Temporary Resident Visa for Investors

Mexico's Temporary Resident Visa for Investors (Visa de Residente Temporal por Inversión / Inversionista) lets foreign nationals who have made or committed a qualifying capital investment in Mexico obtain temporary residency for up to four years. Established under Article 52, Fraction VII of the Ley de Migración, it is administered jointly by the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE), which processes visa applications at consulates abroad, and the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM), which issues the physical resident card on entry and handles renewals. The investor pathway targets foreign entrepreneurs, business owners, and capital investors who have put funds into a Mexican company, acquired business assets, or are actively operating an enterprise in the country. Unlike the economic-solvency subcategory of the same visa, which accepts proof of passive income or savings, the investor subcategory requires verifiable evidence that capital has actually been deployed or committed in the Mexican economy.

• Foreign national of any nationality with a qualifying capital investment in Mexico
• Minimum investment of 45,850 x daily UMA (approximately MXN 5,378,664 or USD 299,000 in 2026)
• Investment must be in the Mexican economy -- foreign assets or holdings abroad do not qualify
• No specific educational, professional, or age requirements
• No mandatory health insurance, criminal background check, or accommodation proof for this category

The investment can be demonstrated through any of three pathways:

• Capital stock participation -- a notarized deed or certificate proving the applicant's contribution to a Mexican company exceeds the threshold
• Moveable or fixed assets -- documents proving ownership of business-related assets in Mexico above the required value
• Economic or business activity -- evidence of operating a business in Mexico (contracts, invoices, a business plan, licenses, permits, or an IMSS certificate confirming at least three employees)

Consular stage:

• Valid passport (original and copy of data pages)
• Completed visa application form
• Passport-sized color photograph (white background, no glasses, taken within one month)
• Proof of legal residence in the country of application (if not a national)
• Investment documentation proving qualifying capital deployment in Mexico

INM resident card stage (canje):

• Passport (original and copy)
• FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) received at the port of entry
• Visa sticker in the passport
• Completed application form and proof of payment of immigration fees

The consular visa sticker is valid for up to 180 days for a single entry. After arrival and the INM exchange process, a temporary resident card is issued for 1 year. The card is renewable annually -- in increments of 1, 2, or 3 years -- up to a total of 4 years. Renewals must be initiated at INM offices within 30 calendar days before the current card expires and require proof of continuing investment.

Temporary residents may sponsor family members under the family unity provision. Eligible dependants include unmarried minor children and stepchildren, spouse, partner (concubine), and parents. Each dependant raises the financial requirement by 220 x daily UMA (approximately MXN 25,808/month or USD 1,434 in 2026). Dependants receive temporary resident status with the same entry and exit rights, may obtain work authorization if they secure an employment offer, and get a 50% discount on INM card fees under the 2026 fee structure.

Individuals physically present in Mexico for more than 183 days in a calendar year are considered fiscal residents and are taxed on worldwide income. The corporate income tax rate is 30%. Fiscal residents must register with the Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT) and obtain a Registro Federal de Contribuyentes (RFC). Mexico has an extensive double-taxation treaty network. Investors holding stakes in Mexican companies must also register with the Secretaría de Economía through the Registro Nacional de Inversiones Extranjeras (RNIE).

The process has two phases.

Phase 1 -- Consular visa:

1. Schedule an appointment at a Mexican consulate through the MiConsulado portal (miconsulado.sre.gob.mx)
2. Attend an in-person interview with the required documents and provide biometric data (facial recognition, iris scan, fingerprints)
3. The consulate has up to 10 business days to decide
4. If approved, a visa sticker is placed in the passport, valid for a single entry within 180 days

Phase 2 -- Resident card exchange (canje):

1. Enter Mexico and receive an FMM at the port of entry
2. Within 30 calendar days of entry, visit an INM office to exchange the FMM and visa for a physical temporary resident card
3. Submit documents, pay fees, and complete biometric capture
4. INM has up to 20 business days to issue the resident card

Fees: The consular visa processing fee is approximately USD 56. INM resident card fees for 2026 are MXN 11,141 (~USD 619) for 1 year, MXN 16,693 for 2 years, MXN 21,143 for 3 years, and MXN 25,058 for 4 years. INM fees rose sharply in 2026 -- the 1-year card increased from roughly MXN 5,328 in 2025, about a 109% jump.

Holders may engage in business activities related to their investment. Employment by a Mexican employer or other paid activities requires separate INM work authorization, which carries an additional fee of approximately MXN 4,341 in 2026.

Temporary residents may enter and exit Mexico as often as they wish during the validity of their resident card. There is no maximum time allowed outside Mexico and no minimum stay requirement. The main obligation is to return before the card expires and to file renewals in person at an INM office in Mexico.

After 4 consecutive years of temporary residence, holders may apply for permanent residency under Article 54 of the Ley de Migración. Mexico has no European-style "golden visa" -- there is no shortcut from investment straight to permanent residency or citizenship; the standard 4-year temporary period must be completed first. Naturalization is generally available after 5 years of total residence, requiring a Spanish language and Mexican history/culture examination.

Foreign investment follows a general principle of sectoral openness. Foreigners may participate in any proportion in Mexican companies except in sectors reserved to the State (petroleum exploration and extraction, electricity transmission and distribution) or to Mexican nationals (national land transport of passengers, tourism, and cargo; certain professional and technical services). The Restricted Zone along borders (100 km) and coastlines (50 km) limits direct foreign real-estate ownership, but investment through a fideicomiso (bank trust) is permitted.

• The July 2025 Lineamientos standardized economic and investment calculations using UMA, replacing the previous minimum-wage-based system.
• A 15 May 2026 amendment to the Lineamientos added a new strategic-projects knowledge-transfer residence pathway and tightened job-offer requirements, but left the investor, economic-solvency, and dependant thresholds unchanged (45,850, 680/11,460, and 220 days of UMA respectively).
• The 2026 daily UMA rose to MXN 117.31 (up 3.69% from 2025), effective 1 February 2026, raising the peso value of all UMA-denominated thresholds.
• Biometric collection at consulates was expanded to include facial recognition and iris scans.

• Having a visa does not guarantee entry. Immigration officers at ports of entry may still deny admission.
• The visa sticker is valid for a single entry within 180 days; if the holder does not enter within that period, a new consular application is required.
• Investment documentation must be original or officially certified.
• Applicants who are not nationals of the country where they apply must also prove legal residence status there.
• Overstay fines range from 20 to 40 days of minimum wage, and irregular status may lead to administrative deportation.
• The Ventanilla Única para Inversionistas (Single Window for Investors), run by the Secretaría de Economía, can help with business registration and establishment.