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EXPAT RESOURCES Primer: meeting the financial requirements of a Mexican residency visa MND Staff MND Staff February 28, 2023

 https://mexiconewsdaily.com/expat-resources/financial-requirements-of-mexican-residency-visa/

EXPAT RESOURCES

Primer: meeting the financial requirements of a Mexican residency visa

MND Staff

February 28, 2023

You've made the decision to stay in Mexico long-term, i.e., more than six months. It's time to apply for a visa de residente — a resident visa, which generally allows you to stay a year or more in the country legally. (Photo: Shutterstock)

• 51SHARES

As many digital nomads have discovered during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexico gives visitors from many countries a generous six-month (180-day) stay here simply upon arrival. But what if you’re interested in staying in Mexico for the long-term — say, for a few years, or maybe for the rest of your life?

If you’re looking to settle in Mexico for more than 180 days, then you need to apply for a residency visa. You apply for a residency visa not in Mexico but at a Mexican consulate in your home country.

You’ll also need to make sure you can pass Mexico’s financial solvency requirements. This article is a basic guide to what those financial solvency requirements are for the temporary and permanent residency visa.

Any financial solvency requirements will be based on a calculation using Mexico’s minimum wage, which recently went up again, by 20%, to $207.44 pesos (about US $10.80) per day. So be sure that any calculations you make reflect the new minimum daily wage.  

Also, before we get into more specifics down below, another thing to bear in mind is that each consulate has different ways of converting the minimum wage into euros, U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars or whatever the currency is where you are from. How much your requirement will depend on the calculations of whichever consulate you use to apply.  

So please take this guide as a general compass to kick-start your visa process, and reach out to the consulate where you’ll be applying for exact financial amounts.

While currency conversions may vary from consulate to consulate, the value of income, savings and investments you must demonstrate to qualify for a residency visa is based on a single factor: Mexico’s daily minimum wage. (Photo: Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)

Temporary or permanent residency visa: which do I need?

• A temporary residency visa can cover a period of more than 180 days to up to four years — how many years is at the discretion of Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM) after you get your visa. Generally speaking, you are eligible to renew your temporary visa for four consecutive years with little fuss.
• A permanent residency visa is for those looking to stay in Mexico indefinitely. It is generally granted to foreigners who plan to be retirees in Mexico (you must be 65 or older for this) or else people who are dependents of a Mexican permanent resident or citizen, or who are the parent or child of a Mexican citizen.

In both cases, applicants must demonstrate financial solvency to guarantee to Mexico that they have the means of providing for themselves and any family members that are coming with them. 

Financial solvency requirement for the temporary visa

If you’re applying for a temporary residency visa, to prove financial solvency, you must demonstrate one of the following:

• SALARIED INCOME: your income during the past three months must equal or be greater than 100 days of the general minimum wage (as applied in Mexico City), and you must also show proof of current, stable employment outside Mexico for at least one year. 
• PASSIVE INCOME: the total amount of your investment, savings and pension income over the last 12 months must have an average monthly balance equal to 300 days of the general minimum wage applicable in Mexico City.  

What if I need a temporary visa to study in Mexico?

If you’re enrolled in Mexico at a higher education institution, the financial requirements for a temporary visa are significantly lower. You must submit proof of stable employment or pension income or scholarship income over the past three months, and it must equal 60 days of the general minimum wage.

You must also submit proof of your current study program from the higher education institution.

What if I have a family?

A family moving to Mexico can apply for temporary residency, but be aware that there will be a financial solvency requirement for each adult and each minor child. Ask your consulate for specifics. 

I own real estate property in Mexico. Does that qualify me for a residency visa?

Many foreigners are under the impression that owning real estate in Mexico means that getting a Mexican visa is guaranteed. Not necessarily so in practice. (Photo: Jonathan Beckman/Unsplash)

Possibly. There’s no guarantee that owning a home or other real estate in Mexico will alone qualify you for residency. Consulates appear to have discretion when it comes to using this as a qualifying factor.

But if they do allow it, you’ll need to provide an original and a photocopy of the property’s Escritura Pública (the official deed to the property granted before a Notary Public in Mexico). The value of the property stated on the escritura must exceed 40,000 days of the general minimum wage for it to be considered.

Note: real estate ownership will only ever qualify you for a temporary residency visa.

Can I get a residency visa if I have investments in Mexico or conduct business in the country?

Yes, but it only qualifies you for temporary residency.

If you’re an investor in a Mexican company or conduct business in the country, the amount of the investment or value of business conducted must equal 20,000 days of the general minimum wage. 

How to show proof: provide original and photocopied documents of one of the following:

• The company’s Articles of Incorporation (Acta Constitutiva), granted before a Notary Public in an Escritura Pública (a deed).
• Your título de acciones (stock certificates) from the company.
• A letter from the company’s administrative body (e.g. a board of directors) or another competent official from the Mexican company outlining the company assets owned by the applicant.
• A document proving the applicant owns company assets (this could be physical assets like machines and equipment or intellectual property like ownership of the company’s trademark). 
• Documentation proving that you are conducting economic or business activities in Mexican territory. Documentation could include but isn’t limited to:
  • Contracts, service orders, invoices, receipts.
  • Business plans, licenses and permits
  • A certificate issued by the Mexican Social Security Institute proving that the applicant employs at least three workers.

Financial solvency requirement for the permanent visa

If you’re applying for a permanent residency visa, you need to show:

• Proof of investments or bank account statements with an average monthly balance equivalent to 20,000 days of the general minimum wage during the last 12 months, or
• Proof that the applicant has a pension with a monthly income after tax greater than the equivalent of 500 days of the general minimum wage during the last six months.

Where do I need to submit the documents?

Applying for a visa doesn’t happen in Mexico but in your home country, at the Mexican consulate, like this one in San Diego, California. (Photo: Shutterstock)

In the Mexican consulate office abroad nearest to you, except when the consulate specifies you need to send them to the Mexican Embassy in your country. 

Be aware that in all cases, consulates expect that you will provide your own photocopies of the documents you are submitting. Don’t expect them to make copies for you when you get there.

Your consulate may even ask to keep originals. If you don’t want to give up your original documents, ask ahead if a certified copy granted before a Notary Public (copia certificada ante Notario Público) can be accepted as an original. A certified copy is considered to be equal to an original unless in specific cases mandated by the authorities. So make sure to ask.

How long will the consulate take to resolve my application?

According to Mexican officials, it will take up to 10 working days in any of the aforementioned cases. 

After obtaining my residency visa, are there any other required steps to finalize the residency process?

Yes. If the visa is granted, you must obtain your residency card in Mexico. The deadline to apply for the residency card is 30 calendar days after entering Mexican territory. This can be done at any INM office in Mexico.

Once you have received your visa, there’s still another piece of bureaucracy to do: when you arrive in Mexico, you’ll need to head to any National Migration Institute office within 30 days of entering the country and register to receive your Mexican residency card. (Photo: INM)

Note that this process CAN’T be done at Mexican consulates or embassies. It must be done at an INM office. The consulate only gives you general approval for a visa. INM will be the final arbiter of for how long your first temporary visa will be valid — up to a maximum of four years.

Many foreigners from countries that aren’t required to obtain a tourist visa to enter Mexico (e.g. U.S., Canada, Schengen Area countries; see this link for the full list of countries) are granted at least a year and are eligible to renew upon their first visa’s expiration.

Must I keep the government updated of any change in my status, address or any other?

Yes. You must notify the immigration authority of any change in your marital status, nationality, the address where you live or your place of work within 90 days after said change occurs.

If you’re new to Mexico, you might also be interested in our guide to understanding the new Social Security Law for Domestic Workers. 

With information from Lineamientos generales para la expedición de visas.

Armin van Buuren - A State Of Trance 2014 ( Full Album On The Beach ) //CD1 Erik Morales

 

Eternal Expat: Mexico Update: New Airlines and finally a train in Mexico?!

Hi Mexico-loving friends! The news out of Mexico this week is that there is finally a date for when the Maya Train, the train network that will connect many areas around the Yucatan, will begin operations. The government has announced that on December 1st, 2023, the Maya Train network will be ready for passengers.  According to this article, " 42 trains will operate on the railroad, which will pass through 34 stations and stops in five states — Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo" This much-anticipated train line could be a huge boost for tourism by allowing those that visiting the incredibly popular Quintana Roo to hop on a train and explore so much more of Mexico.  There is also room for another Mexican carrier after Aeromar announced that they will cease operations due to financial issues.  It didn't take long for someone to come along and fill the gap! Monterrey-based airline Aerus will soon begin operating flights in Northern Mexico and will also connect northern Mexico to Texas by the end of 2023.

February Mexico Content

The latest update for my Mexico City travel guide is done! If you already owned a digital copy of the book, then you have received an email with how to download it. I am so excited to share all of these new spots in Mexico City with you!  You can purchase a digital copy here. If you purchase the digital book, you will receive free updates of the book for life. If you would prefer a paperback copy, you can purchase the latest copy on Amazon here. There is some exciting new content about Mexico over on Eternal Expat! 6 Best Massages in Playa del Carmen Shopping in Playa del Carmen Guide Using Amazon in Mexico: What you need to know You can catch up on all of the Mexico content on Eternal Expat here. If you missed out on seeing my Mexico videos from earlier this year, you can see all of those adventures here: Why I Love Puerto Vallarta Puerto Vallarta Beachfront Condo Tour Mexico City Taco Tour

Expats & Locals Around Mexico

As always with Mexico, I highly recommend seeking out people who are currently living in the places that you want to visit. Speak to the locals living in those places and find out how you can better integrate. Ask questions, be curious and kind. For updates about Mexico City, as always I recommend following Ubish Yaren on Instagram. You can also follow Anais of The Curious Mexican for updates on the restaurant and food scene in Mexico City and what is back open. For updates about what's going on in Oaxaca, Susan of Brooklyn Tropicali has been sharing her updates of what's going on around the city and state of Oaxaca. Trisha of PS I'm On My Way currently lives in Cabo San Lucas and can share some insights into what is happening there with you. Check out her website here. She also has a great Mexico-specific website called Mexico Insider which you can read here. For regular updates about life in Merida and around the Yucatan, check out Mexico Cassie who has also recently written a fantastic guide about Traveling Yucatan with Kids. Shelley of Travel Mexico Solo also shares her experiences in Merida and around the Yucatan. She also has a fantastic blog all about Merida here and all about Oaxaca here.  The Yucatan Times is the local English newspaper in Merida that shares local updates and news reports. To keep up with what's going on in and around Guadalajara, follow Alex of the Backpacking Brunette. Vallarta Daily is the local English news there where you can learn about any changes in the situation in Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding Nayarit beach towns as well. Unfortunately, this has been purchased by Mexico New Daily and all articles now sit behind a paywall, but if you are living in Vallarta, then it may be a subscription you want to consider. Riviera Maya News is the local English newspaper there where you can keep up with changes. I believe this is the region that is changing the most in regards to safety at the minute and if you plan to independently travel here (renting a car and exploring without tours or away from resorts), then I highly recommend speaking to someone who is there right now. As always, a great place to keep up to date with news about what's happening all over Mexico in English is Mexico News Daily. It seems that if you register as a user (for free), you are able to see more articles at the moment.

Visiting Mexico Soon?

If you are planning a trip to Mexico soon, I hope you'll have a browse of the different Mexico guides on my blog or have a search through my YouTube videos to help you plan your trip! I also have FOUR extensive guidebooks available for Baja California Sur, Mexico City (updated February 2023!!), Merida, and Guanajuato! If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to email me by simply hitting reply on this email. Speak soon and safe travels, Laura

Eternal Expat Principal 20 CDMX Mexico