Moving to Mexico from Colombia: Visits, Residency and the 2-Year Citizenship Track

Not to visit, as of September 2026. Colombian citizens can enter Mexico as tourists without a visa. The immigration officer decides how many days to grant, up to 180, and a visitor cannot work or be paid in Mexico.

Be ready to explain your trip. Officers can refuse entry to any visitor who cannot show the purpose of the visit, a return ticket, where they will stay, and enough money. Carry printed bookings and bank statements.

Mexico has added visa requirements for several South American countries since 2021, including Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil and Peru. Rules can change quickly, so check before you book. See visa requirement changes and visiting Mexico as a tourist.

In general, you cannot switch from tourist to resident inside Mexico. The main exceptions are some family cases. See change of status.

For residency based on your own money, Mexico sets the tests in days of UMA, updated every February. For 2026:

The embassy converts these into local currency or US dollars at its own rate. Ask for its current figure. Check your numbers with the solvency calculator.

The job offer and family routes do not use these amounts in the same way; the employer's or family member's documents matter more.

• In Colombia: the consular section of the Embassy of Mexico in Bogotá. Check its website for the booking method and requirement list.
• If you live legally in another country (for example the United States, Canada or Spain): the Mexican consulate for your area there. You must show you are a legal resident of that country. See Mexican consulates.

Documents. Colombia and Mexico are both members of the Apostille Convention. Colombian birth, marriage and police certificates are apostilled by the Colombian Foreign Ministry (Cancillería), usually online. Documents not in Spanish need an official translation.

After the visa is issued, enter Mexico within 180 days and apply for your residence card at INM within 30 days.

• Employer first. For a job offer visa, the Mexican employer must be registered with INM and usually starts the process in Mexico.
• Regulated professions. To practice as a doctor, nurse, engineer, lawyer or in another regulated profession, you usually need a Mexican professional license (cédula profesional). Foreign degrees must first be recognized (revalidación) by Mexico's Secretariat of Public Education (SEP).
• Tax and social security. Employees are registered in IMSS and pay Mexican income tax.
• Existing residents who want to add work permission can apply to INM. See work permits for residents.

Family members usually follow the main applicant's status:

• Spouse or partner and minor children can apply for residency through family unity once you hold a residence card, or at the same time at the consulate. Consulates add 220 UMA days (25,808.20 pesos in 2026) to the financial test for each dependent when you qualify by solvency.
• Marriage to a Mexican citizen gives access to family unity residency. Spouses of Mexicans can move to permanent residency after 2 years and can also apply for naturalization on a shorter track.
• Children born in Mexico are Mexican citizens by birth, which can later help parents qualify for residency.
• Documents: bring apostilled birth and marriage certificates. Civil registry copies from Colombia should be recent, since many offices ask for documents issued within the last few months.

See family unity and permanent residency through family.

Mexico's Nationality Law lets nationals of Latin American countries and of the Iberian Peninsula apply for naturalization after 2 years of residence, instead of the general 5 years. Colombians qualify for this shorter track. You also take an exam on Mexican history and culture.

Mexico asks naturalizing applicants to renounce their other nationality. Colombia's Constitution says Colombians by birth do not lose their nationality by acquiring another, so many people keep both in practice. Check with both governments before you apply. See naturalization and dual citizenship.

Once you have your card, get your CURP, RFC tax ID and a bank account. See CURP and opening a bank account. For costs, see cost of living. If you need protection because of persecution or violence, see refugee status in Mexico and talk to a licensed immigration lawyer.