FM3, FM2, FMM Mexican Visas

How Long Can You Stay in Mexico?

This page reflects May 2010 changes in Mexican immigration procedures. Please note that as of June 2009, passports are required for return to the United States.

We are not immigration counselors. We have provided this information to familiarize you with immigration vocabulary and procedures in Mexico; this page does not cover every situation. If you seek an FM-2 or FM-3 visa, you will be well served to consult an immigration professional or your local Mexican consulate about your particulars, not to mention consulting your financial and tax advisors.

Mexico FMM Replaces FMT Tourist Card

The primary source for this information is the Spanish-language Diario Oficial de la Federación of 2010-01-29 . Much of its substance is condensed in Spanish here. Further explanation of the process and immigration criteria is available from this document.

The length of your visit to Mexico depends on the type of immigration paperwork you have. While formal, pre–arranged visas are not required for Americans or Canadians (click to a complete list) making tourist, business, or informal study visits as long as six months, Mexico issues a tourist document to track visitors' time in country. As of 2010-05-01, the FMT is no longer used; it has been replaced by the new muliple purpose FMM or Forma Migratoria Múltiple. A high-resolution English version of FMM can be seen here.

This document can permit staying in Mexico up to 180 days for most visitors. The FMM now permits visitors to conduct business during these visits—an activity which formerly required a formal visa. The FMM does not permit you to work (for others), to serve as a journalist or correspondent, to enroll in a formal course of study, or to conduct religious activities. For these activities, you must obtain a formal visa.

Tip: The new FMM form consists of two parts. The smaller right-hand tear-off exit portion you must retain (keep with your passport). This new portion facilitates Mexico's matching of your exit from Mexico with your entrance. On your exit, the tear–off portion must be returned to an immigration official; you may not re–enter Mexico on the same FMM as was previously possible with the FMT. The fee for the FMM is about US $20. If you are driving in to Mexico, stop at Immigration (INM) just after crossing the border for the FMM tourist card. If you enter Mexico by air, your tourist card is included in your airfare and is presented to you before landing in Mexico.

Tourist Card Not Required

For brief visits in Mexico's border zone or in Baja California as far south as San Quintin, no FMM is required. A brief visit is considered 72 hours; if you will stay longer, get your FMM when you enter Mexico.

How to Stay More Than Six Months in Mexico

Many people use the services of an immigration lawyer or service company in Mexico for assistance with the following options. This is not required, but is practical for many people. Options enabling stays longer than six months include the FM-3 and FM-2 visas. Your primary consideration between these two visas is your intention to seek permanent Mexico residency or Mexican citizenship, invest in Mexico, seek work in Mexico, or survive on income from abroad. This document, in Spanish, describes the qualifications and documents required for these various types of immigrants to Mexico.

Change of Immigration Status

To apply for immigration status change, for example from FMM to FM-3, you previously filled out the form, Solicitud de Trámite Migratorio, which collected information about the type of migratory status change you sought. Now, the procedure starts with a new, dynamic, online form, Formato Migratorio para Trámites de Estancia which you complete online. This document describes the new electronic process called SETRAM. This electronic process is complemented by manual completion of Formato Básico, which you file in Spanish in person at the lcoal INM office. Formato Básico, available in both English and Spanish on our Forms page, must be filed in Spanish.

FM-3 Visa

The FM-3 visa is a non-immigrant temporary visa for those not seeking permanent Mexico residency or Mexican citizenship. Any type of FM-3 visa will permit staying longer than six months in Mexico; they can provide up to one year's stay. Several types of FM-3 are available. There is one for retired persons (the FM-3 Rentista), other types are available for persons conducting business, journalists, students, scientists, athletes, ministers (of any religion), or technicians and engineers.

Once you receive your FM-3, you must renew it each year, up to four times, then, at year five, you must reapply for the FM-3. An alternative to seeking an FM-3 visa is to leave Mexico, then return with a new tourist card permitting stay another six months. In the past, this procedure could be perpetually repeated in lieu of applying for the FM-3. Whether that is possible with the new FMM remains unclear.

FM-3 Visa Requirements

The requirements to obtain an FM-3 visa include:

1. A signed cover letter in Spanish

2. Proof of residency in Mexico

   1. for example, phone or utility bill in your name, photocopied in triplicate, or, if you rent,

   2. proof of residency can be obtained from the Ayuntamiento in your town for about US $5

3. Completed form FB

4. A valid passport and three entire front cover to back cover photocopies

   1. USA resident aliens also provide photocopies of both sides of green card

5. Your bank's documentation of at least US $1,500 per month income, in triplicate

   1. income requirements may be reduced by presentation of your original escritura publica or fideicomiso and its photocopy

6. Five original passport-type photos, 3 front, 2 right profile view

7. A completed Formato Migratorio para Trámites de Estancia application form (completed online)

   1. You will receeive a reference number when you complete this form online. Retain it; that can enable easy finding of your form via SETRAM.

8. Fees of about US $140 in cash

New Immigration Procedures

There are new names for the visas with which people have become familiar. The new visas take the form of a laminated photo credential and the old booklet format visas are to be replaced at renewal. Time will tell whether the old familiar names persist. The new FM-3 visa includes the language No Inmigrante while the FM-2 may include either Inmigrante (both of the foregoing are for non–resident immigrants)

or Inmigrado for resident alien. Sources for confirming these procedures are your local Mexican consulate or a local or regional INM office in Mexico. As of May 2010, regional consular offices no longer issue FM-2 or FM-3 visa booklets; these have been replaced by cards issued only in Mexico. Still, you are encouraged to call to review with your local consulate the latest procedures, fees, and turn around times for the visa you may require.

In any case, you may enter Mexico with the FMM form; if you need the FM-3 or FM-2, you will have thirty days to obtain it by virtue of your FMM. Previously, from office to office, visa procedures and requirements might slightly vary, so new procedures offer online service with uniform requirements! Note: Although you complete the new Formato Migratorio para Trámites de Estancia online using SETRAM, you print it loclly on your computer then present it at your local INM office. Personal appearance is required so your fingerprints may be added to your Formato Básico in person. See below for location of the Puerto Vallarta INM office.

FM-2 Visa

The FM-2 visa is for those seeking permanent Mexico residency, or who intend to pursue Mexican citizenship. Applying for permanent residency or citizenship is possible after holding the FM-2 visa for five years. If such is your desire, apply for the FM-2 visa; do not first apply for the FM-3 visa. Your time in Mexico on an FM-3 visa will not count toward the five years required to apply for permanent resident (i.e. resident alien) status or citizenship.

Once you become an official resident alien, you will be issued an FM-2, which resembles a passport. You will be eligible for additional benefits from IMSS. You also get to pay taxes in Mexico, although you may not vote or hold public office.

There are time restrictions on permanent residence. Once you hold the FM-2, if you live outside Mexico for longer than two years, or more than five years total out of ten, you may lose your permanent Mexico resident status.

Otherwise, you can remain a resident alien with an FM-2. If you seek and gain Mexican citizenship, you will no longer be subject to time restrictions on residence. Note that Mexico does not require you to surrender your United States passport or citizenship to gain citizenship in Mexico.

Just as there are several types of FM-3 visa, there are several types of FM-2 visa. FM-2 visas are available for retired persons with threshold levels of monthly income from abroad currently set at 400 times Mexico's daily minimum wage.

Check out other tools.

Another FM-2 visa is available for investors who will invest 26,000 times Mexico City's daily minimum wage. Other FM-2 visas are available for athletes, scientists, and other professionals. The help of an immigration attorney is recommended for those seeking an FM-2 visa. There will be tax considerations for which you need professional advice. Your Mexican consulate can tell you the latest daily minimum wage multiplier for the type of FM-2 visa that is right for you.

Where is the Puerto Vallarta INM office?

You can click to see its location on Google Maps.

Car Insurance

We offer quality car insurance for tourists and Mexico residents.

Home Insurance

We offer home insurance for free–standing homes, as well as for your condo, townhome, or townhouse in Mexico.