Those planning to move to Mexico as a family often think that Mexico must have some kind of immigration program so that the entire family can obtain resident status at the same time. But Mexico does not have a residence permit “for a family.” Each family member obtains residency status on his own basis.
In most cases, it looks like this. One of the spouses has grounds for obtaining a residence permit in Mexico — Let's call it the main recipient. In particular, this may include an invitation to work or economic viability. First, the main recipient applies for a residence permit and receives a resident card, only then the rest of the family have the opportunity to obtain their resident cards based on their relationship with him.
The criteria for obtaining a resident visa based on economic ability (minimum income or account balance) always apply only to the main beneficiary and not to the family — to whose income or whose name the account is in.
Two more cases — by kinship with a Mexican citizen. The family came to Mexico and had a child here. The child immediately receives Mexican citizenship, then the parents — Permanent residence as parents of a Mexican citizen, following the parents — siblings of the child — Mexican and his grandparents. After registering a marriage with a Mexican citizen, the foreign spouse receives temporary resident status, and then his minor children and his parents can prepare their resident status.
Mexico considers a family to be spouses, their minor children and the spouses' parents. Adult children, brothers and sisters of spouses, uncles and aunts are not considered family members.
Any family member has the opportunity to transfer their residency status to their spouse or parent, but the parent — only to your minor child. That is, the grandmother has the right to transfer the right to a residence permit only to her spouse, but cannot to her child (one of the spouses), and the grandmother’s grandson will also not receive a residence permit.
There are 3 mechanisms for obtaining residence in Mexico by kinship.
By invitation to work or due to economic viability — The main applicant first obtains a resident visa from a Mexican consulate abroad. In addition, relatives can apply for visas at the same time as the main applicant. But they will be given visas only if the visa of the main applicant is approved.
After entering Mexico, the entire family simultaneously changes their visas to resident cards. In this case, the same canje process is applied to all of them, and the process is not stretched over time.
By marriage to a Mexican citizen or by the birth of a child, or if the primary recipient has already issued his/her resident card — the process begins in Mexico. First, the main recipient receives his card on his own basis, then the rest of the family members according to his relationship. Sometimes it is possible to submit documentation and purchase all cards (the main recipient and family members) on one day, sometimes family members have the opportunity to submit their documentation and issue their cards only the next day, and sometimes all processes take a longer time — It all depends on your options to quickly find an appointment to submit documentation.
The third option, and it is the most troublesome, — when the main recipient is located in Mexico and has already received their resident card, and family members — still abroad. The resident applies to the migration service, issues permits to family members, they go to the consulate and receive their resident visas there, then enter Mexico and exchange these visas for resident cards using the canje procedure. The entire process before family members issue resident cards can take several months.
Family members always receive the same residency status (temporary or permanent) as their relative who is already considered a resident of Mexico.
All migration stages are carried out separately for each family member; for each, their own package of documentation is prepared and a separate entry is received at the migration service office. Children pay migration rates at the same rate as adults.
The validity period of the first temporary resident card is usually 1 year (only for the main recipient by marriage to a citizen - 2 years). Then the card has the opportunity to renew for the same period for which the main recipient of the residence will renew. We talked about the child's resident card in thispublications.
A family member has the opportunity to purchase his own resident card at any time while his relative’s resident card is valid — main recipient. His card will be linked to the relative’s card. If a relative — a temporary resident does not have the opportunity to renew his card, he will lose his residence, and accordingly, his family member will lose his residence. For this reason, the primary beneficiary is solely responsible for preserving the entire family's residence.
The period before applying for citizenship may vary for family members. For adults it is 2 years for the parents of the child — a Mexican and the foreign spouse of a Mexican citizen. On all other grounds and for other adult family members, it always reaches 5 years, regardless of what card they have — temporary or permanent resident.
Children (under 18 years of age) can apply for Mexican citizenship as soon as their parent obtains citizenship. In other words, the period before a child applies for citizenship will be approximately a year longer than 2 or 5 years, given that parents will receive confirmation of citizenship 8-12 months after filing the documents.
You can find more detailed information using the following links:
- how to prepare residency status forbirth of a childin Mexico,
- how to apply for resident statuskinship.