Mexico residence and citizenship
The lowest comparable cited investment amount on file for a residence route in Mexico is $280,000, for the Temporary resident — investor. Ordinary naturalisation in Mexico needs 5 years of legal residence.
Checked — Sources last checked 10 November 2026 by the automated residence and citizenship review.
Residence routes in Mexico
Investment, own-income, remote-work and permanent routes. Scroll across the table to see every column.
| Route | Kind | Minimum | Processing | To citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary resident — property owner | Residence by investment | $600,000 | up to 1 month | 5 years |
| Temporary resident — investor | Investor | $280,000 | up to 1 month | 5 years |
| Temporary resident — Mexican business assets | Investor | $280,000 | up to 1 month | 5 years |
| Permanent resident — retiree or pensioner | Retirement or own income | — | up to 1 month | 5 years |
| Permanent resident — qualifying family | Permanent residence | — | up to 1 month | — |
| Permanent residence after four temporary years | Permanent residence | — | — | 5 years |
"Minimum" is a cited investment threshold in its stated currency. A USD figure appears only when a supported conversion is on file; "—" means no supported amount is on file, not that it is free. "To citizenship" counts the years of residence before a naturalisation application. A zero-year entry states no residence wait; citizenship still needs a separate decision.
Work, family, study and other routes (4)
| Route | Kind | Minimum | Processing | To citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary resident — independent means | Residence permit | — | up to 1 month | 5 years |
| Temporary resident — active business operations | Residence permit | — | up to 1 month | 5 years |
| Temporary resident — employer or invited professional | Work | — | up to 1 month | 5 years |
| Temporary resident — family unity | Family | — | up to 1 month | — |
Each route's conditions and sources
Temporary resident — property owner
The SRE names ownership of Mexican real estate as a qualifying ground; Henley reports a USD 600,000 purchase threshold. This is a secondary programme summary, and consular UMA tests may vary. USD 56 consular fee and ten-business-day decision (mapped to at most one month). Four years can lead to permanent status; five qualifying years to citizenship.
Sources: 2026 temporary resident visa (Mexico SRE), Change from temporary to permanent residence (Mexico INM), Naturalization by residence (Mexico SRE), Mexico residence by investment (Henley & Partners, summary)
Temporary resident — investor
Investor is a separate ground in the SRE list. Henley reports a USD 280,000 company-capital threshold; an active-business evidence alternative may qualify without a fixed investment. USD 56 consular fee; ten business days maps to at most one month. Four temporary years can lead to permanent status and five qualifying residence years to citizenship.
Sources: 2026 temporary resident visa (Mexico SRE), Change from temporary to permanent residence (Mexico INM), Naturalization by residence (Mexico SRE), Mexico residence by investment (Henley & Partners, summary)
Temporary resident — Mexican business assets
Henley lists ownership of Mexican business assets worth at least USD 280,000, including property, equipment or vehicles used for business, as a separate investor alternative. This is an asset acquisition, not a consular cash-balance test. USD 56 is the consular visa fee; ten business days maps to at most one month, excluding the later INM card step. Four temporary years may lead to permanent residence and five qualifying residence years to naturalization. Eligibility follows the cited investor ground and documented business assets, without a nationality restriction.
Sources: 2026 temporary resident visa (Mexico SRE), Change from temporary to permanent residence (Mexico INM), Naturalization by residence (Mexico SRE), Mexico residence by investment (Henley & Partners, summary)
Permanent resident — retiree or pensioner
Direct permanent residence is available to qualifying pensioners or retirees with economic solvency. Pension/bank balance is not an investment minimum. USD 56 is the consular visa fee, with INM card charges additional. Ten business days maps to at most one month. Five qualifying residence years to ordinary naturalization.
Sources: 2026 permanent resident visa (Mexico SRE), Naturalization by residence (Mexico SRE)
Permanent resident — qualifying family
Direct permanent visa for specified qualifying relatives; spouses normally enter as temporary residents for two years first. USD 56 is the consular visa fee; ten business days maps to one-month maximum. Family naturalization exceptions exist, so no universal clock.
Sources: 2026 permanent resident visa (Mexico SRE), Change from temporary to permanent residence (Mexico INM), Permanent residence for spouses after temporary status (Mexico SRE), Naturalization by residence (Mexico SRE)
Permanent residence after four temporary years
Four years with temporary resident status qualify for a change application. Student temporary residence does not qualify. Ordinary naturalization can follow after five qualifying years total.
Sources: Change from temporary to permanent residence (Mexico INM), Naturalization by residence (Mexico SRE)
Temporary resident — independent means
Foreign applicant showing economic solvency. The financial balance or income is a means test, not a capital investment. USD 56 is the 2026 consular visa fee; INM residence-card charges are additional and not established here. Ten business days maps to a one-month maximum, with no lower bound. Four years of temporary residence can qualify for permanent status; five qualifying years of residence can qualify for naturalization.
Sources: 2026 temporary resident visa (Mexico SRE), Change from temporary to permanent residence (Mexico INM), Naturalization by residence (Mexico SRE)
Temporary resident — active business operations
Henley lists evidence of active Mexican business operations as an alternative investor basis, without a fixed amount. It is conditional on real operations and is not a passive investment visa. USD 56 consular fee; ten business days maps to at most one month. Four temporary years may lead to permanent residence and five qualifying years to naturalization.
Sources: 2026 temporary resident visa (Mexico SRE), Change from temporary to permanent residence (Mexico INM), Naturalization by residence (Mexico SRE), Mexico residence by investment (Henley & Partners, summary)
Temporary resident — employer or invited professional
Applicant needs a qualifying Mexican organisation invitation or work basis; a local work authorization may be separately required. USD 56 is the consular visa fee only. Ten business days maps to at most one month. No capital investment; four years to permanent residence and five qualifying years to naturalization.
Sources: 2026 temporary resident visa (Mexico SRE), Change from temporary to permanent residence (Mexico INM), Naturalization by residence (Mexico SRE)
Temporary resident — family unity
For qualifying relatives; relationship and sponsor status determine eligibility. USD 56 is the consular visa fee only. Ten business days maps to at most one month. Spouses of permanent residents or Mexican citizens may qualify for permanent residence after two temporary years, while other temporary residents may use the four-year route; citizenship clocks can vary, so no universal family-route clock.
Sources: 2026 temporary resident visa (Mexico SRE), Change from temporary to permanent residence (Mexico INM), 2026 permanent resident visa (Mexico SRE), Permanent residence for spouses after temporary status (Mexico SRE), Naturalization by residence (Mexico SRE)
Citizenship in Mexico
- Years of residence before naturalisation: 5 years
- Years before permanent residence: 4 years
- Dual citizenship allowed: Not stated
- Language: Spanish, history and cultural integration
- Residence and presence: Five immediately preceding years; absences over six months in the last two years interrupt residence.
Ordinary naturalization requires five immediately preceding years with qualifying temporary or permanent residence. Student residence does not count; some family and Latin American applicants have shorter statutory periods. The applicant must demonstrate Spanish, history and integration. The nationality law requires declarations of renunciation, so the practical dual-nationality outcome for naturalized persons is not represented as a blanket yes or no. No direct citizenship-by-investment programme is established.
What is the cheapest residence visa in Mexico?
The lowest comparable cited investment amount on file for a residence route in Mexico is $280,000, for the Temporary resident — investor. Routes for people living on their own income or working remotely (Permanent resident — retiree or pensioner) ask for proof of income, not an investment.
How many years to citizenship in Mexico?
Ordinary naturalisation in Mexico needs 5 years of legal residence. Permanent residence is possible after 4 years. Five immediately preceding years; absences over six months in the last two years interrupt residence.
Does Mexico allow dual citizenship?
The sources on file do not settle whether Mexico allows dual citizenship.
Tax and residence days
A residence permit and tax residence are different tests. See the Mexico tax rates, count your days with the Mexico day test and see what changed in the data, day by day.
Sources
The Mexico profile cites 7 sources, 6 of them from a government or a statute. Data as of 2026-Q4.
- 2026 temporary resident visa · Mexico SRE, official, read 10 November 2026
- 2026 permanent resident visa · Mexico SRE, official, read 10 November 2026
- Permanent residence for spouses after temporary status · Mexico SRE, official, read 10 November 2026
- Change from temporary to permanent residence · Mexico INM, official, read 10 November 2026
- Naturalization by residence · Mexico SRE, official, read 10 November 2026
- Nationality Law, articles 19 to 21 · Mexico SRE, official, read 10 November 2026
- Mexico residence by investment · Henley & Partners, summary, read 10 November 2026
Rules, fees and minimums change, and many routes have conditions not shown here. Did you find an error? Tell us, with the source.
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