EXPATS IN MEXICO · EXPATS · MEXICO, 1 JUNE 2026
Key Facts
—Two statuses. Residency in Mexico for expats comes in two forms — temporary (residente temporal, up to four years) and permanent (residente permanente, indefinite). You almost always apply at a Mexican consulate abroad and then finish the process at INM after you arrive.
—You start abroad. Tourists already inside Mexico generally cannot switch to residency without leaving. The consulate places a visa sticker in your passport, and you complete the exchange (the canje) at the immigration institute within 30 days of entering.
—Money matters most. The usual route is economic solvency: proof of monthly income or twelve months of healthy bank balances. The thresholds track Mexico’s minimum wage and the UMA index, rise every year, and are higher for permanent status.
