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

San Miguel: Immigration is by appointment. For my clients, I will make your appointment. My assistant Edith and I arrive well before you and we stay with you. You may be at Immigration several hours. Each year I have approximately 1100 immigration processes which is significantly more than anyone else. The office is busy all year.

Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit: Teresa makes appointments in advance. Sarai her assistant and Teresa meet clients in person and they stay with you until your appointment is completed. Teresa completes more than 750 immigration process annually. No one completes more resident cards in PV and Nayarit than Teresa. Immigration is more seasonal here with winters being very busy.

Usually temperatures are cool early in the day and then they may be hot. Your resident card will normally be issued in one day with some exceptions such as: lack of cards; lack of staff; software or printer issues. Resident cards being issued same day is not a promise. Casual attire is acceptable. Cell phones may be present but calls may not be made or received inside the office. You are welcome to bring food and drinks.

Please be realistic.

Applicants being approved at a Mexican consulate told consulate staff they were coming to Mexico to live. If a person told the consulate they were coming to Mexico with no intention to live here from the start and to leave asap your resident visa would have been denied. So do not be upset if your resident card is not issued in a day or it takes a few days longer.

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.

And, as to the qualifying financial amounts for residency, 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 bill is significantly subsidized. Parks, roads, government offices and staff, etc all need to be paid. In other words, your contribution directly to the Mexican government is low. Mexico wants foreigner living in Mexico to make a reasonable contribution.

Temporary Resident Visa

Your first Temporary Resident visa starts with a pre-approval at a Mexican consulate outside of Mexico. One option for an appointment is WhatsApp for MiConsulado 1-424-309-0009. I may guide you through this process but I nor anyone else, may make your appointments for you. Once pre-approved we will work with you to finalize your visa in Mexico. We also process visa renewals and replacements; change of status including address, marriage, divorce, earning income in Mexico, etc.

Here is a list of the Mexican consulates. And a Canadian may apply at many of the Mexican consulates in the U.S.

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 although some consulates may accept them..

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

3. Mexican consulate application is to be printed double-sided (one per person). Complete and take with you. Your best estimate for port-of-entry and date of entry is acceptable. On question 22 which states LENGTH OF STAY IN MEXICO, 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- 26 and nothing more. Also, 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. 

• ​Monthly income minimum of $5,250 US / $6,750 Can. (300 days x minimum wage 315) employment or pension showing 6 months of bank statements and each month with at least the minimum, or  
• Investments minimum ~$87,500 US / $112,500 Can. (5000 days x minimum wage 315) with 12 months of individual statements and each month at least the minimum, or
• Home ownership in Mexico worth ~ 12,600,000 pesos (40,000 days x minimum wage 315) per person. You will need your deed and a copy. If two people are on title, home value needs to be double.

6. Appointment confirmation

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’s web site and FB page. Some consulates have an email address and / or phone number but rarely will a phone call be answered.

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; your country is correct 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. Errors will cause long delays in finalizing your resident card in Mexico.

Entering Mexico With a Visa from a Mexican Consulate

Once approved, you have 6 months to enter Mexico. Once you enter, you have 30 days to apply 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 expiring and think you now have 30 days to start your visa process at Immigration in Mexico. 

Once you are approved at a consulate for either 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 as issued by the consulate. At border crossings you will be issued an FMM marked CANJE and it will be for 30 days. Your visa in your passport will be date stamped.

For those entering at an airport you will receive a 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 visa at an Immigration office in Mexico without a FMM that has been printed. For clients, I will print your FMM.

If driving, at the border you must obtain a car permit (TIP). The deposit is $200, $300 or $400. Your FMM and car permit will be good for 30 days. Please see this page regarding car permits.

Temporary Resident Card

Your first temporary resident card will be for 1 year. Renewal may start up to 30 days prior to expiration. Your renewal may be for 1, 2 or 3 years but financially, a 3-year renewal is best. Your temporary resident card expiration date is based on the anniversary of when you entered Mexico with your pre-approved visa from a Mexican consulate, less a day. For example, if you entered Mexico with a pre-approved visa June 10, 2023, your temporary resident card expires on June 9, 2025. Expiration date is written 9/6/25 meaning 9 June 2025.

Temporary resident card Immigration fees: 1-year: 11,141 pesos; 2-year: 16,693 pesos; 3-years: 21,143 pesos. Each fee is reduced to half for a sponsored family member. These fees are paid to Immigration using Visa, MasterCard or debit.

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

Temporary resident card holders please always check with Immigration staff and show your resident card and then your passport when arriving and departing Mexico on an international flight. There are exceptions. But it is best to always ask and be safe versus sorry.

Temporary Resident Card Holders When Arriving and Departing Mexico on an International Flight.

Temporary resident card holders please always check with Immigration staff and show your resident card and then your passport when arriving and departing Mexico on an international flight. There are exceptions but it is best to be safe and not sorry.

When departing from a Mexican airport with an international flight if your exit is not recorded with Immigration it is not an issue.

And when you have a temporary or permanent resident card please never use a passport scanner as those are only for tourists. If by chance this happens, leave Mexico and on your next return use your resident card. This is not a promise but usually your residency is reset and you are again a temporary or permanent resident.

Lost Resident Card Out-of-Country

If you lose your Temporary or Permanent Resident card while outside of Mexico a police report helps. 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.

Carrying ID Within Mexico

​In Mexico, you are to carry your original Temporary or Permanent Resident card. If a tourist, you carry your passport and original FMM tourist card or other proof of when you entered Mexico as FMM’s are being eliminated.

Expired Temporary Resident Card

If your temporary resident card has expired while in Mexico you have 60 days to apply at Immigration. There is a fine.

If you are out of country, you must enter Mexico within 55 days of expiration. You must submit your renewal at immigration within 5 days of returning to Mexico and there is no fine. Be sure Immigration staff at your point of entry do not record you as a tourist nor keep your temporary resident card.

In each situation, you are required to prove financials using the UMA multiplier. La Unidad de Medida y Actualización (UMA) is 113.14 for 2025. Financials require certified translations and your name on your financials must be identical to your name on your passport and not one letter different.

Income required for each month for 6 months is a minimum of 117.31 x 400 = 46,924 pesos, or

Savings required for each month for 12 months is a minimum of 117.31 x 20,000 = 2,346,200 pesos.

To the income and savings amounts above, divide by the current exchange rate.

You will start over at year 1.

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 a small fee and 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.