Some of the most frequent questions we get are about which visa to get for living in Mexico part or full-time. This article will first clarify the difference between a visa and a permit.  Then we will discuss the different types of visas and permits and qualifications for each including financial requirements.  

We can’t express enough how important it is to always check with the Mexican consulate where you will apply and your local immigration office once you are in Mexico for the latest requirements.  Not only do requirements change often, but they change from consulate to consulate.

What is the difference between a visa and a permit?

There is a difference between a visa and a permit. The visa, step 1 of the immigration process, obtained outside of Mexico at a Mexican consulate, allows you to enter Mexico with the correct immigration status. This will be a sticker in your passport.  The permit, step 2 of the immigration process, is obtained by visiting your local immigration office, INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración) within 30 days of arriving in Mexico with your visa to complete the process. You will then receive a “card”  which is the physical document you will hold once the entire process is complete.

Types of Mexican Visas and Permits

Mexico has 3 main types of immigration visas leading to the corresponding permit:

1. Visitor’s Permit or Visitante: for short-term stays. This permit is obtained by filling out the FMM form upon arrival in Mexico or you will receive the paperless version which is a stamp in your passport granting you a number of days.In the case of the paper version, the airline provides the form or it will be provided in the immigration offices if arriving by land or sea. If arriving by airline, the $25 USD fee is usually included in the airfare (unless it’s a charter flight). If arriving by land or sea, the fee will be due upon entry.The visa can be granted for up to 6 months or 180 days and cannot be extended or renewed. You will need to leave the country before it expires.Note: Just because it can be granted for up to 180 days, does not mean you will receive 180 days. Plan to show proof of lodging with dates and your return flight if you would like to receive 180 days. If you are a frequent traveler to Mexico and wish to stay for several months at a time, you should apply for one of the visas below.

2. The Non-Immigrant Permit or the Temporary Resident Permit (Residente temporal), formerly known as the FM3. This is the permit you need if you plan to stay in Mexico longer than 180 days and up to 4 years or if you travel regularly to Mexico for several months at a time.  This permit can grant working permission or not, depending on your purposes and if you fulfill the required documentation.

3. The Immigrant Permit or the Permanent Resident Permit (Residente permanente), formerly known as the FM2. This permit is for people looking to reside permanently in Mexico, usually retirees, and perhaps eventually acquire citizenship. You can directly apply for this permit; you do not have to obtain the Non-Immigrant permit first. It is less commonly given by the consulates even if you fulfill the requirements. However, it is a common path after 4 years of having the Non-Immigrant Permit to continue on with the Immigrant Permit if you are planning on staying in Mexico.

Which Permit Do I Need?

The Temporary Resident Permit or Residente temporal

For most foreigners living in Mexico, this is the only permit they need. You can renew it annually and for up to 4 years under certain conditions. It does not lead automatically or directly to permanent residency status or citizenship. It also does not automatically grant permission to work. Depending on your intents and objectives of living in Mexico, you will supply documents for your situation.

Who Qualifies for Temporary Residency?

Basically, if you are applying for the Residente temporal and do not wish to work, you will supply documentation showing proof of a certain level of income or assets.

In March 2023, if you wish to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit, you must supply documents showing:

-you have a monthly income from foreign sources amounting to approximately $2800 USD over the last 6 months

or

– have assets such as a savings account balance over the past year amounting to at least $54,600 USD.

NOTE: These amounts vary according to different consulates and vary monthly according to exchange rate.

What If I Want To Work?

If you do wish to work, you can be sponsored by an employer. They will provide you with the proper documentation proving you will work for the employer, your job description and responsibilities, your salary and the intended time of employment. Receiving a visa for a company-sponsored job is mainly done by matching your skill sets with skill sets the employer has not been able to find in-country. These work permits restrict you to only working in specific capacities that the Immigration Office will define.

Read our article here to know more about How To Get a Work Visa to Work in Mexico.

The Permanent Resident Permit or Residente permanente

If you have fallen in love with Mexico and wish to live here on a permanent basis, you may wish to apply for the Permanent Resident Permit. This permit is for those looking to stay for long periods of time and who intend to live permanently in Mexico.

There are plenty of benefits to getting this card besides not having to leave the country after 180 days. You will get access to the national health care system, tax benefits and other discounts for senior citizens. It may also offer you the possibility of getting a work permit under certain circumstances.

Who Qualifies for Permanent Residency?

• Applicants with ties to Mexican citizens (spouse, common law partner, child) or foreigners residing in Mexico with temporary or permanent residency status.
• Retirees proving they have sufficient funds to support themselves. The amount of funds necessary can change in time and varies according to where you make application. Check with the consulate where you will make application.
• Holders of the Temporary Resident Card for 4 years.
• Holders of the Temporary Resident Card for 2 years who were granted the card through the family unity stipulations.
• Some other categories of people including those seeking refuge for humanitarian reasons or asylum.

You do not have to hold a Temporary Resident Card to apply for the Permanent Resident Card.

If you are applying for the Residente permanente and do not wish to work, you will supply documentation showing proof of a certain level of income or assets. The income required from foreign sources in order to be granted Permanent Resident status is higher than that for a Temporary Resident Permit.

In March 2023, if you wish to apply for a Permanent Resident Card, you must supply documents showing:

-you have a monthly income from foreign sources amounting to $5459 USD

or

– have assets such as a savings account balance over the past year amounting to at least $272,947 USD

NOTE: These amounts vary according to different consulates and vary monthly according to exchange rate.

Read more: How Long Can I Stay in Mexico?

Please note that this information is being provided as a general guide. The regulations and requirements frequently change so please confirm them with your attorney, a Mexican embassy or consulate. Once you decide on which visa you will apply for, you will gather your documents and make an appointment at your Mexican consulate in your home country or another country outside of Mexico. To read more about the first step in getting your visa, read our article How To Get Your Mexican Visa: Step 1.