MEXICO IMMIGRATION
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If you are going to live permanently in Mexico or just spend extended time, it will make sense for us help you with the Mexican Immigration process. The notes and booklets below will help you understand the way forward a little easier.
Immigration Overview
Mexico has a complete legal policy on immigration, which is primarily regulated by the Migration Act and the General Population Act, among other laws, affecting both Mexicans and foreigners. In this newsletter, we will focus on explaining the different methods by which foreigners wishing to visit, either for tourism, business, retirement, work, study, or for those seeking permanent residency in Mexico or Mexican citizenship Firstly, we look into the classifications of a foreigner in Mexico: a. Non-immigrant: this is a person who, with the permission from the Ministry of the Interior, enters a country temporarily either as a: (i) tourist; (ii) trans-migrant; (iii) visitor; (iv) religious minister; (v) political asylum; (vi) refugee; (vii) student; (viii) correspondent. b. Immigrant: this is a person who is legally in the country with the purpose of settling there, and will become a migrant: (i) an annuitant; (ii) an investor; (iii) a professional; (iv) a person in a trustworthy work position; (v) a scientist; (vi) a technician; (vii) family members; (viii) an artist and athlete; (ix) a freelancer . c. Migrant: this is a person who acquires the rights of permanent residency in the country. The type of permit (visa) assigned and granted by the Ministry of the Interior depends on the reasons for which the foreigner seeks to enter and remain in the country, which include the following: a. Visitor Visa WITHOUT permission to participate in income generating activities. It allows the foreigner to remain in the country for no more than 180 days consecutive days from the date of admission. This visa is automatically granted to tourists entering the country; b. Visitor Visa WITH permission to participate in income generating activities. This authorizes the foreigner to remain in the country for no more than 180 days consecutive days from the date of admission. c. Visitor Visa for adoption proceedings. This authorizes the foreigner who is following an adoption process in Mexico to remain in the country until the time in which the adoption proceedings have been resolved, the adoptee is registered in the Civil Registry as well as receiving a passport and all the necessary paperwork has been issued which guarantees that the adoptee is able to leave the country. d. Temporary Resident Visa. This authorizes the foreigner to remain in the country for a period not exceeding four years. The applicant is entitled to carry out specific activities either for profit or nonprofit, depending on the classification of the visa. The foreigner must also prove that they have sufficient funds to stay in the country and/or have a steady income. e. Temporary Resident Student Visa. This authorizes the foreigner to remain in the country for the duration of the academic course they have attested they will be completing in an educational institution that is within the national education system. f. Permanent resident visa. This authorizes the foreigner to remain indefinitely in the country. This visa will be granted when the applicant fulfills any of the following circumstances: (i) political asylum; (ii) the right to preserve the family unit; (iii) pensioners who receive a pension from a foreign government and which allows them to live in the country; (iv) four years have passed since the foreigner has had a temporary resident visa (two years if they are legally married to a Mexican spouse or the spouse has permanent residency); (v) when the foreigner’s children were born in Mexico and were nationalized at birth; (vi) for being the lineal descendant to the second degree of a Mexican by birth; and (vii) by decision of the National Migration Institute. Visitors, except those who are in the country for humanitarian reasons and who have links with a Mexican or a foreigner with permanent residency in Mexico, will not be able to change the conditions of their stay and will have to leave the country once they have completed their full period of authorized residency. Temporary and permanent residents have a period of thirty calendar days from the date of admission into the national territory in which to negotiate with the Institute for the corresponding residency card, which will then remain in effect for the designated time period of stay. With this card, the regular migration status in the national territory will be authorized while it is in effect. Additionally, the foreigner will have certain obligations, such as: (i) register with the National Register of Foreigners; (ii) notify the National Migration Institute any changes in their immigration status (such as marital status, nationality, home address, place of work) within 90 days of any such change. You can apply for your visa in person or hire a representative for advice who can apply on your behalf and do all the paperwork.
Mexico's Temporary Resident Visa
If you intend to reside in Mexico temporarily, the Residente Temporal permit enables you to remain in Mexico for up to 4 years. Visa de Residente Temporal: temporary resident visa Mexico offers a Temporary Resident visa, intended for people who wish to live in Mexico for up to 4 years. The Temporary Resident visa is a renewable, long-term residency permit that gives legal temporary residency status to the holder. The permit is issued for one year* initially, and can can then be renewed for a further 1, 2, or 3 years; this permit can optionally carry work permissions, and allows unlimited entries to, and exits from, Mexico. There are various categories under which the Temporary Resident visas are granted, and these relate to the activities you intend to undertake while in Mexico. Under the terms of the Temporary Resident Visa, you are authorized to only undertake certain, specific, activities which may be lucrative or non-lucrative, depending on the visa’s classification. A key criterion that the Mexican authorities require for the issuance of a Temporary Resident visa is that the applicant prove that they have sufficient funds to sustain themselves while in Mexico and/or a proven steady income. With a few exceptions, the Temporary Resident visa cannot be issued to you in Mexico; you must apply for it at a Mexican consulate outside of Mexico. This article explains who can apply for residency within Mexico. When applied for from overseas, the Temporary Residency permit (card) itself is not issued by foreign consulates. Instead, they process and pre-approve the application and place a visa (sticker) in your passport. When you arrive in Mexico you have to attend your local immigration office within 30 days of arrival, and undertake a procedure to exchange your temporary resident visa (passport stamp) for a Temporary Resident permit (a plastic card). All Temporary Residency cards are valid for only 1 year initially; they must be renewed after the first year for a further 1, 2, or 3 years if you wish to remain legally resident in Mexico. After four years of holding Temporary Residency, you can apply to exchange the temporary residency for permanent residency; or enter into a regularization procedure to start temporary residency again; or leave the country. *If you are married to a Mexican national, you are granted two years of temporary residency and after those two years you can exchange this for permanent residency.
Mexico's Permanent Resident Visa
Permanent resident visas are issued to foreign nationals who have the intention of living in Mexico who intend to settle permanently (indefinitely) in Mexico. Visa de Residente Permanente: Permanent Resident Visa The Permanent Resident permit is intended for people seeking permanent residency status in Mexico, and/or those who may seek eventual Mexican Citizenship. You do not need to be a Temporary Resident first to become a Permanent Resident later, provided that you fulfill the other requirements needed for permanent residency. To apply for and be granted a permanent resident visa, the applicants must: have certain close family connections in Mexico, or apply for retirement status and prove they have sufficient qualifying monthly income or savings (and some consulates require applicants to be retired), or have 4 consecutive years of regular status as Temporary Resident, or have 2 consecutive years of regular status as Temporary Resident where that Temporary residency was issued through marriage to a Mexican national or a foreign permanent resident, or meet a minimum score under the Points System*, or be granted residency on humanitarian grounds or through political asylum. With a few exceptions, the Permanent Resident permit cannot be issued to you in Mexico; you must apply for it at a Mexican consulate outside of Mexico. You can apply to exchange an existing Temporary Resident card for a Permanent Residency card in Mexico. This article describes who can apply for residency within Mexico and this article describes the difference between temporary and permanent residency, including exchanging a temporary residency card to permanent residency. When applied for from overseas, the Permanent Residency permit (card) itself is not issued by foreign consulates. Instead, they process and pre-approve the application and place a visa (sticker) in your passport. When you arrive in Mexico you have to attend your local immigration office within 30 days of arrival, and undertake a procedure to exchange your permanent resident visa (passport sticker) for a Permanent Resident permit (a plastic card). Permanent Residency cards do not expire, but you must notify the immigration office of certain changes in your circumstances, e.g. address, marital status, etc. *Points-based System not in force: The 2012 immigration law references a Points-based system as one of the routes foreigners may use to seek residency in Mexico. However, details of the points system have yet to be announced by the government.
Typical Applications for Mexican Resident Visas
This section lists typical situations of people seeking residency permits in Mexico. You can learn more about the principal routes to obtain legal residency here on Mexperience. Retirees / independent income If you want to engage in “non-remunerative activities” (i.e. you do not intend to earn money in Mexico) and you are receiving funds from abroad (from a pension or other investments or income sources) you can apply for a Temporary or Permanent Resident permit when you meet the criteria. Read more about Retirement in Mexico on Mexperience. Investors You can receive a resident permit if you are willing to invest your capital in Mexico. Your investment can be directed at industry or services, and must equal a minimum set amount. Professionals If you are a qualified professional, technician, or scientist, Mexico offers a category of visa that enables you to live and work in Mexico under sponsorship from a company. The company must cover all of your income and expenses while you are in Mexico. Learn more about Working in Mexico. There are other situations including students and people with family connections in Mexico. Download our free Mexico Immigration Guide eBook for detailed list of visa types and details. Which Mexican visa is right for my situation? Here are some examples of typical situations and the type of Mexican visa you may consider applying for. Temporary visitor or temporary resident When you do not want to seek permanent residence in Mexico right away. For vacations, casual trips, or short business trips to Mexico: Simply fill out and use the Visitors Visa permit, available from the airline you travel with, or at the port of entry* Volunteer work in Mexico: If you plan to volunteer here in Mexico, read the article about Volunteering in Mexico for details about the visa required. For temporary work placements in Mexico: If you plan to live and work in Mexico for a defined period, and intend to return to your home country afterwards, a Temporary Resident permit, valid for up to 4 years, is the permit to apply for. For other activities where you intend to stay longer in Mexico: You should apply for a Temporary Resident permit commensurate with your activity (e.g. Retiree, Student, Journalist, Scientist, Professional, etc.) Our Immigration Assistance service can provide personalized consultation and support. If your plans change and you decide to stay longer, you can renew your temporary residency for a maximum of four years and, after that, you can optionally apply to exchange your temporary residency for permanent residency. Detailed information about Temporary Resident visas: For detailed information about Temporary Resident Visas download our free Mexico Immigration Guide eBook. *To holders of passports from specific countries only. See Mexico Entry Requirements for details.
Long-Term Resident Economically Active
When you want to obtain residency and you want to work in Mexico. Most people who want to work in Mexico either get sponsored by a Mexican company, or move here to work independently and/or invest in Mexico. You need to apply for temporary residency with work permissions. For detailed information about applying for residency to work in Mexico, including investment visas, download the free Mexico Immigration Guide eBook. Long-term resident, not economically active When you want to obtain permanent residency but do not want to work in Mexico: If you have a regular source of income from abroad (e.g. investments, savings, pension, etc.) then you can apply for a Temporary or Permanent resident permit. By law, you need to prove that you have sufficient funds or investments to sustain yourself. Detailed information about long-term residency permits: For detailed information about long-term residency when you don’t intend to work in Mexico (including retirees’ visas) download the free Mexico Immigration Guide eBook. See also: Latest articles with insights about Mexico Visas & Immigration Principal routes to obtain legal residency in Mexico Read our article about the principal routes to legal residency for an overview of the ways most foreigners consider when they want to apply for legal residency in Mexico. Applying for Mexican citizenship There is a specific process to apply for and acquire Mexican Citizenship (also known as ‘naturalization’). As a minimum you must have applied for, and been granted, permanent resident status, although exceptions to this rule may apply, depending upon a variety of circumstances: marriage to a Mexican national, for example, may enable naturalization with a shorter qualification period. If you are between 18 and 60 years of age you will be asked to take an exam, which you must pass, in order to acquire naturalization/citizenship. For further information, read: Becoming a Naturalized Mexican Immigration consultancy and support If you’re thinking about or actively planning a move to Mexico and need some detailed personal advice about the move, this immigration assistance service can help. Immigration Assistance by phone/email differs from hiring an immigration lawyer (see next section) as you don’t have to be physically located in Mexico and the consultancy will enable you to talk to and correspond with an expert in Mexican immigration matters about your specific circumstances. This type of consultancy is ideal if you want to discuss your situation with an expert and talk through the various immigration options which may be open to you so that you can form your plans based on informed choices, and then help you with all the forms and letters you need to complete as part of the application. The consultation will seek to assess your individual circumstances and suggest a proper course of action, based on your personal situation, that will have the best chance of leading to a successful application to live, work, invest or retire in Mexico, and then support you as you make your own way through the procedures.
Xmex Investments Services
When you need personalized advice and practical support to apply for residency in Mexico, our Associates can help. If you’re planning to relocate to Mexico, full-time or part-time, our associates can help. Communicate by email, telephone or text chat and get detailed advice and practical assistance with your Mexico residency application. Our associate offers flexible assistance options with no hidden charges. Direct access to expert advice and support The Mexico Immigration Assistance Service gives you a direct line to an experienced, English-speaking immigration specialist with over a decade of experience helping foreigners to relocate to Mexico. Consultation and practical assistance to help you The service begins with a personal consultation with our associate, to help you plan your application strategy, answer any questions you have, and identify the best route for residency given your individual circumstances. In addition to consultation and advice, the service provides practical help and support as you make your way through the procedures including: answering specific questions and concerns you may have; helping you to find a suitable Mexican consulate to apply at; in your home country or a third country; providing you with a checklist of all the documentation you’ll need to gather as part of your application; review of your documentation for accuracy and completeness; scheduling appointments at the Mexican consulate abroad and/or immigration office in Mexico, as relevant filling-out the various application forms; writing the necessary letters (in Spanish); the support continues when you return to Mexico and exchange your visa for a residency card; and the service also provides ad-hoc advice and troubleshooting (if needed), as you move through the application.
Assistance with your Residency Visa Exchange
If you already have the residency visa(s) sticker(s) in your passport(s) and only need assistance with the visa-to-residency card exchange process in Mexico, our associate offers a fixed-fee service to assist with this—see below. Advice and assistance to support your application The service includes advice and assistance on any/all of the following services: Advice tailored to your circumstances: personal consultation to discuss your situation and formulate an application strategy Helping you to find a suitable Mexican consulate to apply at; in your home country, or a third country Scheduling appointments at the Mexican consulate abroad and/or immigration office in Mexico, as relevant First-time residency permit applications, and residency permit renewals Exchanging a residency visa for residency card Converting Temporary Residency to Permanent Residency Seeking a work permit or self-employment in Mexico Dealing with residency ‘Regularization’ procedures, e.g. expired residency cards, lost or stolen residency cards, and other cases which are complex Advice about importing your personal goods, pets, and motor vehicles to Mexico Troubleshooting and problem solving
Consulting & Assistance Tailored to Your Needs
Our associate offers flexibility in their billing plans to suit your needs. 3-hour package (best value); you can optionally purchase additional hours, with time billed precisely as used Visa exchange only; if you already have your residency visa and only need support with the visa-to-residency card exchange Per-hour billing, with a 1-hour minimum, ideal if you want to begin with an exploratory consultation to discuss your situation.
Typical Support Times Required
The amount of support required will depend on how many people are applying and the complexity of your situation. These are typical times required to support most cases, based on our experience of helping clients through the years: Single Applicant: No more than 3 hours of support. Couples (2 people applying together): 3-4 hours of support. Family of 3/4 applying together: 4-6 hours of support. Your consulting time is valid for a full calendar year You don’t have to use your consultation time all at once. You can make a request using the form below. Questions before you request the service? If you have a question about how the immigration assistance service works before you make the request, please contact us. Benefits of using the immigration assistance service Formulate the right approach: Our associate provides a highly personalized consultation to consider and formulate the best approach for your first-time Mexico residency application based on your individual circumstances. Practical assistance at each step of the application: Practical assistance with the applications for legal residency in Mexico whether you come to live, retire, study, work or make an investment. Residency permit renewals: This service also offers help with existing residency permit holders: for exchange of visa stickers to residency cards, for temporary residency card renewals, as well as exchange from Temporary to Permanent residency. Replacement of residency cards: This service offers help with the replacement of lost or stolen Mexico residency cards. ‘Regularization’ of existing permits/immigration status: The service offers assistance with residency ‘Regularization’ procedures, e.g. expired residency cards, lost/stolen residency cards, and other cases which are complex. Work permits: If you want to work in Mexico —formally, self-employed, or starting a company— this service provides advice and practical support for new applicants as well as those seeking work permissions on existing residency cards. Troubleshooting and problem solving: The service offers assistance if you need to resolve complex situations and trouble shooting. Residency Renewals: Personalized help with renewals of temporary residency or permission to work. Change of Immigration Status: The legal procedure to change from being on a tourist Mexican visa to obtaining residency status through a sibling, spouse, parent, or having child in Mexico. This procedure also allows a temporary resident to move towards permanent residency. Mexican Citizenship: The process of “naturalization” or “citizenship” is optional to foreigners who demonstrate legal residency in Mexico for the last five consecutive years prior to the application date or two years of legal residency if they have a Mexican child or two years of legal marriage to a Mexican. You can also obtain Mexico citizenship if you have Mexican parents. Our immigration team is happy to help you get this process started!
Questions Before You Request Our Services ?
If you have a question about how the immigration assistance service works before you make the request, please contact us.