There are now three basic types of visas: Visitante, Residente Temporal and Residente Permanente. The last two are the ones used by expats who want to live in Mexico, and those are the ones I will address here: 1) Temporary Resident Visa (“Residente Temporal”), and 2) Permanent Residence Visa (“Residente Permanente”).
First time resident visa: If you want to upgrade your status from tourist (Visitante) to Residente Temporal, or Residente Permanente, now you have to:
- Return to your home country before your tourist visa expires (which you would have to do even if you don’t want to change your visa status),
- Apply for a resident visa in an embassy or consulate there,
- Once your application is accepted, go to the INM office nearest to where you plan to live in Mexico to obtain your visa.
Again, for a first-time resident visa, you will have to apply for your visa through the Mexican consulate in your home country (and state), and will be able to receive it only at the nearest INM office in Mexico.
To begin, renew or change your immigration status, you start here by filling out an online application and receiving a NUE (file number). Continue reading
The Peripatetic Retiree 