We will not compare the advantages of living in Mexico with living in other countries here. It is clear that Mexico, in many respects, is inferior to countries that are more developed. But even in this comparison, Mexico has one advantage: it is relatively easy to obtain resident status in the country. Let's talk about what chances a residence permit in Mexico gives.
In ordinary life, resident status opens up most of the permissions available to a Mexican citizen within the state.
As in any other country, a residence permit provideslegally stay in Mexican territorywithin the validity period of the resident card. You can also freely travel in and out of Mexico as much as you like. Resident status in Mexico can be temporary or permanent. A temporary resident card is issued for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years. Unlike a tourist visa, which allows you to stay in Mexico for a maximum of 180 days and which cannot be extended under normal requirements, temporary resident status is permitted and must be extended. Having lived in Mexico for 4 years as a temporary resident, you are allowed to automatically obtain permanent resident status (permanent resident status), which is no longer limited in duration. You can immediately obtain permanent residence only in two cases: to have a direct family connection with a Mexican citizen, in particular, to give birth to a child, or to acquire refugee status.
For many who earn income from abroad, the chance to simply live legally in Mexico — already an advantage. Recently, the government has begun to encourage foreigners interested in living in the country to obtain a residence permit instead of renewing their travel status by making visas every six months. This is one of the reasons why 180 days upon entry has become much less common.
Resident status providesfree entryto Mexico. Something extreme would have to happen for a resident to be denied boarding a flight to Mexico or entry into the country. At the same time, unlike a guest of the country, he does not need:
- present a return ticket,
- present a hotel reservation,
- confirm financial solvency during your stay in Mexico,
- explain the purpose of coming to the country.
If one family member receives resident status, the restfamily membersIn addition, they can acquire resident status. For this reason, all standards for obtaining a residence permit in Mexico are designed for 1 person, not for a family. The acquisition of a residence permit by family members is implied. Family members are most often considered to be spouses and their minor children.
Any resident status other than study — Thispath to citizenshipMexico. It is impossible for a foreigner to immediately obtain a Mexican passport. If you married a Mexican or gave birth to a child in Mexico, you have the opportunity to apply for citizenship after 2 years, in all other cases — in 5 years. Note that not everyone is interested in citizenship; many are satisfied with lifelong permanent residence.
Resident status opensaccess to free medicine, more precisely, to public health programs such as IMSS and Bienestar. Unemployed non-resident residents have the opportunity to use them for a relatively low fee, something around $800 per year. For working resident foreigners, insurance premiums are paid by the employer. These programs cover basic medical services and even complex surgeries. At the same time, there is no need to be skeptical about Mexican state medicine.
Resident status gives the prospect of working in Mexico, or rather,engage in commercial activities. Here we need to clarify: most often, a temporary resident card, upon receipt, does not imply a work permit, however, this is a technical point. It will cost you to find an employer in Mexico or declare your desire to run your own business, and preparing a work permit from the Mexican Migration Service will not be difficult. Tax rates are the same for residents and citizens.
Residence permit gives a chanceopen a bank account. Although a visitor to the country has the opportunity to obtain a virtual bank card, one must be a resident to open an account in a regular bank and fully use it, especially to accept non-cash transfers. From January 1, 2023, to open an account, it became mandatory to provide RFC — tax number, and only citizens and residents of Mexico can purchase this number. By opening an account, a resident will be able to start his credit history, eventually get a full-fledged credit card, and even get a loan for the purchase of real estate.
Consulates of a number of countries in Mexico, such as the USA or the EU, allowobtaining visasonly residents. Moreover, in order to obtain a US visa in Mexico, you need to prove a connection with this country, say, to have a job here. This practice began to be widely used after the coronavirus pandemic. Submit papers and obtain a visa — not the same thing, but the resident has a chance to get a visa.
Of the other, less significant opportunities for a residence permit in Mexico, we note those that provide certain financial advantages:
- discounts for pensioners (for this you need to get an INAPAN card),
- discounts when visiting cultural and historical sites, on transport and when paying for various goods and services. These discounts can be very selective and apply only to residents of a particular region, but may apply to all residents. The most popular discounts on the Caribbean coast of Mexico — to visit theme parks, archaeological sites and ferries to the islands,
- exemption from paying guest sovereign tax on flights to Mexico (about $32).
Neither temporary nor permanent residence in Mexico does not provide the prospect of visa-free entry into those countries where Mexican citizens do not need a visa. In particular, to the EU, Canada or the UK. This is unfair, since a permanent resident of Spain has the right to enter Mexico without a visa, and a permanent resident of Mexico into Spain — No. Until he obtains Mexican citizenship and a passport, a resident alien, temporary or permanent, can only use a passport from the state of his current citizenship when traveling abroad.
In addition, a residence permit does not provide any advantages when purchasing real estate in the so-called «restricted zone» — you will still have to formalize the transaction through the opening of a bank trust or with a Mexican company.
In general, even a temporary residence permit is enough for a full life in Mexico. The question is, do you love Mexico and how long do you want to stay here?