How Long Can I Stay in Mexico Without a Visa?

Many countries, including the US, Canada, Japan and the European Union, do not require visas to enter Mexico for tourism or transit purposes. However, travelers from countries not listed above should apply for a visitor’s permit at their nearest Mexican consulate.

This permits visitors to stay in the country for up to 180 days, but it is up to the immigration agent to decide how long they will be permitted to stay. As of late, many Americans and Canadians have reported that they were only given 30 days or less.

Visitor’s Permit

If you are coming to Mexico as a tourist for stays of 180 days or less, you can obtain an FMM permit (Forma Migratoria Multiple) at the port of entry or online. This travel document is issued by the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM), a Mexican government agency.

The permit allows you to engage in tourism activities, business, transit through the country, study or live anywhere within the borders of Mexico without a visa. It is valid for up to 180 days from the date you enter the country, but it can be extended in-country in certain circumstances.

While most visitors are expected to be granted a maximum of 180 days on their visitor’s permits, immigration officials have been increasing their scrutiny on travelers in the past two years. Some people have been getting 10-30 days upon arrival, and they are now expected to show proof of return flights, hotel reservations, and documents that demonstrate their economic solvency for the duration of the trip.

It is important to note that although visitors can stay in Mexico for up to six months on their FMM, they must exit the country before their permit expires or they will be fined. If you leave and re-enter the country too often, your permit may be denied at some point in time because of computerized entry and exit systems and facial recognition technology.

To be eligible to apply for an FMM, you must have a passport with at least 6 months of validity and you must apply through the consulate closest to your home. You must fill out an application form and provide the required documents for a visa interview with an immigration officer at the consulate.

If you are a US citizen and plan to enter Mexico for a temporary period, you must first obtain an ESTA visa. ESTAs are available from most countries and cost $50 for the application fee.

When applying for an ESTA, you must provide the following documentation: A valid passport and the ESTA application, which must be printed from a government website.

Temporary Resident Visa

You can stay in Mexico without a visa if you have a valid temporary resident permit. This permits you to work in Mexico and to engage in activities that generate financial gains.

This type of visa is granted for up to four consecutive years, and after those four years, you can apply to transfer your Temporary Resident Visa to a Permanent Resident visa. This process must be completed in Mexico, and you cannot leave the country while the application is in process.

To qualify for a tourist visa, you must be an adult, show that your home country has a consulate in Mexico and submit proof of economic solvency. This includes a letter from your employer in Mexico that demonstrates that you are employed, as well as monthly pay slips and bank statements from the last 12 months.

Once you’ve been approved, your temporary resident visa sticker will be placed in your passport. You’ll need to make an appointment at the INM (Instituto Nacional de Migracion) within 30 days of arrival.

During the immigration interview, you’ll be asked about your reason for visiting Mexico and what activities you plan to participate in while you’re here. They’ll also ask you if you plan to stay in Mexico for longer than 180 days.

Keep in mind that immigration agents do not always give the full number of days that you request on your FMM. If you arrive in Mexico with plans of staying for more than a few weeks or months, be sure to calmly and patiently explain your plans and give them proof of your flights and reservations.

Many travelers are surprised to find out that they are only given 30, 20 or 15 days on their FMM. This is because the Mexican immigration agency has updated their system to better track visitors, especially those from Schengen countries.

In the past, immigration agents would almost always give visitors the maximum time of 180 days. But that rule has changed since 2021 and it’s up to the immigration agent to determine what length of stay is allowed based on your situation.

Permanent Resident Visa

If you want to stay in Mexico for six months or less, you can simply apply for a visitor’s visa. This is given to you before your trip, and it will allow you to stay in the country for up to 180 days at a time without any other official documentation.

However, if you are thinking about living and working in Mexico permanently, then it’s best to look into a permanent resident visa. This type of visa is most commonly used by retirees, foreigners with close family ties in Mexico, and spouses of Mexican citizens or permanent residents.

The visa is usually issued for 1 year, but it may be renewable annually for up to three years, provided that you meet the requirements. After this period of residency, you can also apply for naturalization if you have lived in Mexico for five years and paid taxes to the government.

For this visa, you need to be able to prove you have sufficient financial resources in your home country and that you plan on living in Mexico. You can demonstrate this through your current income, bank balance and savings account.

You will also need to have a letter of invitation from your employer in Mexico. This should be a signed letter, and it can be sent to your immigration specialist or attorney. The cost for this letter is around $51 USD or equivalent in your home currency, and it’s non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of your application.

Once you’ve arrived in Mexico, you will need to have an interview at the local immigration office. This is usually held at the National Immigration Institute (INM), and it’s a quick process.

Your immigration specialist will ask you questions and verify all your documents. Once your paperwork is complete, you’ll need to pay 4,739 pesos for a temporary residence card or 5,776 pesos for a permanent resident card.

If you’ve been approved, the immigration specialist will tell you when to collect your resident card from INM or your facilitator. Typically, it’s available the same day or within a week or two.

Visa Waiver Program

If you are a citizen of one of the 38 Visa Waiver Program countries, you can travel to Mexico without obtaining a Mexican visa. This is a great option for tourists who want to enjoy the sights and sounds of Mexico, visit family, or participate in unpaid music or sports events.

To qualify for the VWP, a country must meet certain requirements. These include an average B visa refusal rate in the previous year below 3%, or an average B visa refusal rate over the past two years below 2% (with none of the years allowed to exceed 2.5%).

In addition to this, each participating country is required to enter into information-sharing agreements with the United States. These agreements are designed to help prevent terrorists and others who pose a threat from entering the United States. In addition, all VWP countries are required to report lost and stolen passports, share identity information about known or suspected terrorists, and share criminal history information with the United States.

There are also many restrictions on the number of people from each country who can travel under the Visa Waiver Program at a time. This is important because it limits the number of potential security risks.

For example, if a person from Syria comes to Mexico under the Visa Waiver Program, they are not permitted to bring more than three visitors, including children, to Mexico at a time. This restriction can be very difficult to avoid, especially if the Syrian citizens are visiting friends or relatives in another country.

If you are planning a trip to Mexico under the VWP, it is important that you understand your travel plans before submitting your application. This includes knowing how long you will be in Mexico, when you will be leaving, and what activities you will be engaging in during your time there.

Once you have been approved for the VWP, you can travel to Mexico for up to 90 days without a visa. This is a great option for vacationers who will be spending a lot of time in Mexico and want to see as much of it as possible.