Mexico
Explore Mexico temporary residence, permanent residence, family, and visitor routes with guidance on income, savings, and consular evidence.
14 visa types · 10 guides · 9 forms
Immigration to Mexico — at a glance
Mexico's immigration system is administered by the National Migration Institute (Instituto Nacional de Migración, INM), a decentralised body of the Secretaría de Gobernación, supported by the Mexican consular network for visa issuance abroad. The country runs a relatively simple three-tier framework: Visitante (visitor), Residente Temporal (temporary resident, typically 1–4 years), and Residente Permanente (permanent resident). Almost every long-stay status starts with a Mexican consulate appointment abroad and ends with INM finishing the residence card after arrival.
Most international applicants enter as Visitantes — many nationalities can stay up to 180 days per visit by default, simply by presenting a valid passport and a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) at the airport. Those wanting to live in Mexico longer apply at a Mexican consulate for either Temporary Resident (financial-solvency, family-link, work-offer, or student grounds) or Permanent Resident (retirement-income or close-family grounds). Once approved, the applicant has 180 days to enter Mexico and 30 days from arrival to convert the consular sticker into a residence card at the local INM office.
What stands out about Mexico is the financial-solvency route. Temporary Resident applicants can qualify by demonstrating either monthly income (currently ~30x the value of the daily minimum wage in CDMX, around MX$87,000–MX$95,000 per month — verified through 6 months of bank statements) or savings (currently ~5,000x the daily minimum wage, around MX$1.5 million). Permanent Resident has higher thresholds. Each consulate publishes its own current figure in BRL/MXN/USD; the practical figure changes annually. The guides in this hub focus on the bank-statement format and the canje (in-Mexico exchange) sequence that determine whether the application clears INM cleanly.
After consular approval, the post-arrival sequence runs on a 30-day clock. Within those 30 days, you must visit the local INM office to complete the canje (exchange of consular sticker for the residence card), present proof of address, and apply for the CURP simultaneously. INM has fully digitised this through the e-Trámite portal in major cities; smaller offices may still require in-person paperwork. Renewals follow a 1+3 cadence (1-year initial, then a 3-year extension) before conversion to Permanent Resident at the 4-year mark, giving most applicants a predictable schedule of fees and document gathering.
Main pathways into Mexico
Pick a route based on whether you have visa-free tourism rights (most Western countries), a Mexican family link, a retirement income, qualifying savings or income, a Mexican job offer, or a Mexican university admission. Most applicants start as Temporary Residents and convert to Permanent after 4 years.
- Visitante (Tourist) — FMMUp to 180 days per visit for most Western nationalities; no work allowed.
- Temporary Resident — Financial SolvencyFor applicants showing consistent monthly income or savings above consulate thresholds.
- Permanent Resident — PensionFor retirees with documented monthly pension above the higher consulate threshold.
- Temporary Resident — Family linkFor spouses and minor children of Mexican citizens or residents.
- Temporary Resident — Work offerTied to an INM-approved work authorisation; employer applies first.
- Temporary Resident — StudentFor full-time enrolment at recognised institutions.
Key facts about Mexico immigration
Quick reference for the agencies, currencies, and rules that govern most applications.
As of
Issuing authority
Mexican consulates abroad + Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) in Mexico
Currency
MXN (MX$ / Mexican peso)
Application portal
MiConsulado for consular appointments + INM Trámite portals in Mexico
Tourist FMM duration
Up to 180 days per visit for most nationalities; no work or study permitted.
Canje window
30 days from arrival to convert consular sticker to a residence card at INM.
Permanent residence
Available after 4 years on Temporary Resident; immediate via family or pension routes.
Citizenship
Generally 5 years of residence; reduced to 2 years for spouses of Mexicans and Latin American/Iberian nationals.
Typical fees and processing windows (Mexico)
Indicative ranges drawn from official authority pages. Confirm the exact figures on the agency website before applying.
As of
| Pathway | Typical fee | Typical processing |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor entry (FMM) | Included in air ticket / approx MX$717 for land entries beyond border zone | Granted at the port of entry |
| Temporary Resident (1-year initial) | Consular fee approx US$54 + INM card fee MX$5,941 | 2–6 weeks consular; 30 days INM after arrival |
| Permanent Resident | Consular fee approx US$54 + INM card fee MX$8,065 | 2–6 weeks consular; 30 days INM after arrival |
| Temporary Resident renewal (3-year extension) | INM fee MX$8,065 (3-year) | 2–6 weeks at INM |
Start with your goal
Choose what you want to do in Mexico and get a tailored guide.
Explore visa types
14 visa types with step-by-step guides, requirements, and official sources.
Which Mexican route fits your situation?
Pick the situation that best matches you to see the most common starting point in Mexico.
Situation 1
I want to visit Mexico for tourism for less than 6 months.
No visa needed for most nationalities — you receive an FMM on entry. Confirm your specific country status and the duration the airport stamp grants on arrival.
Situation 2
I am retired with a foreign pension and want to live in Mexico long-term.
Apply directly for Permanent Resident under the pension route at a Mexican consulate. Document at least the past 6 months of pension payments.
Situation 3
I have savings or stable income but no employer in Mexico.
Apply for Temporary Resident under financial solvency. Confirm whether your consulate prefers the income or the savings route — many accept either with 6–12 months of statements.
Situation 4
My partner is a Mexican citizen or resident.
Apply for Temporary Resident under the family-link route. Plan for the canje at INM within 30 days of arrival, then renew or convert to Permanent after 2 years of marriage.
Situation 5
I have a job offer from a Mexican employer.
Your employer first applies to INM for a Permiso de Trabajo. Once approved, you collect a Temporary Resident visa with work authorisation at a Mexican consulate.
Recent Mexico immigration updates
Editorial summaries of policy changes our team has tracked. Always confirm details with the relevant agency before submitting an application.
Financial-solvency thresholds re-indexed
The income and savings thresholds for Temporary and Permanent Resident applications were re-indexed to the 2026 daily minimum wage. Each consulate publishes a current MXN/USD figure on its website.
INM canje appointments fully online
INM completed digitisation of canje appointments through the e-Trámite portal, reducing in-person walk-in queues at major INM offices (CDMX, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Cancún).
Mexico immigration FAQ
The questions readers ask most about applying to live, work, study, and visit Mexico.
How does the Mexico tourist FMM work?
Most Western nationalities receive a Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMM) at the airport, granting up to 180 days per visit (some land entries grant 30–60 days at the discretion of INM). The FMM is free if collected by air; land entries beyond the border zone now charge ~MX$717 if you cross more than 20–30 km inland. You cannot work or study on an FMM.
How is the Temporary Resident financial-solvency threshold calculated?
The threshold is tied to the daily minimum wage in CDMX. Most consulates currently apply a ~MX$87,000–MX$95,000 monthly-income threshold (about US$5,000) over 6 months, or a ~MX$1.4–MX$1.5 million savings threshold over 12 months. Each consulate publishes its own current figure; the practical number changes each January.
What is the canje?
The canje is the in-Mexico exchange of your consular visa sticker for the actual residence card (Tarjeta de Residente). You must request it at the local INM office within 30 days of your arrival in Mexico, presenting your CURP application, a proof of address (utility bill or rental contract), passport, and the FMM you received at the airport. Missing the 30-day window typically requires re-doing the consular step.
Can I work in Mexico on a Temporary Resident visa?
It depends on the basis of your residence. Temporary Resident with work permit (employer-sponsored) allows employment at the named employer. Temporary Resident under financial-solvency or family-link routes does NOT include work authorisation by default — you must apply for an Permiso de Trabajo at INM separately and the rules for self-employment vs employer-sponsorship differ.
How does the canje and CURP fit together?
The CURP (Clave Única de Registro de Población) is the Mexican personal identification number generated by RENAPO when your residence card is issued. You apply for the CURP simultaneously with the canje; in practice, INM issues the CURP and the residence card in the same office visit. The CURP is required for opening bank accounts, contracts, and most regular life in Mexico.
When can I apply for permanent residence?
After 4 years on Temporary Resident, you can convert to Permanent Resident. Some routes allow direct Permanent Residency: pension/financial-solvency at the higher threshold, marriage to a Mexican citizen with 2+ years of residence, or having a Mexican-born child. Permanent Residency is unlimited in time, allows free work, and grants almost all rights short of voting and certain border-zone real estate.
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