INM Canje in Mexico City: Swapping Your Visa for a Resident Card
The 30-day clock starts when you land. Here is where to go in Mexico City, what to bring, how to pay and what you cannot do while the card is pending.
The canje is the National Migration Institute (INM) procedure that swaps the residency visa in your passport for a resident card, and it must start within 30 calendar days of entering Mexico. In the capital it is handled at Av. Ejército Nacional 862, Polanco; as of November 2026 the first one-year card costs MXN 11,141.
When do you have to start the canje?
INM requires the exchange to start within 30 calendar days of your arrival. The clock runs from the entry date on the multiple migration form (FMM) that immigration issues at the airport or border, which should be marked for canje. Weekends and holidays count.
The canje applies to holders of temporary resident, temporary resident student and permanent resident visas, among others. If you are close to the deadline or past it, speak to INM or an immigration lawyer before doing anything else; the canje is designed to be filed inside that window.
Where is the INM office in Mexico City?
The INM’s Oficina de Representación in Mexico City is on the first floor of Av. Ejército Nacional 862, Col. Los Morales Sección Palmas, Polanco, Miguel Hidalgo, CP 11540. INM lists public hours of Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 15:00, and phone numbers (55) 2581 0100 and (55) 2581 0165 on its Mexico City office page. Do not confuse it with INM headquarters on Homero street in the same neighborhood, which is a different building.
Files go to the office that matches the home address you declare. If you live in the State of Mexico, for example in Naucalpan or Huixquilucan, your case may belong to a different office.
What documents do you need for the canje?
The current INM checklist for a temporary resident canje, last updated in January 2026, asks for:
- The migration procedure application form (formato para solicitar trámite migratorio de estancia), completed online, printed and signed by hand.
- Your valid passport, original and a plain copy.
- The residency visa, original and copy.
- The FMM issued on entry, original.
- Proof of payment of the fee, original and copy.
- The formato básico, a short form with complementary data for the card.
Older INM instructions also ask for three small photos (2.5 x 3 cm): two facing forward and one of the right profile, white background, forehead and ears uncovered, no earrings or glasses. Ask the office whether it still needs them, or bring a set anyway.
How do you fill in the form and pay?
- Complete the online form in the procedures section of inm.gob.mx. The system gives you a file number (pieza) and sends a password to your email; keep both.
- Print the form and sign it by hand. Fill in and print the formato básico.
- Pay the fee. INM does not accept cash: pay by Visa or Mastercard on the pin pad at the office, or use the payment help sheet (hoja de ayuda) the system generates.
- Take the full file to the office and submit it. Keep a copy of every page if you want a stamped receipt.
- Give fingerprints and a signature in person. INM collects these itself; nobody can do it for you.
- Track the file online with the pieza number, the password and your email.
- Return to collect the card when the status shows it is ready.
| Card issued at canje | Full fee | 50% rate |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary resident, 1 year | MXN 11,141 | MXN 5,570 |
| Permanent resident | MXN 13,579 | MXN 6,789 |
Fees are as of November 2026, from INM’s 2026 procedures site. The 50% rate applies only when you prove your stay is for family unity, a job offer from an employer registered with INM, or an invitation for unpaid activities.
How long does the canje take?
INM’s procedure rules allow the card to be issued the same day when the file is complete and raises no doubts. If INM needs more information, it asks for it in writing, and the file stays open until you answer. Watch your email and the online status rather than waiting for a call.
The temporary resident card you receive is valid for one year counted from your date of entry, not from the day you collect it. Put the expiry date in your calendar now: renewal must be filed in the last 30 days of the card’s validity, as explained in our guide to renewing a Mexican resident card.
What can’t you do while the canje is pending?
Leaving Mexico is the main restriction. A person with a pending INM procedure who needs to travel must request an exit and return permit (permiso de salida y regreso) at the office handling the file; INM lists its fee as MXN 591 as of November 2026. Traveling without it can complicate the pending application.
Paid work is not allowed on a solvency-based temporary residency unless INM grants a work permit. Some everyday steps can start before the card arrives: the Tax Administration Service (SAT) accepts INM’s application receipt with the procedure number (NUT) for RFC registration while the card is in process.
This article describes INM’s published procedure and is not legal advice. INM decides each application, and an immigration lawyer can help with complex cases.
Bottom line
Note your entry date, fill in the online form in your first week, and pay by card before you go to Polanco. Bring copies of everything, a set of photos and patience for a second visit if INM asks for more.
FAQ
Can a lawyer or facilitator do the canje for me?
A representative can file and follow the procedure with a power of attorney or a letter of authorization signed before two witnesses. You still have to appear in person for fingerprints and signature.
Do I need an appointment at the INM office?
INM offers online appointments for some procedures through its services portal. Check the portal when you complete the form, and call the Mexico City office if no appointment option appears.
What happens to my FMM after the canje?
INM keeps the FMM as part of the file and issues the resident card in its place. From then on, you show the card and passport when entering and leaving Mexico.
