How long tourists may stay
How long you may stay depends on your nationality and how you arrive. Citizens of certain visa-exempt countries and territories may enter Mexico without a visa for tourist, business, correspondence, study or medical purposes for up to 180 days.
If you are a citizen of a country covered by the Electronic Authorization System (SAE), you can obtain a free electronic authorization to travel to Mexico by air without a visa. It is valid for 30 days and a single entry, and on arrival you are authorized to stay for tourist, business or transit purposes for up to 180 days. SAE does not apply if you enter by land or sea, or on a non-participating airline.
Citizens of other countries who would normally require visas may enter for a maximum stay of 180 days if they hold a valid multiple-entry visa or permanent residence permit issued by certain countries. Only visas physically stamped in the passport or permanent residence cards are recognized; temporary residence permits on stand-alone paper or cards are not accepted.
Cruise ship passengers of any nationality do not need a visa to visit Mexican ports, and airline and ship crew members holding their credentials do not need a visa.
Routes to a longer stay as a temporary resident
The visa de residente temporal is issued by a Mexican consular office, and its holder then applies to the Instituto Nacional de Migración for the residente temporal condition of stay on entering Mexico. Several routes can support an application.
- Economic or business activity: contracts, service orders, invoices, receipts, business plans, licences or permits, or a constancia from the Instituto Mexicano de Seguridad Social showing a foreign legal entity employs at least three workers.
- Employment or pension: monthly income free of deductions above the equivalent of 680 days of UMA over the last six months.
- Real estate: ownership of property worth more than 40,000 days of the general minimum wage in Mexico City.
- Invitation for unpaid activity: a carta responsiva from the inviting organisation or institution.
Family links, such as marriage, concubinato or filial or fraternal relationship, are also evidenced. Applicants who are not nationals of the country where they apply must show legal stay there.
Studying in Mexico as a temporary resident student
If you enrol in courses, studies, research or academic or professional training lasting less than 180 days, you can apply for a visitor's visa without permission to carry out remunerated activities, using a letter of acceptance from an institution belonging to the Sistema Educativo Nacional. A constancia de estudios showing you are studying at a higher-education institution can also support a claim of lesser economic solvency.
For a longer stay, the visa de residente temporal covers the condición de estancia of residente temporal estudiante. Once you hold that status, a carta or constancia from your educational institution confirming that you are continuing your studies is among the documents used in the procedure.
- The visa de residente temporal is issued by the Mexican Oficina Consular; you then present yourself to the migration authority to request entry.
- The Tarjeta de residente temporal estudiante is issued by the Instituto Nacional de Migración.
- A comprobante de pago de derechos is required for receiving and studying the application and, where applicable, authorising the visa.
Retiring or living on foreign income
If you are retired or a pensioner receiving income from abroad, you can apply for a temporary resident visa at a Mexican consular office. You will need a document showing employment or a pension with monthly income free of taxes greater than the equivalent of 680 days of UMA over the last six months, or a bank statement showing balances, salaries, investments or pensions with the monthly average set by the applicable rule.
Alternatively, you can qualify through property: public deed showing you own real estate worth more than 40,000 days of the general minimum wage in Mexico City.
Once you hold temporary residence, the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) allows you to apply to change to permanent residence if you are a pensioner or retiree with income allowing you to reside in the country, or after four consecutive years in temporary residence status.
Basic requirements include the application form, your valid temporary resident card, your passport, the document proving the applicable ground, and payment of fees. Pay directly at INM offices by credit or debit card (Visa or MasterCard); fees are updated at the start of each year.
Becoming a permanent resident
If you already hold temporary residence, you may be able to change your condition of stay to permanent resident. The Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) handles the process.
You can apply for the change if you are a pensioner or retiree receiving income that allows you to live in Mexico, or if four years have passed with uninterrupted temporary resident status.
Basic requirements include:
- A completed application form, printed and signed (for minors, signed by a parent or guardian).
- A valid temporary resident card.
- Your passport or identity and travel document, original and copy.
- Documentation proving you meet the applicable ground.
- Proof of payment of the fee for review of the change of condition, and later for issuing the new migratory document if approved.
Pay directly at INM offices by credit or debit card (Visa or MasterCard). Fees are updated at the start of each year.
Before you decide
A visit is the time to look at neighbourhoods, prices, healthcare and daily life in Mexico for yourself. Immigration rules change often and depend on your nationality. This page is general information drawn from the official pages listed under its sources, not legal advice: confirm your own case with the authority named above, or with the country's embassy or consulate, before you decide.