There are several different visas and residency permits available to foreigners. 

Visitor Visa, the FMM?

Mexico’s visitor visa allows entry into the country for leisure or business visits lasting maximum 180 days.  The immigration official at the port of entry will grant a specific number of days (not exceeding 180) when you arrive in Mexico.

How long is it valid?

Your visitor permit is valid for the number of days granted by the immigration official and written on the permit —that will never exceed 180 days, but may be less than 180 days— starting from the date of your arrival. 

The arrival date is always stamped on the permit. It cannot be extended beyond the number of days written on the permit by the immigration official at the port of entry.

Extensions and renewals

The visitor permit cannot be extended or renewed; and you must leave Mexico by the date it expires. 

If you over-stay your visitor visa you will need to pay a fine when you leave the country.

Leaving and re-entering Mexico

You must leave by the expiry date, but there is no time limit on how long you must remain outside of Mexico before you can return using a new visitor visa. 

Every time you re-enter Mexico, the number of days allowance granted by the immigration official allowance is ‘reset.’ 

Some foreigners have been using this feature to remain in Mexico over longer periods; however, with today’s computerized systems, immigration officials at ports of entry have ready-access to your movements through Mexico and ‘perpetual visitors’ may now have their intentions questioned at the port of entry. 

If you intend to stay in Mexico longer term we recommend you apply for a Mexican residency permit.

 

Residente Temporal Permit

Temporary residency enables foreigners to remain in Mexico beyond the maximum 180-day time limit imposed with the visitor visa and also gives them access to certain residency privileges (e.g. opening a bank account here which you cannot do as a visitor).

How long is it valid?

When you are granted a Residente Temporal visa, it’s valid from 1 year to 4 years. 

Your first temporary residency card is always issued for only one year and must be renewed within the 30-day window before its expiry date.

At the end of the first year, you can renew your temporary residency for a further 1, 2 or 3 years.

When you renew for 3 years you won’t have to return to the immigration office to renew it until it fully expires at the end of year 4; however, you must inform the immigration office of certain changes in your personal circumstances (see below).

Leaving and re-entering Mexico

While your Residente Temporal card is valid, you may leave and re-enter Mexico as often as you wish. 

You must attend the immigration kiosk at the port of departure to have a Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM) card stamped and re-present that same stamped card when you return.

Note: If you have residency status do not re-enter Mexico as a visitor or your immigration status will become ‘irregular’ and your residency status will be put at risk. 

Renewing your temporary residency permit

Temporary residency card renewals must be undertaken in Mexico, and you cannot leave the country during the renewal process.  In exceptional circumstances, you can apply for a temporary exit and re-entry permit while your residency card renewal is being processed; the covering letter submitted with your request must state the exceptional nature of your circumstances.  

Change in circumstances

When you are living in Mexico under the auspice of Residente Temporal you must report certain changes in your personal circumstances to the immigration office —e.g. change of your residential address, change of marital status, or change of employment status or employer— and these changes must be reported in Mexico.

Time allowed outside of Mexico

When you are living in Mexico under the auspice of Residente Temporal, there is no time limit to how long you can remain outside of the country, but renewals and reporting changes in certain personal circumstances (see above) must be undertaken in Mexico.

What happens after four years of temporary residency?

After 4 consecutive years under the auspice of a Residente Temporal status in Mexico, you have three choices:

• Purposely allow the permit to expire and then enter a regularization process to re-apply for temporary residency within a specific time period; or
• Apply to exchange your temporary residency status for permanent residency status within 30 days before your final expiry date; or
• Leave the country and surrender your legal residency status.

 

Residente Permanente Permit

Permanent residency gives a foreigner leave to remain in Mexico indefinitely, and gives certain residency privileges; for example, opening a bank account here which you cannot do as a visitor.

How long is it valid?

When you are granted a Residente Permanente visa —whether you apply straight away and are granted permanent residency, or eventually obtain permanent residency after four consecutive years of living under the auspice of a temporary residence permit in Mexico— you are issued with a permanent residency card that carries no expiry date. 

Permanent residency never expires, but can be surrendered, or withdrawn by the Secretaría de Gobernación, at any time.

Leaving and re-entering Mexico

When you have permanent residency status in Mexico, you may leave and re-enter the country as often as you wish.  You must attend the immigration kiosk at the port of departure to have a Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM) card stamped and re-present that same stamped card when you return—if you have residency status do not re-enter Mexico as a visitor or your immigration status will become ‘irregular’ and your residency status will be put at risk.  

Change in circumstances

When you are living in Mexico under the auspice of Residente Permanente you must report certain changes in your personal circumstances to the immigration office —e.g. change of your residential address, change of marital status, or change of employment status or employer— and these changes must be reported in Mexico.

Time allowed outside of Mexico

Under current rules, when you have permanent residency status in Mexico, your Residente Permanente card does not require renewal and there is no time limit to how long you can remain outside of the country, but reporting changes in certain personal circumstances (see above) must be undertaken in Mexico.

Time qualification for Mexican citizenship

If you intend to apply for Mexican citizenship as part of your lifestyle planning, you must prove five consecutive years with either temporary residency or permanent residency, and you cannot have been physically present outside of Mexico for more than 180 days during the last two years prior to the application date. 

If you are married to a Mexican national, the qualification period may reduce to two years.