.]]>
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Temporary and Permanent Residency in Mexico https://www.mexperience.com/difference-between-temporary-and-permanent-residency-mexico/ https://www.mexperience.com/difference-between-temporary-and-permanent-residency-mexico/#comments Tue, 06 Aug 2024 17:26:25 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=45128---b46dae2d-9df0-42b6-93e1-9cabe7eb8d0b Whether you apply for temporary or permanent residency in Mexico will likely depend on your lifestyle intentions and your level of income or savings

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When you apply for legal residency in Mexico, you have a choice of applying for either Temporary Residency (Residente Temporal) or Permanent Residency (Residente Permanente).  This article describes the differences between the two.

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.

Important note about Temporary Residency to Permanent Residency

Whether you are overseas or in Mexico, if you’re intending to exchange your current Temporary Residency card for Permanent Residency after having held 4 consecutive years of Temporary Residency status in Mexico, you must not let your residency card expire.

If you do not renew your temporary residency card before its expiry date and renew it within the grace period after the card has expired, that process will reset your accrued time as Temporary Resident and issue you with a new, 1-year temporary residency permit. You’ll need to sustain that new permit for 4 consecutive years (without letting it expire) before you can apply to make the exchange from temporary to permanent residency.

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.

Mexico Immigration Assistance

If you need assistance with your Mexico residency application, renewals, or regularization procedures, our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service provides consulting, advice, and practical support that assists you through the entire residency application or renewal process, including visa exchanges, regularization procedures, and troubleshooting.

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:

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Mexico Immigration Guide 2024 — Continually Updated https://www.mexperience.com/mexico-immigration-guide-updated/ Tue, 06 Aug 2024 17:14:50 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=46239---f14dfb54-08b1-427e-9672-7eef26d89f87 Complete and continuously-updated guide about about Mexico immigration, including visas, rules, applications, and procedures for legal residency in Mexico

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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.

Immigration Assistance

When you need assistance with an initial residency permit application, or residency card renewals, regularization procedures, expired permits, or troubleshooting, consider using our associate’s Mexico Immigration Assistance Service.

Learn more about the services and make a request here

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.

Immigration Assistance

When you need assistance with an initial residency permit application, or residency card renewals, regularization procedures, expired permits, or troubleshooting, consider using our associate’s Mexico Immigration Assistance Service.

If you already have your residency visa in your passport and need help exchanging that for a card in Mexico, our associate offers a visa-to-card exchange assistance service.

Learn more about the services and make a request here

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Making Residency Applications at a Mexican Consulate https://www.mexperience.com/making-residency-applications-at-a-mexican-consulate/ Tue, 06 Aug 2024 16:47:44 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=45990---314e1920-ece2-455d-bc34-0cfb01d0c4b0 Most applications for residency in Mexico begin at a Mexican Consulate. Learn about choosing a consulate, requesting an appointment, and attending the interview

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With a few exceptions —mostly related to Family Unit circumstances— all applications for legal residency in Mexico must begin outside of Mexico, via a Mexican Consulate.

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.

Get assistance with your application for Mexico Residency

Our associate helps you to identify a suitable consulate to apply at, and assists with the appointment scheduling process.  They can also help as you make your way through the entire application procedure—from the consulate interview to exchanging your visas for residency cards in Mexico.

Learn more and make a service request

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.

Arrive in good time for your scheduled appointment!

Many Mexican Consulates are experiencing a high demand for residency interviews, and if you miss your scheduled appointment, it could take weeks or months to reschedule another date.

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.

Get assistance with your application for Mexico Residency

Our associate helps you to identify a suitable consulate to apply at, and assists with the appointment scheduling process.  They can also help as you make your way through the entire application procedure—from the consulate interview to exchanging your visas for residency cards in Mexico.

Learn more and make a service request

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.

Examples of situations that typically need key documents apostilled

Here are five situational examples to describe when key documents typically need to be apostilled for the Mexican Consulate to accept them.

Important! We recommend you verify document requirements with the consulate you apply at, as our associates have encountered a few cases where consulates requested an apostilled document even when it was not typically needed in that circumstance.

Example 1
You are an American Citizen applying in a US State. Your marriage certificate is issued in a different US State, and your bank accounts are based in a different US State to the one you are applying in.

Neither your marriage certificate or bank statements need to be apostilled as these key documents are all issued in one of the United States. 

Example 2
You’re a British Citizen applying at the Mexican Consulate in London. Your marriage certificate was issued in the USA where you got married, and your bank accounts (statements) are issued by a bank in the UK.

The marriage certificate must be apostilled.  Your bank statements do not have to be apostilled because the country where the bank accounts are based is the same country where you are applying.

Example 3
You’re an American Citizen living in France, applying at the Mexican Consulate in Paris, and your US marriage certificate and bank account statements are from the United States.

Your US marriage certificate needs to be apostilled and your bank statements need to be notarized in the US and then sent to be apostilled.  This is because your key documents were not issued in the country where you applied.

Example 4
You are a German Citizen living in Brazil, applying at the Mexican Consulate in the Federal District of Brasilia.  Your marriage certificate is from Spain, and the bank accounts you are referencing to qualify for residency are held at a Brazilian bank.

The marriage certificate must be apostilled. Your bank statements do not have to be apostilled because the country where the bank accounts are based is the same country where you are applying.

Example 5
You are an American couple living in the USA, applying at the Mexican Consulate in a US state. Your marriage certificate was issued in Mexico, where you got married, and your investment accounts are managed by a US-based investment fund.

Your marriage certificate does not have to be apostilled; although it was not issued in the United States (where you are applying) it was issued in Mexico. Your investment fund statements do not have to be apostilled because they are managed by an investment firm based is the same country where you are applying.

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.

Get assistance with your application for Mexico Residency

Our associate helps you to identify a suitable consulate to apply at, and assists with the appointment scheduling process.  They can also help as you make your way through the entire application procedure—from the consulate interview to exchanging your visas for residency cards in Mexico.

Learn more and make a service request

Learn more about Mexico visas and immigration

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

Get assistance with your application for Mexico Residency

Our associate helps you to identify a suitable consulate to apply at, and assists with the appointment scheduling process.  They can also help as you make your way through the entire application procedure—from the consulate interview to exchanging your visas for residency cards in Mexico.

Learn more and make a service request

The post Making Residency Applications at a Mexican Consulate first appeared on Mexperience.]]>
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Get Accompanied Assistance at Mexico’s Immigration Office https://www.mexperience.com/get-accompanied-assistance-at-mexicos-immigration-office/ Tue, 06 Aug 2024 16:14:40 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=65820_9ce7d655-c2ff-4f96-9b0a-d97f8ebe5352 When you have an immigration procedure to file in Mexico and would like accompanied assistance at the immigration office, our associates can help

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When you need to attend an immigration office in Mexico to file your residency application paperwork, our associates can help with accompanied assistance at selected locations.

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 —vs— Tele-Assistance

Our associates offer Tele-Assistance regardless of your location, and they offer Accompanied Assistance at immigration offices in selected locations across Mexico.

Accompanied Assistance provides in-person support at immigration offices in selected locations across Mexico. The associate consults with you, prepares and prints out all the application forms and letters—and meets you at the immigration office in Mexico to help file your procedure.  Accompanied assistance is not available at Mexican Consulates outside of Mexico.

Tele-Assistance is ideal if you are comfortable going to the immigration office in Mexico to file by yourself. Our associates consult with you about your situation and plans and check that your  supporting documentation is in good order.  They complete the application forms and letters, and help you arrive fully prepared to file your application.
Learn more about the Tele-Assistance support service.

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:

Mexico City Chapala/Ajijic Guadalajara
Puerto Vallarta &
Nuevo Vallarta
Mérida &
Progreso
Tijuana
Rosarito Ensenada Mexicali

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.

Stage Accompanied Assistance
Initial Consultation The service begins with a personal consultation. Our associate will consult with you to understand your situation, describe the relevant application procedures, and plan your customized accompanied support service.
Tele-support for Mexican Consulate procedures If your procedure involves an appointment at a Mexican Consulate, our associate will provide tele-support for this stage, including identifying a suitable consulate, help with appointment booking, and support to help you prepare for your interview at the Mexican Consulate, including review of your supporting documentation for accuracy and completeness.
Preparatory work To prepare for your procedure, our associate will send you a customized checklist of the documents you need to gather. They’ll ask for copies of some documents you’ll need to send to them in advance so they can pre-prepare your application.
Forms and letters The associate will correctly complete all the application forms and write the covering letters, in Spanish.
Scheduling Our associate will coordinate with you about dates for your intended procedure and filing that are mutually convenient, and which meet the stipulated deadlines for the procedure.
Immigration Office appointment Depending on the location, our associate will either attend the immigration office ahead of time to obtain an appointment date for you, or they will line up early in the morning to hold your place in the line for a service token on the day you intend to file, and you’ll take your place in the line at around 8:30AM.
Accompaniment Our associate will meet you outside the Immigration Office on the agreed date to file your procedure. Your filing docket(s) will be printed and organized for you to sign and hand-over to the immigration official when you file your procedure—so you’ll be fully prepared.
Filing the procedure You’ll be given detailed guidance about what to do at the immigration office on the day. If the associate cannot accompany you inside (some offices allow facilitators in, others don’t) they will provide you with detailed instructions about what to do when you enter.

When your turn is called, you hand over the docket of papers our associate prepared and wait for the immigration official to review and process the application. When it’s approved, your photograph and fingerprints will be taken digitally.

Your residency card might be issued that same day; otherwise, you will be given a file number and be invited to return another day to pick-up your residency card.

Leaving the immigration office The associate will leave with you, or if they are not allowed in, they’ll be waiting outside of the immigration office to meet you. When you have your card, they will check that everything is in good order before you leave.

If you need to return another day to pick up your residency card, the associate will accompany you again and there is no extra fee if this happens.

Remember that our associates cannot guarantee timescales or obtain preferential treatment for any application.

This is not a line-hopping service

Our associate assists and guides you through the procedures in good time, but cannot obtain preferential treatment for any applicant, and they cannot guarantee appointment date availability or ‘fast-track’ appointments or processing time scales at the immigration office.

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.

SERVICE PLANS FEES

First time residency applications

When you intend to apply for residency, this service plan combines tele-assistance for the Mexican Consulate appointment and interview and accompanied assistance to exchange your visa for a residency card at one of these selected locations in Mexico >

Fees PER APPLICANT
Mexico City: US$440
Guadalajara: US$349
Ajijic/Chapala: US$379
Mérida/Progreso: US$390
Puerto Vallarta: US$419
Nuevo Vallarta: US439
Tijuana: US$400
Ensenada: US$400
Rosarito: US$400
Mexicali: US$480

Visa to residency card exchange

If you already have a residency visa issued by a Mexican Consulate, get accompanied assistance to exchange your visa for a residency card at one of these selected locations in Mexico >

Fees PER APPLICANT
Mexico City: US$300
Guadalajara: US$250
Ajijic/Chapala: US$280
Mérida/Progreso: US$250
Puerto Vallarta: US$320
Nuevo Vallarta: US$340
Tijuana: US$300
Ensenada: US$300
Rosarito: US$300
Mexicali: US$380

Residency card renewal

When you have an existing Residency Card and want to renew your status, get accompanied assistance to renew your residency card for further years at one of these selected locations in Mexico >

Fees PER APPLICANT
Mexico City: US$300
Guadalajara: US$250
Ajijic/Chapala: US$280
Mérida/Progreso: US$250
Puerto Vallarta: US$320
Nuevo Vallarta: US$340
Tijuana: US$300
Ensenada: US$300
Rosarito: US$300
Mexicali: US$380

Change from Temporary to Permanent residency

After four consecutive years of holding temporary residency (2 years if married to a Mexican National) get accompanied assistance to change from temporary to permanent at one of these selected locations in Mexico >

Fees PER APPLICANT
Mexico City: US$300
Guadalajara: US$250
Ajijic/Chapala: US$280
Mérida/Progreso: US$250
Puerto Vallarta: US$320
Nuevo Vallarta: US$340
Tijuana: US$300
Ensenada: US$300
Rosarito: US$300
Mexicali: US$380

Family Unit residency applications

If you’re married to a Mexican National or have certain other family connections in Mexico, get accompanied assistance to apply for residency at one of these selected locations in Mexico >

Fees PER APPLICANT
Mexico City: US$300
Guadalajara: US$320
Ajijic/Chapala: US$340
Mérida/Progreso: US$250
Puerto Vallarta: US$375
Nuevo Vallarta: US$400
Tijuana: US$300
Ensenada: US$300
Rosarito: US$300
Mexicali: US$480

Lost residency card replacement (Inside Mexico)

If you lost your residency card while inside Mexico get accompanied assistance apply for a residency card replacement at one of these selected locations >

Fees PER APPLICANT
Mexico City: US$300
Guadalajara: US$250
Ajijic/Chapala: US$280
Mérida/Progreso: US$250
Puerto Vallarta: US$320
Nuevo Vallarta: US$340
Tijuana: US$300
Ensenada: US$300
Rosarito: US$300
Mexicali: US$380

Lost residency card replacement (Outside Mexico)

If you lost your residency card while you are outside of Mexico get tele-assistance with the Mexican Consulate procedure abroad and accompanied assistance at the immigration office in Mexico to get the card replaced at one of these selected locations >

Fees PER APPLICANT
Mexico City: US$440
Guadalajara: US$370
Ajijic/Chapala: US$400
Mérida/Progreso: US$440
Puerto Vallarta: US$440
Nuevo Vallarta: US$460
Tijuana: US$400
Ensenada: US$400
Rosarito: US$400
Mexicali: US$480

Personal details update notification

When you move home, change marital status or nationality, or change jobs, get accompanied assistance to file a change notification at one of these selected locations in Mexico >

Fees PER APPLICANT
Mexico City: US$180
Guadalajara: US$250
Ajijic/Chapala: US$250
Mérida/Progreso: US$150
Puerto Vallarta: US$300
Nuevo Vallarta: US$300
Tijuana: US$200
Ensenada: US$200
Rosarito: US$200
Mexicali: US$280

Regularization procedure
RNE Special Program support

If you allow your residency card to expire or need to do other ‘regularization’ procedures related to residency, including the RNE Special Procedure, get accompanied assistance at one of these selected locations >

Fees PER APPLICANT
Mexico City: US$400
Guadalajara: US$320
Ajijic/Chapala: US$340
Mérida/Progreso: US$350
Puerto Vallarta: US$375
Nuevo Vallarta: US$400
Tijuana: US$400
Ensenada: US$400
Rosarito: US$400
Mexicali: US$480

Questions before you request the Accompanied Assistance service

If you have a question or need guidance about how the immigration assistance service works before you make a service request, please contact us.

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.
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The post Get Accompanied Assistance at Mexico’s Immigration Office first appeared on Mexperience.]]>
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FAQs: Mexico’s Residency Visas and Residency Cards https://www.mexperience.com/faqs-mexicos-residency-visas-and-residency-cards/ Tue, 06 Aug 2024 14:13:48 +0000 https://www.mexperience.com/?p=46909---ef2a0ad8-440c-405b-9c2e-399b966a027d These are the most frequently-asked questions we receive about Mexico’s temporary and permanent residency visas and residency cards—updated regularly

The post FAQs: Mexico’s Residency Visas and Residency Cards first appeared on Mexperience.]]>
This article contains a list of the most frequently asked questions and answers regarding matters related to Mexico’s temporary and permanent residency visas and residency cards.

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:

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.

Beware of making premature travel plans

Timescales are subject to the availability of appointments (it can sometimes take weeks to obtain an appointment) and other factors including demand for permits at any given consulate or immigration office.  It may take longer than the typical timescales noted above.

We recommend that you do not make any travel plans until your visa is confirmed and issued in your passport(s); nor while you are in Mexico exchanging your visa for a residency card.

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.

Get practical assistance with your residency application

We have helped thousands of people plan and realize their Mexico residency application.  The Mexico Immigration Assistance Service saves time and potential inconvenience by helping you to prepare a strong application based on your situation, and mitigating the chances of having your forms, letters and other paperwork being rejected during the application procedures.

Learn more about the service and make a request here

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

Get practical assistance with your residency application

We have helped thousands of people plan and realize their Mexico residency application.  The Mexico Immigration Assistance Service saves time and potential inconvenience by helping you to prepare a strong application based on your situation, and mitigating the chances of having your forms, letters and other paperwork being rejected during the application procedures.

Learn more about the service and make a request here

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:

The post FAQs: Mexico’s Residency Visas and Residency Cards first appeared on Mexperience.]]>
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