Country topic
Visas in Mexico
Visitors can stay in Mexico for tourism for up to 180 days, but that maximum is not granted automatically: the immigration officer sets your exact days and may ask about the purpose of your trip, funds and an onward flight. You cannot extend the stay or change its status from inside the country. Visitor status does not allow paid activity in Mexico, and Canada's advice lists a work visa as required. [Visas V1] Mexico's visa guidelines (2025) set out the temporary resident visa (procedure 5) for stays of more than 180 days and no more than four years, applied for at a consulate before you travel. The economic solvency route needs no job offer and has no age minimum. The guidelines name no separate remote-worker or digital nomad visa, and a May 2026 amendment leaves the solvency requirements unchanged. [Visas V2] [Visas V3]
What we found
The research, with its sources.
Research information, not advice. Rules change, so check the source before you act on one.
- Visitors can stay in Mexico for tourism for up to 180 days, but that maximum is not granted automatically: the immigration officer sets your exact days and may ask about the purpose of your trip, funds and an onward flight. You cannot extend the stay or change its status from inside the country. Visitor status does not allow paid activity in Mexico, and Canada's advice lists a work visa as required. [Visas V1]
- Mexico's visa guidelines (2025) set out the temporary resident visa (procedure 5) for stays of more than 180 days and no more than four years, applied for at a consulate before you travel. The economic solvency route needs no job offer and has no age minimum. The guidelines name no separate remote-worker or digital nomad visa, and a May 2026 amendment leaves the solvency requirements unchanged. [Visas V2] [Visas V3]
- The solvency test is set in days of UMA, the unit INEGI updates each February. At MXN 117.31 a day from 1 February 2026, tax-free employment or pension income above 680 days over six months is about MXN 79,800 a month (to be safe, more than MXN 80,000), and an average monthly balance of 11,460 days over twelve months is about MXN 1,300,000 (to be safe, more than MXN 1,400,000). Both change with the UMA each year. [Visas V2] [Visas V4]
- Consulates print their own dollar figures. San Diego asks for about US$4,500 a month of income for six months or about US$76,000 average balance for twelve, plus a supervisor's letter agreeing to remote work from Mexico for employees. To be safe, have more than US$4,600 a month. Las Vegas prints US$4,630 or US$78,025. New York prints about US$4,200 or about US$71,500 and asks remote workers for a letter showing permission to work from abroad. To be safe, show more than the highest figure, US$4,700 a month or US$79,000, or ask the consulate that serves your state. [Visas V5] [Visas V6] [Visas V7]
- The Vancouver and Calgary consulates print income of about CA$6,500 a month for six months (to be safe, more than CA$6,500) or an average balance of about CA$108,900 over twelve (to be safe, more than CA$110,000); both pages were last updated on 27 March 2026. Vancouver takes cash or Interac debit for fees, accepts electronic statements only with a bank's original ink stamp, and says the visa is issued after an interview. A spouse, partner or child applying for Family Unity shows about CA$2,100 a month or balance each (to be safe, more than CA$2,100); the guidelines set 220 days of UMA, about MXN 25,808 (more than MXN 26,000). [V8] [V9] [Visas V2] [Visas V4]
- For Australia, the Canberra embassy's current page could not be read, and its 2022 sheet uses an older basis that no longer applies. At the ECB reference rates of 2 October 2026 the guidelines figures are about A$6,300 a month (to be safe, more than A$6,300) or about A$105,700 as a balance (more than A$110,000). For New Zealand, the Wellington embassy's page was last updated in February 2025, before the 2026 UMA, so its lower amounts may be out of date; the guidelines figures are about NZ$7,800 a month (more than NZ$7,800) or about NZ$130,700 (more than NZ$140,000). Ask the embassy which amount applies. [V10] [V11] [Visas V2] [V12]
- You apply in person at a consulate; San Diego books appointments through MiConsulado, charges a non-refundable US$56 fee in cash and can't guarantee a visa. The guidelines allow up to 10 working days after the consular interview to decide. The visa is valid for one entry, and within 30 calendar days of arriving you go to the National Migration Institute (INM) to apply for your residence card. INM's card fee is not known here, and San Diego advises against buying flights before the visa is issued. [Visas V5] [Visas V2] [V8]
- Under the Migration Law, permanent residence can be granted after four years with a temporary residence permit, and INM's change-of-status procedure says the same. It also names a route for retirees and pensioners with income from abroad, whose requirements are not in our research, so they are unknown here. Paid work for an employer in Mexico needs a separate permission tied to a job offer. [V13] [V14]
The Fernshore Index
How the Index grades visas, by passport.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Visa, United States passport
85 of 100Strong
The temporary resident visa on economic solvency is open without a Mexican job offer or age minimum and allows a stay of more than 180 days and up to four years. It asks for either an income of more than US$52,000 a year or savings of more than US$73,000. The official figures are about MXN 79,800 a month (680 days of the UMA, Mexico's daily reference unit) or about MXN 1,300,000 balance, converted at the 15 October 2026 rate. To be safe, have more than MXN 80,000 a month. The San Diego consulate prints about US$4,500 a month or about US$76,000, and New York prints about US$4,200 or about US$71,500. To be safe, have more than US$4,600 a month.
Source: General guidelines for issuing visas (2025), procedure 5: temporary resident visa; Value of the UMA; Exchange rates, 15 October 2026 (MXN cross rates from the ECB reference rates); Temporary resident visa: economic solvency (2026 checklist); Temporary resident visa checklist 2026. Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, Canada passport
85 of 100Strong
Same visa: no job offer or age minimum, a stay of more than 180 days and up to four years. It asks for either an income of more than US$55,000 a year or savings of more than US$77,000. Vancouver and Calgary print about CA$6,500 a month or about CA$108,900 balance, converted at the 15 October 2026 rate. To be safe, have more than CA$6,500 a month. The consulate pages were read from archive copies from February and March 2026.
Source: General guidelines for issuing visas (2025), procedure 5: temporary resident visa; Value of the UMA; Exchange rates, 15 October 2026 (MXN cross rates from the ECB reference rates); Temporary resident visa (archived copy of 12 March 2026); Visas: temporary residence (archived copy of 23 February 2026). Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, Australia passport
85 of 100Strong
Same visa: no job offer or age minimum, a stay of more than 180 days and up to four years. It asks for either an income of more than US$52,000 a year (about A$75,000) or savings of more than US$73,000. The official 2025 guidelines set about MXN 79,800 a month or about MXN 1,300,000 balance, converted at the 15 October 2026 rate. To be safe, have more than MXN 80,000 a month. Canberra's current page couldn't be opened; its information sheet is from 2022.
Source: General guidelines for issuing visas (2025), procedure 5: temporary resident visa; Value of the UMA; Exchange rates, 15 October 2026 (MXN cross rates from the ECB reference rates); Temporary resident visa: general information (2022 sheet). Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, New Zealand passport
85 of 100Strong
Same visa: no job offer or age minimum, a stay of more than 180 days and up to four years. Wellington prints about NZ$5,300 a month (an income of more than US$36,000 a year) or about NZ$86,000 balance (savings of more than US$49,000), converted at the 15 October 2026 rate. To be safe, have more than NZ$5,400 a month. The official 2025 guidelines figure is higher: more than US$52,000 a year or savings of more than US$73,000. The embassy page was read from a February 2026 archive copy.
Source: General guidelines for issuing visas (2025), procedure 5: temporary resident visa; Value of the UMA; Exchange rates, 15 October 2026 (MXN cross rates from the ECB reference rates); Temporary resident visa (archived copy of 27 February 2026). Checked 15 October 2026.
The country
More on Mexico.
Topics
More about Mexico.
Questions about Visas in Mexico.
How long can I stay in Mexico as a visitor?
Canada's advice gives the maximum tourist stay as 180 days, but it isn't granted automatically: the immigration officer sets your days and may ask about your trip, funds and onward flight. You can't extend it or change status from inside Mexico. Visitor status doesn't allow paid work in Mexico.
What income does Mexican temporary residence ask for?
The guidelines set tax-free income above 680 days of UMA a month for six months (to be safe, more than MXN 80,000). San Diego and Las Vegas print about US$4,500 to US$4,600 (more than US$4,700); Vancouver prints Canadian dollars (more than CA$6,500). Ask Canberra or Wellington for AU or NZ figures.
What savings can replace the income test?
An average monthly balance of 11,460 days of UMA over twelve months (to be safe, more than MXN 1,400,000). San Diego and Las Vegas print about US$76,000 to US$78,000 (more than US$79,000); Vancouver prints Canadian dollars (more than CA$110,000). Consulates convert the figure differently.
How do I get from a consulate visa to a residence card?
You apply at a Mexican consulate before travelling; the guidelines allow up to 10 working days after the interview, and San Diego charges US$56 and can't guarantee a visa. The visa is single entry; within 30 days of arriving you go to INM for your residence card. INM's card fee is unknown here.
Can temporary residence lead to permanent residence?
Under the Migration Law, permanent residence can follow four years with a temporary residence permit; INM's procedure says the same and names a route for retirees and pensioners with income from abroad. Paid work for a Mexican employer needs a separate permission. Ask INM about your case.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [MX V1] General guidelines for issuing visas (2025), procedure 5: temporary resident visa, Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores). Checked 15 October 2026. Published 25 July 2025. Temporary residence visa: a stay of more than 180 days and not more than 4 years. Economic solvency: an average monthly balance of 11,460 days of UMA over 12 months, or tax-free employment or pension income above 680 days of UMA a month over 6 months. No age minimum and no job offer in the solvency route.
- [MX V2] Value of the UMA, Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI). Checked 15 October 2026. The page loads its figures by script, so the value was not read from it directly. 2026 value MXN 117.31 a day (in force from 1 February 2026); 680 days is MXN 79,771 and 11,460 days is MXN 1,344,373.
- [F2] Exchange rates, 15 October 2026 (MXN cross rates from the ECB reference rates), European Central Bank, via the Frankfurter API. Checked 15 October 2026. 1 MXN = 0.05399 USD, 0.0767 CAD, 0.07812 AUD, 0.0964 NZD on 15 October 2026.
- [K1] Temporary resident visa: economic solvency (2026 checklist), Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego. Checked 15 October 2026. US$4,510 a month of employment or pension income for 6 months, or a US$75,950 average balance for 12 months; employees need a letter agreeing to remote work from Mexico. San Diego consular district, 2026 figures. Used for the United States passport.
- [MX V3] Temporary resident visa checklist 2026, Consulate General of Mexico in New York. Checked 15 October 2026. US$4,200 a month of income for 6 months, or a US$71,500 balance for 12 months; remote workers need a letter showing permission to work from abroad. Used for the United States passport.
- [MX V4] Temporary resident visa (archived copy of 12 March 2026), Consulate General of Mexico in Vancouver (Internet Archive copy). Checked 15 October 2026. CA$108,894 average monthly balance over 12 months, or tax-free employment or pension income of over CA$6,461 a month over 6 months. Used for the Canadian passport. The live page refused automated access in earlier research; the archive copy opened on 15 October 2026.
- [MX V5] Visas: temporary residence (archived copy of 23 February 2026), Consulate General of Mexico in Calgary (Internet Archive copy). Checked 15 October 2026. Same CA$108,894 and CA$6,461 figures as Vancouver. Used for the Canadian passport.
- [MX V6] Temporary resident visa: general information (2022 sheet), Embassy of Mexico in Australia, Canberra. Checked 15 October 2026. A 2022 sheet: the visa is for stays of more than 180 days and less than 4 years; the card is issued by INM within 30 days of arrival and allows up to four years. Its solvency figures (a balance of MXN 708,500) are an older basis that no longer applies, so the 2025 guidelines (V1) set the Australian test.
- [MX V7] Temporary resident visa (archived copy of 27 February 2026), Embassy of Mexico in New Zealand, Wellington (Internet Archive copy). Checked 15 October 2026. Economic solvency: NZ$86,000 average monthly balance over 12 months, or NZ$5,300 average monthly income over 6 months (page last updated February 2025, below the 2025 guidelines figure). Used for the New Zealand passport.
- [Visas V1] Mexico travel advice and advisories, Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [Visas V2] General guidelines for issuing visas (2025), Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [Visas V3] Amendment to the general guidelines for issuing visas (13 May 2026), Diario Oficial de la Federación (Secretaría de Gobernación and Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [Visas V4] The UMA values from 1 February 2026 (press release 1/26), Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [Visas V5] Temporary resident visa: economic solvency (2026 checklist), Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [Visas V6] Temporary resident visa requirements (2026), Consulate of Mexico in Las Vegas. Checked 4 October 2026.
- [Visas V7] Temporary resident visa checklist 2026, Consulate General of Mexico in New York. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V8] Temporary resident visa, Consulate General of Mexico in Vancouver. Checked 13 October 2026.
- [V9] Visas: temporary residence, Consulate General of Mexico in Calgary. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V10] Temporary resident visa: general information (2022 sheet), Embassy of Mexico in Australia, Canberra. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V11] Temporary resident visa (archived copy of 27 February 2026), Embassy of Mexico in New Zealand, Wellington (Internet Archive copy). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [V12] Euro reference exchange rates, 2 October 2026, European Central Bank. Checked 4 October 2026.
- [V13] Migration Law (Ley de Migración), articles 52, 54 and 59 (archived copy of 2 October 2026), Chamber of Deputies of Mexico (Internet Archive copy). Checked 4 October 2026.
- [V14] Change from temporary resident to permanent resident (procedure INM-03-010-B), Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM), via gob.mx. Checked 15 October 2026.