You've read horror stories on social media and think that it's very difficult to get into Mexico because everyone is denied entry. But then you go through passport control without any problems, and now you are in Mexico. Here you will learn that it is impossible to extend the permitted period of stay, but there is an opportunity to either take the risk and live in the country illegally, or somehow become legalized.
Now you think that if you are already in Mexico, then this will somehow help to acquire resident status. This is wrong. You can’t just come to the migration service and say: “I’m already in Mexico, give me a residence permit.”
In order to obtain a residence permit (residence) in Mexico, you need to have a reason. Base — the main thing is where you will start the process of obtaining a residence permit — in Mexico or even before arrival, depends on this basis. And the choice of grounds is not that big.
After the migration regulation program was canceled in 2025, the choice of grounds for acquiring a residence permit without leaving became even shorter.
If you are already in Mexico, it is possible to obtain residency status without leavingonly on the basis of kinshipwith a citizen or resident of the state:
- marry a citizen or resident of Mexico,
- give birth to a child in Mexico — as a parent of a child,
- have a relative — citizen or resident of Mexico.
All other reasons do not allow you to start the process of obtaining a residence permit while in Mexico:
- economic viability (income, account balance, real estate in Mexico, share in a Mexican public company),
- a job offer from a Mexican employer,
- study in Mexico (student residence status).
We have described all these reasons for obtaining a residence permit in Mexico inpublications. There are no other reasons.
Even if you are now in Mexico, in order to obtain a residence permit based on income or an invitation to work, you will still have to leave Mexico and first purchase a resident visa at one of the consulates abroad. A resident visa will provide a guaranteed return to Mexico to obtain a resident card.
If they don’t give you a visa, you will again think about how to easily get to Mexico as a traveler and where to get the basis for a residence permit so as not to have to leave.
So, many of those who ask for help in obtaining a residence permit in Mexico have their own reasons for this. But they are already in Mexico, they don’t want to leave, and without leaving they are not able to realize these reasons. For this reason, think before coming to Mexico: if it is possible, it is more rational to first start the process of obtaining a residence permit while you are not yet in Mexico, and then come to the country.
But there is another prospect after entry to stay in Mexico legally. This is the acquisition of temporary visitor status for humanitarian reasons. Visitor status — This is not a resident status. It is opened temporarily when you apply for refugee. In our opinion, this is a dead-end option and in essence it is no different from continuing to live in Mexico after the end of the permitted period of stay. Currently, the wait for visitor status alone extends for six months after filing an application with the Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR). Every 10 days you must come to check in in person, and you cannot skip visits. You can’t leave the state either, but when you leave, they will let you sign a protocol, and then entry into Mexico will be closed for you. The prospects for subsequently acquiring refugee status (after visitor status) are virtually nil, and this is just wasted time.
But if you are confident that refugee status and then permanent residence in Mexico will be given to you, then feel free to use the route through acquiring visitor status. It is just for those who are already in Mexico and do not have grounds for acquiring a residence permit.