Mexican Consulate in Houston: Residency Visa Requirements (2026)

Temporary residency requirements

How it's calculated: UMA-based: 680 days of UMA (income) and 11,400 days of UMA (savings), with approximate USD amounts.

Dependents: Add 220 days of UMA (approx. $1,405.02 USD) per month for each direct economic dependent (spouse, parent or child), and prove the relationship with original marriage or birth certificates.

You show either income or savings, not a combination.

Documents to bring

• Completed visa application form
• Valid passport, plus a copy of the data page
• One recent passport-size color photo, white background, no glasses
• If you're not a citizen of the country where the consulate is: original and copy of proof of legal status
• Bank or investment statements certified by your bank (signature and/or stamp) for each of the last 12 months, or
• A hand-signed bank letter showing your name exactly as on your passport and the month-end balance for each of the last 12 months, plus copies of the statements
• Income route: pension award letter (e.g., Social Security) plus 6 months of certified statements showing deposits, or a hand-signed employer letter plus 6 months of pay stubs
• Visa fee: $54 — Payment method not stated on the requirements sheet

Documents issued outside the US or Mexico generally need an apostille and an official Spanish translation.

How Houston compares

Of the 6 consulates we track, Houston has the 3rd-lowest published income requirement for temporary residency, at about $4,342 a month. The range runs from San Diego (about $4,049) to Washington, D.C. (about $4,647).

Peso amounts are converted at 18 MXN/USD. A lower figure isn't the only thing that matters: appointment availability, processing time and document rules differ too. See the full consulate comparison.

Do you qualify? Worked examples

• Income of $4,800 a month after tax: about 10% above Houston's figure — comfortably over the line, as long as six months of statements show it.
• Income of $4,200 a month: just under. Consulates don't round up, so either wait until you can show the full amount or use the savings route.
• Savings of $81,000: qualifies on the savings route if the balance stayed above $73,188.95 in each of the 12 months.
• A couple where one partner earns: the earner applies on income and the partner through family unity; see the dependents rule above.

Applying at Houston, step by step

1. Check you qualify against Houston's figures, with a margin for exchange-rate moves.
2. Gather documents — statements in the format this consulate requires (see above), passport, photo and form.
3. Book the appointment: Not stated on the requirements sheet — check the consulate website for the current booking method. Visa issuance is subject to a consular interview.
4. Attend in person: an officer reviews your file and interviews you, and you give fingerprints. Bring the fee — payment method not stated on the requirements sheet.
5. Collect the visa: Up to 10 business days, per SRE visa guidelines.
6. Enter Mexico within 180 days and start the canje at INM within 30 days.

Why applications fall short

• Income just below the published figure, or a savings balance that dipped below it in one month.
• Statements that aren't in the required format — printouts where originals or bank-stamped copies are required.
• Mixing income and savings: consulates assess one route, not both added together.
• Missing proof of legal status for applicants who aren't citizens of the country they're applying in.
• Remote workers without an employer letter where the consulate requires one.

What's different about Houston

• Houston publishes its savings test as month-end balances, so every single month must clear the bar.
• Photo size is specified as 39 mm × 31 mm.
• The published document is version 2025.10.27; the approximate USD figures may be updated for the 2026 UMA.

After your visa is approved

Your visa sticker is valid for 180 days. Enter Mexico, make sure your entry is recorded as a canje, and visit an INM office within 30 days to get your residency card. Step-by-step instructions and 2026 fees are in our canje guide; when the card nears expiry, see how to renew.

Official contact details

• Website: consulmex.sre.gob.mx/houston/
• Address: 10555 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77042
• Phone: (713) 271-6800