Most applications for Mexican residency are approved based on proof of the applicant's "economic solvency." This means you must demonstrate a minimum required level of income or savings/investments to qualify for residency in Mexico.
General Questions About "Economic Solvency"
How do I apply for Mexican residency based on my income or savings?
In most cases, you must apply for residency at a Mexican consulate abroad, unless your situation falls into one of the few exceptions (mainly from the "Family Unit" category) where you can apply for residency directly in Mexico.
What are the income requirements for temporary and permanent residency?
- Temporary residency (Residente Temporal, RT) has a lower income or savings/investment threshold
- Permanent residency (Residente Permanente, RP) has a higher income or savings/investment threshold
- Most consulates only accept permanent residency (RP) applications from retirees, even if the applicant has sufficient economic means for residency
Can I combine income and savings/investments to qualify for residency?
No. You must apply for residency based on either verified monthly income for 6 complete months preceding your application date (some consulates require 12 months), or demonstrate the minimum required level of savings/investments for 12 complete months preceding your application date. You cannot combine income and savings/investment amounts.
Are the minimum required amounts calculated per person?
The income or savings/investment amounts required for residency are quoted "per person," but spouses/partners and minor children (under 18) can apply as dependents of the primary applicant. However, the minimum required amount increases by 100 days of minimum wage for each dependent.
For example, if you're applying as a couple with one dependent minor child:
- One person must meet the income or savings/investment criteria (primary applicant) plus
- An additional 100 days of minimum wage (currently about USD $1,400) in monthly income or savings/investments for each dependent
- In this example, you would need to demonstrate an additional ~USD $2,800 in monthly income or total savings
Applying for Mexican residency as a couple
For residency application purposes, Mexican immigration law recognizes legally married couples, common-law partners, and same-sex couples.
If you are legally married, you must provide your marriage certificate with the application (it must be apostilled if issued in a different country from where you're applying).
If you are not legally married, consulate requirements for proving your partnership vary, so you must consult with the consulate where you plan to apply.
Can my spouse and I show joint accounts even if only one of us is applying for residency at this time?
If you're married and have joint accounts, but only one spouse intends to apply for residency currently, the joint account will be accepted, but the account balance must be double the minimum required level for economic solvency (income or savings), compared to the normal minimum amount required for a couple applying together (which is the minimum economic solvency amount plus 100 days of minimum wage). If you apply together as a couple using a joint account, you do not need to show double the economic solvency amount, and you can show the amount for one person plus the amount for a dependent applicant, as described in the previous question.
Do I need to show complete bank statements or just account balances?
You must present complete and detailed bank statements to the consulate (or immigration office in Mexico) for the entire required period: 6 or 12 months preceding your application date. Consulates and immigration services will not accept abbreviated statements showing only balances/amounts.
Are original statements required or are internet printouts acceptable?
Most consulates will ask for original documents issued by the bank, investment company, or trust; some may accept internet printouts (or internet printouts with a bank branch stamp). If you don't have original documents, you must consult with the consulate where you plan to apply. In any case, the names on the accounts must exactly match the applicant's name. If accounts are held in a different country from where you're applying, they must be notarized and apostilled.
What if my accounts are in another country?
If any of the accounts holding your income or savings/investments that you plan to present as proof are not in the same country where you're applying, you need to obtain complete and detailed bank statements that are notarized and apostilled.
For example, if you're applying in France but your savings/investments are based in the USA, you'll need to notarize and apostille those documents.
Do I need to prove economic solvency when renewing temporary residency?
Under current rules, you do not need to re-provide proof of your economic solvency when applying for temporary residency renewal. However, if you're applying for renewal based on a local job offer, you need to additionally provide a letter from the company or organization employing you on their letterhead; the letter states that they're hiring you permanently, specifies the contract duration and payment terms, and is signed by a competent company employee.
- Immigration services may exercise their right to request additional information and ask the applicant to provide recent bank statements when applying for temporary residency renewal, but this happens very rarely.
Why don't consulates use UMA indicators to calculate "economic solvency" for residency applications?
CORRECTION: The original text contained outdated information. As of 2025:
- Mexican consulates abroad use Minimum Daily Wage (MDW = 278.80 pesos/day in 2025) as the unit for calculating applicant "economic solvency"
- Mexican immigration offices in Mexico use UMA (Unidad de Medida y Actualización = 113.14 pesos/day in 2025) when calculating "economic solvency"
- Since July 2025, some consulates have begun adopting UMA following updated visa issuance guidelines
We don't know the specific reasons why Mexican consulates historically haven't used UMA, but this is gradually changing.
Income Requirement Questions
What income level is required for Mexican residency?
You must demonstrate income that meets or exceeds the minimum threshold: consistently, every month, for at least the last 6 months before your application date; some consulates require income information for 12 months before the application date.
2025 Income Requirements (approximate USD amounts):
- Temporary Residency: ~$4,185 USD monthly (based on 30x MDW)
- Permanent Residency: ~$8,370 USD monthly (based on 60x MDW)
Must income consistently meet the criteria each month, or can an average be used?
Based on our experience with Mexican consulates abroad and immigration offices in Mexico, the minimum monthly income threshold must be met consistently, every month, throughout the entire 6-month (or 12-month) period. If your income in one or more months during the period was below the minimum threshold, your application may be rejected.
What income sources can be used for residency applications?
Any legally obtained income sources can be used. You must demonstrate regular monthly income flow during the specified period that meets or exceeds the required minimum threshold. Cryptocurrency accounts are not accepted.
Can I combine income from multiple sources to qualify for residency?
Yes, you can present monthly income from multiple sources and combine them. For example, investment income, rental income, pension, and any other legal income sources can be combined if needed.
Can I show income from multiple bank accounts?
Yes, you can present statements from two or more bank accounts to demonstrate your total monthly income, but none of these accounts can be cryptocurrency accounts.
Savings/Investment Requirement Questions
What amount of savings/investments is required for Mexican residency?
The savings/investment amount must be maintained for a 12-month period before your application date.
2025 Savings/Investment Requirements (approximate USD amounts):
- Temporary Residency: ~$69,750 USD (based on 5,000x UMA or equivalent in MDW)
- Permanent Residency: ~$139,500 USD (based on 10,000x UMA or equivalent in MDW)
Must savings/investments consistently meet the criteria each month, or can an average be used?
Based on our experience with Mexican consulates abroad and immigration offices in Mexico, the minimum required savings/investment amount must not fall below the minimum required level in any month during the entire 12-month period. If the savings/investment amount in one or more months during the 12-month period was below the minimum threshold, your application may be rejected.
What types of accounts are accepted for savings/investments?
To demonstrate that you've reached or exceeded the minimum required savings/investment threshold, you can use one, several, or all of the following account types:
- Cash savings in bank account(s)
- Balance of funds in 401(k) investment account(s) (or accounts equivalent to 401(k) if you're not in the USA)
- Investments/savings held in trust fund account(s)
- For US applicants: some consulates accept IRAs, others do not
Types of savings that do NOT qualify as "savings/investments"
Mexican consulates do not consider the following as "savings/investments" when reviewing residency applications:
- Cryptocurrencies
- Stocks and shares not part of an investment fund or trust
- Gold/silver certificates, precious stones, or metals
- Employee stock option schemes
Can I combine multiple types of savings/investments to qualify for residency?
If you have savings and investments distributed across multiple types of savings accounts, you can present multiple balances from different account types and combine them to reach the required minimum threshold. For example, you can combine cash savings and 401(k) account funds.
Can I show amounts from multiple accounts?
If you don't have the necessary savings/investment amount accumulated in one account, you can present statements from two or more accounts to show the total savings/investment amount across these accounts, but none of these accounts can be cryptocurrency accounts. For example, you can show balances from two or more cash savings accounts, a 401(k) account, and a trust fund.
Additional Questions and Updates for 2025
What is the difference between MDW and UMA calculations?
Key Point: This significantly affects your required amounts:
- Mexican Consulates Abroad: Use MDW (Minimum Daily Wage = 278.80 pesos/day in 2025)
- Higher requirements: ~$4,185 USD monthly income for temporary residency
- Immigration Offices in Mexico: Use UMA (113.14 pesos/day in 2025)
- Lower requirements: ~$1,695 USD monthly income for temporary residency
Can I apply for residency directly in Mexico to benefit from lower UMA-based requirements?
Most initial residency applications must begin at a Mexican consulate abroad. However, certain "Family Unit" applications (involving Mexican family ties, Mexican spouse, etc.) may allow you to apply directly in Mexico with the lower UMA-based requirements.
What about property ownership as a path to residency?
Some consulates may accept debt-free Mexican property valued at approximately $558,000 USD (40,000x UMA) as meeting economic solvency requirements for temporary residency. However, this route:
- Requires official appraisals and notarized deeds
- Is not accepted by all consulates
- Involves extensive documentation
- Is rarely used as a standalone qualification method
What are the government fees for residency applications?
Expect to pay:
- Government fees: $300-$600 USD
- Document translations: $30-$50 per page
- Notarization and apostille costs
- Consulate appointment fees (varies by location)
What recent changes should I be aware of in 2025?
- Some consulates have begun adopting UMA calculations following July 2025 guideline updates
- Restrictions on certain investment account types at some consulates
- Enhanced scrutiny of cryptocurrency-related financial documents
- Increased documentation requirements for common-law partnerships
What if I was previously rejected for residency?
Previous rejections may flag your name in the system, potentially requiring:
- Stricter proof of financial solvency
- Additional documentation
- Professional legal assistance to address inconsistencies
- Higher scrutiny at future applications
Important: Each Mexican consulate operates with some autonomy, so requirements may vary slightly between locations. Always confirm specific requirements with your chosen consulate before applying.