Residence in Mexico

A complete guide to residency in Mexico for Italian citizens. Mexico offers various temporary and permanent residency programs, with visas for work, retirement, investors, and financial solvency. Temporary residency is obtained through an appointment at the embassy and conversion on site. On this page: requirements, documents, the four-step process, available visas, taxes, citizenship, and FAQs.

See the infographic on residency in Mexico (PDF)

Studio Panama Italia has been operating in Mexico for over 10 years, providing Mexican residency in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Moving to Mexico is one of the options available to those wishing to settle in a country in the Americas. Mexico is among the countries where residency is easy to obtain. Living and working in Mexico is an opportunity worth seizing as long as Mexican residency visas are still readily available.

Moving to Mexico requires applying for a specific residence visa that meets the requirements you can guarantee and demonstrate to the country's immigration authorities. There are two stages to obtaining Mexican residence visas: the temporary visa stage, which everyone must complete initially, and the final or permanent residency stage. Before wondering how to obtain Mexican residency, it's important to consider the advantages of Mexican residency for Italians and, therefore, why you should obtain Mexican residency. Mexican citizenship is easy to obtain after legally residing in the country. Living in Mexico as a retiree is a great opportunity.

Italians living in Mexico as retirees benefit from the extremely favorable exchange rate. Living in Mexico with a €1,000 pension is still particularly easy. Mexico boasts the strongest passport in Latin America.

Residency in Mexico for Italians: Why Move?

Mandatory procedure for all Mexican residence visas

Regardless of whether you want to apply for a Mexican residence visa for investment, retirement, or financial solvency, or for work, etc., whatever visa you apply for, remember that you can only apply if you're outside Mexico and by following these steps:

• Applying for a temporary residence visa (whatever type it may be) at a Mexican embassy abroad (in a country other than Mexico, of course).
• Entry into Mexico, where you obtain a Multiple Immigration Form for "exchange" or "canje".
• The process for exchanging the Multiple Migration Form for a temporary residence permit within 30 days of entering the country.

Once you understand this, which is the basis of the entire process for applying for a residence permit in Mexico through any type of residency you may apply for, it is useful to read the rest of this page, which explains the individual requirements for each type of visa you may apply for to stay with a residency in Mexico.

Finally, it's worth remembering that there is no longer an immediate permanent residence visa; permanent residence is obtained by applying for an initial provisional or temporary residence permit that lasts three or four years before being converted to permanent. This applies to all types of visas.

It is important to remember that submitting the required documents and requirements to the embassy does not mean the embassy has agreed to issue the visa. Issuance of a visa remains the sole responsibility of the consulate/embassy. Regardless of whether a visa is issued or denied, this procedure will incur consular fees that must be paid prior to submitting the documents.

The Mexican Embassy in Italy has provided an informational brochure to help you apply for a visa correctly.

Consult Migration Status · Migration Procedures · Consult your CURP

Why move to Mexico and what advantages does it offer?

Obtaining residency in Mexico is now one of the smartest choices for those seeking freedom, stability, and quality of life. Moving to Mexico means entering a welcoming country, open to foreigners, and with simple procedures for obtaining Mexican residency. Living in Mexico allows you to enjoy a favorable climate year-round, a friendly population, and a much lower cost of living than in Europe or North America.

During the pandemic, Mexico remained one of the few countries permanently accessible, without mandatory testing or vaccinations, confirming its position as a destination for freedom and independence. This has tripled the number of foreigners seeking residency in Mexico and attracted a new generation of professionals, retirees, and digital nomads.

Living in Mexico offers tangible advantages: low taxes, streamlined bureaucracy, and the ability to open local bank accounts and purchase real estate, even as a non-resident. Furthermore, the country is energy self-sufficient and offers modern services in major cities such as Mexico City, Playa del Carmen, and Guadalajara.

Those who decide to move to Mexico find an environment free from excessive restrictions, ideal for building a new life in a safe, sunny environment full of opportunities.

How to obtain residency in Mexico

There are various ways to obtain residency in Mexico. The country offers numerous types of visas, but not all are ideal for Italian clients.

Mexican Residence Permit: Your Plan B

Obtaining residency in Mexico today is a strategic choice for those who follow the Flag Theory and desire freedom, security, and personal diversification. Moving to Mexico means building a concrete plan B in a stable, democratic country that respects individual rights. Residency in Mexico for foreigners allows you to live in a place where freedom of expression and movement are fully guaranteed, far from unstable regimes or excessive taxation.

Living in Mexico is like living in a neutral country like Switzerland, free from international conflict and with an independent foreign policy. This neutrality makes Mexico one of the safest countries geopolitically, ideal for those seeking peace and independence. In recent years, many Italians have decided to move to Mexico after experiencing restrictions in Europe, finding a free and welcoming environment here.

Obtaining Mexican residency also opens the way to Mexican citizenship and a Mexican passport, which allows visa-free travel to hundreds of countries, including Europe. Residency in Mexico also provides tax benefits, pension discounts, and simplified bureaucracy. Looking ahead, choosing to live in Mexico is an investment in your freedom and quality of life.

Moving to Mexico: Life and Society

The United Mexican States is a North American country located in the southern part of North America. The third-largest country in Latin America, it borders the United States to the north, Guatemala and Belize to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and its eastern coast lies on the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Mexico has the second-largest coral reef in the world, after Australia.

Mexico has an estimated population of approximately 130 million people. Most speak Spanish as their native language, which the state recognizes as its national language along with 67 indigenous languages. Its capital and most populous city is Mexico City, with over 10 million residents in the city alone, or 30 million if the entire metropolitan area is considered. Its official currency is the Mexican Peso (MXN), which is the eighth most traded currency in the world. Mexico is the 15th richest nation in the world.

Transferring Residency to Mexico: Economy

Retiring to Mexico is one of the smartest choices for those seeking a new lifestyle, more affordable yet full of quality. Thanks to the favorable euro-Mexican peso exchange rate, living in Mexico on a pension of around 1,000 euros a month means enjoying a comfortable, secure, and culturally rich life. Residency in Mexico offers real advantages: low cost of living, affordable healthcare, excellent climate, and a growing network of expats who decide to move to Mexico every year to begin a new chapter in their lives.

Mexico is currently one of Latin America's strongest economies, second only to Brazil and the United States in terms of purchasing power. It is an industrialized and self-sufficient country, with a unique mix of agriculture, manufacturing, and technology. Living in Mexico means living in a productive, modern country deeply rooted in its cultural identity. It is among the world's leading producers of oil, tropical fruits, automobiles, and cement, and continues to grow steadily year after year.

With over 30 UNESCO sites, Mexico is also a cultural and tourism powerhouse. Those who choose Mexican residency, whether permanent or temporary, discover a place where freedom, security, and well-being coexist in harmony. Living in Mexico is not just an economic choice: it's a concrete way to improve your quality of life, live more peacefully, and build a free, sustainable, and opportunity-filled future.

At Studio Panama Italia, we are here to help you through every stage of your internationalization and structuring plans, residency in Mexico, and we are constantly searching for the best global locations to increase your privacy, freedom, and wealth.

If you're looking to set up a company, open a bank account, immigrate, and/or obtain a residence permit in Mexico, you can view the information below.

Mexico has approximately 3.5 million foreign residents from the United States, 700,000 from Canada, and over 6.5 million from Northern Europe. There are an estimated 100,000 Italians officially resident in Mexico, and approximately 321,000 without an AIRE registration. Mexico's Italian population is therefore estimated at nearly half a million.

Residence visa for Mexico

Residency in Mexico is relatively easy to obtain. Any foreign citizen wishing to live and work in Mexico legally must obtain a temporary Mexican residence visa or a Mexican work permit. Mexico is, on the one hand, extremely open to granting residency and citizenship to all without racial or cultural distinctions. On the other hand, it is the toughest country in the Americas, more so than the United States itself, in enforcing immigration laws. Immediate imprisonment for both adults and minors without distinction, record fines, and lifelong denials of reentry are daily practice in Mexico against those who do not strictly follow the entry, exit, and residence procedures. But it is also a country where residency is based on the minimum possible use of documents obtained abroad. In fact, obtaining residency in Mexico still means producing fewer documents than in any other country in the world, including Panama.

There are three types of residence visas in Mexico:

The tourist visaallows the holder to stay in Mexico for up to 90 days for purposes other than gainful employment (paid work). Until 2021, it could be extended up to 180 days. The laws changed in 2022; the tourist visa for all international nationalities is valid for 90 days, or the duration of your trip as a tourist, as confirmed by your return flight ticket. Therefore, if your trip to Mexico lasts 30 days because you have a return flight in 30 days, your tourist visa will also be valid for 30 days, and on the 30th day you must leave the country, under penalty of arrest and deportation, with the inability to re-enter for 10 consecutive years. It is always mandatory to arrive in Mexico with a pre-purchased return flight, as tourists will be required to provide proof of legal entry. All legal residents may enter Mexico without an exit flight.

The temporary Mexican residence visa, issued to foreign citizens wishing to live in Mexico for more than 180 days. In addition to a Mexican work permit, the holder is authorized to live and work legally in Mexico for up to four years. Note that there is also a variant, which is also the most common, the economic solvency visa, which does not initially allow employment but rather the holder to live off earnings from foreign sources.

The permanent Mexican residence visais issued to foreigners who wish to settle permanently in Mexico. This type of visa is most common for retirees, which is why it is also called a Mexican retirement visa. Foreigners with close family ties to Mexico and those who have lived in Mexico for a period of four years can also apply for permanent Mexican residence.

Types of temporary residence visas for Mexico

The main types of temporary resident visas for Mexico are:

Work Visa in Mexico

The Mexican work visa allows the holder to engage in paid work in Mexico. To obtain a Mexican work visa, the applicant must first obtain a work permit.

Study Visa in Mexico

The Mexico Student Visa, which is issued to foreign students who wish to continue their studies at a Mexican educational institution.

Family Union Visa in Mexico

The Mexico Family Visa, which is issued to foreigners who wish to join a close family member living in Mexico.

Retirement Visa in Mexico

The Mexico Pensioner Visa, obtainable by retirees when their pension is equal to or greater than €2,230 per month, demonstrable with a bank statement for the last 6 months and an INPS card or issuing body certifying the issuance.

Solvency Visa in Mexico

The Mexican residence visa for self-financing, which is also the most requested and easiest first visa to obtain to become a resident in Mexico, as well as the fastest, since it requires a bank statement with 40 thousand USD / EUR (Note: the values ​​​​change every year, increasing in line with inflation and the cost of living, for more information always update the Mexican embassy website).

Real Estate Investment Visa in Mexico

The temporary residence visa for real estate in Mexico, which, in exchange for a property purchase valued at no less than 476,000 euros by 2025, grants a temporary residence visa in Mexico which then becomes permanent.

What are the requirements for temporary residence in Mexico?

When applying for a temporary Mexican residence visa, you must have several supporting documents with you, such as:

• A printed and signed Mexican residence visa application form (download from the embassy website or fill out online)
• If the applicant is a minor, the parents or legal guardians must sign the Mexican residency application form.
• A passport or other travel document with blank pages for a visa to be affixed and valid for at least 6 months.
• Please also include a photocopy of the relevant pages of your passport.
• Recent passport-sized photos.
• Payment of the visa fee (see payment details on your embassy's website).
• Additional documents related to the purpose of the trip, such as (just one from the list is enough):
  • Proof of family relationship, for Mexican family visas
  • Proof of enrollment in an educational institution in Mexico, for the student visa to Mexico
  • Proof that you have obtained a work permit for Mexico and a copy of your employment contract if you are applying for a work visa for Mexico
  • Proof or bank statement that allows you to determine your financial solvency
• Any additional documents the Mexican embassy asks you to provide (generally they never ask for anything).

Service Details

Application for residency in Mexico

The application process for a temporary Mexican residence visa is divided into two parts and works the same as in the United States. So, forget about traveling to Mexico as a tourist and then, once you're in the country, falling in love, deciding to become a resident. You can't. You must return to your country of residence and proceed through the embassy. So, the two parts of the process are going to the embassy and then continuing in Mexico with the procedure explained here:

• Apply for a temporary Mexican residence visa at a Mexican embassy in your country of official residence.
• Changing the temporary residence visa applied by the embassy in the passport to a temporary residence card (temporary residence in Mexico) at the National Institute of Migration (Instituto Nacional de Migración – INM) at an airport in Mexico (canje de visa)
• You must apply for a temporary Mexican residence visa within 30 days of receiving your canje de visa, otherwise you will be deported.

How to obtain residency in Mexico in 4 steps

Benefits of a permanent residence visa in Mexico for Italians

Anyone intending to move to Mexico for a period longer than six months must have a valid Mexican residency or Mexican residence permit, depending on the length and purpose of their stay. Foreigners wishing to settle in Mexico permanently must have a Mexican permanent residence card.

The permanent residence visa for Mexico is a popular option among retirees, which is why it is often referred to as a Mexican retirement visa.

How to become a Mexican permanent resident?

To apply for permanent residency in Mexico, you must have lived legally in Mexico for at least four years with a temporary residence visa. Alternatively, retirees with sufficient monthly income can apply directly for a permanent residence visa.

How to buy property or land in Mexico

To purchase property in Mexico, you must have a bank fideicomiso (trust) if the property is located in the so-called "zona restrictida" (50 km from the coast or 100 km from the border). This trust is issued by any Mexican bank and has a term of 50 years, renewable. Outside the zona restrictida, foreigners can purchase directly without restrictions.

Temporary Residence Properties in Mexico

The temporary residence visa for real estate in Mexico is issued to those who own property in Mexico with a value of no less than €476,000 by 2025. This visa allows you to live in Mexico and convert to permanent residence after 4 years.

Retirement Visa in Mexico

To obtain a pensioner's visa in Mexico, you must demonstrate a monthly pension income of at least EUR 2,230 (approximately $83,640 MXN as of 2025) through bank statements for the last 6 months and certification from the provider (INPS for Italians).

Pension Taxation in Mexico

A pension received in Mexico by a resident is subject to Mexican progressive taxation (ISR). However, the Double Taxation Agreement (DTC) between Italy and Mexico provides tax credit mechanisms to avoid double taxation. It is essential to consult a specialized tax advisor.

Traveling to Mexico as a Tourist

Italian citizens can enter Mexico as tourists without a visa for up to 90 days. A purchased return flight ticket is required. Starting in 2022, the tourist visa is tied to the duration of the return flight. Upon expiration of the tourist visa, you must leave the country, under penalty of arrest and deportation, with a ban on re-entry for 10 consecutive years.

Obtaining citizenship and passport through Mexican naturalization

Mexican citizenship can be obtained through naturalization after legally residing in Mexico as a permanent resident for at least two consecutive years. The process requires an examination of Mexican history and culture and demonstration of basic Spanish language proficiency.

Mexican Naturalization: The Various Types

• Ordinary naturalization: 5 years of legal residence (2 years of permanent residence)
• Naturalization by marriage to a Mexican citizen: 2 years of residence
• Naturalization for children of Mexicans born abroad: a simplified procedure
• Naturalization for contribution to Mexico: for those who have contributed significantly to the country's culture, science, sports, or economy

Investing in Mexico

Mexico offers numerous investment opportunities thanks to its strategic location as a member of the T-MEC/USMCA, its skilled workforce, and competitive costs. The most attractive sectors include manufacturing (nearshoring), tourism and real estate (especially in the Riviera Maya), and renewable energy.

Tax Residency in Mexico and the Italy-Mexico Convention: Rules, Withholdings, and Disclosure

Tax residency in Mexico is acquired by staying in the country for more than 183 days in a calendar year or by establishing one's center of vital interests in Mexican territory. Mexico taxes tax residents on worldwide income at progressive rates ranging from 1.92% to 35%. The Double Taxation Agreement between Italy and Mexico (in force since 1995) provides mechanisms to avoid double taxation on pensions, employment income, dividends, interest, and royalties.

Spontaneous regularization and reduction of sanctions

Taxpayers who have not fulfilled their tax obligations in Italy following their move to Mexico can avail themselves of the "ravvedimento operoso" (effective repentance) procedure pursuant to Article 13 of Legislative Decree 472/1997 to regularize their situation with reduced penalties. It is advisable to consult a qualified professional.

Frequently Asked Questions about Residency in Mexico