Mexico temporary resident visa: requirements and steps

The temporary resident visa is how most Americans start living in Mexico legally. It lets you stay for more than 180 days, lasts up to four years in total, and can lead to permanent residency.

Who it suits

• People who want to live in Mexico for more than six months a year.
• Retirees whose income is below the level needed for permanent residency.
• Remote workers paid from outside Mexico. Mexico has no separate digital nomad visa, so this is the route most of them use.
• Anyone who wants to keep a US-plated car in Mexico, which permanent residents generally can’t do.

Ways to qualify

Most applicants qualify through economic solvency, shown in one of two ways:

• Monthly income. Bank statements showing steady income, usually over the last six months. In recent years consulates have asked for roughly $4,000 to $5,000 a month after tax.
• Savings or investments. Statements showing an average balance, usually over the last twelve months. In recent years that has been roughly $70,000 to $85,000.

The amounts are set in Mexican pesos as a multiple of an official wage figure, so they change every January and move with the exchange rate. Consulates also differ on details such as whether they add an amount for each dependent. Check the current figure with the consulate you will apply at.

Other routes include owning Mexican real estate above a set value, family ties to a Mexican citizen or resident, and a job offer from a Mexican employer, which the employer starts from inside Mexico.

What you can do as a temporary resident

• Live in Mexico and come and go freely while your card is valid.
• Open bank accounts and get a local tax ID.
• Keep a US-plated vehicle under a temporary import permit.
• Apply to join the public health system.

You can’t work for pay in Mexico unless your card includes work permission, which is a separate request.

The application, in two parts

Part one: at a Mexican consulate

1. Book an appointment at a Mexican consulate. Appointments can be scarce, so start early.
2. Bring your passport, the application form, a passport photo, your bank or pension statements and the fee. Some consulates ask for statements stamped by the bank.
3. Attend a short interview.
4. If approved, the consulate places a visa in your passport, often the same day or within a few days.

Part two: in Mexico

1. Enter Mexico within about 180 days of the visa being issued. Tell the officer you are entering on a resident visa, so your entry is recorded correctly and not as a visitor.
2. Within 30 days of entering, start the exchange (canje) at the immigration office for the area where you will live.
3. Give fingerprints and photos, pay the card fee and collect your resident card.

The first card is normally valid for one year. You then renew for one, two or three more years, to a maximum of four.

Mistakes that cause problems

• Being stamped in as a visitor. If your entry is recorded as tourism, the visa can’t be exchanged and you may have to start again.
• Missing the 30-day window. The clock starts the day you enter.
• Statements that don’t match the applicant. Joint accounts, a spouse’s account or a business account often need extra documents.
• Assuming all consulates are alike. Requirements, fees and how strictly they are applied differ from one consulate to the next.

What comes next

After four years as a temporary resident you can apply for permanent residency without having to show income again. See the steps for the whole move for how residency fits with everything else.

Common questions

How much income do you need for temporary residency in Mexico?

In recent years consulates have asked for roughly $4,000 to $5,000 a month in steady income, or savings of roughly $70,000 to $85,000. The amounts are set in pesos, change every January and differ between consulates, so confirm the figure with the consulate you will use.

How long does a Mexico temporary resident visa last?

The first resident card is normally valid for one year. You can renew it for one, two or three more years, up to four years in total, and then apply for permanent residency.

Can I work in Mexico on a temporary resident visa?

Not for a Mexican employer or Mexican clients unless your card includes work permission, which is a separate request. Many temporary residents live on a pension, savings or income from outside Mexico.

Can I apply for temporary residency from inside Mexico?

Usually not. Most applicants must start at a Mexican consulate outside Mexico. Close relatives of Mexican citizens or residents are the main exception.