Requirements Reference
See exactly what documents, financial thresholds, and steps each residency route requires.
Before you book a call
One clearer picture, three ways.
Moving to Mexico involves real numbers and real timelines, not vague promises. This page gives you an honest starting point: what each route requires, whether you likely qualify, and what the government actually charges and how long it takes.
Eligibility Check
Answer three quick questions to see which residency route — Temporary or Permanent — fits your profile, income, and timeline.
Residency Planner
Get precise government fees, appointment wait times, and financial qualification for your exact visa type and family size.
These estimates cover government fees only. They do not include Merida Worldwide's service fee. Our relocation packages — from $1,299 — handle the coordination on top of these costs.
Free reference
What each residency route actually requires.
Every route has its own documents, thresholds, and process. Use this as a checklist before your Landing Call — our attorney partners confirm the specifics for your exact consulate.
Fees last verified: September 2026 — Mexico updates government fees every January 1 and the UMA financial thresholds every February 1.
Documents for a consulate application
- Valid passport (6+ months validity, 2 blank pages)
- Completed visa application form
- Passport-size photos (requirements vary by consulate)
- Proof of economic solvency (bank statements, investment accounts)
- Proof of income (pension statements, employment letter, tax returns)
- Consulate application fee — $56 USD ("Visas a extranjeros"); see the Residency Planner below for the full breakdown
Important notes
- Requirements vary by consulate — always verify with your specific location.
- Bank statements typically need to show 6–12 months of history.
- Some consulates require apostilled documents.
- Appointment availability can range from days to months.
Free tool
Check your eligibility in under a minute.
A quick, no-signup assessment to gauge your likely residency route. It does not replace legal advice. Want more precise numbers? Use the Residency Planner tool below.
Free tool
Estimate your costs, timing, and eligibility.
One tool covering the government fees, appointment wait times, and financial requirements for your visa type — before any service fee.
Visa type
Years requested
The INM card fee scales with the visa's validity
1
Dependents
Spouse, children, or other dependents — each needs their own application
0
Government fees, per person
2026 ratesConsulate Visa Application Fee
"Visas a extranjeros" — paid at your local consulate
$56 USD
980 MXN
INM Temporary Resident Card Fee (1-year)
Paid at INM within 30 days of entry
$637 USD
11,141 MXN
Estimated government total
$693 USD
12,121 MXN
Figures reflect fees published for 2026 under Mexico's Ley Federal de Derechos (Diario Oficial de la Federación), verified September 2026. Mexico updates these government fees every January 1, and the UMA value used for the financial thresholds below every February 1 — always confirm current amounts with your consulate. INM fees are paid in Mexican pesos; USD amounts use an approximate conversion of 1 USD = 17.5 MXN. This does not include our service fee.
Appointment wait time
The bottleneck is calendar access, not paperwork — once you attend your appointment, approval is often same-day or within a few days.
October is typically a high-demand month — snowbird season and year-end relocations.
Typical wait: 2–4+ months
- Book 4–8 weeks ahead, especially October–March.
- Have your documents ready before you book — incomplete files cause rescheduling.
- Confirm your appointment by phone 1–2 days ahead.
Financial qualification
Consulates evaluate the last 6 months of income or a 12-month average savings balance — whichever is higher. Thresholds below already include your 0 dependents from above.
Published sources disagree on the exact income multiple consulates apply (estimates range 300–680× the daily UMA value for Temporary Residency alone), so these thresholds are a directional estimate, not a single official figure. They do not guarantee approval — always confirm the exact amount with your specific consulate.
Government fees, timing, and requirements are only part of the process. Our relocation packages handle the coordination on top of these costs.