How to Obtain a Mexico Retirement Visa : visasupply.com

Mexico ranks as the top retirement destination for Americans and Canadians, as well as one of the world’s most popular retirement spots globally. In 2022, the World Economic Forum ranked Mexico third among its top 10 countries for retirees. “Expats can choose from a range of climates and lifestyles, which include busy beach resorts, city life and remote rural or desert hideaways,” the forum stated (https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/best-places-to-retire-list/). “A monthly budget of around $2,000 is enough for housing, transport and daily living expenses, but you can get by on less or spend a lot more if you choose. Applying for visas or residency is straightforward for those that meet the criteria, and the country boasts affordable and professional healthcare provision that attracts flows of medical tourism.”

Officially known as the United Mexican States, the country is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the United States, and the Central American nations of Guatemala and Belize. Mexico is the sixth most visited country in the world, drawing tourists to its rich cultural and biological heritage and tropical climate. Ancient cultures such as the Mayans, Toltecs, and Aztecs were present in Mexico 10,000 years ago, making the region one of the world’s six cradles of civilization. Conquered by Spanish explorers in 1519, Mexico has been an independent republic since 1809. While the country is a relatively stable democracy, it faces continual challenges with poverty, crime, and drug cartels.

Living costs in Mexico remain relatively low. In the capital, Mexico City, costs average 59% lower than those in New York City, while rents are 80% less, according to Numbeo (https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Mexico-City). However, costs vary greatly among the major urban areas, tourist centers, and small rural villages. Nationally, costs average 48% less than those in the United States, Numbeo noted (https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Mexico).

Retirees are also drawn to the country’s biodiversity, temperate climate, and modern healthcare systems. While Spanish is the official language, many locals speak English – particularly along the coasts and in areas with large communities of foreign expats. With secluded tropical beaches, busy cities, towering mountains, and exotic rainforests, Mexico offers casual tourists and long-time residents alike a wide variety of environments for every taste.

Popular Mexican Retirement Destinations

“Mexico is far and away the most popular destination for North Americans looking to move abroad,” according to International Living. More than one million non-Mexican citizens live as expats throughout the United Mexican States -- many of whom are retirees. You can retire alongside tourist-friendly Caribbean or Pacific beaches, in lakeside retirement communities, in bustling Mexico City, near plush rainforests where the Mayans and Aztecs lived, or in vast deserts along the U.S. border.

Here are some of the most popular destinations for retirees and expats:

Puerto Vallarta. Surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountains, this resort town on the Pacific Ocean is famous for spectacular beaches, snorkeling, whale-watching, culinary delights, active nightlife, and a range of accommodations. Its international airport offers easy access to North America, while English-speaking doctors provide care at modern medical facilities. A popular vacation and cruise getaway, Puerto Vallarta is famous for its boutiques and the ornate Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe church.
Playa del Carmen. This cruise ship port on the Caribbean coast is an hour’s drive from the crowded tourist center of Cancun. The white sand beaches, clear turquoise sea, and coral reefs are popular for swimming with sea turtles or exploring cenotes, the natural limestone caverns common throughout Yucatan Peninsula. Like other parts of the Yucatan, English is more commonly spoken here in Playa del Carmen.
Tulum Also located in the Rivera Maya region, Tulum is less crowded and less commercial than nearby Cancun and Playa del Carmen. A center of scuba diving and snorkeling, the ancient port features the ruins of a well-preserved pre-Columbian Mayan walled city overlooking the Caribbean Sea. While Tulum has seen more construction in recent years, the historic city favors preservation over development to maintain its quiet, laid-back beach resort vibe.
Mérida. The capital of Yucatan state, Mérida is conveniently located for excursions to UNESCO-recognized Mayan pyramids such as Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, well-preserved villages, and lush nature preserves. The “White City” has been named Mexico’s American Capital of Culture multiple times. Its blend of Spanish, Mayan, and Caribbean cultures influences its historic conquistador-era architecture and rich culinary offerings.
Lake Chapala/Ajijic. An estimated 20,000 expats (mostly retirees) comprise a thriving retirement community that includes 4,000 Americans and Canadians. The town of Ajijic is known for affordable costs, pleasant climate, and comfortable homes on Mexico’s largest freshwater lake. Surrounded by mountains, the lake hosts numerous species of migratory birds and contains three islands – one with an old Mexican prison and a Spanish fort.
Mexico City. “Mexico City offers a different pace of life than you’ll find anywhere else in the country,” according to S. News and World Report. “Home to over nine million people, Mexico City is a densely populated hub of art, anthropology, architecture, and gastronomy.”
Mazatlán. Located on the Pacific coast, Mazatlán offers a more authentic Mexican lifestyle than most resort towns. It offers 11 miles of sandy shores, a popular boardwalk, and a Spanish-colonial layout featuring shops, cafés, galleries and restaurants.
Oaxaca This affordable mountain city in the Sierra Madres is the cultural and artistic capital of Mexico. Oaxaca is known for busy markets selling colorful crafts and local foods, plentiful Spanish architecture, and a cool climate. Nearby valleys and mountains provide opportunities to hike, visit waterfalls, and explore ruins from the Zapotec culture.
San Cristóbal de las Casas. Located near the Guatemalan border, San Cristóbal de las Casas is a well-preserved Spanish-colonial town with modern amenities and a growing expat population.
San Miguel de Allende Voted best city in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine and other publications, San Miguel de Allende is home to a beautiful historic center that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Rising 6,200 feet above sea level, this magnificent city enjoys year-round temperate weather where foreign residents never get bored thanks to the multitude of restaurants, markets, local culture, activities, and pleasant scenery.
Zihuatanejo This Pacific fishing village is known for its fresh seafood, colorful coral reefs, affordability, and an established expat community of people from around the globe.

Mexico Tourist Card Visa Program

In the past, many North Americans who resided in Mexico simply relied on the free Mexican tourist visa. North Americans and citizens of most other countries who hold a valid passport do not need a visa to visit Mexico for business or leisure trips lasting less than 180 days. However, everyone must obtain a Mexico tourist card (also known as a tourist visa, or Forma Migratoria Multiple) to enter the country and must surrender the visa upon departure.

The FFM can be obtained upon arrival in Mexico or in advance through an online portal. Historically, airlines passed out tourist cards to passengers before landing. However, with recent reforms, fewer do so today, so check with your carrier ahead of time to determine whether they can provide the tourist card. You can also complete the card at the airport, but immigration lines can be long and admittance is not guaranteed.

The simplest approach is to fill out the online FFM application at the government website, https://www.inm.gob.mx/fmme/publico/en/solicitud.html. Travelers arriving by air or land from more than 200 countries can submit the simple no-fee application. The tourist card is available for those with at least six months remaining on their current passport. The form asks for basic information such as passport data, flight number/hotel, and arrival and departure dates. Submit the form within 30 days of departure. You will receive approval by return email. Print out both sides of the tourist card in color before you leave home and present it along with your passport upon entry and departure. Keep it on your person throughout your trip, as immigration checkpoints are common across the country (especially in tourist areas).

How to Obtain a Mexico Retirement (Residency) Permit

As mentioned previously, many people have lived temporarily or even permanently in Mexico by using the tourist card system. They simply left the country every six months when their tourist card expired, and then returned using a new card. Some would leave for a couple of days and return; others spent six months at their second home in Mexico and flew back north each winter. However, the government discourages that practice and has cracked down on people living in Mexico long-term without the residency permits. (Details and strategies around the government’s most recent changes are available at https://www.cheapestdestinationsblog.com/2022/03/11/the-new-mexico-visa-requirements-for-long-term-stays/.)

Mexico offers two types of long-stay visas: the residente temporaral (temporary resident) and residente permanente (permanent resident). The main differences are:

Length of stay. The temporary visa is only good for up to four years and must be renewed each year. Permanent residency never expires.
Income: For the temporary visa, you must receive about $2,600 in monthly income (plus another $500 for each dependent); present proof of at least $43,250 in savings/investments; or own Mexican property valued at a minimum of $6.9 million pesos. The permanent visa requires at least $4,300 in monthly income plus $500 per dependent, or investments or savings totally around $173,000. (NOTE: Exact financial limits vary by consulate and may fluctuate with currency exchange rates.)
Vehicle restrictions: If you bring a car with U.S. plates, you can only keep it for up to four years before applying for Mexican registration.

Generally, if you are not bringing your car and do meet the income limits, applying for the permanent visa saves you money and the hassles of annual renewals. However, if your income only qualifies you for a temporary visa, you can live on that for four years. Then, when you apply for conversation to the permanent visa, you do not need to meet the higher financial levels.

Whether you are in Mexico on a tourist visa or still in your home country, you will need to apply for a residential visa through the Mexican embassy in Washington, D.C., or at a U.S. consulate closest to your home. Those locations (including the Atlanta consulate) are listed at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/consularnotification/ConsularNotificationandAccess/Mexico.html. You still need to obtain a tourist card (above) to enter the country.

The same process applies whether you are seeking temporary or permanent residency. You will need to fill out the visa application form in advance (both visa types can be found at https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/leamington/index.php/non-mexicans/visas/). This website also allows you to schedule an appointment at your nearest consulate.

When you arrive at the consulate, you will need to present:

Your original passport, valid for at least six months and containing one blank page.
A photocopy of your U.S. passport personal information page.
Original driver’s license or similar ID, plus a photocopy.
One passport-size photo.
Completed application form.
$48 application fee.

If you plan to retire in Mexico -- rather than simply becoming a resident -- you must have already retired in your home country. Also, you cannot earn income in Mexico. You must initially obtain a resident visa, which is later converted into a resident card (also referred to as a Mexican retirement visa). In addition to the requirements above, you must also present:

Cover letter that includes detailed information about your pension or investments, and your address in Mexico.
Proof of family relationship for any dependents (such as marriage or birth certificate).
Bank statement documenting your pension income over the past six months, or proof of investments covering the prior 12 months.

The processing times vary among consulates, typically ranging from one to four weeks. Once your application is approved, you will need to pick up your passport once the embassy has attached the residency visa stamp.

After arriving in Mexico, you must first notify the immigration official that you need a canje stamp. This gives you 30 days to report to a National Immigration Institute office and convert your resident visa into a resident card. You should also schedule that NII appointment online BEFORE you leave your home country to make sure you can complete the process within the 30-day window. For that meeting:

Bring all the paperwork you showed to your consulate to your NII appointment, plus your printed confirmation appointment with the NII and your Mexican address.
Fees are 4,739 pesos (about $240) for a temporary resident card or 5,776 pesos ($295) for permanent residency.
NII will conduct another short interview. If you are approved, you should receive your resident card within 24 hours.

U.S. citizens with questions about obtaining a retirement visa for Mexico -- or who would like us to help ensure they have accumulated the necessary documents and paperwork before they visit the consulate -- can schedule a telephone call through our website.