Choose: visitor (FMM), temporary or permanent residency
Visitor (FMM / visitante): US and Canadian citizens enter visa-free for up to 180 days. The INM officer decides the number of days. No work for Mexican employers. Temporary resident: 1 to 4 years, renewable. Remote work for foreign employers is allowed. Permanent resident: indefinite. Obtained directly at a consulate (typically retirees with a pension), by family ties, or after 4 years as a temporary resident.
Why it matters
Staying longer than visitor status allows, or wanting local banking, a CURP and resident convenience, calls for residency.
Who helps
The Mexican consulate in your home country, then INM in Mexico. An immigration facilitator can help you choose.
Documents
- Passport. See step 6.4 for the rest.
Costs Estimate
- The FMM fee is built into air tickets (MXN 983 under LFD 2026).
- The consular residency visa fee is about US$56 (Toronto shows CAD 80–82).
Estimates only. Get written quotes.
Common mistakes
- Owning property does not give you residency.
- A property held in a trust generally doesn't satisfy the real-estate route, which needs a deed in the applicant's own name worth over 91,710 UMA-days (≈ MXN 10.76 million in 2026).
Say it in Spanish
- Quisiera solicitar una visa de residente temporal por solvencia económica.
I'd like to apply for a temporary resident visa based on economic solvency.
Terms
Sources
- Consulado de México en Seattle – visas (checked 2026-10)
- NorthAmericans – Toronto (checked 2026-10)
Confirm the details for your case with your notario or attorney.
Common questions
Can I live in Baja on a tourist permit?
A visitor permit (FMM) allows stays up to 180 days. To live here longer, apply for temporary or permanent residency.