Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles: Residency Visa Requirements and Process

The Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, at 2401 West 6th Street, represents Mexico in Los Angeles County. It also coordinates the Mexican consulates in Fresno, Oxnard, San Bernardino, and Santa Ana, which serve nearby parts of California. For residency visas, apply at the consulate that serves the place where you live.

Most of the consulate's work is for Mexican citizens (passports, ID cards, birth registrations). Its visa section handles foreigners applying for visitor, temporary resident, and permanent resident visas.

If you are not a US citizen, you must show that you live in the US legally, for example with a green card, or a valid US visa with your I-94.

For visitor visas, the Los Angeles consulate has stated that foreigners outside Mexico can apply at any Mexican consular office, without a jurisdiction requirement. Residency visas are usually handled by the consulate for your area.

Mexican consulates in the US book appointments through MiConsulado (online at citas.sre.gob.mx, or by phone or WhatsApp at +1 424 309 0009). The Los Angeles consulate posts updates on appointments in its "Citas Consulares" notices on its home page.

Tips:

• Book a visa appointment, not a passport or other service appointment.
• Each applicant, including children, usually needs their own appointment.
• Book only when your documents are ready. The visa fee is usually charged whether or not the visa is approved.

Mexico's visa guidelines set the core list, and the consulate may add details:

• The visa application form, completed.
• Your passport, valid, with copies of the data page.
• One passport-style photo with a white background, no glasses. Mexican visa photos are smaller than US passport photos (the guidelines allow 32 x 26 mm up to 39 x 31 mm).
• Proof of legal status in the US, if you are not a US citizen.
• Proof for your category: income or savings statements, family certificates, or a job offer authorization (NUT) from INM.
• Documents from a third country with an apostille, and a Spanish translation if needed.

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 into US dollars at its own exchange rate. Download its current requirement sheet for the exact dollar figures, and plan to exceed them in every month of the review period. You can test your numbers with the solvency calculator. For comparison, other California consulates published 2026 figures: San Diego lists US$4,510 a month or US$75,950 in savings for temporary residency. The 2026 solvency thresholds page explains how the peso amounts are calculated.

The visa fee is set by Mexico's Federal Duties Law and charged in US dollars. In 2026, several US consulates (San Diego, New York, Chicago) list it as US$56. Confirm the amount and accepted payment methods (cash or card) on the Los Angeles consulate's site before your appointment.

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.

Requirements and dollar amounts change, especially every February when the UMA is updated. Before your appointment, check the visa section of the Los Angeles consulate's official website for:

• The current requirement sheet for your visa type.
• The dollar figures for income and savings.
• Accepted payment methods and any statement format rules.

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