The number of people looking to retire in Mexico or move long-term to the country increases every year, especially with all the remote working opportunities that have become the norm in the past years.
Naturally, one of the first questions that come to mind about living in Mexico is if it is even possible to live there without being a citizen. Here’s the short answer :
You can live in Mexico without being a citizen. If you plan to stay for a period longer than 180 days, you will need to apply for temporary or permanent residency, but citizenship is not necessary.
Difference between citizenship and residency in Mexico
The difference between residency and citizenship in Mexico is that residency allows you to live legally in the country for a certain period of time, and citizenship gives you the right to vote, access to social programs, a passport, and all other rights established in the Mexican constitution.
Some benefits do also apply to permanent residents even without applying for citizenship. For example, as a permanent resident, you can work in Mexico without having to apply for a work permit and you can also apply to the public healthcare system.
Those benefits do not apply to temporary residents.
How long can you live in Mexico without citizenship?
There is no limit to the amount of time you can live in Mexico without citizenship as long as you have an active tourist visa or resident visa.
If you enter the country as a tourist, you have 180 days (6 months approximately) to explore the country as much as you like. If you are a citizen of one of the countries that do not need a visa for Mexico, you do not need any permit to enter, but if you want to stay for a longer period of time, you will need to leave Mexico and apply for a temporary or permanent residency visa.
The temporary residency visa allows you to live in Mexico for 4 years, while the permanent resident visa allows you to live in Mexico indefinitely.
If you are looking to retire in the country, here is the list of visa requirements to retire in Mexico.
Note on the tourist visa: Since 2020, the number of 180 days for tourist visas has been more of a guideline than a rule. Some travelers have reported they have only been granted 40 or 60 days stays. If that’s the case, the immigration officer will inform you as you enter the country. As of late, it seems things are starting to normalize, and the usual 180 days are being granted again, but be aware it’s a possibility.
Can you live in Mexico without a visa?
You can only live in Mexico without a long-term visa if you meet the following requirements:
- You are a citizen of a visa-exempt country
- You will stay for less than 180 days (6 months)
- You will not work/have remunerated activities in the country (remote working is allowed)
For long-term stays, you will need to apply for a visa and/or a work permit.
How to apply for a Mexican visa
Applying for a visa to live in Mexico for a long-term period is relatively simple.
First of all, it is very important to note that you cannot do it from within Mexico. If you are already there on a tourist visa, you will need to leave and apply from your country of origin.
Here are the steps to apply for a Mexican visa:
- Locate your local Mexico consulate or embassy. You can find both on the site of the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores (Foreign Affairs Ministry). The list of consulates is here and the list of embassies here.
- Go to the website and locate the application requirements. These are going to vary depending on the type of visa you want to request and the local consulate, but for the most part, you will be asked for a filled application, financial records, your passport, a photograph, and to cover the application fee in cash.
- Make an appointment on the corresponding consulate using their online web app.
- Go to said appointment, present the documentation, and answer a few questions.
Once you have applied, you can expect to receive an answer between 2 and 4 weeks. If your application was approved, you will get your visa in 2-5 days.
Summary
- You can live in Mexico without citizenship as long as you have a valid tourist or residency visa (temporary or permanent).
- Residency and citizenship in Mexico are two separate things. You can be a resident without being a citizen.
- You can live in Mexico without a visa for up to 180 days.
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