- Prove economic solvency through one route: (a) average monthly income above 680 x daily UMA over the last 6 months, or (b) average monthly savings/investment balance above 11,460 x daily UMA over the last 12 months.
- Alternative routes: real estate in Mexico worth more than 91,710 x UMA (about USD 624,100 in 2026), investment in a Mexican company above 45,850 x UMA, a Mexican job offer, study, or family unity.
- Add 220 x UMA (about USD 1,500/mo in 2026) of monthly income per dependent, or the equivalent in savings.
- Hold a valid passport, attend the consulate interview in person, and enter Mexico within 180 days of the visa being issued.
Mexico Temporary Residency (Residente Temporal)
Mexico
The Residente Temporal visa lets you live in Mexico for up to four years, with unlimited entries and exits, and converts to permanent residency at the end of the four years. It is a two-phase process: a Mexican consulate outside Mexico approves you and puts a visa sticker in your passport, then you exchange (canje) the sticker for a plastic resident card at an INM office within 30 days of arrival.
About 80% of applicants qualify through economic solvency: proving you can support yourself without working in Mexico. For 2026 that means about USD 4,600 a month in provable income over the last six months, or about USD 78,000 in average savings over the last twelve months.
The thresholds are set in UMA multiples and reset every January (effective February 1), so re-check the current year's figures before you apply. First card is always issued for one year; you renew up to four years total, then go permanent.
Eligibility
Key facts
| Income test | 680 x the 2026 daily UMA of USD 7 = USD 4,600/month of provable net income (employment or pension) over the last 6 months, roughly USD 4,400-4,600/mo depending on the consulate's exchange rate (San Diego quotes USD 4,510; Las Vegas USD 4,630). Savings route: 11,460 x UMA = USD 78,000 average balance over 12 months (about USD 74,700-78,000). |
|---|---|
| Fees | Consulate visa fee about USD 54 (2026). INM card fees in Mexico: USD 650 for the 1-year card, rising to USD 1,500 for a 4-year card (2-yr USD 970; 3-yr USD 1,200). First card is always issued for one year; renewals are at INM's discretion. |
| Processing time | Consulate decision: same day to 10 business days. Visa sticker is single-entry, valid 180 days. After entry, you have 30 calendar days to begin the canje at INM; the resident card typically arrives 2-6 weeks after the appointment. |
| Path to permanence | After four years as a temporary resident, apply at INM for Residente Permanente; on this route there is no further income test. The 2026 permanent card fee is USD 790, one-time. You must notify INM of address changes within 90 days. |
| Last checked | Oct 2026 (source) |
How to execute it
- Pick your consulate and verify its current document list no more than 30 days before: most serve specific states or provinces, and requirements differ.
- Gather documents: passport, visa application form, passport photo, and 6 months of bank statements for income (12 months for savings). Get statements stamped by your bank; home-printed PDFs are a leading cause of rejection.
- Book an appointment: US consulates use the MiConsulado system (citas.sre.gob.mx, phone or WhatsApp +1 424 309 0009); some consulates book by email.
- Attend the interview in person with originals and copies; expect questions about why you want to live in Mexico. If approved, the visa sticker goes in your passport.
- Enter Mexico within 180 days. At immigration, go to a staffed booth, show the visa, and say you are entering for the canje; make sure you are recorded as a resident-in-progress, not a tourist. Keep every document they give you.
- Within 30 calendar days of entry, start the canje at INM: create an account at citas.inm.gob.mx, file the application, pay the fee at a bank, attend for fingerprints and photo, and collect your Tarjeta de Residente Temporal.
- Renew before expiry (within 30 days prior), up to four years total, then apply for Residente Permanente.
Why applications get rejected
- Bank statements that are home-printed or unstamped when the consulate requires bank certification.
- Trying to combine income and savings to reach a single threshold at consulates that no longer allow it.
- One or more months below the income line in the 6-month window; the consulate wants stable income, not one good month.
- Crypto holdings without a signed statement from a recognized financial institution.
- Using a 2025 figure (based on the old UMA or minimum-wage multiples) instead of the current 2026 numbers.
- Entering Mexico through an automated e-gate and being admitted as a tourist, which can void the visa.
- Missing the 30-day canje window after entry; the visa expires and you start over from a consulate.
Want a lawyer to file it?
Consulates have quietly tightened paperwork standards in 2026, and a rejected application costs you months. An immigration lawyer reviews your statements against your specific consulate's current checklist before you book.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a Mexico digital nomad visa?
No. Mexico has never created a dedicated digital nomad visa; remote workers use the Residente Temporal through economic solvency, which is a non-lucrative route. Working remotely for foreign clients while on it is the standard pattern.
Can my spouse and children come with me?
Yes, through family unity: add about 220 x UMA (USD 1,500/mo in 2026) of monthly income per dependent, or the equivalent in savings. Family members get their own temporary cards tied to your status.
Do I have to apply at the consulate nearest me?
Usually you apply within your consulate's jurisdiction, but some consulates accept applicants from outside it when appointments are scarce locally. Check two or three consulates for availability and documentation preferences before committing.
Can I start the process from inside Mexico as a tourist?
No. The first phase must happen at a Mexican consulate outside Mexico; if you are already in Mexico as a tourist you must leave to apply. The only common exception is the regularization program for people already in the country with expired status, which has its own rules.
Does temporary residency make me a Mexican tax resident?
Not automatically. Mexican tax residency is based on physical presence (183+ days in a calendar year) and your center of vital interests, not on the visa card. But 183+ days with residency creates a strong presumption of tax residency; talk to a cross-border accountant before your first full year.