Temporary Resident Visa for Investors

Mexico's Temporary Resident Visa for Investors (Visa de Residente Temporal por Inversion / Inversionista) allows foreign nationals who have made or intend to make a qualifying capital investment in Mexico to obtain temporary residency for up to four years. Established under Article 52, Fraction VII of the Ley de Migracion, the program is administered jointly by the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE), which processes visa applications at consulates abroad, and the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM), which issues the physical resident card and handles renewals. The investor pathway targets foreign entrepreneurs, business owners, and capital investors who have committed funds to a Mexican company, acquired business assets, or are actively operating an economic enterprise in the country. Unlike the economic solvency subcategory of the same temporary resident visa, which requires only proof of passive income or savings, the investor subcategory demands verifiable evidence that capital has 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 investments held abroad do not qualify
• No specific educational, professional, or age requirements
• No mandatory health insurance requirement
• No criminal background check specified in the migration law for this category
• No accommodation proof required

The investment can be demonstrated through three pathways:

• Capital stock participation -- a notarized deed or notarial certificate proving that the applicant's capital contribution to a Mexican company exceeds the minimum threshold
• Moveable property or fixed assets -- documents proving ownership of business-related assets in Mexico with a value exceeding the required amount
• Economic or business activities -- evidence of operating a business in Mexico, including contracts, invoices, a business plan, licenses, permits, or an IMSS certificate confirming the applicant employs at least three workers

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 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 Multiple) received at port of entry
• Visa sticker in passport
• Completed basic application form
• Proof of payment of immigration fees

The consular visa sticker is valid for up to 180 days for a single entry. Upon arrival and completing the INM exchange process, a temporary resident card is issued for 1 year. The card is renewable annually, and total temporary residency may not exceed 4 years. Renewals must be initiated at INM offices within 30 calendar days before the current card expires and require proof of continuing investment. Renewals may be granted for 1, 2, or 3 years at a time.

The process has two distinct 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 required documents and provide biometric data (facial recognition, iris scan, fingerprints)
3. The consulate has up to 10 business days to issue a decision
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 undergo biometric capture (fingerprints, photograph, signature)
4. INM has up to 20 business days to issue the resident card

Fees: 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 (~USD 927) for 2 years, MXN 21,143 (~USD 1,175) for 3 years, and MXN 25,058 (~USD 1,392) for 4 years.

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 increases 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 and may obtain work authorization if they secure an employment offer. Family unity applicants receive 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 subject to Mexican income tax on worldwide income. The corporate income tax rate is 30%. Fiscal residents must register with the Servicio de Administracion Tributaria (SAT) and obtain a Registro Federal de Contribuyentes (RFC) tax identification number. Mexico has an extensive double-taxation treaty network. Investors operating businesses must also register with the Secretaria de Economia through the Registro Nacional de Inversiones Extranjeras (RNIE) when holding stakes in Mexican companies.

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

Temporary residents may enter and exit Mexico as many times as they wish throughout the validity of their resident card. There is no maximum number of days a temporary resident may spend outside Mexico and no minimum stay requirement. The main obligation is to return before the resident card expires and to submit renewal applications in person at an INM office within Mexico.

After 4 consecutive years of temporary residence, holders may apply for permanent residency under Article 54 of the Ley de Migracion. There is no direct path from investment to permanent residency or citizenship -- the investor must complete the standard 4-year temporary residency period. Naturalization is available after 5 years of total residence (temporary plus permanent), requiring Spanish language and Mexican history/culture examination.

Foreign investment in Mexico follows a general principle of sectoral openness. Foreign investors 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 transportation of passengers, tourism, and cargo; certain professional and technical services). The Restricted Zone along borders (100 km) and coastlines (50 km) limits direct foreign ownership of real estate, but investment through a fideicomiso (bank trust) is permitted.

• Having a visa does not guarantee entry into Mexico. Immigration officers at ports of entry retain authority to deny admission.
• The visa sticker is valid for a single entry within 180 days; if the holder does not enter Mexico in 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 additionally prove legal residence status in that country.
• INM immigration fees increased significantly in 2026 -- the 1-year resident card rose from approximately MXN 5,570 to MXN 11,141, an increase of roughly 100%.
• The July 2025 Lineamientos standardized investment calculations using UMA, replacing the previous minimum-wage-based system.
• Biometric data collection at consulates was expanded to include facial recognition and iris scans.
• Overstay fines range from 20 to 40 days of minimum wage. Irregular migration status may lead to administrative deportation proceedings.
• The Ventanilla Unica para Inversionistas (Single Window for Investors) operated by the Secretaria de Economia can facilitate business registration and establishment procedures.