The question of how to stay in Mexico longer than allowed is a question we get asked very often. It’s strange, but many are still convinced that when they first come to Mexico, they have the opportunity to stay here for a long time. This was the case until mid-2021, when upon entry everyone was automatically allowed to stay in the country for 180 days, and virtually no immigration checks were carried out. But recently the situation has changed.
The tips below do not guarantee that you will be able to extend your guest's state visa without leaving Mexico. However, you should try them out as the tips are prepared based on practical experience.
What is «permitted period of stay»? Upon entry to Mexico you will receive an FMM migration form. When going through passport control, the officer indicated in it the number of days you have the opportunity to stay in Mexico. At the end of this period, you are required to either leave the country, or obtain a new migration form for a new period, or change your status as a guest of the state to the status of a resident of Mexico.
Permitted length of stay — This is not the validity period of your Mexico tourist visa if you received it at the consulate, nor is it the period you requested in the electronic authorization, although they may be the same. The allowed period is usually 7 — 180 days, not the default 180 days, as many believe.
How to find the maximum period allowed upon entry? How many days to allow you to stay in Mexico is decided by the migration officer at passport control, and only by him. Try to influence his decision.
Provide return tickets. Usually the officer makes a decision based on the date indicated on the ticket from Mexico. But there is a caveat. If you plan to stay in Mexico for a long period of time, the officer may ask you to confirm that you will need that length of time and cover expenses for the entire period of your stay — reservation from hotel or other accommodation and money. A detailed travel itinerary around the country is also suitable. There is still no guarantee that the migration officer will provide the requested period.
At the same time, the argument “I came to Mexico to spend the winter” doesn't go away anymore. The argument “I own a home in Mexico” doesn’t work either. — The migration service believes that homeowners should register residence, and if for some reason they do not have the opportunity or are unable to do this, they are no different from ordinary travelers. And from «digital nomads» 180 days give more awesome — You should try to clearly explain how you can make money on the Internet.
Enter through the land border. When entering Mexico by land, as a rule, they still give 180 days. Unfortunately, entry into the country by land is not available to everyone.
Fly through small airports. Upon arrival at small airports, 180 days are given much more often than when arriving at Cancún or Mexico City. But almost all flights from Europe arrive either in Cancún or in Mexico City.
As soon as you receive the migration form, immediately check the number of days indicated on it. If it does not meet your expectations, contact the migration officer who processed your entry and try to convince him to change his decision. This may work, but not always.
Is it possible to extend the permitted period to 180 days? Yes, it is allowed, but it is very individual, and there is no guarantee of renewal. Try to find a new FMM at the migration service office at the airport — There is such an office in every international terminal. You may be asked to show your return ticket. It is not permitted to purchase such an extension at the Migration Service office.
Is it possible to extend the permitted period beyond 180 days? More often than not, you can't. But there are a few exceptions. In particular, there are confirmed medical conditions that force you to stay in Mexico. You came to Mexico for treatment that requires you to stay in the country longer than 180 days.
If you get sick with coronavirus while traveling to Mexico and are unable to board the plane, your FMM will not be extended for the duration of your illness.
More one chance is related to the coronavirus epidemic. If your FMM migration form was issued for a full period of 180 days, you are able to obtain a new one for the next 180 days, in particular due to health risks when traveling internationally. However, there is no need to confirm this threat. To apply for a new FMM, you should contact the migration service office in — in other publications we told how to do this.
What other ways are there to stay in Mexico after the FMM expires? All other methods are related to the acquisition of a residence permit. You can get a Residence in Mexico without leaving only for the following reasons:
- marriage or family ties with a citizen or resident of the state,
- birth of a child in Mexico,
- refugees,
- program for resolving the migration situation for those who have already been to Mexico in 2015-2019.
It is not possible to purchase a Residence without moving out for other reasons. After the easing of quarantine restrictions, migration service offices no longer accept documentation from those who want to become a resident of the state and have sufficient financial strength to do so or own real estate in Mexico. They, as before the epidemic, first need to contact the foreign consulates of Mexico.
There are unpredictable possibilities. Let’s say, once every 4-5 years, the Mexico Migration Service conducts so-called “migration amnesties”, when illegal immigrants have the prospect of being legalized in the country without any sanctions.
What happens if I do not leave Mexico after the end of the permitted period? Once the migration form expires, you become an illegal immigrant. Most often, there will be no significant consequences. You can fly later by paying 638 MXN (2022) at the airport before the summer for the purchase of a new one-time FMM. This will not affect your subsequent entries. But if you get a migration check before the summer, you will be detained and deported. You can avoid deportation only by paying a large bribe before the deportation decision is made. Once such a decision is made, deportation is inevitable and your subsequent entries into the country will be restricted. Since only a small percentage of foreigners are subject to immigration checks, it cannot be ruled out that you will not be one of them.
Fake FMM. We strongly advise against falsifying the number of days allowed on your FMM migration form. We strongly advise against purchasing new uniforms from anyone. The form itself and the data in it are easily checked, and serious troubles can arise. In fact, the permissibility of using a fake FMM depends only on whether you got a migration check or not, since a fake migration form — this is the same as from the absence of such a form.
In addition, the emergence of «left» Entry stamps in your passport significantly limit your options for official legalization in the country, if it becomes possible for you.
Is a visa run from Mexico to acquire a new authorized period still possible? Yes, it's possible. But there is no guarantee that upon re-entry you will be allowed to stay in Mexico longer than the last time, and in some cases there is no guarantee of problem-free entry at all. There is an opinion that the migration service believes that during the year an ordinary guest of the country is obliged to stay in Mexico less than outside its borders, and for this reason visarans no longer work. But practice shows that upon re-entry they are quite capable of allowing you to stay for 180 days, in other words, there is no system.
If you are a regular traveler who came to Mexico on vacation, carefully prepare all confirmations of the purpose of the trip. Then you are almost guaranteed to be allowed to stay here for as many days as needed for your trip. Even if you leave later, nothing bad will happen. If you are going to live in Mexico, think in advance about how to acquire resident status. In most cases, you will not be able to legally stay in the country beyond the permitted period.