Mexico · Residency

Mexico residency requirements for US citizens

Source-checked25 sources, 24 officialHow we check

Last checked 13 Nov 2026Written for US citizensSome rules are still being checked

In brief

Most people start with temporary residence, applied for at a Mexican consulate: about $4,284 a month of income. Retirees with about $7,183 a month of pension can go straight to permanent residence.

Residency income fromAbout $4,284 a month

Visa-free (US)Up to 180 days

CitizenshipAfter 5 years on a residence card

Tax on foreign incomeYes, once your home is in Mexico

Temporary residence by economic solvency

(residente temporal por solvencia económica)

Who it's for: Anyone staying 180 days to 4 years on their own income or savings: retirees, and remote workers paid from abroad.

Money needed: About $4,284 a month of income for the past 6 months, or about $72,200 average savings over 12 months
How long it lasts: Up to 4 years; the card is issued for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years
Leads to: Permanent residence after 4 years, or 2 if married to (or the partner of) a Mexican or permanent resident
Apply from: A Mexican consulate outside Mexico; you can't switch from a tourist stay
Processing time: Consulate up to 10 business days, then the immigration office (INM) 20; real waits Not yet verified

What you need

Passport: valid, plus the application form and one photo
Income proof: 6 months of pension or pay records, such as an SSA letter
Or savings proof: 12 monthly bank or investment statements
Statements: originals or bank-stamped, personal accounts; some consulates refuse online printouts
Remote employees: an employer letter agreeing to you working from Mexico (some consulates)
Papers from other countries: apostille plus official Spanish translation
Fees: visa $54–56; card $598 (1 year) to $1,346 (4 years). Other costs Not yet verified
Card: enter within 180 days of the visa, then ask INM within 30 days

Good to know

No local job: paid work in Mexico needs a job offer. Remote work for a foreign employer is consulate practice, not law.
Renew early: in the 30 days before the card expires, for the same fee.
No minimum stay Not established yet; your years on the card count toward citizenship.

Checked against the lawRules read in the migration law and the 2025 visa guidelines.

Still being checkedConsulates quote different amounts; confirm yours before you apply.

Sources (17)

Legal basis and exact figures

Still being checked: consulate amounts differ (Washington still uses the old 2014 basis; Houston states 11,400 UMA days). Remote work is consulate practice, not law. INM's card document list and the updated consular fee weren't read.
Money: 680 UMA days a month for 6 months (79,770.80 pesos) or an average 11,460 UMA days over 12 months (1,344,372.60 pesos), at the 2026 UMA and FIX 18.6188 (12 Nov 2026); Lineamientos 2025, Trámite 5 III.a. San Diego asks $4,049 / $68,241; Washington 83,640 / 1,394,000 pesos; Houston adds 220 UMA a month per dependant.
Law: Ley de Migración arts 40, 41, 52 VII, 53, 128; Reglamento arts 107, 111, 138, 156, 160. Abroad at expiry: re-enter within 55 days and file within 5 business days.
Fees 2026 (LFD art 8 VI): 11,140.74 pesos (1 year) to 25,057.82 (4 years); visa $56 (2026 sheets) or $54 (2025 sheets).
Citizenship and tax: the card counts for naturalisation (Reglamento LNac art 14 I). Tax residence follows the Código Fiscal art 9 home test. UMA multiples replaced minimum-wage multiples in Aug 2025; no quota.

Permanent residence for retirees

(residente permanente, jubilados o pensionados)

Who it's for: Retirees with a pension from abroad, from a government, international body or private employer, big enough to live on.

Money needed: About $7,183 a month of pension for the past 6 months, or about $288,900 average savings over 12 months
How long it lasts: Permanent; adult cards don't need renewing
Leads to: Already permanent; the years count toward citizenship
Apply from: A Mexican consulate outside Mexico
Processing time: Consulate up to 10 business days, then INM 20; real waits Not yet verified

What you need

Passport: valid, plus the application form and one photo
Pension proof: an SSA or payer letter, plus 6 monthly bank statements showing the deposits
Or savings proof: 12 monthly bank or investment statements
Statements: originals or bank-stamped; some consulates refuse online printouts
Under 62: proof that you are retired (some consulates)
Papers from other countries: apostille plus official Spanish translation
Fees: visa $54–56; card about $729. Other costs Not yet verified
Card: enter within 180 days of the visa, then ask INM within 30 days

Good to know

Work allowed: the law includes work permission, though one clause ties work permits to a job offer.
Family can join: spouse or partner, parents, minor children and minor siblings in your care.
No minimum stay Not established yet.

Checked against the lawRules read in the migration law and the 2025 visa guidelines.

Still being checkedSome consulates still quote older amounts; the age-62 line is consulate practice only.

Sources (16)

Legal basis and exact figures

Still being checked: El Paso (July 2025) still shows the old thresholds (139,400 / 5,576,000 pesos); the age-62 line is consular practice; combining pension and investment income isn't addressed.
Money: 1,140 UMA days a month for 6 months (133,733.40 pesos) or an average 45,850 UMA days over 12 months (5,378,663.50 pesos).
Law: Ley de Migración arts 52 IX, 54 III, 55, 128; Reglamento arts 109 II, 111 II, 157; card 13,578.96 pesos (LFD art 8 VII).
Tax: under the US treaty (art 19), US Social Security is taxable only in the US; a private pension where you're resident, subject to the US saving clause.

Permanent residence after 4 years as a temporary resident

(residente permanente por cuatro años como residente temporal)

Who it's for: Temporary residents with 4 years in a row of legal status, or 2 years if married to a Mexican or permanent resident.

Money needed: No income test found for this stage Not yet verified
How long it lasts: Permanent; adult cards don't need renewing
Leads to: This is the permanent stage; the years count toward citizenship
Apply from: Inside Mexico, at an INM office; no consulate visit
Processing time: 20 business days from a complete file; real waits Not yet verified

What you need

4 years in a row of legal temporary status (2 in the marriage or partner case)
Timing: apply at INM before your temporary card expires
Card fee: about $729
Possible extra fee: about 1,850 pesos for the change of status Not yet verified
Documents: ask INM; the current list is Not yet verified

Good to know

Work allowed: as for other permanent residents.
Citizenship: 4 temporary years plus 1 permanent year can meet the 5-year clock, if absences stay within the limit.
Gaps: whether a gap or late renewal breaks the 4-year count is Not established yet.

Checked against the lawThe 4-year rule is in the migration law and its regulation.

Still being checkedThe INM document list, steps and fees for this stage.

Sources (6)

Legal basis and exact figures

Still being checked: INM's document list and steps, the 1,847.13-peso change-of-condition fee (LFD art 9), and whether gaps break the 4-year count.
Law: Ley de Migración art 54 V; Reglamento art 139 V and VII (the test is status continuity, not days in Mexico); card 13,578.96 pesos; absences within Ley de Nacionalidad art 21.

Links

Status chips: Checked against the law means we read the official legal text. Not yet verified and Not established yet mean it isn't confirmed at the official source yet. Still being checked marks open questions; each route's Sources list names them.

Other Mexico guides

Every rule with its legal source.

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