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Overstays, regularization, exit orders and deportation in Mexico: grounds, deadlines, fines and re entry bans

Last verified: 2026-10-26 · Status: Stable

A foreigner whose authorized stay or card has expired, who lacks documents, or who works outside the permitted activity can ask the National Migration Institute (INM) to regularize, and INM may not detain a person who comes forward to do so. Overstayers must apply within 60 days of expiry and pay a fine of 20 to 100 UMA (MXN 2,346 to MXN 11,731 in 2026) plus a MXN 1,847 fee, relatives of Mexicans and residents pay 20 to 40 UMA, and INM decides within 30 days. Refusals and cancellations lead to an exit order with 20 to 30 days to leave, while deportation for illegal entry, fraud or security grounds carries a re entry ban of one to five years for a first case and up to twenty years for criminal violations.

USD conversions use MXN 18.6638 per US dollar, the US Federal Reserve H.10 noon buying rate in New York for 23 October 2026 (FRED series DEXMXUS), the latest observation available when this page was verified. Conversions are for orientation only.

Key facts

Days after the authorized stay expires within which an overstayer may apply to regularize	60 calendar daysLey de Migración art. 134 section I, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Deadline for INM to decide a regularization request	30 calendar daysLey de Migración art. 136, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Regularization of migration status, 2026 fee	1847 MXNLFD art. 10; RMF 2026 Annex 4, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum fine for regularization after overstaying or unauthorized activities	100 UMALey de Migración art. 146, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum fine for regularization on family grounds	40 UMALey de Migración art. 145, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum days given to leave Mexico under an exit order	30 calendar daysReglamento de la Ley de Migración art. 148, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum re entry ban after deportation for violations of criminal law or treaties	20 yearsReglamento de la Ley de Migración art. 244 section III, as of 2026-10-26 · in force

The rule

1. Right to regularize. Foreigners may ask to regularize when they lack documents proving regular status, their documents have expired, or they no longer meet the conditions on which their status was granted. INM may regularize those who want to stay as temporary or permanent residents if they meet the requirements, and must regularize spouses, partners, parents or children of Mexicans or residents, victims or witnesses of serious crimes, highly vulnerable persons and children in international abduction proceedings. Foreigners may also regularize when they overstayed an authorized stay, if they apply within 60 calendar days after it expired, or when they carried out activities other than those allowed. INM may not detain (present) a foreigner who comes to its offices to regularize, and must decide within 30 calendar days.
Cost to do it: Regularization fee MXN 1,847 (USD 98.96) (LFD art. 10), not payable by victims, witnesses and vulnerable persons; plus the fee for the condition of stay obtained (LFD art. 8).
Example: A business visitor who missed a flight and stayed 20 days beyond the authorized period goes to INM within the 60 day window, pays the fine and fee, and regularizes as a visitor for the remaining stay rather than being detained at the airport. / Regularization fee about USD 99 at 18.6638, plus the fine.Ley de Migración, DOF 25 May 2011 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 15 January 2026); Reglamento de la Ley de Migración, DOF 28 September 2012 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 23 May 2014), Ley de Migración arts. 132 to 136; Reglamento arts. 144 and 145, 2011-05-25 official text · verified 2026-10-26

2. Fines for regularization and late reports. Foreigners regularizing on family grounds (spouse, partner, parent or child of a Mexican or resident) pay 20 to 40 days; those regularizing after overstaying or doing unauthorized activities pay 20 to 100 days; victims, witnesses and vulnerable persons pay no fine. The applicant must file a written request describing the irregularity, ID, the expired document where relevant, proof of payment of the fine and the requirements of the new condition. Residents who fail to report changes of address, civil status, nationality or workplace, or report late, are fined 20 to 100 days. These amounts are set in days of minimum wage and read as UMA since the 2016 deindexation reform.
Cost to do it: At the 2026 UMA of MXN 117.31: 20 to 40 UMA = MXN 2,346.20 to MXN 4,692.40 (USD 126 to USD 251); 20 to 100 UMA = MXN 2,346.20 to MXN 11,731 (USD 126 to USD 629).
Example: A temporary resident whose card expired three weeks ago while working in Mexico applies to regularize, paying a fine between MXN 2,346.20 and MXN 11,731 as set by INM, the MXN 1,847 fee and the new card fee. / Fine about USD 126 to USD 629, fee about USD 99 at 18.6638.Ley de Migración, DOF 25 May 2011 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 15 January 2026); Decree on deindexation of the minimum wage, DOF 27 January 2016, Ley de Migración arts. 135, 145, 146 and 158; 2016 decree transitional art. Tercero, 2011-05-25 official text · verified 2026-10-26

3. Refusals, cancellations and exit orders. When a filing is withdrawn or refused and the foreigner has no other regular status, or when residence is cancelled for false information, loss of status, loss of refugee protection or security grounds, INM issues an exit order giving between 20 and 30 calendar days to leave, and must inform the person of the right to appeal or, where applicable, to regularize. A residence is cancelled if the foreigner declares a definitive departure, obtains another condition, gives false information or poses a security risk.
Cost to do it: No fee for the exit order. Exit and re entry permit while a filing is pending MXN 591 (LFD art. 13 section II).
Example: A resident whose renewal is refused after the card expired receives an exit order with a 20 to 30 day window and uses it to file an administrative appeal. / Not applicable.Reglamento de la Ley de Migración, DOF 28 September 2012 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 23 May 2014); Ley de Migración, DOF 25 May 2011 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 15 January 2026), Reglamento arts. 142 section II b) and 148; Ley de Migración arts. 64 and 137, 2012-09-28 official text · verified 2026-10-26

4. Deportation and re entry bans. INM deports a foreigner who entered without required documents or through an unauthorized point, re entered after deportation without a readmission agreement, posed as Mexican, compromises national or public security, gave false or fraudulent documents, or failed to comply with an exit order. INM sets the re entry ban case by case: one to five years for entering without authorization, two to ten years for repeat offenders, five to twenty years for violations of criminal law or international treaties, and permanent for security risks. During the ban, entry requires an express readmission agreement. Deportation is a negative record for future filings unless readmission is granted or the ban is served.
Cost to do it: No regularization possible once deported during the ban; legal costs for appeals are market priced.
Example: A foreigner who ignores an exit order after a refused filing can be deported and barred from re entry for a period set by INM. / Not applicable.Ley de Migración, DOF 25 May 2011 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 15 January 2026); Reglamento de la Ley de Migración, DOF 28 September 2012 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 23 May 2014), Ley de Migración arts. 143 and 144; Reglamento arts. 242 to 244, 2011-05-25 official text · verified 2026-10-26

Situation	Consequence	Amount or period
Regularization on family grounds	Fine	20 to 40 UMA, MXN 2,346 to 4,692 (USD 126 to 251)
Regularization after overstay (within 60 days) or unauthorized activity	Fine	20 to 100 UMA, MXN 2,346 to 11,731 (USD 126 to 629)
Late or missing change report by a resident	Fine	20 to 100 UMA, MXN 2,346 to 11,731 (USD 126 to 629)
Refused or withdrawn filing without other status	Exit order	20 to 30 calendar days to leave
Deportation, entry without authorization	Re entry ban	1 to 5 years
Deportation, repeat offender	Re entry ban	2 to 10 years
Deportation, criminal or treaty violations	Re entry ban	5 to 20 years
Deportation, security risk	Re entry ban	Permanent

Sanctions and periods in Mexican migration procedures (Ley de Migración arts. 134 to 146 and 158; Reglamento arts. 148 and 244; UMA MXN 117.31; USD at 18.6638).

Worked example

A consultant entered Mexico as a visitor for 30 days and stayed 45 more days to finish a project paid from abroad.
Within 60 days of the expiry the consultant files a regularization request with INM describing the overstay, with passport and the expired entry record, and pays the regularization fee of MXN 1,847 (about USD 99) and the fine INM sets between 20 and 100 UMA (MXN 2,346 to 11,731, about USD 126 to 629).
INM regularizes the consultant as a visitor; regularization does not change the condition of stay, so the consultant must leave at the end of the new authorized period.
Had the consultant waited beyond 60 days, the overstay route under art. 134 would no longer be available.

Step by step

1. Check entry records and card expiry dates for all foreign staff every month.
2. If a stay expires, file regularization with INM within 60 calendar days, in person, with a written explanation.
3. Pay the fine set by INM and the MXN 1,847 regularization fee, then the fee for the condition obtained.
4. If a filing is refused, use the 20 to 30 day exit window to leave, appeal or regularize.
5. Never leave Mexico on an expired card without checking the 55 day re entry rule for residents abroad.

Common traps

Letting the 60 day window pass. Overstay regularization under art. 134 requires filing within 60 calendar days of expiry (Ley de Migración art. 134).
Expecting regularization to upgrade status. Regularizing a visitor keeps the visitor condition (Reglamento art. 145).
Ignoring an exit order. Non compliance is a ground for deportation (Ley de Migración art. 144 section VI).
Using altered or fraudulently obtained documents. It leads to deportation and cancellation of residence (Ley de Migración arts. 64 and 144).

Sources

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