Mexican Consulate in Seattle: Residency Visa Requirements and Process

The Consulate of Mexico in Seattle serves people who live in its consular district in Washington state. It is one of the consulates coordinated by the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco, along with Portland, Oregon.

The Seattle consulate's FAQ confirms the main visa exemption for visitors: if you are a US citizen, hold a US green card, or have a valid US visa of any type stamped in your passport, you do not need a Mexican visa to enter Mexico as a tourist. Residency is different: everyone who wants to live in Mexico needs a residency visa.

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

The Seattle consulate uses MiConsulado (online at citas.sre.gob.mx, or by phone or WhatsApp at +1 424 309 0009) for appointments. Its visa requirements for visitors are posted on its "visa requirements" page. For visas to live in Mexico, its FAQ invites applicants to write to the consulate's email address for guidance before booking.

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: income or pension deposits for 6 months, account statements for 12 months, family certificates, or an INM work authorization (NUT).
• 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 amounts into US dollars. Ask for its current figures when you contact it. For comparison, 2026 sheets from other US consulates list about US$4,200 to US$4,630 a month 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 Seattle'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.

Check the Seattle consulate's visa requirements page and email the consulate about residency visas before your appointment. Confirm the dollar figures and payment methods.

If you are married to a Mexican and are planning for citizenship, note that Mexico's Nationality Law requires 2 years of living together in Mexico before a spouse can apply. See naturalization.

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