The essentials
- Temporary residency lets you live in Mexico for up to four years, come and go as often as you like, and bring your family (Migration Law, Article 52-VII).
- The standard 2026 financial test is about MX$79,771 a month in income (≈$4,432) or MX$1,344,373 in savings (≈$74,687); consulates publish their own figures, from US$4,049 upward.
- You apply at a Mexican consulate outside Mexico, then exchange the visa for a residency card at INM within 30 days of arriving.
More things to know
- The first card usually lasts one year; you renew inside Mexico for one to three more years. In 2026 a one-year card costs MX$11,141.
- After four years you can switch to permanent residency without a new financial test.
In this guide
Temporary residency (residencia temporal) is how most people start a life in Mexico. It's the status for remote workers, early retirees and families who meet the financial test, and it leads, after four years, to permanent residency.
This guide covers the whole journey in order, based on the Migration Law, 2026 consulate requirement sheets and INM's 2026 fees. Check where you stand first with the residency calculator.
What temporary residency lets you do
Under Article 52 (section VII) of the Migration Law, temporary residency allows you to:
- Live in Mexico for up to four years in total.
- Enter and leave as often as you like.
- Bring your family: your minor unmarried children and your spouse's, your spouse or partner, and your parents can live in Mexico with the same status.
- Get permission to work for pay in Mexico, subject to a job offer.
- Bring your household goods under the applicable customs rules.
It also lets you keep one foreign-plated car on a temporary import permit for as long as your status lasts, open Mexican bank accounts and enroll in IMSS.
Ways to qualify
| Basis | Who it suits | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Economic solvency — income or savings | Remote workers, early retirees, anyone with means | This guide |
| Family unity | Spouses, partners, children and parents of Mexicans or residents | Family unity |
| Job offer | People hired by a Mexican employer registered with INM | Your employer starts the process |
| Study | Students at Mexican institutions (a separate student status) | Your school's guidance |
The 2026 financial test
| Route | Standard 2026 threshold | ≈ USD at 18 | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly income | MX$79,771 | $4,432 | Last 6 months (some ask 12) |
| Savings or investments | MX$1,344,373 | $74,687 | Last 12 months |
What consulates actually publish (verified from their sheets):
| Consulate | Income / month | Savings | Sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | US$4,049 | US$68,241 | 2026 |
| New York | US$4,200 | US$71,500 | 2026 |
| Houston | ≈US$4,342 | ≈US$73,189 | 2025 |
| New Brunswick | US$4,500 | US$75,500 | 2026 |
| Washington, D.C. | MX$83,640 | MX$1,394,000 | 2026 |
Documents checklist
- Visa application form, completed and signed
- Valid passport, plus copies of the data page (some consulates also want pages with visas or stamps)
- One recent passport-size color photo, white background, no glasses (not always US-passport size — Orlando asks for 32 × 26 mm to 39 × 31 mm)
- Proof of legal stay in the country where you apply, if you're not a citizen there
- Income route: six months of bank statements showing the deposits, plus pay stubs, an employer letter or a pension award letter — some consulates require the employer letter to approve working remotely from Mexico
- Savings route: twelve months of statements showing the balance above the threshold throughout
- Original statements or bank-stamped copies — many consulates refuse plain printouts
- The visa fee, US$53–56 depending on the consulate, often cash only
The consulate appointment
Book through the SRE's online system (MiConsulado / citas.sre.gob.mx) or the method your consulate specifies — some take requests by email. On the day, an officer reviews your file, interviews you and takes your fingerprints; the interview can be in English or Spanish. Some consulates issue the visa the same day, others take up to ten business days and keep your passport meanwhile.
From application to residency card: a timeline
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Gather statements and documents | Start 1–3 months ahead |
| Consulate appointment | Availability varies widely by consulate |
| Visa issued | Same day to about 10 business days |
| Enter Mexico | Within 180 days of the visa being issued |
| Start the canje at INM | Within 30 days of entering |
| Residency card | Same day if your file is complete, otherwise after follow-up |
Entering Mexico and the canje
- At the border or airport: tell the officer you're entering for canje and make sure your entry isn't recorded as a tourist entry — the most common and costly mistake.
- Within 30 calendar days: complete INM's online application, pay the card fee at a bank and submit your passport, entry record, visa and payment receipt at an INM office.
- Fingerprints and card: you give your signature and fingerprints in person; complete files can be issued the same day.
Step-by-step details, the 2026 card fees and what happens if you miss the deadline are in our canje guide. Afterwards, tell INM within 90 days about any change of address.
What it costs in 2026
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Consular visa fee | About US$53–56, depending on the consulate |
| Residency card, 1 year | MX$11,141 (reduced rate MX$5,570 where it applies) |
| Renewal, 1 / 2 / 3 years | MX$11,141 / MX$16,693 / MX$21,143 |
| Switch to permanent after 4 years | MX$1,847 to apply + MX$13,579 for the card |
Renewing, and switching to permanent
Apply for renewal at INM when your card has 30 days or less left. Renewals are done inside Mexico, and economic-solvency residents sign a statement that their circumstances haven't changed instead of re-proving income. You can choose 1, 2 or 3 more years (four in total) — see the renewal guide for documents and fees.
After four years you can change to permanent residency at INM without a new financial test. If a card expires, you have 60 days to regularize with a fine; after that you must leave and start over at a consulate (details).
Worked examples
- A remote employee earning US$5,500 a month after tax: clears every consulate figure above with room to spare, but needs an employer letter approving remote work at consulates such as San Diego and New York.
- A freelancer with irregular income and US$90,000 in savings: the savings route is simpler — twelve months of statements staying above the threshold.
- A 58-year-old early retiree with a US$4,800 pension: qualifies for temporary residency now, and can switch to permanent after four years without another financial test.
- A couple where only one partner earns: the earner qualifies, and the partner applies through family unity, with extra support shown if the consulate requires it.
Keep reading
Residency · Canje
Canje: visa to residency card
You have 30 days after entering Mexico to exchange your consulate visa for a residency card at INM. Here is the exact process, the documents, the 2026 fees and the mistakes that cost people their visa.
Residency · Renewal
Renew temporary residency
Renew your Mexican temporary resident card from inside Mexico: when to apply (30 days before expiry), what INM asks for, the 2026 fees for 1–3 years, and how renewal leads to permanent residency.
Consulate data
Compare Mexican consulates
Official 2026 income and savings requirements, fees and booking rules, consulate by consulate.
Residency · Permanent
Permanent residency
How to become a permanent resident of Mexico: the seven routes in the Migration Law, 2026 income and savings thresholds for retirees, switching after four years of temporary residency, costs, your rights, and the path to citizenship.
Frequently asked questions
How long does temporary residency in Mexico take?
Once you have an appointment, the visa is issued the same day or within about ten business days; you then have 30 days after entering Mexico to start the canje, and complete files can get the card the same day.
Can I combine income and savings to qualify?
No. Consulates assess either income or savings. If your income is irregular, the savings route over 12 months is often easier to document.
Do I lose temporary residency if I leave Mexico?
No. The law lets temporary residents enter and leave as often as they like — though where you live can affect your tax residency.
Can I work in Mexico with temporary residency?
You can obtain permission to work for pay in Mexico, subject to a job offer. Remote work for foreign employers is common among temporary residents; some consulates ask for an employer letter approving it.
Can I get temporary residency with Social Security?
Yes, if your monthly benefit plus other regular income meets your consulate's threshold — about $4,432 at the standard 2026 level. Bring your award letter and recent statements.
How much does temporary residency cost in 2026?
About US$53–56 for the consular visa, then MX$11,141 for a one-year card at INM, with renewals of MX$11,141 to MX$21,143 depending on length.
Sources & official references
- Ley de Migración (last reform DOF 15-01-2026), Article 52
- INM — Procedures microsite (fees, forms, follow-up)
- Citas SRE / MiConsulado appointment system
- Consulate of Mexico in San Diego — Temporary Resident Visa, economic solvency (2026 PDF)
- UMA values — INEGI
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Consulates interpret rules differently — confirm with your consulate or a licensed professional before acting.