For temporary residency in 2026, you need monthly income of approximately $4,500 USD for six consecutive months. Alternatively, show savings of approximately $75,000 USD averaged over 12 months. Permanent residency requires roughly $7,500 USD monthly income or $300,000 USD in savings. These thresholds change every year because they are tied to Mexico’s UMA index.
Why the Numbers Change Every Year
Mexico calculates residency financial requirements using the UMA (Unidad de Medida y Actualizacion). The UMA is a reference unit that adjusts annually based on inflation. For 2026, the daily UMA value is $117.31 pesos, a 3.69 percent increase from the 2025 value of $113.14 pesos.
Mexican consulates multiply the daily UMA by specific factors to set income and savings thresholds. When the UMA rises, the dollar amounts rise. When the peso weakens against the dollar, the USD amounts drop. Both variables shift each year, so the thresholds you see today may differ from what applies when you schedule your consulate appointment.
A Major Rule Change in 2025
In July 2025, Mexico’s government published updated visa guidelines in the Diario Oficial de la Federacion (DOF). The key change: consulates now use UMA instead of the minimum daily wage to calculate financial requirements. Mexico had created the UMA in 2016 for exactly this purpose, but consulates continued using minimum wage for nearly a decade.
The minimum wage had jumped roughly 12 percent per year in recent years. The UMA rises only 3 to 5 percent annually. This switch slowed the rapid escalation of residency costs. In 2022, the income threshold for temporary residency sat around $2,000 USD per month. By 2025, it exceeded $4,000 USD. The UMA switch keeps 2026 increases modest compared to previous years.
2026 Temporary Residency Thresholds
Income Method
Show monthly net income of approximately $4,500 USD on bank statements or pay stubs for the six consecutive months before your application date. Every month must meet or exceed the threshold. One month below the line can trigger a rejection.
The consulate checks each month individually. If you earn $5,000 in five months but $4,200 in one month, some consulates reject the application. Build a cushion above the minimum.
Savings Method
Show an average balance of approximately $75,000 USD in bank or investment accounts over the 12 consecutive months before your application date. The balance must stay consistent throughout the period. A large deposit right before applying raises questions and may not count toward the average.
You cannot combine income and savings. Pick one method and ensure your documentation supports it cleanly for the full required period.
2026 Permanent Residency Thresholds
Income Method
Show monthly net income of approximately $7,500 USD for six consecutive months. This is roughly 67 percent higher than the temporary threshold.
Savings Method
Show an average balance of approximately $300,000 USD over 12 consecutive months. This is roughly four times the temporary savings threshold.
Most expats cannot meet the permanent thresholds directly. The common path: start with temporary residency, renew for four years, then convert to permanent at INM without any new financial proof. The four years of continuous residency replace the income requirement entirely.
What Counts as Income?
Consulates accept several types of income documentation. Employment income shown on pay stubs or direct deposit bank statements. Pension or Social Security deposits. Investment dividends and interest payments. Rental income from property. Business distributions or self-employment income deposited to your account.
The income must appear as deposits in your bank statements. A letter from your employer stating your salary is not enough on its own. The consulate wants to see the money hitting your account each month.
Some consulates accept printed PDFs of online bank statements. Others demand physical statements with bank stamps or letterhead. Confirm the format your consulate requires before your appointment.
What Counts as Savings?
Bank accounts (checking, savings, money market), brokerage accounts, and retirement account statements all qualify. The key: you must show 12 months of statements proving the balance stayed at or above the threshold throughout.
Retirement accounts like 401(k) and IRA balances count at most consulates. Bring the full 12 months of statements showing the account value. Real estate equity does not count toward the savings threshold. Neither does the value of a vehicle, business, or other non-liquid assets.
Applying as a Couple
If you apply with a spouse or partner as a dependent, the principal applicant must meet the standard threshold. You also need an additional amount for the dependent. The 2025 guidelines set the dependent supplement at 220 times the daily UMA. For 2026, that adds roughly $25,800 pesos (approximately $1,300 to $1,500 USD per month) to the income requirement.
The dependent does not need to show separate financial proof. One applicant qualifies financially, and the spouse applies under family unity. The dependent pays separate government processing fees but faces no independent income test.
Government Fees Doubled for 2026
On November 7, 2025, Mexico published a revised fee schedule that doubled foreign residency processing fees. The consulate application fee remains approximately $53 USD. The INM processing fees in Mexico increased sharply.
First-year temporary residency INM fees now run approximately $9,600 to $12,400 pesos ($490 to $635 USD at current exchange rates). Annual renewal fees also increased. Budget $500 to $700 USD for INM fees in your first year, up from $275 to $360 USD in 2025.
Applicants who qualify through family unity or a company job offer receive a 50 percent discount on 2026 INM fees. Family unity covers Mexican spouses, parents, or children.
How Exchange Rates Affect You
The thresholds are set in pesos using UMA multiples. Consulates convert to USD at the exchange rate in effect when you apply. A stronger peso means you need more dollars to meet the same peso threshold. A weaker peso means you need fewer dollars.
The approximate USD figures in this article use a rate near 19.5 pesos per dollar. If the rate shifts to 21 pesos per dollar by the time you apply, the income threshold drops in dollar terms. If it tightens to 18 pesos per dollar, the threshold rises. Check the current exchange rate before calculating whether you qualify.
What Each Consulate Expects
Federal rules set the UMA multiples. Individual consulates interpret and apply them. San Diego, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and other consulates may set slightly different dollar thresholds based on their internal exchange rate calculations and document preferences.
Always confirm the exact requirements with your specific consulate before gathering documents. Call, email, or check their website. The numbers in this article reflect federal guidelines and approximate conversions. Your consulate may quote a number $100 to $300 higher or lower per month.
Practical Steps to Qualify
Start preparing six to 12 months before you plan to apply. If you use the income method, ensure your deposits consistently exceed the threshold every month. If you use the savings method, keep your balance stable and above the minimum for the full 12-month window.
Avoid large withdrawals during the documentation period. Avoid moving money between accounts in ways that create gaps. Print or download your statements each month so you have clean records when the appointment arrives.
If your income falls short of the temporary threshold, consider the savings route. If both fall short, you may need to wait and build your financial position before applying.
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.