Immigration & Visas, Living, Retirement, Working
November 12, 2024

Temporary and Permanent Residency in Mexico

Whether you apply for temporary or permanent residency in Mexico will likely depend on your lifestyle intentions and your level of income or savings

by Mexperience
Mexico Residency Cards

When you apply for legal residency in Mexico, you have a choice of applying for either Temporary Residency (Residente Temporal) or Permanent Residency (Residente Permanente).  This article describes the differences between the two.

Differences between Temporary and Permanent residency

The most significant difference is that temporary residency permits need to be renewed at least once if you stay in Mexico more than a year, whereas permanent residency permits issued to persons aged 18 and over never need to be renewed and never expire.

Temporary residency permits

Mexico’s temporary residency permits last for between 1 and 4 years.

Your first temporary resident permit is always granted for only one year* initially and you can thereafter renew your temporary residency for 1 to 3 more years—for a maximum of 4 consecutive years.

At the end of a consecutive 4-year period of temporary residency, you can:

  • apply to exchange your temporary residency status for permanent residency status within 30 days before your card’s final expiry date; or
  • purposely allow the permit to expire and then enter a regularization process to restart an application for temporary residency within a specific time period; or
  • leave the country and surrender your legal residency status.

Living in Mexico with Temporary Residency

When you have Temporary Residency status in Mexico, you may stay in Mexico as long as you like and enter and leave Mexico as many times as you wish during the course of each year as long as the permit is valid.  See notes below for more details.

Financial criteria: The financial qualification criteria for temporary residency are lower than those needed to apply for permanent residency and, after holding four consecutive years of temporary residency, you can optionally apply to exchange your temporary residency for permanent residency, usually without the need to prove economic solvency.

Time allowed in Mexico: When you have temporary residency in Mexico, you may stay in Mexico as long as you like and enter and leave Mexico as many times as you wish during the course of each year as long as the permit is valid. There are no time limits on how long you have to remain in Mexico each year to keep your residency status, although renewals, notifications of changes, and applications to exchange temporary residency for permanent residency must be filed in person at an immigration office in Mexico—you cannot do this at a Mexican consulate abroad.

Working: Note that not all temporary residency permits carry permission to work in Mexico. Work permissions need to be requested and granted separately.

Temporary Residency for Students: If your Temporary Residency status was issued under the auspice of you being a Student, note that you can only renew these permits for one year at a time.  You may apply for Permanent Residency after four consecutive years of holding a Temporary Residency as a Student.

*Married to Mexican national or existing foreign resident? Learn more about residency through marriage or common-law partnership.

Permanent residency permits

When you apply for permanent residency on the basis of economic solvency, you don’t have to hold temporary residency before applying for and being granted permanent residency, but:

  • the financial criteria to qualify for permanent residency are higher; and
  • if you apply for permanent residency as a couple, the dependent spouse/partner will only be granted Temporary Residency to begin with; and
  • Mexican consulates abroad now require the applicant(s) ‘to be retired’ to apply for permanent residency right away—even if they qualify economically.

Path to permanent residency: For those who don’t qualify for Permanent Residency right away, there is a path to exchange temporary residency for permanent residency—see the section below about this for details.

No expiry date for adults: Once permanent residency is granted, your residency card never expires and you do not have to renew your residency status as you do with temporary residency, although note that minors under the age of 18 years must renew their permanent residency cards periodically—see the next section below.

Changes & notifications: As an adult, you don’t need to renew your permanent residency card but you must notify your local immigration office of any change of address, civil status, as well as any changes in employment if you work in Mexico. These notifications must be made in person at an immigration office in Mexico.

Time allowed in Mexico: When you have permanent residency in Mexico, you may stay in Mexico as long as you like and enter and leave Mexico as many times as you wish during the course of each year. There are no time limits on how long you have to remain in Mexico each year to keep your permanent residency status; although if you intend to apply for citizenship, you will need to prove that you have been situated physically in Mexico for at least 18 months in the past two years preceding your application date.

Residency cards issued to minor children

If you have minor dependent children (aged under 18 years) in Mexico, note that special rules apply in regard to the issuance and renewal of their residency cards, thus:

  • children under 3 years of age are given temporary or permanent residency cards for one year at a time, and these must be renewed in Mexico annually; and
  • children between the ages of 3 and 17 years are issued with temporary or permanent residency cards for a maximum of 4 years at a time and must renew them in Mexico; and further note that
  • children under 18 years of age holding permanent residency cards must renew these as described above. When they turn 18, their permanent residency will become indefinite and the card will no longer expire or need to be renewed.

Exchanging temporary residency for permanent residency in Mexico

People who want to live in Mexico indefinitely but only qualify for temporary residency can apply for temporary residency to begin with and, after four consecutive years* of temporary residency can apply to automatically exchange their temporary residency status for permanent residency in Mexico.

Near the end of the four consecutive years holding temporary residency, you can apply to exchange your Residente Temporal permit for a Residente Permanente permit.

You do not need to redemonstrate your economic solvency when you have held temporary residency for four consecutive years and apply to exchange this for permanent residency.

The transfer from temporary to permanent residency is undertaken at your nearest immigration office in Mexico with an application procedure and payment of the processing fees.  Our associate can assist with the change from temporary to permanent residency.

*Married to Mexican national or existing foreign resident? Learn more about residency through marriage or common-law partnership.

Important note about Temporary Residency to Permanent Residency

Whether you are overseas or in Mexico, if you’re intending to exchange your current Temporary Residency card for Permanent Residency after having held 4 consecutive years of Temporary Residency status in Mexico, you must not let your residency card expire.

If you do not renew your temporary residency card before its expiry date and renew it within the grace period after the card has expired, that process will reset your accrued time as Temporary Resident and issue you with a new, 1-year temporary residency permit. You’ll need to sustain that new permit for 4 consecutive years (without letting it expire) before you can apply to make the exchange from temporary to permanent residency.

Should I apply for temporary or permanent residency in Mexico?

Choosing to apply for temporary or permanent residency will depend on whether:

  • you plan to live in Mexico only for a defined (temporary) period and then leave the country; or
  • you are not yet decided about your longer-term plans when you apply; or
  • you intend to stay in Mexico very long term (indefinitely); or
  • you intend to stay very long term (indefinitely) but don’t qualify for permanent residency right away.

Temporary residency

Applying for Temporary residency is the better choice if:

  • you plan to stay in Mexico for a while and then leave; or
  • if you want to stay indefinitely but don’t qualify for permanent residency right away.
  • If your plans evolve and you decide to stay in Mexico for longer, you can extend your temporary residency (for a maximum of 4 years) and after four consecutive years apply to exchange temporary residency for permanent residency if you want to.

Permanent residency

Applying for Permanent residency is the better choice if:

  • you intend to live in Mexico indefinitely and qualify with the higher income or savings / other criteria required for permanent residency; but
  • note the quirk in the rules, and application options, if you intend to apply for Permanent Residency as a couple.
  • Applying for and being granted permanent residency right away negates the need for you to apply for renewals of a temporary residency permit, which translates into less processing time and less cost.

Mexico Immigration Assistance

If you need assistance with your Mexico residency application, renewals, or regularization procedures, our Mexico Immigration Assistance Service provides consulting, advice, and practical support that assists you through the entire residency application or renewal process, including visa exchanges, regularization procedures, and troubleshooting.

Learn more about residency in Mexico

Mexperience publishes information and resources to help you learn about how to apply for and obtain legal residency in Mexico:

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Our free newsletter about Mexico brings you a monthly round-up of recently published stories and opportunities, as well as gems from our archives.

18 Comments

  1. Liza Fernandez says

    Hi there! Thanks for the amazing information. I have a couple of questions. My boyfriend and I want to apply for temporary resident visa so we can live in Queretaro. I qualify for solvency but he does not. If I add him to my bank accounts so they are now joint, will we be able to qualify that way? Also if we obtain the temporary residency CARD in Cozumel, is it valid to live in Queretaro? How long do I have to change the address and how do I go about it? Thanks!

    • Mexperience says

      Hi Liza,

      You have to apply separately unless you and your boyfriend are married or common-law partners. Having your boyfriend’s name on your bank account will not qualify as family unit.

      When you have a residency card you can live anywhere in Mexico, regardless of where the card was originally issued. You must advise the INM of your address change when you move to your new address, that’s all.

      If you need assistance with your application, our associates can provide advice and support:
      https://www.mexperience.com/get-assistance-with-your-mexico-residency-application/

  2. Carol says

    Is there a time period for entry. If possible plan to sell my home and go to Mexico on temporary visa. I have dog who I will take with me. I don’t want to wait until sell and have to rent but timing is the issue. Also, the timing for getting the dogs paperwork and shots. How long after receive visa so I have to enter?

  3. Ellen M. Winstead says

    Hello-
    If I am seeking employment in Mexico, but unsure if I will obtain it, do I jeopardize my chances of getting a visa to work in Mexico by getting a temporary visa as well? Said another way, I want to keep my options open- work remotely in Mexico (via a temporary visa) AND apply for jobs teaching at international schools in Mexico. Can I apply for the temporary visa or will that cause issues if I get a job and need a work visa? Thank you.

  4. Kimball Green says

    Thank you for the information. I tried to read all of it, but missed an answer to my question, so I apologize if you have already addressed it.
    I have 1 year temporary residency. I plan to renew for the full 4 years. If I start the renewal process, can I leave the country while the process is ongoing, but my 1st year is still valid?
    Secondly, my son is also 1 year temporary and plans to renew for 4 years. He was 17 when he got the 1 year, but is now 18. Will he be able to renew in Mexico or will he have to go back to US to start over?
    Again, thanks for your time.

    • Mexperience says

      Hi Kimball,

      In the 30-day window leading up to the card’s expiry date you can apply to renew your residency card; you can renew for up to 3 more years, for a total of 4 years maximum.

      You cannot leave the country while the renewal procedure is in train, although processing times have been reduced significantly of late and it ought not to take more than 2-3 weeks to complete, and might be sooner, depenidng on how busy your local INM office is.

      We cross checked with the INM and your son can renew his residency card in Mexico, even though he has turned 18.

      If you need help with the renewals, our associate will be pleased to assist; you can find details of the service here:
      https://www.mexperience.com/get-assistance-with-your-mexico-residency-application/

      • Kimball Green says

        Wow! Thanks for your quick response. I had 2 follow up questions if you have time: We have to start the renewal process within the last 30 days of our current visa or we can start the process sooner? Once we officially start the renewal process, are we good, even if our current visa expires before the new one is complete? Specifically, ours expires March 13 and we have a tripped purchased that we will be out of country February 11- 25th. Thank you again for your time.

        • Mexperience says

          Hi Kimball,

          You need to start the renewal process within the 30-day window before the card’s expiry date; you cannot begin sooner than this.

          Once you begin the process, your residency status remains ‘regular’ even if the process takes you past the card’s expiry date; there’s no problem.

          Note, however, that you cannot leave the country *while the renewal process is in train*; except in an emergency you can apply for an exit and re-entry permit.

          As you will be back in Mexico before the expiry date, this won’t be an issue for you; but we recommend that you don’t leave filing the renewal to the last minute.

          You can find details on this article:
          https://www.mexperience.com/about-renewing-your-mexico-resident-permit/

  5. Ronald Devito says

    For Economic Solvency by Savings can the money be located in the U.S. and denominated in USD? Does retirement accounts like 401K qualify as savings for residency permit purposes?

  6. Dalia Diaz says

    My mom has a resident card that doesnt expire. Does she still need to stay in mexico no longer that 180 days or can she stay longer time?

  7. Veneta says

    Hello,

    Almost everywhere I see that first you need to apply for temporary residence and after some years you can apply for permanent. And here, I read, that you say, we can apply for permanent residency stright away, without having temporary residency. Is that really the case?

    • Mexperience says

      Hello Veneta,

      You don’t have to acquire Temporary Residency before applying for Permanent Residency when applying under the route of economic solvency; you can apply for Permanent Residency right away. However, the qualification criteria for Permanent Residency are higher than those for Temporary Residency and Mexican consulates now require the applicant(s) “to be retired” to apply for Permanent Residency right away, even if they qualify economically.

      There is also a quirk in the rules for *couples* applying for permanent residency together, see:
      https://www.mexperience.com/applying-for-permanent-residency-in-mexico-as-a-couple/

      People who do not have the economic means to apply for Permanent Residency right away, or if the applicant is not retired, can apply for Temporary Residency first and apply to exchange that for Permanent Residency after four consecutive years of holding Temporary Residency.

      You can find details about this on our article about temporary and permanent residency, here:
      https://www.mexperience.com/difference-between-temporary-and-permanent-residency-mexico/

      If you need assistance with your application, consider using our Immigration Assistance service – details here:
      https://www.mexperience.com/lifestyle/living-in-mexico/relocation-consulting-request/

  8. lina says

    How much does it cost to get it
    Mexico Permanent resident card

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