Time Limits on Mexico Visitor Visas and Residency Permits

We often get asked questions about how long people can remain in Mexico under the auspice of visitor and residency visas.

This article answers common questions about time limits and exit/entry rules for Mexico visitor and residency visas and explains how long you must reside in Mexico to qualify for citizenship.

Time limits when you are in Mexico using a Visitor Visa (FMM)

What is Mexico’s visitor visa, the FMM?

Mexico’s visitor visa allows entry into the country for leisure or business visits lasting maximum 180 days.  The immigration official at the port of entry will grant a specific number of days (not exceeding 180) when you arrive in Mexico.

How long is it valid?

Your visitor permit is valid for the number of days granted by the immigration official and written on the permit —that will never exceed 180 days, but may be less than 180 days— starting from the date of your arrival.  The arrival date is always stamped on the permit. Learn more about the number of days being granted to people arriving in Mexico under the auspice of a visitor permit, FMM. It cannot be extended beyond the number of days written on the permit by the immigration official at the port of entry.

Extensions and renewals

The visitor permit cannot be extended or renewed; and you must leave Mexico by the date it expires.  If you over-stay your visitor visa you will need to pay a fine when you leave the country.

Leaving and re-entering Mexico

You must leave by the expiry date, but there is no time limit on how long you must remain outside of Mexico before you can return using a new visitor visa.  Every time you re-enter Mexico, the number of days allowance granted by the immigration official allowance is ‘reset.’  Some foreigners have been using this feature to remain in Mexico over longer periods; however, with today’s computerized systems, immigration officials at ports of entry have ready-access to your movements through Mexico and ‘perpetual visitors’ may now have their intentions questioned at the port of entry.  If you intend to stay in Mexico longer term we recommend you apply for a Mexican residency permit.

Further reading

See our article, Your Mexico Visitors Permit, FMM for further details. Also see this article about the number of days being granted to visitors arriving in Mexico.

Time limits when you are in Mexico using a Residente Temporal permit

What is Mexico’s temporary residency permit?

Temporary residency enables foreigners to remain in Mexico beyond the maximum 180-day time limit imposed with the visitor visa and also gives them access to certain residency privileges; for example, opening a bank account here which you cannot do as a visitor.

How long is it valid?

When you are granted Residente Temporal, it’s valid from 1 year to 4 years.  Your first temporary residency card is always issued for only one year* and must be renewed within the 30-day window before its expiry date. At the end of the first year, you can renew your temporary residency for a further 1, 2 or 3 years. When you renew for 3 years you won’t have to return to the immigration office to renew it until it fully expires at the end of year 4; however, you must inform the immigration office of certain changes in your personal circumstances (see below).

*If you are married to a Mexican national or existing legal foreign resident and apply for residency in Mexico under Family Unit rules your temporary residency card will be valid for two years.  If you are granted residency under auspice of the RNE special procedure, your temporary residency card will be issued for four years.

Leaving and re-entering Mexico

While your Residente Temporal card is valid, you may leave and re-enter Mexico as often as you wish. You must present your residency card when you enter Mexico, and each time you leave the country. If you are a legal resident and enter Mexico as a visitor, your residency status will become jeopardized.  See Procedures for entering and leaving Mexico for further details.

Renewing your temporary residency permit

Temporary residency card renewals must be undertaken in Mexico, and you cannot leave the country while the renewal process is in train.  In exceptional circumstances, you can apply for a temporary exit and re-entry permit while your residency card renewal is being processed; the covering letter submitted with your request must state the exceptional nature of your circumstances.  See Renewing your Mexico residency permit for further details.

Change in circumstances

When you are living in Mexico under the auspice of Residente Temporal you must report certain changes in your personal circumstances to the immigration office —e.g. change of your residential address, change of marital status, change of nationality, or change of employment status or employer— and these changes must be reported in Mexico.

Time allowed outside of Mexico

When you are living in Mexico under the auspice of Residente Temporal, there is no time limit to how long you can remain outside of the country, but renewals and reporting changes in certain personal circumstances (see above) must be undertaken in Mexico.

What happens after four years of temporary residency?

After 4 consecutive years under the auspice of a Residente Temporal status in Mexico (two years if you are married to a Mexican national or legal foreign resident and applied for residency in Mexico under Family Unit rules), you have three choices:

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

Time limits when you are in Mexico using a Residente Permanente permit

What is Mexico’s permanent residency permit?

Permanent residency gives a foreigner leave to remain in Mexico indefinitely.

How long is it valid?

When you are granted Residente Permanente —whether you apply straight away and are granted permanent residency, or eventually obtain permanent residency after two or four consecutive years of living under the auspice of a temporary residence permit in Mexico— you are issued with a permanent residency card that carries no expiry date.

Note that Permanent Residency cards issued to minors (under 18 years of age) require periodical renewals until the holder reaches the age of 18.  See this article for details. Permanent residency for adults never expires, but can be surrendered, or withdrawn by the Secretaría de Gobernación, at any time.

Leaving and re-entering Mexico

When you have permanent residency status in Mexico, you may leave and re-enter the country as often as you wish.  You must present your residency card when you enter Mexico, and each time you leave the country. If you are a legal resident and enter Mexico as a visitor, your residency status will become jeopardized.  See Procedures for entering and leaving Mexico for further details.

Change in circumstances

When you are living in Mexico under the auspice of Residente Permanente you must report certain changes in your personal circumstances to the immigration office —e.g. change of your residential address, change of marital status, change of nationality, or change of employment status or employer— and these changes must be reported in Mexico.

Time allowed outside of Mexico

Under current rules, when you have permanent residency status in Mexico, your Residente Permanente card does not require renewal if you’re aged 18 or older and there is no time limit to how long you can remain outside of the country, but reporting changes in certain personal circumstances (see above) must be undertaken in Mexico.

Time qualification for Mexican citizenship

If you intend to apply for Mexican citizenship as part of your lifestyle planning, you must prove five consecutive years with either temporary residency or permanent residency, and you must prove that you have been situated physically in Mexico for at least 18 months in the past two years preceding your application date.  If you are married to a Mexican national, the qualification period may reduce to two years.  See Becoming a Naturalized Mexican for further details.

Learn more about Mexico visas and immigration

Mexperience publishes extensive information about visas and immigration to Mexico, including:

• Our free Mexico Immigration Guide that encapsulates detailed information about applying for visas and residency permits.
• Learn about Mexico’s visitor permit, the FMM.
• Discover the principal routes for obtaining legal residency in Mexico
• Our latest articles about visas and immigration keep you apprised of current situations including financial criteria for residency, fees, and procedures—and our FAQs page is updated regularly