How to Get Temporary Residency in Mexico: Income, Savings, Steps
The visa comes from a Mexican consulate outside Mexico, the card from INM after you land. The money test is set in UMA, and each consulate prints its own figures.
Mexican temporary residency (residencia temporal) takes two steps: a visa from a Mexican consulate outside Mexico, then a resident card from the National Migration Institute (INM) within 30 days of arrival. On the solvency route, consulates want six months of high income or twelve months of large savings, and as of November 2026 the amounts differ by consulate.
Who can apply for temporary residency from abroad?
Temporary residency is the status for people who plan to stay in Mexico longer than 180 days and less than four years. Consulates issue the visa on several grounds: economic solvency (income or savings), a job offer from a registered Mexican employer, family ties to a Mexican citizen or resident, and study, which has its own student category.
Most US retirees and remote workers use the solvency route. The Mexican consulate in Houston states plainly on its requirement sheet that this visa comes without permission to do paid work in Mexico. How that affects people who keep working for a foreign employer is covered in our guide to working remotely in Mexico legally.
How much income or savings do Mexican consulates require?
There is no single national figure. Several consulates now express the threshold in days of UMA (Unidad de Medida y Actualización), a reference value that INEGI updates every year. Since February 1, 2026, one day of UMA equals MXN 117.31.
The Houston consulate’s sheet (version of October 2025) asks for monthly net income of at least 680 days of UMA in each of the last six months, or a month-end bank or investment balance of at least 11,400 days of UMA in each of the last twelve months. The consulate in Tecún Umán, Guatemala, uses the same income multiple and 11,460 days for savings. At the 2026 UMA value, 680 days come to about MXN 79,771 a month.
Other consulates publish fixed amounts instead, and they do not match. As of November 2026:
| Consulate (sheet) | Income route, each of last 6 months | Savings route, each of last 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Houston (Oct 2025) | 680 days of UMA, net | 11,400 days of UMA |
| Washington, D.C. (2026) | MXN 83,640, net of tax | MXN 1,394,000 minimum balance |
| San Diego (2026) | USD 4,049 | USD 68,241 average monthly balance |
| Tecún Umán (Aug 2025) | 680 days of UMA, net | 11,460 days of UMA |
Houston also adds 220 days of UMA a month (about MXN 25,808 in 2026) for each economic dependent, such as a spouse or child, applying with you. Figures in pesos are converted at the exchange rate on your appointment day, so a weaker dollar raises the bar. Always use the current sheet of the consulate where you will apply, for example the Washington consular section’s 2026 temporary resident requirements.
What documents does the consulate ask for?
The core file is the same everywhere, with local variations in how statements must be certified:
- The visa application form, filled in.
- A valid passport, plus a copy of the data page.
- One recent passport-size color photo, facing forward, no glasses, white background.
- Proof of legal stay in the country where you apply if you are not a citizen of it (for the US, documents such as an I-797 or I-20).
- Original bank or investment statements for the months required. Washington does not accept plain online printouts; statements from digital-only banking must be stamped by a branch. San Diego asks for statements with the bank’s official seal or an official bank letter.
- For income from a job, an employer letter. San Diego wants it on letterhead, signed by a supervisor, stating salary, start date and explicit agreement that you will live in Mexico and work remotely.
- The processing fee: USD 56 at Washington and San Diego on their 2026 sheets, USD 54 on Houston’s October 2025 sheet. It is not refunded if the visa is refused.
Documents issued in a third country need an apostille or legalization and an official Spanish translation.
How does the consulate appointment work?
- Check your consulate’s current requirement sheet and calculate the threshold for your case.
- Book one appointment per applicant through the SRE system at citas.sre.gob.mx (San Diego routes bookings through its MiConsulado service).
- Attend with originals and copies. The visit includes a document review, an interview in Spanish or English and biometrics.
- Wait for the decision. San Diego says processing can take one to ten business days; Washington says the visa is normally ready at 1:30 p.m. on the day of the appointment, without guarantee.
- Collect your passport with the visa sticker. San Diego advises not to buy plane tickets until the visa is issued.
What happens after you land in Mexico?
You enter Mexico on the visa, and immigration records your arrival on a multiple migration form (FMM) marked for exchange. From that day you have 30 calendar days to start the exchange, called the canje, at the INM office that covers your address. As of November 2026, INM charges MXN 11,141 for the first one-year temporary resident card, or MXN 5,570 for applicants who qualify for the 50% rate (family unity, a job offer from a registered employer, or an unpaid invitation). Step-by-step details for the capital are in our guide to the INM canje in Mexico City.
How long does temporary residency last?
Temporary residency lasts up to four years in total. The card you get at the canje is valid for one year counted from your entry; after that you renew the resident card for one, two or three more years. After four years as a temporary resident you can apply for permanent residency without a new consulate visit.
This article explains how the system works and is not legal advice. The consulate and INM decide each case, and an immigration lawyer can review yours.
Bottom line
Download the current requirement sheet from the consulate where you will apply, convert its threshold at today’s exchange rate, and line up six or twelve months of certified statements before booking. Plan your arrival so you can reach the INM office well inside the 30-day canje window.
FAQ
Can I apply for temporary residency while visiting Mexico as a tourist?
Not on the solvency route. That visa is issued only by Mexican consulates outside Mexico, so tourists must leave and apply abroad. Some family-based cases follow different rules.
Does my income have to be in pesos?
No. Statements can be in dollars or another currency. Consulates that set the threshold in pesos or UMA compare it with your balance at the exchange rate on the appointment date.
Do all consulates use the same UMA multiples?
No. Houston and Tecún Umán use 680 days for income but different multiples for savings, while Washington and San Diego print fixed amounts. Use only your own consulate’s figures.
Can a temporary resident work in Mexico?
Not on a solvency visa without further permission. A temporary resident who receives a job offer from a Mexican employer can ask INM for a work permit, which costs MXN 4,341 as of November 2026.
