MexicoPermanent residence by length of stay

Change to permanent resident status in Mexico

A move from temporary resident to permanent resident without leaving Mexico. The migration service accepts applications on several grounds: a long continuous stay on temporary status, or a pension or other income from abroad; the points system has been announced but does not operate. The applicant files the documents in person and pays a fee for the examination, then a further fee for issue of the document once approved. Permanent status has no expiry date, so the card will not have to be renewed.

Visa term

The permanent resident card has no expiry date and does not need renewing.

Processing time

INM decides within 20 working days.

Work

A permanent resident works as an employee or self-employed without a separate INM permit.

Residence

Four consecutive years on a temporary resident card is the main route to the status.

Source: gob.mx (INM) — Todo lo que necesitas saber para convertirte en residente permanente en México

Which basis suits you

Inside Mexico the migration service (INM) in practice accepts applications on two working grounds — the third, the points system, it describes itself as not yet implemented.

You have long held temporary resident status

You have been in Mexico continuously with temporary resident status, with no breaks
You are ready to state in the application itself that you are claiming the change of status specifically on length of stay
You can evidence that continuity with documents on your temporary status

You receive a pension or income from abroad

You are a pensioner or receive income from foreign sources sufficient to live on in Mexico
You can evidence the average balance on accounts and investments over the last year, or your monthly income over the last six months
You do not have to wait out a multi-year period on temporary resident status

When this programme is not suitable

You have neither a continuous multi-year period on temporary resident status nor pensioner status with sufficient income from abroad

Keep renewing your temporary resident status until the required period has accrued, or gather the documents on pension income and apply later

You intend to claim solely through the points system (Sistema de Puntos)

Wait for that mechanism to be launched officially — the migration service states outright that it has not yet been implemented — and use the length-of-stay or pension basis

The permanent resident visa has already been placed in the passport by a Mexican consulate abroad and all that is needed is the card after entry

That is a separate «canje» exchange procedure, with its own deadlines and documents, rather than a change of status for a serving temporary resident inside the country

What it costs

Acceptance and examination of the application to change statusArticle 9 of the Federal Law on State Fees (Ley Federal de Derechos), 2026 schedule	1 847 MXN
Issue of the permanent resident cardArticle 8, paragraph VII of the same law, 2026 schedule	13 579 MXN
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table.	15 426 MXN

Documents to gather

The basic set is the same for everyone; some documents depend on the basis on which you are claiming the change of status.

The original and a copy of the passport or other document on which temporary resident status was obtained
A valid temporary resident card
The application form for the migration procedure, completed electronically and signed
The receipt for the fee for acceptance and examination of the application
For the length-of-stay basis — an express statement in the application that you are claiming the change of status on continuous temporary residence
For pensioners — proof of the average monthly balance on accounts and investments over the last twelve months, or proof of monthly income or a pension over the last six months
For the points system — documents evidencing the indicators and the minimum score (in practice this basis does not yet operate)

How the process runs

The migration service handles the change of status in several stages, from preparing the documents to receiving the new card.

1
Preparing the documents for the chosen basis
The applicant gathers supporting documents for one of the grounds — a continuous period on temporary status or a pensioner's income from abroad — and completes the electronic application form.
2
Filing the application and making the first payment at a migration service office
The application, the original documents and proof of payment of the fee for acceptance and examination are submitted in person at one of the INM offices.
3
Examination of the application
up to 20 working days
The migration service checks the basis claimed — whether, for example, the required period on temporary status really has run continuously — and takes a decision.
4
Paying the fee for issue of the card and receiving the permanent resident card
Once the application is approved the applicant pays a separate fee for issue of the new document and returns to the INM office for the permanent resident card.

Renewal and the grace period

For adults the permanent resident card is valid indefinitely and requires no scheduled renewal. Compulsory renewal applies only to minors: once a year for children under three, and once every four years between the ages of three and eighteen.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Yes, it grants permanent resident status

Route to citizenship

After 5 years of residence with a resident card an application for naturalisation is filed with the SRE. Years spent with temporary resident student status are not counted towards that period.

Frequently asked questions about Change to permanent resident status

Which grounds allow a move to permanent resident status while already in Mexico?

The migration service names three grounds: continuous stay with temporary resident status for several years, pensioner status or receipt of income from abroad in a sufficient amount, and participation in the points system. In practice only the first two work — the points system has not yet been launched.

Is it true that the points system (Sistema de Puntos) is already operating?

No. In the official list of requirements for that basis the migration service notes outright that the mechanism has not yet been implemented, so applicants use only the length-of-stay or the pension income basis.

Will the permanent resident card have to be renewed in future?

For adults, no — the permanent resident card is valid indefinitely. Renewal is provided only for minors: annually up to the age of three, and once every four years from three to eighteen.

How are the migration fees paid, and by what means?

Payment is accepted by Visa or Mastercard bank card through a terminal at the migration service office itself, or at a bank on a payment form generated in advance. The rates for this type of procedure are reviewed annually.

How does this procedure differ from the «canje» exchange of the visa for a resident card?

The exchange, or «canje», is a separate procedure for those who have already obtained a permanent resident visa from a Mexican consulate abroad and, after entry, simply exchange it for a physical card. The change of status this page is about is for those already in Mexico with temporary resident status who move to permanent residence on length of stay, a pension or the points system.

Other ways to move to Mexico

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Mexico.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.