Permanent resident visa in Mexico
Permanent residence in Mexico is a status for those who can evidence pension income from abroad or a close family tie with a national or permanent resident: parents, minor children, siblings, a cohabiting partner. The application is filed at a Mexican consulate, and after entry the resident card is obtained from the National Migration Institute. Spouses and cohabiting partners are first given temporary residence. The permanent resident card has no expiry date and does not need renewing.
Who can become a permanent resident of Mexico
The route to permanent status depends on whether the application is filed from abroad or you are already in Mexico on another migration status.
Those filing from abroad
- Pensioners and recipients of pension payments with income outside Mexico
- Parents, minor children and siblings of a Mexican national or permanent resident
- Cohabiting partners (concubinos) and minor stepsons and stepdaughters of a Mexican national or permanent resident
Those already living in Mexico on temporary status
- Spouses and partners who have spent two years with temporary resident status on family grounds
- Temporary residents with four years of continuous stay in that status
- Applicants who have scored the required number of points under the points system, the criteria for which are published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación
When this programme is not suitable
You plan to live in Mexico for less than four years and meet neither the pension nor the family basis
the temporary resident visa (Residencia Temporal) — its grounds are wider and include investment, property in Mexico and a letter of guarantee
You are the spouse or partner of a Mexican national and want permanent status immediately on entry
a temporary resident visa is issued first, for two years on family grounds, and only then comes the move to permanent residence
You have neither a pension, nor a close family tie with a Mexican national, nor accumulated time as a temporary resident
consider the other grounds for temporary residence — investment, property or employment — as a first step towards permanent status
What it costs
| Exchange of the visa for a resident card (canje) on entry into MexicoINM, the «Cuota 100%» rate for those who obtained a permanent resident visa at a consulate abroad | 13 579 MXN |
|---|---|
| Acceptance and examination of the application to change status to permanent residentINM, for those already in Mexico with temporary resident status who move to permanent status without leaving the country | 1 847 MXN |
| Issue of the permanent resident card on moving from temporary resident statusThe second payment for the same procedure — for the permanent resident document itself, following acceptance of the application | 13 579 MXN |
| Rate reduced by 50% for issue of the card on moving from temporary resident statusUnder the 2026 schedule this reduced rate is marked as applying specifically to the procedure for changing the condition of stay to permanent | 6 789 MXN |
| Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. the “Rate reduced by 50% for issue of the card on moving from temporary resident status” branch replaces the “Issue of the permanent resident card on moving from temporary resident status” line — 22 215 MXN. Charges with no official price list are in the list below. | 29 005 MXN |
Paid separately
- The consular fee for examining the visa application abroad — Paid separately at the Mexican consulate when the application is filed; the INM schedule above covers only the procedures inside the country
Documents to gather
The set of documents differs depending on whether the application is filed from abroad or the change of status is arranged inside Mexico.
- A valid passport
- One photograph of the prescribed format
- Proof of lawful stay in the country from which the application is filed, or of Mexican origin
- Documentary proof of financial means
- Documents evidencing the basis — pension income, kinship or cohabitation with a Mexican national or permanent resident
- The receipt for the state fee
- For a change of status inside the country — a valid temporary resident card and a printed, signed application form for the change of condition of stay
- For pensioners changing status inside the country — proof of an account balance of at least 25,000 UMA days on average over the last 12 months, or of monthly income or a pension of at least 500 UMA days over the last 6 months
How the process runs
The procedure differs depending on whether the application is filed from abroad or the change of status is arranged inside Mexico.
- 1
Preparing the documents and filing the application at a Mexican consulate
The applicant submits to the Mexican consulate abroad a valid passport, a photograph, proof of financial means and the documents for the chosen basis — a pension or kinship with a Mexican national or permanent resident — and pays the state fee that has been set.
- 2
Examination of the application and issue of the permanent resident visa
The consulate examines the documents and, if the decision is positive, issues the permanent resident visa, which gives the right to enter Mexico with that status.
- 3
Entry into Mexico on the visa obtained
The period within which the resident card must be obtained runs from the date of entry into Mexican territory.
- 4
Obtaining the resident card from the National Migration Institute
within 30 calendar days of entryAt a National Migration Institute office the applicant exchanges the visa for a permanent resident card and pays the fee that has been set; the card issued has no expiry date.
- 5
The move to permanent status for those already in Mexico
If the basis for permanent residence arose during the stay in Mexico — for example the spouse has spent two years with temporary resident status on family grounds, the period of temporary residence has reached four continuous years, or the required number of points has been scored under the points system — the application to change the condition of stay is filed directly with the National Migration Institute, without leaving the country.
Who you can bring with you
An evidenced family tie with a Mexican national or permanent resident is a basis for permanent residence in its own right, separate from pensioner status.
Parents of a Mexican national or permanent resident
Minor children of a Mexican national or permanent resident
Siblings of a Mexican national or permanent resident
Cohabiting partner (concubino/concubina) of a Mexican national or permanent resident
Minor stepsons and stepdaughters of a Mexican national or permanent resident
Spouse of a Mexican national or permanent resident
Trips, renewal and the grace period
A permanent resident lives in the country with no time limit. The only strict deadline is the 30 calendar days for obtaining the card after entry.
The permanent resident card has no expiry date and requires no scheduled renewal for adults: in the National Migration Institute's 2026 schedule the «renewal» (renovación) line for permanent resident status is provided only for minors — probably because the photograph has to be updated as the child grows up. If the document is lost or damaged, or has to be replaced, a separate chargeable «replacement» (reposición) procedure applies.
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to citizenship
After 5 years of residence with a resident card an application for the naturalisation certificate is filed with the SRE. Two examinations are taken: 10 questions on history and culture, of which 8 must be correct, and Spanish. The fee is 1,380 pesos and the decision takes 20 working days.
Frequently asked questions about Permanent resident visa
Can the spouse of a Mexican national obtain permanent residence straight away?
How long is there to obtain the resident card after entering Mexico?
How much does exchanging the visa for a permanent resident card at the National Migration Institute cost?
Is it possible to obtain permanent residence simply by living in Mexico on a temporary visa?
Other ways to move to Mexico
- Temporary resident visaResidence permit for financially independent people
- Change to permanent resident status inside MexicoPermanent residence by length of stay
- Visitor visa with permission to carry out paid activitiesWork visa
- Job offer visaWork visa
- Family reunification visaFamily residence permit
- Regularisation of status on family groundsRegularisation of status
- Temporary resident student visaStudy visa
- Naturalisation: the naturalisation certificateCitizenship
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.