Mexican Consulate in San Francisco: Residency Visa Requirements and Process

The Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco, at 532 Folsom Street, serves these areas:

• California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, Sonoma, and Trinity.
• The entire state of Hawaii.

It also coordinates the Mexican consulates in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. People in other parts of Northern California may be served by other Mexican consulates, such as Sacramento or San José; check which office covers your address.

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

The San Francisco consulate states that all appointments are made exclusively through the official MiConsulado platform: online at citas.sre.gob.mx or by phone and WhatsApp at 424-309-0009. Appointments are free. Its home page links to a tutorial on booking online.

• Book a visa appointment (not a passport appointment).
• Each applicant usually needs their own appointment.
• Book once your documents are ready.

• The visa application form, completed.
• A valid passport and copies.
• A photo meeting Mexico's size rules (32 x 26 mm to 39 x 31 mm, white background, no glasses).
• Proof of legal status in the US, if you are not a US citizen.
• Proof for your category: 6 months of income records or 12 months of account statements, family certificates, or an INM authorization (NUT) for work.
• Apostilles and Spanish translations for documents from third countries.

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 peso amounts into US dollars. Check its current requirement sheet for the exact figures. 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. Use the solvency calculator. The 2026 solvency thresholds page explains how the peso amounts are calculated.

The visa fee is set by Mexico's Federal Duties Law. In 2026, several US consulates (San Diego, New York, Chicago) list it as US$56. Confirm the San Francisco consulate's current amount and 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.

Before your appointment, check the San Francisco consulate's website for the current visa requirements, dollar figures, and payment methods. If you live in Hawaii, ask whether any visa services are offered during the consulate's mobile visits to the islands, or whether you must attend in San Francisco.

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