Job Discussion Forums

[mep3]

What are the requirements for obtaining permanent residency in Mexico? Thx .... M

[Samantha]

We just had a discussion on this not long ago. You should be able to find it in a search of the archives. Did you mean just to live here forever or do you mean become Mexican? Someone (I think Melee) posted the link to the naturalization process, however ou can live here permanently on an FM3 visa, and keep a foreign plated car in the country, something you can't do once you become Mexican.

[englishsettler]

my advice is.......dont even start this discussion !
I started it and got fired down for supposedly " wanting easy residency " or some ridiculous notion like that ! People who arent very world wisely come on here and react to the slightest thing !!!

[Polly0607]

I�ll post something helpful...

You can live on an FM3 indefinitely.
You can also change to an FM2, which is the path to a status called "Inmigrado".
That is not citizenship. Citizenship is called "Naturalizaci�n".

Though all of these processes should be standard, they are not. You will get different versions from different people about what is required. The problem is that not all immigration offices are alike. They will ask different things from different people.

All you can do is pick the status that you feel is best for you and apply.

Here is immigration's website:
http://www.inm.gob.mx/pagina_ingles/principal-ingles.asp

Here is the website for foreign affairs (if you apply for citizenship)
http://www.sre.gob.mx/

Hope this helps.

[mep3]

Can you live on an FM3 indefinitely even if you stay in Mexico for a long time and retire from your teaching there? Can you stay on it even after you retire from teaching? Mep

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[mep3]

Oh. Basically what are those? Mep

[MELEE]

Many retirees have FM3, most are snow birds, here 6 to 10 months of the year. Most have a pension and appreciate that it goes farther this side of the boarder. You need to prove a set income for a non working FM3. The draw back of staying on an FM3 indefinately is you have to pay for it every year, and the cost is rising rapidly, in 1998 my first FM3 cost me less than 700 pesos, my most recent one cost almost 2000 pesos.
And the other draw back is you have to deal with the immigration officials every year, depending on their mood, that could be worse than the payment.

[mep3]

So the question if one planned to retire there on a non-working FM3 would be whether you could meet the set income requirement. Do you know what it is currently? M

[Samantha]

The FM3 Rentista (which most permanent retirees obtain) stays pretty stable cost-wise. Renewals are currently hanging in there at just over $1000.00 pesos a year and the minimum income figure to qualify is based on some cost of living figure from Mexico City. The retirees must show the minimum income for the previous 3 months (in the form of bank statements) as being about $1100.00 or $1200.00 USD a month. (Wife and family are added on as dependants and the figure is then higher). Or they must show a substantial bank balance or investment account. This is all just to ensure that they can support themselves living in Mexico. It does not entitle one to earn income in Mexico. You can also get a similar type of FM3 if you have a Mexican spouse who can prove income to keep you in the country. (maybe not in the livestyle to which you were previously accustomed but it works!!)

INAMI is all smiles here, pretty laid back, no hassles for anyone, especially those foreigners starting up businesses. They deported one a few months ago for not getting his permissions, as a result of a competitor complaint but usually they are pretty content to just smile and stamp.

The cost of the working FM3 IS high and I think that's unfair given that most workers don't make high wages here. It only encourages non-compliance with the law, in my opinion.