Mexico residency

Mexican residency is a two-stage process. You apply for a resident visa at a Mexican consulate outside Mexico, then exchange that visa for a residency card at an Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) office within 30 days of entering the country. Most people choose between temporary residency, which suits remote workers and early retirees, and direct permanent residency, which consulates now treat as a retirement visa with a much higher financial bar.

Who this route suits

Temporary residency suits remote workers paid from abroad, early retirees below the permanent threshold, and anyone who wants a stable status instead of relying on tourist entries, which are granted at the officer's discretion and are not guaranteed to be 180 days. Permanent residency suits retirees with a substantial pension or savings. Neither visa lets you work for a Mexican employer without further permission.

The main options at a glance

	Temporary residency	Permanent residency (retirees)
Income route	At least US$4,049 a month for six months (San Diego, 2026)	About US$7,500 a month net pension for six months
Savings route	Average balance of at least US$68,241 over twelve months (San Diego, 2026)	About US$300,000 held every month for twelve months
Other conditions	Employment income accepted if your employer agrees to remote work from Mexico	Age 62 or older at the US consulates checked, or proof of official retirement
Card fee in Mexico (2026)	About MXN 11,141 for the first one-year card	MXN 13,578.96
Duration	Up to four years, then eligible for permanent	Indefinite

Thresholds are set in UMA units and converted by each consulate, so the exact dollar figures differ by consulate. Use the checklist published by the consulate where you book.

The order to tackle things

1. Choose your category. Start with the Mexico temporary resident visa guide. If you are retired and comfortably above the higher bar, read Mexico permanent residency requirements for retirees before deciding.
2. Apply at the consulate. The US consulates checked charge a US$56 processing fee before reviewing your file, and it is not refunded if you are refused.
3. Enter Mexico on the visa and complete the canje. Tell the border officer you are entering for the canje, and check that your entry document is marked correctly before you leave the counter. The canje process guide covers the documents, the 2026 fees and why missing the 30-day window means starting again abroad.
4. Open a bank account. Banks generally want your physical resident card, which also carries your CURP, plus proof of address and increasingly an RFC tax ID. See how to open a bank account in Mexico, including the account levels that limit deposits.
5. Sort out health cover. Residents can join IMSS through voluntary family health insurance, paid yearly by age band, from MXN 9,300 to MXN 22,150 from March 2026. The IMSS voluntary enrollment guide explains the pre-existing condition exclusions and waiting periods that decide whether it works for you.

What to watch out for

• Entering as a tourist with a resident visa in your passport. You are expected to enter on the visa and start the canje.
• Mixing income and savings. Consulates assess one route or the other, not a blend.
• Relying on IMSS alone. It excludes some serious pre-existing conditions and never covers items such as glasses, hearing aids and most dental work.