Mexican Residency as a British Family: Initial Guide (What We Wish We’d Known)

Full guide link below

We moved to Mexico in 2021 as a British family of three with no prior visa experience, no contacts in the immigration system and a fairly vague understanding of how Mexican residency actually worked. Several years later, we hold permanent residency.

This guide is everything we wish we’d had at the start – the real process, the real costs, the things the official guides leave out. GET THE FULL GUIDE HERE

The two types of Mexican residency you need to know about

Temporary Residency (Residente Temporal) – valid for 1 year, renewable up to 4 years. This is where most people start. You need to demonstrate sufficient income or savings to qualify.

Permanent Residency (Residente Permanente) – no expiry date, full right to live and work in Mexico. You can apply after 4 years of temporary residency or immediately if you meet certain financial thresholds.

There is also a Temporary Residency with Permission to Work – essential if you plan to work for a Mexican employer, though remote workers employed by non-Mexican companies operate in a different category entirely.

Step 1: Apply for your visa at a Mexican consulate in the UK

You cannot start the residency process once you’re already in Mexico on a tourist entry (technically). The process starts at a Mexican consulate in your home country – in the UK, this means the Mexican Embassy in London or one of the consulates.

You will apply for a Residente Temporal visa – a sticker in your passport that allows you to enter Mexico and then convert it into a residency card (the actual tarjeta de residente) once you arrive.

Documents typically required at the consulate:

• Valid UK passport (minimum 6 months remaining)
• Completed visa application form
• Recent passport photographs
• Proof of economic solvency – bank statements showing sufficient funds (thresholds change annually – check the current figures with the consulate)
• Proof of address in the UK
• Application fee (varies)

For families: each family member needs their own application. Children need both parents’ consent documented if only one parent is applying or travelling.

Step 2: Enter Mexico and register with INM within 30 days

Once you land in Mexico with your visa sticker, you have 30 days to visit your local INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración) office to convert that visa into your actual residency card.

This is where a good immigration lawyer earns their fee. The INM offices vary enormously in how they operate. Some require appointments booked weeks in advance. Some accept walk-ins. Requirements can vary slightly by state. Having someone local who knows the specific office and its current requirements is genuinely worth the cost.

Budget for a lawyer: approximately £400–800 for the initial process. This covers the paperwork preparation, accompanying you to INM, and handling any issues that arise.

The income/savings requirements – what you actually need

Mexico sets minimum income or savings thresholds to qualify for residency. These are set as multiples of Mexico’s Unidad de Medida y Actualización (UMA) and are updated annually, so always verify the current figures directly with the Mexican consulate before applying.

As a general guide: you need to demonstrate either a regular monthly income above a set threshold OR savings/investments above a higher threshold. The savings route is often more straightforward for people who are self-employed, freelance, or living off investments.

Renewing temporary residency (years 2–4)

Temporary residency is granted initially for one year and can be renewed for up to three further years. Each renewal requires an INM appointment, updated documentation and a fee. The renewal process is generally simpler than the initial application but start it at least 30 days before your card expires.

Important: You must be physically present in Mexico for a minimum number of days each year to maintain your residency status. The exact requirements are worth confirming with your lawyer annually as the rules are interpreted differently in different states.

Things nobody tells you

The CURP. Your CURP (Clave Única de Registro de Población) is Mexico’s equivalent of a National Insurance number. You will need it for almost everything – opening a bank account, registering a child for school, accessing healthcare. Get this sorted as early as possible in the process.

The RFC. If you plan to earn any income in Mexico, or even just have a bank account, you will eventually need an RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) – the tax registration number. Your lawyer can help with this.

Banking. Opening a bank account in Mexico as a foreign national is significantly harder than it should be. BBVA (formerly Bancomer) and HSBC Mexico tend to be the most accessible for expats. Expect to need your residency card, CURP, RFC, and proof of address and still potentially be refused at branch level. Wise and Revolut are essential backup tools while you sort this.

Children’s schooling. Mexico has excellent private schools in most major cities, many of which are bilingual or fully English-medium. Fees are reasonable by UK standards. Registration typically requires your child’s residency documentation, birth certificate (apostilled and translated) and school records.

Our honest verdict after several years

The Mexican residency process is not as daunting as it first appears. The bureaucracy is real, but it is navigable – especially with good local support. The life you get on the other side of the paperwork is absolutely worth it.

We are now moving on to Andalusia, Spain which brings its own visa requirements and process. That guide is coming soon.