More than 10,000 people are choosing to retire every year in Mexico according to some estimates, and it is really no surprise. Mexico is one of the friendlier countries for expats, the cost of living is very reasonable, and the weather is nice.
When you choose to retire in a different country, there’s some paperwork that needs to be done so you can stay there legally and have access to all services. The first, and most important one is a visa.
This article will guide you through the process of getting a visa to retire in Mexico.
What is a visa?
A visa is an endorsement or authorization issued by a country on your passport that allows you to enter and stay in its territory for a certain period of time.
There are different types of visas depending on the reasons you have to enter the country, for example, there are tourist visas, student, visas, work visas, permanent ones, etc.
The visa will determine the dates you can remain in the country and the activities you can participate in while in the country, for example, if you only have a tourist visa, you are not legally able to work in the country you are visiting.
Once your visa is about to expire, you will need to leave the country and apply for a new one in your country of origin although sometimes you can also apply for extensions in your embassy.
Overstaying in a country beyond the date your visa allows for can result in deportation, or even being banned from re-entering the country.
Do you need a Visa to retire in Mexico?
You need a visa to retire in Mexico or if you plan to stay in the country for more than 180 calendar days regardless of your country of origin.
People coming from most countries (full list here) are welcome to enter Mexico for a period of 180 days (about 6 months) without a visa as long as they don’t plan to work in the country, but for long-term stays, it is necessary to apply for one of the following visas:
- Temporary resident visa – This will allow you to enter and stay in Mexico for up to 4 years. After that time, if you want to remain in the country, you can apply for a renewal or for permanent residency.
- Permanent resident visa – This will allow you to enter and remain in the country indefinitely. It’s important to note, that this is not the same as citizenship or applying for the nationality and it also does not require you to renounce your nationality in your country of origin.
- Work permit – If you are only semi-retired and you plan to participate in any lucrative activities in the country, you might need to apply for a work permit. This does not include remote work in a different country, but it does include things like putting up for rent any property that you own in the Mexico or selling any products and services within the country.
Mexico Retirement: Visa Requirements
You can apply for a Mexican visa at your local consulate or embassy. If you are in Mexico, you will need to leave the country and apply from your country of origin. with the exception of applying because you married a Mexican citizen or have direct family ties with a Mexican citizen.
The requirements are going to depend on the type of visa you are applying for. Please note that each consulate or embassy might have different requirements so make sure to double-check, but 99% of the time, you will be asked for the following.
Temporary resident visa requirements
- Make an appointment at your local consulate or embassy.
- Passport or another valid travel document with a photo. Original and copy.
- Visa application form filled.
- One 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm photo, face uncovered, no glasses, frontal view, in color, white background. In Mexico you can ask for this as “fotografía tamaño carnet” or “fotografía para la visa” at a photo studio. In photo studios near Mexican consulates in the U.S. and Canada, they are sometimes familiar with the size if you simply ask for “Mexican visa size”.
- Proof of financial solvency through one of the following **:
- 1) A savings or investment account with an average balance of $43,000 dollars
- OR
- 2) A monthly income or pension of $2,500 dollars
** Important note: For this, you might be asked to bring the last 12 months of bank statements or other financial records. It is important to note that these numbers are just recommendations. The individual consulates have different numbers as requirements and you can even travel to a consulate with a lower limit to apply. A monthly income of $1,500 seems to be the true minimum income that most immigration officers use to approve the visas.
This number is dependent on a calculation based on the Mexican minimum wage. Check out this page for the most current numbers directly from the Mexican foreign affairs ministry.
- (optional) An invitation letter issued by a Mexican private or public institution
- (optional) Records of investments or real estate property owned in Mexico
- Application fee. Cash only.
Permanent resident visa requirements
- Make an appointment at your local consulate or embassy
- Passport or another valid travel document with a photo. Original and copy.
- Visa application form filled.
- One 3.9 cm x 3.1 cm photo, face uncovered, no glasses, frontal view, in color, white background. In Mexico you can ask for this as “fotografía tamaño carnet” or “fotografía para la visa” at a photo studio. In photo studios near Mexican consulates in the U.S. and Canada, they are sometimes familiar with the size if you simply ask for “Mexican visa size”.
- Financial records to prove economic solvency. These can be bank statements of the last 12 months, employment letter with your salary, social security statements, pension statements. Original and photocopy.
- (optional) An invitation letter issued by a Mexican private or public institution
- (optional) Records of investments or real estate property owned in Mexico
- Application fee. Cash only.
Work visa requirements
- Important: Before applying for a work permit with the consulate, you need to apply for authorization with the Mexican Immigration Institute, or INM. They will issue an authorization number for you, at which point you’ll have 15 days to present your visa application at your local consulate.
- The specific documentation you will need to present for this will vary from country to country. You can find all the requirements on the mini-website of the Mexican consulate or embassy closest to your location.
How long does it take to get a Mexican visa?
You can expect to wait somewhere between two to four weeks to receive an answer after applying for a Mexican visa. If your application was approved you should be able to pick up your visa within a couple of days.
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