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Permanent residence in Mexico: the routes, changing from temporary residence after four years, the card and the 2026 fees

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

Permanent residence lets a foreigner stay in Mexico indefinitely with implicit permission to work, multiple entries and the right to bring close family. It is granted after four years of temporary residence, directly to retirees and pensioners with sufficient foreign income, to close relatives of Mexicans and permanent residents (spouses after two years as temporary residents), to parents of Mexican children and to recognized refugees; the points system in the law has not been implemented. In 2026 the card costs MXN 13,579, plus MXN 1,847 when changing from temporary residence, halved for family unity and registered employer job offers, and adult cards have no expiry date.

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

Years of temporary residence before permanent residence may be obtained	4 yearsLey de Migración art. 54 section V, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Years of temporary residence for the spouse or partner of a Mexican or permanent resident before permanent residence	2 yearsLey de Migración arts. 55 and 56, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Permanent resident card, 2026 fee	13579 MXNLFD art. 8 section VII; RMF 2026 Annex 4, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Change of condition of stay, 2026 fee	1847 MXNLFD art. 9; RMF 2026 Annex 4, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Replacement of a resident card, 2026 fee	1780 MXNLFD art. 8, replacement paragraph; RMF 2026 Annex 4, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Points system for direct permanent residence	not implemented statusLey de Migración art. 57; INM procedure sheet INM-03-010-B, as of 2026-10-26 · pending

The rule

1. Routes to permanent residence. Permanent residence is granted to foreigners who: receive political asylum, refugee status, complementary protection or a statelessness determination; qualify under family unity with a permanent resident; are retirees or pensioners with income from a foreign government, international organization or private company for services abroad that allows them to live in Mexico; qualify under the points system; have held temporary residence for four years; have Mexican children by birth; or are an ascendant or descendant in direct line up to the second degree of a Mexican by birth. Permanent residents may work, enter and leave freely, and bring their household goods.
Cost to do it: Permanent resident card: MXN 13,579 (USD 728) (LFD art. 8 section VII), 50 percent with family unity or a job offer from a registered employer. Refugees, asylees and stateless persons pay no migration fees for entry or documents (LFD art. 16).
Example: A foreign mother of a child born in Guadalajara qualifies for permanent residence on the basis of having a Mexican child by birth. / Card about USD 728, or about USD 364 with the family unity reduction at 18.6638.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. 52 section IX and 54; Reglamento art. 139, 2011-05-25 official text · verified 2026-10-26

2. Change from temporary to permanent residence. A temporary resident may change to permanent residence after four consecutive years of regular temporary residence, earlier as a retiree or pensioner with sufficient foreign income, or under the points system. The procedure requires a valid card, the fee receipt and proof of the specific requirements; INM must decide within 20 business days of a complete filing, and a refusal returns the still valid card to the applicant (or, if it expired without timely renewal, gives 20 to 30 days to leave, regularize or appeal). The official INM procedure sheet for the change states that the points system has not been implemented and cannot be used.
Cost to do it: Change of condition MXN 1,847 (USD 98.96) (LFD art. 9) plus the permanent card MXN 13,579 (USD 728); the INM procedure sheet lists these two payments.
Example: A plant manager who has held a job offer temporary residence since November 2022 files the change in November 2026, paying MXN 1,847 and the permanent card fee, half of it if the stay is still based on a registered employer's offer. / About USD 99 plus about USD 728 (or about USD 364 with the reduction) at 18.6638.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. 54 section V, 62 and 128; Reglamento arts. 139 section V, 141 section VI and 142, 2011-05-25 official text · verified 2026-10-26

3. Spouses and partners: two years first. The foreign spouse or partner of a Mexican or of a permanent resident receives temporary residence for two years and may then obtain permanent residence if the relationship continues; the two years are counted from when the spouse obtained temporary residence on that basis. A Mexican or permanent resident may also bring parents, minor children (including the spouse's) and minor unmarried siblings under legal representation.
Cost to do it: Two year temporary card MXN 16,693 (USD 894), half for family unity; later change of condition MXN 1,847 plus the permanent card.
Example: A US national who marries a Mexican in 2026 obtains two years of temporary residence (about MXN 8,347 with the family reduction) and in 2028 changes to permanent residence if still married. / About USD 447 for the discounted two year card at 18.6638.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. 55 and 56; Reglamento arts. 139 section VII and 141 section I c), 2011-05-25 official text · verified 2026-10-26

4. The permanent resident card. The card has indefinite validity, except for minors, who renew it every year until age three and then every four years until adulthood. It proves permission to work for adults and allows multiple entries. Permanent residents must still report changes of address, civil status, nationality or place of work within 90 days, and INM cancels the residence if the holder declares a definitive departure, obtains another condition, provides false information or compromises national or public security.
Cost to do it: Replacement of a lost or damaged card MXN 1,780 (USD 95.37) (LFD art. 8). Late change report fine 20 to 100 UMA, MXN 2,346.20 to MXN 11,731.
Example: A permanent resident who loses the card abroad applies to the consulate for a replacement visa to re enter and then requests a replacement card from INM (MXN 1,780). / Replacement about USD 95 at 18.6638.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 art. 157; Ley de Migración arts. 63 and 64, 2012-09-28 official text · verified 2026-10-26

Route	Waiting period	Where to apply
Four years of temporary residence	4 consecutive years	INM in Mexico (change of condition)
Retiree or pensioner with foreign income	None	Consulate abroad, or INM as a change from temporary residence
Spouse or partner of a Mexican or permanent resident	2 years as temporary resident	INM in Mexico
Parent of a Mexican child by birth; direct line relative up to second degree of a Mexican by birth	None	Consulate or INM
Refugee, asylee, complementary protection, stateless	None	INM
Points system	Not implemented	Not available

Routes to permanent residence in Mexico (Ley de Migración arts. 54 to 56; Reglamento arts. 139 and 141).

Worked example

An Indian IT manager came to Mexico in October 2022 on a four year temporary residence based on a job offer from a registered employer.
In October 2026, with four consecutive years of regular status, the manager files the change of condition with INM: MXN 1,847 (about USD 99) plus 50 percent of MXN 13,578.96, about MXN 6,789 (about USD 364), because the stay is still based on the registered employer's offer.
INM must decide within 20 business days of a complete filing. The new card has no expiry date, carries implicit work permission, and frees the manager to change employers without a new work permit, while still reporting any new place of work within 90 days.

Step by step

1. Track the four year count from the first temporary resident card and keep status unbroken with timely renewals.
2. Before the last card expires, file the change of condition with INM with the valid card, fee receipts and supporting documents.
3. Claim the 50 percent card reduction if the stay is based on family unity or a registered employer job offer.
4. Retirees can apply directly at a consulate with 12 months of balances or six months of pension evidence.
5. Keep reporting address and workplace changes within 90 days.

Common traps

Breaking the four year chain. The Regulation requires four consecutive years of regular status as a temporary resident (Reglamento art. 139 section V).
Waiting for the points system. The INM procedure sheet states it has not been implemented (INM-03-010-B).
Assuming marriage gives immediate permanent residence. Spouses and partners first hold two years of temporary residence (Ley de Migración arts. 55 and 56).
Declaring a definitive departure at the border. It cancels the residence (Ley de Migración art. 64 section I).
Forgetting minors' cards. Children's permanent cards must be renewed yearly until three and every four years until adulthood (Reglamento art. 157).

Sources

← Living in Mexico on foreign income or savings: temporary residence by economic solvency, permanent residence for retirees and the 2026 thresholdsBringing family to Mexico: family unity for spouses, partners, children and parents of residents and Mexicans, solvency and the 2026 fees →