Residence Visa Exchange at the INM: Your First 30 Days.

Is this for you?

• You already have a temporary or permanent residence visa in your passport and have not entered Mexico yet.
• You just arrived and are unsure what to do in your first days.
• Your visa was approved but you do not know when to travel without running past the deadline.
• You are already in Mexico and do not know whether your clock is running or has expired.

General requirements

Passport with the residence visa

The temporary or permanent residence visa placed by the consulate, still within its validity when you enter.

Entry immigration record

Proof of your entry into Mexico. Depending on the port of entry, this can be an electronic or printed record. Confirm that your entry was logged as a resident entry.

Online exchange request

The INM asks you to complete the application form on its portal and, usually, to book an appointment at the office that covers your address.

Photos and address details

Photos that meet INM specifications and your Mexican address, which is recorded for your card. Keep proof of address at hand.

Payment of official fees

INM fees are paid under the Federal Fees Law in force. The exact item depends on your status and the number of years.

Fingerprints and photo at the office

Biometric data is captured at your appointment. We recommend arriving with every document printed and in order.

INM forms and its appointment portal change often. We verify the current procedure at your office before your appointment.

Step-by-step process

1. 1

   Step 1: Plan your entry date

   The clock starts when you enter Mexico. If you have not traveled yet, we set a date that leaves room to get an appointment and gather what you need.

2. 2

   Step 2: Enter Mexico on the visa

   Show your passport with the visa to immigration and check that you are registered as a resident. If you are logged as a tourist by mistake, tell us immediately.

3. 3

   Step 3: Submit the online request

   You fill in the INM portal form with data that matches your passport and visa exactly. A typo here causes delays later.

4. 4

   Step 4: Appointment, fees and biometrics

   You attend the appointment at the INM office, pay the fees, give fingerprints and a photo, and receive proof that the procedure is underway.

5. 5

   Step 5: Receive your resident card

   The INM hands you the card at the office or by the method it indicates. Check that your details are correct and keep copies of everything.

Estimated timelines

Common mistakes

• Leaving the exchange until after you settle in. The 30-calendar-day clock does not pause.
• Entering Mexico as a tourist when you already held a residence visa, which cancels the visa's effect.
• Entering your data differently from the passport, such as leaving out a second surname.
• Waiting for an appointment before starting the online request, when the request itself is what counts.
• Not keeping the procedure receipt, which is what proves your status while the card is on its way.

What our support includes

• A date plan so your entry and your exchange fit inside the window.
• Review of your visa and your entry record.
• Preparation and review of your online request.
• Appointment prep with a document checklist and receipts.
• Direct contact with the lead attorney, in English or Spanish, by video call.
• If something goes wrong or the window passes, a review of options to get the process back on track.

Fees are explained after the consultation, based on your case.

Questions about this process