How to Get a Residency Card for Mexico (UK and US Residents)

The two types of Mexican residency

If you want to stay in Mexico for longer than 180 days, you need a residency card. There are two types:

• Temporary Resident (Residente Temporal): valid for one year, renewable annually for up to four years
• Permanent Resident (Residente Permanente): indefinite right to live and work in Mexico

Most people start with temporary residency. After four years you can apply for permanent residency. Some people qualify for permanent residency immediately (see below).

Who qualifies for temporary residency

To qualify for a temporary resident visa, you must demonstrate sufficient financial means. The thresholds are set as a multiple of the Mexican minimum daily wage and are adjusted periodically — the figures below are approximate as of 2024 and should be verified with the Mexican consulate at the time of your application.

Monthly income route: approximately $1,600–$2,200 USD/month for the past 12 months (exact figure varies — consulate will provide current requirements).

Savings route: approximately $27,000–$43,000 USD in savings or investments (again, verify current figures with your consulate).

You can also qualify through employment with a Mexican company, or as a student, or as a family member of a Mexican citizen — but the income/savings route is the most common for UK and US residents relocating independently.

Who qualifies for permanent residency immediately

You can apply directly for permanent residency (skipping temporary residency) if you:

• Have an immediate family member who is a Mexican citizen or permanent resident
• Can demonstrate significantly higher income or savings (roughly double the temporary residency threshold)
• Are a retiree meeting the income threshold for permanent residency

Step-by-step: the process

Step 1 — Apply at the Mexican consulate in your home country

You must apply for your visa before you travel. You cannot convert a tourist entry into residency inside Mexico.

Book an appointment at your nearest Mexican consulate. In the UK, this is in London. In the US, Mexican consulates operate in most major cities.

Documents typically required:

• Valid passport (with at least six months remaining)
• Completed visa application form
• Passport-sized photographs (consulate will specify exact requirements)
• Proof of income or savings — bank statements for the past 12 months, pension statements, or investment account statements
• If employed remotely: employment contract and most recent three months of pay slips
• Application fee (approximately $36 USD, paid at the consulate)

Some consulates may also request a cover letter explaining why you want to live in Mexico.

Step 2 — Receive your entry visa

If approved, a sticker visa is placed in your passport. This is not yet your residency card — it is an authorisation to enter Mexico and begin the residency process.

Step 3 — Travel to Mexico within 180 days

Your entry visa has a limited validity window. You must enter Mexico within that period.

Step 4 — Exchange your visa for a Tarjeta de Residencia at INM

This is the critical step and must happen within 30 days of entering Mexico.

Visit the nearest office of the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) to exchange your entry visa for your physical residency card (Tarjeta de Residencia Temporal or Permanente).

Documents to bring:

• Your passport (with the entry visa sticker)
• Completed INM application form (FMM)
• Proof of your entry date (your forma migratoria from arrival)
• Recent photographs
• Payment for the residency card fee (paid at a bank or via the SAT portal — INM will explain the process)
• Biometrics: fingerprints and photograph are taken at the INM office

INM appointments in popular cities (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Oaxaca) can be hard to get. Book the moment you arrive or before you leave your home country if the system allows it.

Step 5 — Obtain your CURP

Once you have your residency card, apply for your CURP (Clave Única de Registro de Población), Mexico's population registry number. You need this for almost everything: healthcare, banking, phone contracts, government services, and tax registration.

CURP can be obtained online via the RENAPO website or at a government services office.

Step 6 — RFC (if you will earn income in Mexico)

If you plan to work, freelance, or earn any income in Mexico, you will need an RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes), Mexico's tax identification number. This is obtained through the SAT (Mexico's tax authority) and requires your CURP first.

Annual renewal for temporary residents

Temporary resident cards must be renewed each year (or every two to four years if you request a multi-year card upfront). Renewals are done at INM — the process is similar to the initial exchange but requires evidence that you still meet the financial requirements.

A note on language

The entire residency process — INM appointments, CURP registration, banking — operates in Spanish. Officials at smaller INM offices may not speak English. Coming with the ability to understand spoken instructions and communicate basic administrative needs in Spanish makes the process considerably smoother. The Spoken app focuses on listening comprehension and spoken Spanish specifically, so you can understand what is being said to you when it matters.