Mexico's Points System for Permanent Residency

Article 54 of Mexico's Migration Law lists the ways a foreigner can become a permanent resident. One of them is "by decision of the Institute, according to the points system" (sistema de puntos). Article 57 says the Interior Ministry (SEGOB, Secretaría de Gobernación) may set up this system through general administrative rules published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación (DOF), so that foreigners can get permanent residency without completing the 4 years of prior residence.

People admitted through the points system get permission to work and can bring family members under the family unity rules.

Article 124 of the Migration Regulation says the system aims to attract investors and people with high skills in science, technology, sports, the humanities and the arts, or who help Mexico's development and competitiveness.

Article 125 lists categories the system may include:

SEGOB decides which categories apply, how many points each is worth, and the minimum score. The Regulation says the system should be reviewed every 3 years.

The Regulation describes two paths:

• From abroad (Article 126): apply for a visa at a Mexican consulate, attaching a completed pre-qualification form (formato de precalificación) and documents for each category you meet.
• From inside Mexico (Article 127): a temporary resident can ask INM to change to permanent residency through the points system, also with the pre-qualification form and supporting documents.

INM's current guide to permanent residency mentions the points system as an option alongside the 4-year and retiree routes, but it does not publish the scoring details.

The Migration Law has been amended many times since 2011, most recently in January 2026, but Articles 54 and 57 still provide for the points system.

The points system is rarely used. We could not find current scoring tables or the pre-qualification form on INM's public pages as of September 2026. Consulates' visa pages focus on financial solvency, family unity, job offers, and retirement instead.

That means:

• You should not plan a move around the points system alone.
• If you have strong qualifications (for example a doctorate, major international awards, or a significant investment), ask INM or a Mexican consulate in writing whether the system is accepting applications and what score applies.
• Get advice from a licensed Mexican immigration lawyer before you spend money on document preparation for this route.

Based on Articles 124 and 125 of the Regulation, the points system was meant for people Mexico wants to attract but who may not fit the usual routes:

• Scientists, researchers, and engineers with advanced degrees.
• Professionals in fields where Mexico has shortages.
• Investors who bring capital to Mexico.
• Athletes, artists, and scholars with international recognition.
• People who already speak Spanish and know Mexican culture well.

If you fit one of these profiles, you may also qualify through a Mexican employer's job offer, which is a well-established route. Temporary residents who later qualify for the points system could, in theory, use it to switch to permanent residency before completing 4 years.

Most people who want permanent residency use one of these routes:

• Retirees: apply directly for permanent residency as a retiree if your pension or savings meet the 2026 thresholds.
• Family ties: parents of Mexican children and close relatives of Mexicans by birth can get permanent residency. See family permanent residency.
• Everyone else: start with temporary residency (for example through financial solvency or a job offer) and switch after 4 years. See temporary to permanent.
• Investors: consulates also accept investment in a Mexican company or ownership of high-value property as grounds for temporary residency. Ask your consulate for the current thresholds. See investing in Mexico.

Canada runs active points systems, such as the Comprehensive Ranking System in Express Entry, with regular draws and published cutoffs. Mexico's points system exists in law but has no comparable public draws or score reports. If a points-based route matters to you, compare the options in Canada vs Mexico.