Mexico · Application requirements

Mexico Visa (US-style) Requirements 2026

Entering Mexico itself has three main pathways. (1) Tourist / FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) — citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, the Schengen area, Japan, Australia and ~65 other countries can enter visa-free for up to 180 days with just an FMM tourist permit; nationals of countries that need a visa can usually skip it if they hold a valid US, Canada, UK, Japan or Schengen visa or permanent residence. (2) Residente Temporal — for stays of 6 months to 4 years (remote workers, retirees, family reunification, study, work offer); from 2026 income is calculated using UMA: roughly 300×UMA daily / ~MXN 47,000 (~USD 2,700) monthly income for the prior 6 months, or savings ~MXN 2.35M (~USD 130,000) held for the prior 12 months — many consulates apply higher thresholds (USD 4,400/month or USD 74,000 savings). (3) Residente Permanente — direct path via 500×UMA daily (~USD 4,500/month or ~USD 220,000 savings), or after holding Temporal status for 4 years (2 years if married to a Mexican), or via retirement / family ties to a Mexican.

Issued by Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) · Last verified May 28, 2026 · Official source ↗

At a glance

Application fee

FMM tourist permit (air): MXN ~983 (~USD 56), bundled in airfare
FMM tourist permit (land, ≤7 days): Free
Consulate visa stamp (Temporal / Permanente): ~USD 54 (single entry)
Canje — Temporal Resident card, 1 year: MXN 11,141 (~USD 620)
Canje — Temporal Resident card, 2 years: MXN ~14,800
Canje — Temporal Resident card, 3 years: MXN ~17,400
Canje — Temporal Resident card, 4 years: MXN ~20,300
Canje — Permanent Resident card: MXN 7,300–7,500
Temporal → Permanente conversion: MXN ~13,579

as of May 28, 2026 · details

Processing time

Consulate appointment wait: 1–8 weeks
Visa stamp decision: Same-day to 10 business days
Window to enter Mexico after visa: 180 days
Window to file canje after entry: 30 calendar days
INM card production: 2–8 weeks
Realistic end-to-end (residence): 2–4 months
FMM tourist permit: Instant

details

Issuing authority

Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE)

Who needs a Mexico Visa (US-style)?

Where to apply

For Residente Temporal and Residente Permanente: book a cita previa at a Mexican consulate (consulado) in your country of residence via https://citas.sre.gob.mx — applications cannot be filed from inside Mexico. Once approved, you receive a single-entry visa stamp valid for 180 days to enter Mexico, then you have 30 calendar days from your Mexican entry stamp to file the canje (visa exchange) at a local INM office to receive your physical Resident card. For the FMM: obtained online via inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html before flying, or at the airport / land border on arrival.

Fees

FMM tourist permit (air): MXN ~983 (~USD 56), bundled in airfare
FMM tourist permit (land, ≤7 days): Free
Consulate visa stamp (Temporal / Permanente): ~USD 54 (single entry)
Canje — Temporal Resident card, 1 year: MXN 11,141 (~USD 620)
Canje — Temporal Resident card, 2 years: MXN ~14,800
Canje — Temporal Resident card, 3 years: MXN ~17,400
Canje — Temporal Resident card, 4 years: MXN ~20,300
Canje — Permanent Resident card: MXN 7,300–7,500
Temporal → Permanente conversion: MXN ~13,579

The FMM tourist permit is ~MXN 983 (~USD 56) when arriving by air (bundled into your airline ticket as "Mexican tourism tax"), and free at land borders for stays of 7 days or less. The consulate visa stamp for Temporal or Permanente Residency is ~USD 54 paid at the Mexican consulate abroad. The main cost is the canje — exchanging the visa stamp for a physical card at INM inside Mexico: MXN 11,141 (~USD 620) for a 1-year Temporal card (a 109% jump from MXN 5,328 in 2025 under the new 2026 fee schedule effective 1 January 2026), scaling up to MXN 16,693 (2yr), MXN 21,143 (3yr), MXN 25,590 (4yr). A Permanent Resident card costs ~MXN 7,300–7,500. Converting Temporal → Permanente after 4 years costs ~MXN 13,579.

Fees as of May 28, 2026. Confirm current amounts on the official source before paying.

What to bring

Documents and items you'll need at the appointment or with your application.

Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity
Completed application form (OP-7 for residence visa)
One recent passport-style photo — 2×2 inches (51×51 mm), white background, head 25–35 mm
Proof of economic solvency: 6 months of bank/payslip statements (income route) OR 12 months of bank/investment statements (savings route)
Proof of legal status in country of application (if not a citizen there)
Visa fee paid at consulate (~USD 54)
For canje inside Mexico: original entry FMM/passport stamp, CURP application, proof of address in Mexico, INM payment receipt (banco)
For family-reunification or work-offer cases: NUT (Número Único de Trámite) approval letter from INM in Mexico

Need the photo specs?

Exact size, head height, background, and what gets rejected.

Open photo requirements →

How long does it take?

Consulate appointment wait: 1–8 weeks
Visa stamp decision: Same-day to 10 business days
Window to enter Mexico after visa: 180 days
Window to file canje after entry: 30 calendar days
INM card production: 2–8 weeks
Realistic end-to-end (residence): 2–4 months
FMM tourist permit: Instant

Consulate appointment availability: 1–8 weeks depending on consulate (Houston, Los Angeles, Madrid often book 1–3 months out; smaller posts often same-week). Visa decision at the consulate: typically same-day to 10 business days. You then have 180 days to enter Mexico and 30 days from entry to start the INM canje. Card production at INM: 2–8 weeks (CDMX faster, smaller cities slower). Realistic end-to-end for residence: 2–4 months. The FMM tourist permit is issued instantly.

Times vary by location, season, and individual case. Always check the official source for the current backlog before you book travel.

Official source

https://www.gob.mx/inm

Last verified May 28, 2026

Verify before applying. We compile this from official government sources and re-verify regularly. Fees, processing times, and rules change without notice — always confirm current information on the official site before you apply or pay any fee.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about applying for a mexico visa (us-style).

How much does Mexican residency cost in 2026? +

Budget USD 700–1,000 per adult end-to-end for a 1-year Temporal: ~USD 54 consulate visa stamp + MXN 11,141 (~USD 620) INM canje fee for the physical card, plus photos, translations and apostilles. Permanent Resident card canje is cheaper (~MXN 7,300–7,500 / USD 410). Note that 2026 INM fees more than doubled from 2025 levels.

What is the income requirement for Residente Temporal in 2026? +

From 2026 Mexican consulates are switching to UMA-based calculations. The formal floor is ~300×UMA daily, which works out to MXN ~47,000 (~USD 2,700) of monthly net income for the prior 6 months, or savings/investments of ~MXN 2.35M (~USD 130,000) held for the prior 12 months. In practice many consulates still apply legacy minimum-wage formulas and demand around USD 4,400/month or USD 74,000 in savings — always confirm with the specific consulate you will apply at.

Do US, Canadian or EU citizens need a visa to enter Mexico? +

No. US, Canadian, UK, Schengen, Japanese, Australian and ~65 other passport holders enter visa-free for up to 180 days for tourism, business or short study. You only need the FMM tourist permit, which is issued instantly at the airport or land border (bundled into airfare for flights, ~USD 56). You only need a visa if you plan to stay more than 180 days, work, or relocate.

Does Mexico have a digital nomad visa? +

There is no dedicated digital nomad visa, but the Residente Temporal (visa de visitante / temporal con permiso para realizar actividades remuneradas not required) is the de-facto digital-nomad route. You apply at a Mexican consulate abroad showing remote income, get a 1-year Temporal renewable up to 4 years, with no Mexican-sourced-income tax obligation if you stay under 183 days/year. Income requirement is the same Temporal threshold above.

What is the difference between the FMM and Temporal Residence in Mexico? +

FMM is a short-stay tourist/visitor permit — max 180 days, no work allowed, must leave and re-enter to renew. Residente Temporal is a 1-to-4-year residence card issued by INM after a consulate visa, allowing you to live in Mexico, open bank accounts, get a CURP, and (with the right endorsement) work. You cannot convert FMM into Temporal from inside Mexico — you must leave and apply at a consulate.

What are the requirements for Mexican Permanent Residency? +

Three main paths: (1) Direct economic solvency — 500×UMA daily income (~USD 4,500/month) for the prior 6 months, or savings ~USD 220,000 for the prior 12 months. (2) After 4 years as Residente Temporal (2 years if married to a Mexican citizen). (3) Family ties — parent, child or spouse of a Mexican citizen (often direct to Permanente). Retirees over 60 with a pension can also qualify directly. Permanente has no expiry, no renewal fee, and open work rights.

How do I book a Mexican consulate appointment for a residence visa? +

Use the official portal at https://citas.sre.gob.mx and select your consulate, then "Visa". Appointments are released on a rolling first-come-first-served basis — slots can disappear in minutes at busy consulates (Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Madrid, Toronto). If nothing is available, check daily; there is no waitlist. You can also call MiConsulado at +1 (424) 309-0009.

What is the canje process in Mexico? +

Canje (literally "exchange") is the step inside Mexico where you swap the visa sticker in your passport for a physical Resident card issued by INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración). You must initiate it within 30 calendar days of your entry stamp into Mexico — missing this window invalidates the visa and you have to start over. The process involves filing a form online, paying the INM fee at a bank, attending an INM appointment with biometrics, and waiting 2–8 weeks for the card.

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