INM Exit and Return Permit: Traveling While Your Case Is Pending
A canje, renewal or change of status that is still open ties you to Mexico. The permiso de salida y regreso is how INM lets you travel and come back to the same file.
Foreign residents who need to leave Mexico while a National Migration Institute (INM) procedure is still open, such as a canje, a card renewal or a change of status, must first get an exit and return permit (permiso de salida y regreso). As of November 2026 the fee is MXN 591, and INM’s procedure sheets give the permit a validity of up to 60 calendar days from issue.
Who needs an exit and return permit?
You need it when you have filed a stay procedure with INM that has not been resolved yet and you have to travel abroad before the decision. INM’s procedures microsite says the permit applies to foreign nationals who must leave and come back while a procedure is pending and has not become final.
Common situations in Mexico City:
- You started the canje of your residency visa and the card is not ready.
- You filed a temporary resident card renewal that is still in process.
- You applied to move from temporary to permanent residency, or to add permission to work.
- You asked INM to replace a lost, stolen or damaged card.
Regularization files are the exception. INM’s 2026 sheet excludes regularization procedures, including the family unity, humanitarian, expired-document and unauthorized-activity routes. People in those files should talk to INM or an immigration lawyer before making any travel plans.
What happens if you leave without the permit?
Leaving Mexico without the permit can put the pending application at risk. The permit exists so that INM can keep your file open while you are away and recognize your return under it. INM does not publish one outcome for every case, so ask the office handling your file before you buy tickets, and treat any trip as off the table until the permit is in your hands.
How much does the permit cost and how long is it valid?
The fee comes from Article 13 of the Federal Duties Law (Ley Federal de Derechos), which sets MXN 591.06 for 2026; INM lists it as MXN 591 on its procedures microsite.
| Item | What INM publishes (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Fee | MXN 591 per permit |
| Validity | Up to 60 calendar days from the date of issue |
| Where to apply | The INM office where the pending procedure was filed |
| Photo | One photo, 2.5 x 3 cm, front view, white background |
| Payment | Card at the office pin pad or at a bank with the payment help sheet; no cash at INM windows |
| Stamps | Exit and entry stamps must be recorded on the permit |
Fees in the Federal Duties Law change every January. Check the amount on INM’s immigration procedures microsite before you pay.
What documents does INM ask for?
INM’s 2026 requirements sheet for permits lists the following, in addition to the application form:
- The stay procedure application form (formato para solicitar trámite migratorio de estancia), completed online with the option “Obtener permiso de salida y regreso”, printed and signed by hand.
- A copy of the proof of registration of your pending procedure that shows its Unique Procedure Number (NUT).
- Proof of payment of the fee, original and copy.
- One photo, 2.5 x 3 cm, facing forward on a white background, forehead and ears uncovered, without earrings or glasses. INM does not accept instant photos and recommends color.
- Only if you apply at an airport, port or border crossing as you leave: a document or written statement showing force majeure (causas de fuerza mayor).
The microsite’s requirements section can generate a letter for the permit, with a separate version for minors. For children under 18, a parent or legal guardian signs the application, and the payment must be registered in the child’s name.
How do you request the permit in Mexico City?
- Fill in the online form and write down the file number (número de pieza) and the password INM emails you.
- Generate the payment help sheet (hoja de ayuda) and pay MXN 591. Enter your full names exactly as they appear on the application; INM asks applicants to check bank receipts for typos.
- Take the file to the office that has your pending procedure. For most residents of the capital that is INM’s Mexico City office at Av. Ejército Nacional 862, Polanco.
- Collect the permit and keep it with your passport and the receipt of your pending procedure.
- Have immigration stamp the permit when you leave and when you come back, and return before it expires.
INM does not publish a fixed processing time for this permit. Apply as soon as you know you have to travel, and track the file online with the pieza number, password and email address. If you also moved house while the case is open, file the INM change of address notice first so the file sits at the right office.
This article explains INM’s published procedure and is not legal advice. INM decides each case, and an immigration lawyer can help when a file is complicated.
Bottom line
If a canje, renewal or change of status is open, plan trips around either the finished card or this permit. Book flights only after the permit is issued, keep the NUT receipt with your passport, and set a reminder for the 60-day limit.
FAQ
Can I get the permit at the airport on the day I fly?
Only with proof or a written statement of force majeure, such as a family emergency abroad. For any planned trip, apply at the INM office that has your file before you travel.
Do children need their own exit and return permit?
Yes, if the child has a pending INM procedure. A parent or guardian signs the application, INM offers a separate letter template for minors, and the fee is paid under the child’s name.
What if my trip lasts longer than 60 days?
INM’s sheets give the permit a validity of up to 60 calendar days from issue and do not describe an extension. Ask the office handling your file before you leave if you expect a longer trip.
Can a lawyer request the permit for me?
A representative can file INM procedures with a power of attorney or a letter of authorization signed before two witnesses. You may still need to appear in person, so confirm with the office.
