Are you moving to Mexico? Would you like to know how to get a temporary resident visa for Mexico? Check out my personal experience on how I did it and got a temporary residency visa.

I’ve been living in Mexico and working as a digital nomad for a while. Originally from the US, I fell in love with Spanish culture and language. After traveling around Central America, South America, Asia, and Europe, I finally decided to set roots in Mexico, and switch from an FMM visa to a resident visa. Because I wanted to live long-term in Mexico as a digital nomad, I decided to apply for a non-lucrative 4-year visa.

This is my story on how I applied for and got a temporary residency visa in Mexico, and the process I had to go through—from an FMM visa to getting a CURP number, and everything else in between.

What is a Temporary Resident Visa?

Mexico offers a temporary resident visa for people who wish to live in Mexico for up to 4 years. I applied for my temporary residency visa in Mexico using an immigration lawyer. You can also do it without a lawyer; in my case, I wanted to avoid any issues and make it as simple as possible, even though I’m fluent in Spanish.

An immigration lawyer can help with the technical terms and other things that might pop up during the visa application. I would definitely recommend using a lawyer if you’re not speaking Spanish or you find the process daunting. It’s better to have everything (including documents) ready from the get-go.

There are various categories under which the visas are granted, and these relate to the activities you want to do in Mexico: lucrative or non-lucrative activities.

Lucrative vs Non-lucrative visa in Mexico

The main difference between these two visas is whether you will work in Mexico or outside of Mexico.

I opted for a non-lucrative visa because I work for a company in the US. Important to note: You can’t work in Mexico on a non-lucrative visa. This type of visa is best for remote workers or retirees. If you’d like to work in Mexico, then opt for a lucrative visa. With a lucrative visa, you can apply for jobs and find work in Mexico. So before applying for a temporary resident visa for Mexico, make sure your work situation is clear.

How I got my Mexico Temporary Residency Visa

Although I was living in Mexico, I had to process the visa application outside of Mexico. You have to apply for a temporary residence visa at a Mexican consulate or embassy outside of Mexico. I booked my first appointment at the Mexican Consulate in Eagle Pass, Texas, which was the closest to where I was living in Monterrey. Other popular options are the Mexican embassy in Costa Rica or Miami. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be your home country as long as it’s outside of Mexico.

Schedule your interview at the Mexican embassy or consulate

The next step is scheduling your interview at the Mexican consulate or embassy you chose. I’d recommend giving yourself 30 days before the interview so that you have enough time to prepare your documents and meet all the requirements.

By the way, if you’re living in Mexico closer to the border with the US, take a Greyhound bus. For example, I took the bus from Monterrey to Texas for a $100 round trip. I left Wednesday night and arrived Thursday morning for my Thursday 1 pm consulate appointment. And I returned to Mexico on the same day. If you need help planning a trip from A to B, check out Rome2rio.

Have all your documents ready

Remember to check which forms you need to fill out for each consulate. Different embassy offices have their own requirements when it comes to visa applications (and some of them can be updated on the go, so keep an eye on it). This was the form I had to fill out. As I said, it may change, so just make sure you have the latest version. Here’s a list of the documents I needed:

• Mexico visa application form, which you can download here
• Passport valid for 6 months or other valid travel and identity document (original and photocopy)
• Proof of being financially capable of supporting yourself or having sufficient funds while living in Mexico (for example, a bank statement)
• Passport photo: face uncovered, no eyeglasses, frontal view, in color and white background
• Payment of visa fees
• And if you’re applying from another country, you also need a valid tourist visa in the country you’re applying

Return to Mexico with a canje

The temporary residency permit or card isn’t issued by foreign consulates. Instead, the foreign consulates process and pre-approve the visa application and place a sticker or page (named canje) in your passport.

When you cross the border into Mexico you have to fill out the FMM with a canje (make sure to tick the box that says canje, not tourist or tourism). If you accidentally get the tourist visa, your residency visa is invalid. So it’s very important that every time you enter Mexico you do it by obtaining FMM canje.

What is FMM?

FMM stands for Forma Migratoria Multiple and it’s a document that allows some nationalities to cross the Mexican border without a visa. The FMM card for Mexico is basically a tourist fee that everyone who enters the country must pay. If you intend to visit Mexico for a short period, for example as a tourist, on a business trip, or as a short-term visitor, then you may be able to use Mexico’s visitor permit.

By the way, if you’re a tourist in Mexico, check out how you can register your car in Mexico as a tourist on a FMM visa.

Book an appointment with any local INM office

Once you arrive in Mexico you have to go to your local immigration office (INM) within 30 days of arrival. I booked my second appointment at the immigration office in Monterrey. After that, you start the process to exchange your temporary resident visa (passport stamp) for a temporary resident permit (a plastic card), and get your CURP number.

What is CURP?

A CURP number is a unique code that identifies all Mexican citizens and residents. CURP stands for Clave Única de Registro de Población in Spanish.

Get your Temporary Resident Visa for Mexico

At the local immigration office, they will take your photo and record your prints. Once that’s done, you will get your temporary resident visa card! As a temporary residency holder in Mexico, you can apply for bank accounts, have bills in your name, and live in Mexico for up to 4 years. If you chose a lucrative visa, then you’ll also be able to work in Mexico.

Overall, it’s easy to get a temporary residency visa for Mexico as long as you meet the requirements. The application process is similar for almost all types of Mexico resident visas, but you have to know which Mexico residency visa best suits you.

This was my personal experience on getting a temporary resident visa, so please consult with an immigration lawyer before applying for a visa and make sure you are up to date with everything visa-related.

Do you have any questions about moving to Mexico or applying for temporary residency? Send me an email at thehannahpinkerton@gmail.com or leave a comment below.