Temporary residency Mexico — income or savings

What changed in 2026

Without a change in calculation basis, requirements would have risen much more sharply — worth understanding what actually prevented the jump.

METRIC

OLD BASIS (minimum wage)

NEW BASIS (UMA, 2026)

Income/month

OLD BASIS (minimum wage)would have risen to ≈$5,100+

≈$4,400 (varies $4,300–4,500)

Savings

OLD BASIS (minimum wage)would have risen to ≈$86,000+

≈$73,000 (varies $72,000–74,000)

Annual growth pace

OLD BASIS (minimum wage)volatile (minimum wage +13% in 2026)

predictable, 3–5%/year (UMA)

Income and savings are not combinable

You must fully meet ONE of the two routes — partially meeting both does not qualify.

ROUTE

REQUIREMENT

VERIFICATION PERIOD

Income

REQUIREMENTfrom $4,400/month (varies by consulate)

the past 6 months

Savings

REQUIREMENTaverage balance from $73,000

the past 12 months

Visa renewal

REQUIREMENTfor 1–3 years, applicant’s choice

—

How the process runs

Choosing a route — income or savings

One of the two in full, without combining partial amounts.

Confirming the specific consulate’s practice

Net vs. gross income, daily vs. monthly balance checks — rules differ.

Filing for temporary residency

With bank statements covering the required period (6 or 12 months).

Receiving a 1-year visa

Renewable for 1, 2, or 3 years, applicant’s choice.

Transitioning to permanent residency after 4 years

Through an INM office inside Mexico — not through a consulate.

A good fit if

You have confirmed income from $4,400/month over the past 6 months — via one of the routes.

Or you have an average account balance from $73,000 over the past 12 months — via the other route.

You’re willing to confirm the specific consulate’s practice in advance — the counting rules (net/gross, daily checks) genuinely differ.

You’re fine with a path to permanent residency after 4 years of continuous temporary residence.

A poor fit if

You plan to combine partial income and partial savings to reach the threshold — the routes are not combinable; one must be fully met.

Your income is below $4,400/month AND your savings are below $73,000 — neither route is available.

You’re not prepared for variation between consulates — some require the balance never dip below the threshold on any day of the year, others check only monthly totals.

You need permanent residency status immediately — temporary residency leads to PR only after 4 consecutive years.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

La Vida Golden Visas

Лондон, Великобритания · since 2002

Over 20 years of experience, clients from 160+ countries; specialises in Portugal’s Golden Visa and other EU programmes.

Global Citizen Solutions

Лондон, Великобритания / Лиссабон, Португалия · since 2016

Global mobility consultancy with a Lisbon office; specialises in Portugal’s Golden Visa and Spain’s Non-Lucrative Visa.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

Can I combine income and savings if neither meets the threshold alone?

No — per the available data, the routes are not combinable; you must fully meet ONE of them: either income from $4,400/month over 6 months, or savings from $73,000 over 12 months.

Why didn’t the threshold rise more sharply in 2026?

Per the available data, consulates switched from calculating off the minimum wage (which rose 13%) to the UMA — a metric with predictable 3–5% annual growth; without this change, the threshold would have been ≈$5,100+/month for income and ≈$86,000+ for savings.

Are the requirements identical at every consulate?

No — per the available data, consulates apply different practices: some count net income after tax, others gross; some require the balance never dip below the threshold on any day of the year, others check only monthly ending balances.

When is permanent residency available?

Per the available data, after 4 consecutive years of temporary residency, processed through an INM office inside Mexico rather than a consulate abroad.

How long is the first visa valid?

Per the available data, 1 year, renewable for 1, 2, or 3 years at the applicant’s choice before the current term expires.

What is the UMA?

Per the available data, the Unidad de Medida y Actualización — a Mexican reference index (117 MXN/day for 2026) that consulates have used since 2026 instead of the minimum wage to set financial residency thresholds.

Sources

Mexico Relocation Guide — overview of 2026 changes to Mexico’s temporary residency thresholds: the shift from minimum wage to UMA, exact income and savings figures, consulate variation↗

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 27 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.