You need your valid passport, apostilled birth certificate, apostilled marriage certificate (if applicable), proof of income or savings, and a clean criminal background check. Gather everything before you leave. Replacing documents from inside Mexico costs months.
Documents You Need Before Leaving the US
Passport
Your US passport must have at least six months of validity remaining from your planned entry date. Mexico and the Mexican consulate both enforce this rule. If your passport expires within six months, renew it before starting anything else. Every other document process depends on having a valid passport.
Birth Certificate
Get a certified copy of your birth certificate from the vital records office of the state where you were born. The copy must be recent and certified. A photocopy of your old birth certificate does not work. You need the original certified copy with the raised seal or registrar’s stamp.
Then get it apostilled. The apostille certifies that your document is legitimate for use in another country. Each US state has its own apostille office, usually the Secretary of State. Processing takes one to four weeks depending on the state. Texas and California offer expedited service for an additional fee.
Marriage Certificate
If married, get a certified copy of your marriage certificate from the county or state that issued it. Apostille this document through the same state’s Secretary of State office. Mexico requires the apostilled marriage certificate for spousal residency applications, property purchases in both names, and various legal processes.
Criminal Background Check
The Mexican consulate requires a criminal background check (constancia de antecedentes no penales) for residency visa applications. Order an FBI Identity History Summary through the FBI’s website. Processing takes three to five business days for electronic submissions. Some consulates accept state-level background checks instead. Confirm with your specific consulate before ordering.
The background check must be recent. Most consulates require it to show a date within the last three to six months. Do not order this too early in your timeline.
Proof of Income or Savings
For a temporary residency visa, the Mexican consulate requires proof of financial solvency. The 2026 requirements use UMA-based thresholds. For income, you need to show approximately $2,600 to $3,300 USD per month over the last six months. For savings, you need approximately $43,000 to $75,000 USD in investments or bank balances over the last 12 months.
Bring your last 12 months of bank statements, investment account statements, pension or Social Security award letters, or employment verification letters showing salary. The consulate wants to see consistent income, not a one-time deposit. Print everything. Consulates still prefer paper documents.
Photographs
The Mexican consulate requires passport-sized photographs (white background, front-facing, no glasses). Bring at least six copies. You need them for the consulate application, INM processing in Mexico, and your residency card. Standard US passport photos from CVS, Walgreens, or a photo shop work if the background is white.
Documents You Should Bring (Not Required but Critical)
Driver’s License
Bring your current US driver’s license. Mexico does not require an international driving permit for US citizens. Your US license allows you to drive legally in Mexico as a tourist. Once you have residency, you can get a Mexican driver’s license at a local transit office in Baja. The process takes one day and costs under $1,000 pesos.
Vehicle Title and Registration
If you plan to bring your car into Mexico, bring the original title (in your name) and current registration. You need these for the temporary vehicle import permit (TIP) if you drive beyond the Baja Peninsula. Baja California and Baja California Sur do not require a TIP, but you still need proof of ownership if stopped.
Medical Records and Prescriptions
Bring copies of your medical records, vaccination history, and current prescription information. Mexico has excellent pharmacies and doctors, but your new physician needs your history. If you take prescription medications, bring a letter from your US doctor listing your medications, dosages, and diagnoses. Many medications available by prescription in the US sell over the counter in Mexico, but having documentation helps.
Pet Health Certificates
If you bring pets, you need a health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian issued within 10 days of travel. Dogs and cats need current rabies vaccination records. The USDA-APHIS office must endorse the health certificate for international travel.
Insurance Documents
Your US auto insurance does not cover you in Mexico. Buy Mexican auto insurance before crossing the border. Companies like Baja Bound, Lewis and Lewis, and CESCO sell policies online. Bring the printed policy. Also bring your US health insurance information. Some US plans cover emergency care in Mexico. Know your coverage before you need it.
Documents You Get After Arriving in Mexico
Residency Card (Tarjeta de Residente)
After the consulate approves your visa, you enter Mexico and visit an INM office within 30 days. INM takes your biometrics, verifies your documents, and issues your temporary residency card. This card is your primary ID in Mexico for the next year.
CURP
INM assigns your CURP (Clave Unica de Registro de Poblacion) when they issue your residency card. This is your Mexican population registry number. Print it from gob.mx/curp. You need it for banking, taxes, and most government interactions.
RFC
Your RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) is your Mexican tax ID. Get it from SAT after you have your residency card and CURP. Schedule an appointment at sat.gob.mx. You need the RFC to open a bank account and to work legally.
Apostille Basics
An apostille is a certificate that authenticates a document for use in another country. Mexico and the US are both members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Any official US document you plan to use in Mexico needs an apostille from the issuing state.
Documents that need apostilles: birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, death certificates (if relevant to your application), court orders, and powers of attorney. Your passport does not need an apostille.
After apostilling, get each document translated into Spanish by a certified translator (perito traductor) in Mexico. INM and other government offices require Spanish translations of all foreign documents. Some people get translations done in the US, but translations by a Mexican perito traductor carry more weight with government offices.
Common Mistakes That Delay Everything
Starting the visa process with an expiring passport. The consulate rejects applications if your passport expires within six months. Renew first.
Getting apostilles from the wrong state. Your birth certificate apostille comes from the state that issued the birth certificate, not the state where you live now. A California resident born in Ohio gets the apostille from Ohio’s Secretary of State.
Ordering the background check too early. If it takes you four months to gather everything else, your background check may expire before the consulate appointment. Order it last.
Not bringing enough copies. Make three photocopies of every document. INM offices, banks, landlords, and the SAT all request copies. A copy shop near any INM office will charge you $5 pesos per page, but having copies ready saves time.
Leaving original documents in the US. Once you move to Mexico, getting a replacement apostilled birth certificate from Ohio takes weeks of mail and phone calls. Bring the originals. Store them in a fireproof safe or a bank safe deposit box once you arrive.
Regulations and government processes change. This article reflects information current as of March 2026. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed immigration consultant or contact the relevant government office directly.