Immigration Visa Process in San Miguel, Puerto Vallarta, Nayarit.

San Miguel: Immigration is by appointment. For my clients, I will make your appointment; I arrive well before you and I stay with you. Your could be at INM several hours and temperatures are cool early in the day and then they may be hot. Resident cards being issued same day is not a promise. Casual attire is acceptable. Cell phones may not be used inside the office. You are welcome to bring food and drinks.

Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit: Teresa makes appointments in advance. Early mornings will be cool and soon after hot so please be prepared.  Resident cards being issued same day is not a promise. You may dress very casual. You may bring food and drinks.

Please be realistic. At times what you expected to be completed that day will not. 

Please put in perspective your visa process in Mexico compared to this: for a Mexican citizen to apply for a resident visa for the US, it takes up to 1 year and normally you may not leave the country in that time. And, applicant requires background check plus medical. 

For a Mexican citizen to visit the US or to change planes in the US, the next appointments for a tourist visa at the MX embassy in Mexico City, are almost 2 years from now. Cost is ~$200 US. It requires an appointment, attending, interview, proving your job will be available when you return and you have sufficient funds in the bank.

The perspective of the Mexican government includes the fact that most foreigners living in Mexico, pay no income tax to Mexico. As well, IVA sales tax is often not collected on items you buy. Some send children to public schools and some use the public health care system, both of which are free. When using lower amounts of electricity your electric bills is significantly subsidized. Parks, roads, government offices and staff, etc all need to be paid for. In other words, your contribution to the Mexican government is very low. Mexico wants foreigner living in Mexico to make a reasonable contribution.

Permanent Resident Visa

The Permanent Resident Visa (PR) is for those who plan to live in Mexico permanently. It starts with a pre-approval at a Mexican consulate and the process is the same as a Temporary Resident. One option for an appointment is WhatsApp for MiConsulado 1-424-309-0009.

Here is a list of Mexican consulates.

Consulate Requirements

1. Photo with face uncovered, no glasses, front view, in colour, white background. 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm (1.53” x 1.2”). This is not American passport size.

2. In the U.S. $56 cash per person and in Canada $83.

3. Mexican consulate visa application is to be printed double-sided (one per person). Complete and take with you. Best estimate for port-of-entry and date of entry is acceptable. On question 22, for Temporary Resident pre-approval check more than 180 days and less than 4 years. For Permanent Resident check “DEFINITIVE”​. In reason for applying: “to live in Mexico” or “to retire in Mexico”. Complete questions 1- 25 and nothing more. Please do not sign.

4. Passport plus copy. 

5. For financial statements some consulates want originals. Check with your MX consulate as there are variables for which I am not responsible. If an account is in both names, you are to have both names appear on your financial statements. Mexican printouts often show 1 name on joint accounts. The following amounts are based on a 18 to 1 US$ and 14 to 1 Canadian $ exchange rate. 

Some consulates refer to a multiplier using minimum wage which is 315 pesos.

The amounts are per person. When sponsoring a child or spouse the additional financial amount required by the person sponsoring is sometimes a little as 25% more. 

• Minimum monthly income $8,750 US / $11,250 Can. (500 days x minimum wage 315) employment or pension showing 6 months of bank statements and each month not less than the minimum, or
• Minimum investments $350,000 / $450,000 Can (20,000 days x minimum wage 315 ) with 12 months of individual statements and each month not less than the minimum.

6. Appointment confirmation form.

7. Original and copies of marriage licenses when spouse is sponsoring the other and birth certificates for children.

To make an appointment check the consulate web site and FB page. Consulates have an email address and phone number.

Prior to leaving the consulate, please check your pre-approved visa in your passport to ensure your name is spelled correctly; your birthdate is accurate; male / female is indicated correctly; and, if you applied for Temporary Resident, that what you received is not Permanent Resident which for those bringing a car is an issue. Similarly, if you applied for Permanent Resident pre-approval please confirm. An error is a problem.

Entering Mexico With a Visa from a Mexican Consulate

Once approved, you have 6 months to enter Mexico and once you enter, you have 30 days to start your visa process or at least make an appointment at an Immigration office. The 30 days includes the day you entered Mexico. But you must start your process in Mexico prior to the visa expiration date. For example, you may not enter Mexico two days prior to the visa expires and think you now have 30 more days to start your visa process at Immigration in Mexico. 

Once you are approved at a consulate for temporary or permanent resident, you may only enter Mexico once and at that time you must process your visa at Immigration. Your consulate visa states: No. de entradas / No. of entries: UNA. Should you enter Mexico and leave without processing your resident visa card you will need to start over at a Mexican consulate. 

When you enter Mexico, please show your passport and visa. At border crossings you will be issued an FMM marked CANJE and the number 30. Your visa in your passport will be date stamped. At airports your passport will be date stamped and written the word “CANJE” and the number “30”.

For those entering at an airport with no FMM and only date stamp, the word CANJE and the number 30 in your passport, you must scan the QR code and print out the FMM. Or, you may also access the FMM portal here. Once you have uploaded a photo of your passport and you corroborated the information is correct, select “Ingresos” and next click the small ORANGE CIRCLE with a check mark. Next, select “Descargar” for the download icon. You will not be able to process your pre-approved visa at Immigration in Mexico without a FMM that has been printed and presented. You may only download it once so please do not lose the FMM you printed. For clients, I will do this for you.

Immigration’s fee for Permanent Resident, once pre-approved at a Mexican consulate is 13,579 pesos. For those changing from Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident the total is 15,426 pesos. These fees are payable at Immigration using Visa or MasterCard.

Permanent Resident Card

Once this permanent residency card is issued, it is permanent and renewals are not required with the exception of a child who must renew their Permanent Resident card every 4 years until age 18. You may work as a PR but you must inform INM after registering with SAT for taxes. INM may deny approval to work. A foreign plated car is not allowed. Some consulates will not provide Permanent Resident pre-approval to those under retirement age. For those who are Temporary Residents and living in Mexico, you may become a Permanent Resident in less than 4 years. The requirements vary at Immigration offices but this is the most common practice: you must prove you are receiving a pension and be at least age 65. And, you are required to prove 6 months of pension income of 500 x UMA / month (~$3200 if US) or 12 months of investments/savings of 25,000 x UMA (~$154,000 US). La Unidad de Medida y Actualización (UMA) is 113.14. Your name on your financials must exactly match your name on your passport and not one letter may be different. All financials require certified translation. This process cannot be completed in San Miguel and you need to attend in Leon.

Children with a Permanent Resident card between the ages of 1 and 3 must renew their card annually. Children over age 3 must renew every 4 years until 18. Once a child has residency, there is no need for financials including when child turns 18.

Permanent resident card fees are 13,579 pesos when approved with a visa at a Mexican consulate. When progressing from temporary resident to permanent resident there are 2 fees and they total 15,426 pesos. For a sponsored family member the fee is 6789 or 8636 pesos. Immigration is paid with Visa, MasterCard or debit card.

Please never have a color copy of your resident card, driver’s license or any other Mexican government issued ID as that is considered fraud with serious consequences.

Entering Mexico As a Permanent Resident

When you enter Mexico at an airport which has passport scanners, as a Temporary or Permanent Resident always check with Immigration. You present your resident card and then passport to the immigration officer. The officer scans you resident card and passport. The immigration officer will then select on their computer screen your status as a Temporary or Permanent Resident from a drop-down screen. Your passport is date stamped and the letters RP or RT is written in your passport.

​Carrying ID Within Mexico

In Mexico, your are to carry your original Temporary or Permanent Resident card. If a tourist, you carry your passport and proof you entered Mexico.

Lost Resident Card Out-of Mexico

If you lose your Temporary of Permanent Resident card while outside of Mexico it helps to have. police report. You may go to the nearest Mexican consulate. Another option, is upon arrival at an airport in Mexico, you immediately go to Inmigracion at the airport. You ask for a meeting and request a 2 page letter called: ACTA DE INTERNACION AEREA. You then apply at your local INM in Mexico. If immigration at the airport records you as a tourist, that is what you will be and you will have to start your visa process over again at a Mexican consulate and prove financials.

Traveling by Minors

Foreign minors under the age of 18 traveling to Mexico alone or with a third party of legal age as visitors for a stay if up to 180 days, do not require authorization or a letter of consent from their parents or guardian. And, Mexican migratory authorities will allow these minors to leave Mexico upon presentation of a valid passport.

Minors under 18 years of age who are of Mexican nationality or foreigners holding the migratory status of Permanent Resident, Temporary Resident or Temporary Student Resident, who are in Mexico and wish to travel abroad alone or accompanied by a person of legal age other than one of their parents, must present a document issued by the National Migration Institute (INM) called Permiso SAM (Formato de Salida de Menores).

One or both parents may apply at Immigration along with the minor child. The SAM approval is valid for 6 months. There is no cost in 2025 but there will be in 2026. One document is required for each child. It is very important to note that only INM agents are authorized to stamp the SAM Format and without this stamp,  minors will not be able to leave Mexican territory even if they have their travel ticket.

Minors under the age of 18 traveling with at least one of their parents or guardians do not require authorization.