UMA (Unidad de Medida y Actualización)
The UMA, Unidad de Medida y Actualización (Unit of Measure and Update), is an economic reference value published by Mexico's statistics agency, INEGI. Laws use it to set fines, fees, and thresholds instead of the minimum wage.
Why it matters for immigration
Since August 9, 2025, Mexico's visa guidelines set the income and savings needed for residency in UMA days, not minimum wage days.
For 2026 (in effect from February 1, 2026), one UMA is MXN 117.31 per day, or MXN 3,566.22 per month, per INEGI. The value is updated every year, so the peso amounts for solvencia económica change each February.
| Residency test | UMA days | About (MXN, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary: monthly income | 680 | 79,771 |
| Temporary: savings | 11,460 | 1,344,373 |
| Permanent (retiree): monthly pension | 1,140 | 133,733 |
See 2026 solvency thresholds and the solvency calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UMA in 2026?
MXN 117.31 per day, in effect from February 1, 2026.
Why did Mexico switch from minimum wage to UMA?
The August 2025 visa guidelines adopted UMA as the unit for financial requirements.
Do consulates convert to US dollars?
Many publish their own local-currency figures, which can differ slightly with exchange rates.
Official sources
- INEGI: UMAinegi.org.mx
- DOF: Visa guidelines (2025)dof.gob.mx
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.