Lost Mexican Resident Card: How to Replace It With INM
Losing the card does not cancel your residency, but you need INM's reposición before life gets complicated at banks, notaries and airports.
A lost, stolen or damaged Mexican resident card is replaced through the National Migration Institute’s (INM) replacement procedure, called reposición de documento migratorio. As of November 2026 the fee is MXN 1,780 for temporary and permanent resident cards alike, and a loss inside Mexico is recorded by INM itself in a statement of facts when you apply.
Does losing the card cancel your residency?
No. The card is the document that proves your status, and the status stays on INM’s records. What you lose is the easy way to prove it to banks, landlords, notaries, the Tax Administration Service (SAT) and immigration officers at the airport. INM’s own procedure sheets remind foreign nationals that they must keep their immigration document and show it when immigration authorities ask, so replace it promptly.
Do you need a police report?
INM’s 2026 requirements sheet says a criminal complaint for loss or theft inside Mexico is not required. INM still recommends reporting a theft to the authorities so you are not held responsible if someone misuses the card. In Mexico City a theft is reported to the city’s Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General de Justicia); our page on emergency numbers in Mexico City explains 911 and Locatel if you need help at the time.
For a loss inside Mexico, you appear in person before INM and the immigration officer drafts a statement of facts (acta de hechos) as part of the procedure.
What documents does INM ask for?
The general requirements apply to every card issuance procedure:
- The stay procedure application form, filled in online with “Canjear o reponer documento migratorio” and the option for replacement due to loss, theft or damage, printed and signed by hand.
- The basic format (formato básico), completed electronically at the office that resolves the case.
- Proof of payment of the fee, original and copy.
- The passport or official identity document you used to get your residency, with a copy.
Then add the document for your situation:
| Situation | What INM asks for |
|---|---|
| Card lost or stolen in Mexico | Appear in person; INM drafts the statement of facts |
| Card damaged or destroyed | The damaged card, original |
| Card lost or stolen abroad | The multiple migration form (FMM) and the replacement visa issued by a Mexican consulate, or the entry record or stamp, original and copy |
| Error in data, or change of name or nationality | The public document from your country showing the change, after filing the change notice with INM |
| Permanent resident who turned 18 | The current permanent resident card |
Older INM sheets also ask for photos. Bring a set of 2.5 x 3 cm photos on a white background, or ask the office before you go.
How much does a replacement card cost?
INM’s 2026 fee table lists MXN 1,780 to replace a temporary resident card of any length (one to four years) and the same MXN 1,780 for a permanent resident card. Visitor documents have lower fees. The amounts come from the Federal Duties Law and change each January, so confirm on INM’s immigration procedures microsite before paying.
The replacement card shows the same status and expiry as the one you lost. If your temporary card was close to expiring, you may need a renewal soon after, so check the dates with INM at the window.
How do you file the replacement in Mexico City?
- Complete the online form and save the pieza number and password INM sends to your email.
- Generate the payment help sheet and pay MXN 1,780 by card at the office pin pad or at a bank, with your names written exactly as on the application.
- Take the file to INM’s Mexico City office at Av. Ejército Nacional 862, Polanco, the same office described in our canje guide.
- Give your statement for the acta de hechos if the card was lost or stolen, and provide fingerprints and signature for the new card.
- Track the case online and return to collect the card when INM marks it ready.
This article summarizes INM’s published requirements and is not legal advice. INM decides each case, and an immigration lawyer can help if your status or documents are complicated.
Can you leave or re-enter Mexico without the card?
Plan on not traveling until the replacement is in your hands. A replacement is a pending INM procedure, and INM’s rule for people with pending procedures is the exit and return permit, MXN 591 as of November 2026. Ask the office whether it applies to your file before booking.
If the card goes missing while you are abroad, contact the nearest Mexican consulate. INM’s replacement requirements for a loss abroad include a visa issued for the replacement, which the consulate handles, plus your FMM or entry record once you are back in Mexico.
Bottom line
Write down your card number and keep a photo of both sides somewhere safe now. If the card disappears, start the online form within days, pay by card and go to Polanco with your passport. Hold off on international travel until you have the new card or an INM permit.
FAQ
Do I have to report the loss to INM within a deadline?
INM’s requirements sheet does not set a specific deadline for reposición. Residents must carry and show their immigration document when asked, so a quick replacement avoids problems with banks and checks.
Does the new card get a new expiry date?
No. A replacement reproduces your existing status and its validity. A new term only comes with a renewal or a change of status.
Can I use a photo of my card at the bank meanwhile?
Banks and notaries usually ask for the original. The receipt of your pending INM procedure shows that a replacement is in process, but each institution decides what it accepts.
