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Moving to Mexico: How Mexican Residency Works in 2026
Most foreigners who move to Mexico get a residency visa at a Mexican consulate abroad, enter Mexico, and then exchange it for a residence card at the National Migration Institute (INM) within 30 days. Temporary residency (1 to 4 years) is usually based on income or savings, a job offer, or family ties, and it can lead to permanent residency after 4 years. Retirees with enough pension income or savings can get permanent residency directly.
On this page
- Where you apply
- A Mexican consulate outside Mexico, in most cases
- Residence card
- Issued by INM after you enter; the exchange (canje) must start within 30 days
- Temporary residency
- 1 year, then renewable up to 4 years in total
- Income test (2026)
- 680 UMA days a month (about 79,771 pesos) for 6 months, or savings
- Direct permanent residency
- Retirees and pensioners, and some family ties
- Digital nomad visa
- None; remote workers use temporary residency
- Citizenship
- Usually after 5 years of residency (2 years in some cases)
How does Mexican immigration work?
Mexico's immigration system is simpler than those of the US and Canada, and the main routes do not have lotteries, points, or annual caps. There are three kinds of stay:
- Visitor. Tourists and business visitors enter for up to 180 days. The immigration officer decides how many days you get. Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU do not need a visa; some nationalities do.
- Temporary resident (residente temporal). For people who will live in Mexico for more than 180 days and up to 4 years. The first card is usually valid for 1 year, then you renew for 1 to 3 more years.
- Permanent resident (residente permanente). No end date, and you can work without a separate permit.
Two government bodies handle the process:
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE), through its consulates | Reviews your documents abroad and puts a residency visa in your passport |
| Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) | Admits you at the border and issues your residence card in Mexico |
The usual sequence is: consulate visa, entry to Mexico, then the exchange (canje) for your card at an INM office. See the canje and how immigration works in Mexico for the steps.
What are the main ways to move to Mexico?
Status labels are as of September 22, 2026.
| Pathway | Who it fits | Typical time | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist entry | Visitors staying up to 180 days | Decided at the border | Open; visa rules changed for some nationalities |
| Temporary residency by financial solvency | Remote workers, early retirees, people with savings | Weeks to a few months (consulate plus INM card) | Open; thresholds rise each year |
| Temporary residency with a job offer | People hired by a registered Mexican employer | Employer permit first, then consulate | Open |
| Family unity | Spouses, partners, children, and parents of Mexicans or residents | Weeks to a few months | Open |
| Student visa | People accepted by a Mexican school | Weeks | Open |
| Permanent residency for retirees | Retirees with a pension or large savings | Weeks to a few months | Open |
| Permanent residency through family | Spouses of Mexicans (after 2 years) and close relatives | Varies | Open |
| Temporary to permanent | People with 4 years of temporary residency | Applied for inside Mexico | Open |
| Refugee status | People fleeing persecution or violence | Often many months | Open, with strict filing deadlines |
See Mexico's temporary residency and permanent residency hubs for more detail.
How much money do you need?
Most residency routes that do not rely on a job offer or family tie use a financial solvency test. Since August 9, 2025 the thresholds are set in days of UMA (Unidad de Medida y Actualización), a reference unit updated every February. The 2026 UMA is 117.31 pesos a day.
| Residency type | Monthly income test (last 6 months) | Savings test (average balance, last 12 months) |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary | 680 UMA days, about 79,771 pesos | 11,460 UMA days, about 1,344,373 pesos |
| Permanent (retirees) | 1,140 UMA days of pension, about 133,733 pesos | 45,850 UMA days, about 5,378,664 pesos |
Each dependent adds 220 UMA days (about 25,808 pesos). Consulates convert these amounts into local currency at their own exchange rate, so figures differ between consulates. Always use your consulate's current sheet, and check your numbers with the solvency calculator.
Consulates usually want to see the test met in every month of the review period, not just on average, and income must be counted after tax. If you are close to a threshold, apply with some margin or wait until your records clearly qualify.
What changed in 2026?
Mexico's rules changed less than those of its neighbors, but three things matter this year:
- Higher thresholds. The 2026 UMA (117.31 pesos, in force from February 1, 2026) raised every solvency figure by about 3.7%. See 2026 solvency thresholds.
- UMA, not minimum wage. Since the 2025 visa guidelines, thresholds are in UMA days. Websites that still quote "days of minimum wage" are out of date.
- Visa rules for some visitors. Brazilians regained an air-only electronic visa on February 5, 2026. Venezuelans, Ecuadorians, and Peruvians still need a visa. See visa requirement changes.
Track updates on the Mexico Status Now page.
Where should you start?
- Pick your route by goal: retire, work, family, study, invest, or permanent residency. Remote workers should read digital nomads.
- Choose your consulate. You usually apply at the consulate that serves where you live. See the consulate directory, for example Los Angeles or Toronto.
- Check your numbers with the solvency calculator.
- Plan the first 30 days. After you enter, start the canje at INM, then get your CURP and open a bank account.
- Pick a place to live. Popular choices include Mexico City, Mérida, Lake Chapala, and San Miguel de Allende. See the cost of living guide.
- Read your country guide, such as moving from the USA or from Canada.
When should you get help?
Many people complete a residency application on their own, especially straightforward retiree and solvency cases. Consider a licensed Mexican immigration lawyer if you have a past deportation or entry refusal, a criminal record, an expired status in Mexico, or a refugee or humanitarian case. Some people hire a facilitator for the INM steps; check credentials, and never hand over your passport or pay for "guaranteed" results. See how to avoid immigration scams.
In this section
Overviews
Family in MexicoMexico's family unity (unidad familiar) rules let the spouse, partner, children, and parents of a Mexican citizen or a foreign resident live in Mexico. Relatives of Mexican citizens have the strongest rights: parents and children of Mexicans can generally get permanent residency directly, and spouses of Mexicans can move from temporary to permanent residency after 2 years. Family of foreign residents get temporary or permanent residency matching the resident's own status.Humanitarian protectionPeople who fear persecution or serious harm in their home country can ask Mexico for refugee status through the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR), generally within 30 business days of entering Mexico. People who are not recognized as refugees but would face torture or cruel treatment if returned can receive complementary protection, and recognized refugees and protected people can get permanent residency. Because deadlines are short and the process has strict rules, contact UNHCR or a legal aid organization as early as possible.Invest in MexicoMexico does not sell residency, but its 2025 visa guidelines let investors qualify through large investments measured in UMA days, and most business owners and property buyers qualify through the ordinary financial solvency test or by being hired by their own registered Mexican company. For permanent residency, the guidelines list property worth 91,710 UMA days (about 10.76 million pesos in 2026) or an investment in a Mexican company of 45,850 UMA days (about 5.38 million pesos). Buying property does not by itself give you residency unless it meets a threshold your consulate accepts.Living in Mexico guidesPractical guides for living in Mexico as a foreign resident: CURP, RFC, banking, health insurance, property, vehicles and taxes.Mexican citizenshipYou are Mexican by birth if you were born in Mexico or born abroad to a Mexican parent, and since a 2021 constitutional reform this applies to any generation born abroad. Foreigners can naturalize through Mexico's Foreign Ministry (SRE) after usually 5 years of legal residency, or 2 years for spouses of Mexicans, parents of Mexican children, and nationals of Latin American countries, Spain, and Portugal. Applicants must pass an exam on Spanish and Mexican history and culture, with some exemptions.Mexican consulatesMexican residency starts at a Mexican consulate outside Mexico, usually the one that serves the place where you live legally. Every consulate applies the same UMA-based rules from Mexico's 2025 visa guidelines, but each one publishes its own dollar or Canadian-dollar conversions, document lists, and booking method. This page compares 15 consulates in the US and Canada and links to a guide for each.Mexico residency toolsMexico Status NowThis page tracks the Mexican immigration rules that change most often, especially the income and savings thresholds for residency, which rise every February with the UMA, and the list of nationalities that need a visa to visit. Each item below carries a status label and a Last verified date, and links to a page with the details and what to do now. For 2026, the UMA is 117.31 pesos a day, in force since February 1, 2026.Moving to Mexico from your countryGuides to moving to Mexico from the USA, Canada, Latin America and Europe.Permanent residencyMexican permanent residency (residente permanente) lets you live in Mexico indefinitely and work without a separate permit. You can get it directly if you are a retiree who meets the pension or savings test, a close relative of a Mexican citizen, or a large investor, or you can switch to it after 4 consecutive years as a temporary resident (2 years for spouses of Mexicans). For 2026, the retiree test is a pension of about 133,733 pesos a month or savings of about 5.38 million pesos.Retire in MexicoMexico is the one country in North America with a true retirement route: retirees and pensioners can get permanent residency directly at a Mexican consulate if they show a monthly pension of 1,140 UMA days (about 133,733 pesos in 2026) or average savings of 45,850 UMA days (about 5.38 million pesos). Retirees below those amounts can qualify for temporary residency with a lower test, then switch to permanent residency after 4 years. Consulates convert the peso amounts into local currency, so check your consulate's figures and the solvency calculator.Study in MexicoForeigners who enroll in a Mexican school, university, or research program lasting more than 180 days need a temporary resident student visa from a Mexican consulate, which they exchange for a student residence card after arriving. Shorter programs, such as Spanish immersion courses, can usually be done as a visitor. Student status lasts as long as your studies, but in general it does not count toward the 4 years of temporary residency needed for permanent residency.Visit MexicoCitizens of the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, and many other countries can visit Mexico without a visa for up to 180 days, with the exact number of days decided by the immigration officer at entry. Some nationalities, including Venezuelans, Ecuadorians, Peruvians, and Brazilians, need a visa, although a valid US, Canadian, UK, Japanese, or Schengen visa usually exempts them. Tourists generally cannot extend their stay or switch to residency from inside Mexico.Work in MexicoTo work for a Mexican employer you normally need temporary residency with permission to work, which starts with your employer filing a job offer with the National Migration Institute (INM) before you apply at a Mexican consulate. Remote workers paid by a foreign employer usually qualify through temporary residency by financial solvency instead, since Mexico has no digital nomad visa. Permanent residents can work for anyone without a separate permit.
Programs
Canje (visa to card)The canje is the step where you exchange the residency visa in your passport for a temporary or permanent resident card at the National Migration Institute (INM). Mexico's Migration Law gives you 30 calendar days from your entry to apply. You fill out an online form, pay the card fee, submit your documents at an INM office, and attend a biometrics appointment.Change of statusIn Mexico, most visitors cannot switch to residency without leaving: Article 53 of the Migration Law requires them to depart when their authorized stay ends. The main exceptions are people with a family tie to a Mexican or to a foreign resident, and humanitarian cases. Temporary residents and students can also change status at the National Migration Institute (INM), for example to permanent residency after 4 years.Citizenship by descentAnyone born outside Mexico to a Mexican mother or father is Mexican by birth under Article 30 of the Constitution. A 2021 reform removed the old rule that the Mexican parent had to be born in Mexico, so Mexican nationality can now pass through several generations born abroad, one registration at a time. You claim it by registering the birth at a Mexican consulate or civil registry, which is free at consulates such as Toronto.Digital nomadsMexico does not have a digital nomad visa. Remote workers usually either visit for up to 180 days, as decided by the immigration officer, or apply at a Mexican consulate for temporary residency by financial solvency, which in 2026 requires after-tax income of 79,770.80 pesos a month or savings of 1,344,372.60 pesos. Some consulates also ask for an employer letter approving remote work from Mexico.Dual citizenshipMexico allows dual citizenship for Mexicans by birth: since a 1997 constitutional reform, no Mexican by birth can be deprived of Mexican nationality, even if they acquire another. Naturalized Mexicans are treated differently: they renounce their previous nationality when they naturalize, and they can lose Mexican nationality by using a foreign passport or living abroad for 5 continuous years. Dual nationals must enter and leave Mexico as Mexicans.NaturalizationForeign residents can apply to Mexico's Foreign Ministry (SRE) for a naturalization certificate (carta de naturalización) after 5 years of legal residence. The wait is 2 years for people originally from Latin America, Spain, or Portugal, for those with Mexican children by birth, for descendants of Mexicans by birth, and for spouses who have lived with a Mexican spouse in Mexico. Applicants must pass a Spanish, history, and culture exam unless they are over 60, and absences over 6 months in the last 2 years can reset the count.Points systemMexico's Migration Law allows a points system that would let skilled foreigners, investors, and people with outstanding achievements get permanent residency without first spending 4 years as temporary residents. INM lists it as a route, but the scoring rules must be set by the Interior Ministry in the official gazette, and in practice very few people use it. Most applicants reach permanent residency through the 4-year route, retirement, or family ties.Refugee statusPeople who fear persecution or serious harm in their home country can ask Mexico's Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) to recognize them as refugees. Mexican law asks you to apply within 30 business days of entering Mexico, and COMAR must decide within 45 business days, a period it can extend once. People recognized as refugees or granted complementary protection receive permanent residency.Residency renewalTemporary residents renew their card at the National Migration Institute (INM) within the 30 calendar days before it expires, until they reach 4 years in total. You submit your current card, a signed statement that the conditions of your status still apply, and the fee receipt, and you appear in person. Adult permanent residents never renew; children with permanent cards renew on a schedule.Student visaIf you will study in Mexico for more than 180 days, you need a temporary resident student visa (residente temporal estudiante) from a Mexican consulate, then a student card from the National Migration Institute (INM) within 30 days of arrival. You need an acceptance letter from a school in Mexico's national education system and proof you can pay for your stay. Courses of 180 days or less can usually be taken as a visitor.Temporary residencyTemporary residency (residente temporal) lets a foreign national live in Mexico for more than 180 days and up to 4 years. You apply for a visa at a Mexican consulate outside Mexico, usually by proving income of about 79,771 pesos a month or savings of about 1,344,373 pesos in 2026, then exchange the visa for a residence card at the National Migration Institute (INM) within 30 days of arriving. After 4 years you can apply for permanent residency.Temporary to permanentTemporary residents in Mexico can ask the National Migration Institute (INM) to change them to permanent residency after 4 years of temporary residency. Some can switch sooner: spouses and partners of Mexicans or permanent residents after 2 years, retirees whose pension meets the permanent threshold, and parents or close relatives of Mexicans by birth. You apply inside Mexico while your temporary card is still valid.Tourist entryTourists enter Mexico as visitors without permission to do paid activities and can stay up to 180 days, but the immigration officer decides how many days you actually get. Air travelers receive a passport stamp and can download a digital entry form (FMMd); land travelers use the electronic FMM. Visitor stays cannot be extended, and visitors generally cannot switch to residency inside Mexico.Visa requirementsCitizens of the US, Canada, the UK, the European Union, Japan, and many Latin American countries can visit Mexico without a visa. Travelers from countries on Mexico's visa list, which since 2021 includes Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, and Peru, need a Mexican visa unless they hold a valid US, Canadian, UK, Japanese, or Schengen visa, or permanent residence in one of those places or in Chile, Colombia, or Peru. Everyone who wants to live in Mexico needs a residency visa, whatever their nationality.Work permit for residentsPermanent residents in Mexico can work without a separate permit, and temporary residents admitted through a job offer already have permission for that job. Other temporary residents, such as those who qualified through financial solvency, must ask the National Migration Institute (INM) to add work permission to their card, based on a job offer from a registered employer or a declaration of independent work. Higher education students can also get limited permission.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move to Mexico without a job?
Yes. Most foreigners who move without a job qualify for temporary residency through the financial solvency test, by showing about 79,771 pesos a month in income for 6 months or about 1.34 million pesos in average savings for 12 months (2026 figures).
Can I apply for Mexican residency from inside Mexico?
Usually not. In most cases you must get the residency visa at a Mexican consulate abroad. Exceptions include some family unity cases and people who already hold residency and are changing or renewing status.
How long can I stay in Mexico as a tourist?
Up to 180 days per entry, but the immigration officer decides how many days to give you. Tourists cannot extend their stay or switch to residency from inside Mexico in most cases.
Does Mexico have a digital nomad visa?
No. Remote workers who want to stay more than 180 days usually apply for temporary residency by financial solvency.
Can I get permanent residency in Mexico directly?
Yes, if you are a retiree or pensioner who meets the higher income or savings test, or if you have certain family ties to Mexicans or permanent residents. Others usually reach permanent residency after 4 years as a temporary resident.
Can foreigners buy property in Mexico?
Yes. In the restricted zone near coasts and borders, foreigners usually hold residential property through a bank trust called a fideicomiso. Owning property does not by itself give you residency.
Official sources
- Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM)gob.mx
- Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores: consulatesconsulmex.sre.gob.mx
- DOF: Lineamientos Generales para la expedición de visas (2025)dof.gob.mx
- INEGI: UMA 2026inegi.org.mx
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.