Mexican Consulate in Chicago: Residency Visa Requirements and Process

The Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago serves people who live in its consular district. Its visa section, under "Visas to Mexico" on its website, lists requirements for:

• Visitor visas.
• Student visas.
• Temporary residency, including by invitation letter.
• Permanent residency.
• Family unity.
• Religious activities.
• Work visas based on an INM authorization number (NUT), which the consulate issues after an interview.

If you are not a US citizen, bring proof of legal status in the US.

Since June 2019, the Chicago consulate has required individual appointments for every visa applicant, whatever their age. Book through MiConsulado at citas.sre.gob.mx (the consulate recommends the Chrome browser), or by phone or WhatsApp at +1 424 309 0009.

For NUT work visas, temporary and permanent residency, student visas, and other stays over 180 days, the consulate asks you to review the requirements for your category, then download and fill out the visa application before your appointment.

• The completed visa application form.
• Your valid passport and copies.
• A passport-style photo meeting Mexico's size rules (smaller than a US passport photo).
• Proof of legal status in the US, if you are not a US citizen.
• Proof for your category, such as bank or pension statements, family certificates, or your NUT.

The consulate notes that it may ask for more documents depending on the interview, and advises applicants to come prepared with financial, residence, and employment information.

Mexico's visa guidelines, in force since August 9, 2025, set the financial tests in days of UMA. With the 2026 UMA of 117.31 pesos a day:

The consulate converts these amounts to US dollars. Check the requirement sheet for your category on its website for the current dollar figures, and make sure you clear them in every month of the review period. The solvency calculator shows the peso math. The 2026 solvency thresholds page explains how the peso amounts are calculated.

The Chicago consulate lists a non-refundable visa application processing fee of US$56, charged regardless of the outcome. Check its site for accepted payment methods.

A residency visa is valid for one entry within 180 days. When you arrive, tell the immigration officer you are entering with a residency visa. Then, within 30 calendar days, apply at the National Migration Institute (INM) for your resident card. See the canje.

For the full process by visa type, see temporary residency, financial solvency, and permanent residency for retirees. To compare booking methods and published figures across cities, see Mexican consulates.

Check the Chicago consulate's visa page before your appointment for the current requirements in your category and the dollar amounts. Requirements can change without notice, and amounts change when the UMA is updated each February.

If you have a prior refusal, criminal record, or past overstay in Mexico, talk to a licensed Mexican immigration lawyer first.