Yes, you can usually fix it — but the clock matters. If your FMM (tourist entry form) or visa has expired, Mexican law gives you a direct right to request regularization inside the country, and the immigration authority is legally obligated to receive your application. The single most important rule to know is this: if your permit has lapsed, you generally must file within 60 calendar days of the expiration date to regularize by the “expired document” route without leaving Mexico. Miss that window and, unless a family or humanitarian ground applies, your remaining option is to leave the country and process a visa at a consulate.
This is one of the most common questions we get at City Laws from US and Canadian expats. Someone falls in love with life in Mexico, the six-month tourist window slips by, and panic sets in about “being illegal.” The reality is calmer and more procedural than most people fear — Mexican immigration law explicitly contemplates this situation. Below we cover your rights, the deadlines that matter, what the fines and fees look like in 2026, and how the process differs from an overstay in the US or Canada.
You have a legal right to ask — Article 132
Start with the foundation. Article 132 of the Ley de Migración (Migration Law) gives every foreigner the right to request regularization of their immigration status in three situations: (I) not having documentation to prove regular status; (II) having expired documentation; or (III) no longer meeting the requirements of the immigration condition they were granted. The same article obligates the immigration authority (INM) to receive all regularization applications.
That framing matters. In the US system, an overstay quietly triggers unlawful presence and potential 3- and 10-year re-entry bars, with no built-in “come fix it at the counter” path. Mexico’s statute takes the opposite posture — it names regularization as a right and commands the authority to accept your paperwork.
The 60-day rule you cannot ignore — Article 134
Here is the deadline that decides which road you are on. Under Article 134, fraction I of the Migration Law, someone who has exceeded their authorized period of stay — a lapsed FMM or resident card — may regularize inside Mexico provided the application is filed within 60 calendar days following the expiration. This is confirmed by the INM’s own FAQ on regularization for an expired document. Once those 60 days pass, this particular route closes: you can no longer regularize on this basis and must either leave the country or qualify under a different provision (Articles 132 and 133).
Sixty calendar days from the day your document expired. That is the difference between fixing your status at an INM office in Mexico and having to fly out to a consulate to start over.
Article 134 also covers a second situation: a foreigner who carried out activities different from those permitted by their condition — for example, working on a visitor permit that did not authorize paid work (fraction II). In both cases — expired document within 60 days, or unauthorized activities — you must additionally show a concrete route to a lawful condition. Under the Lineamientos para trámites y procedimientos migratorios (DOF 08-11-2012), Article 52, that means demonstrating something like a job offer, economic solvency, an invitation letter, real-estate ownership, an investment, or enrollment in studies.
Expired more than 60 days? The Article 133 lifeline
Even if your FMM or visa lapsed well beyond 60 days, you may still have the right to regularize without leaving Mexico if you fall within Article 133 of the Migration Law. That article lists five grounds:
- (I) Spouse or common-law partner (concubino/a) of a Mexican citizen or of a foreign resident.
- (II) Parent, or child, of a Mexican or resident — or holding legal representation or custody of one.
- (III) Victim or witness of a serious crime committed in Mexico.
- (IV) A situation of vulnerability that makes deportation or assisted return difficult or impossible.
- (V) A child or adolescent in international restitution proceedings.
If one of these applies, the 60-day clock is not the barrier — the family or humanitarian tie carries the application, handled before the INM. If you think you might qualify, it is worth having an immigration lawyer in Mexico confirm the ground before you file, because the required proof differs sharply between a marriage tie and a vulnerability claim.
What the fine looks like in 2026
Regularizing after an overstay carries a fine, and this is where expats most often over- or under-estimate the cost. The Migration Law writes these penalties in “days,” and since the 2016 constitutional de-indexation reform (DOF 27-01-2016) those days are generally calculated in UMA (Unidad de Medida y Actualización) (rather than the former daily minimum wage). The 2026 UMA value is $117.31 MXN per day (DOF 09-01-2026, in force from 01-02-2026).
The two relevant penalty ranges are:
| Regularization ground | Legal basis | Fine (UMA) | Approx. 2026 pesos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family tie (Art. 133, fr. I & II) | Art. 145 LM | 20 to 40 | $2,346.20 – $4,692.40 MXN |
| Expired document / unauthorized activities (Art. 134) | Art. 146 LM | 20 to 100 | $2,346.20 – $11,731.00 MXN |
| Victim/witness, vulnerability, or NNA (Art. 133, fr. III, IV, V) | Art. 145 LM | No fine | $0 |
The exact amount within each range is not fixed in advance — the INM individualizes it during your interview, applying Article 73 of the Ley Federal de Procedimiento Administrativo. Note the humanitarian carve-out: the vulnerability, victim/witness, and child-restitution grounds of Article 133 carry no fine at all.
The government fees on top of the fine
The fine is separate from the government processing fees (derechos). Regularization is done in person at an INM office, and you pay for the reception and study of your application plus, if approved, the issuance of your resident card. The tariff basis is the Ley Federal de Derechos (Federal Fees Law), Articles 8 and 9.
For 2026 (rates in force from 01-01-2026), the reference figures are approximately:
- Reception and study of the application: around $1,847 MXN.
- Permanent resident card: about $4,383 MXN (LFD Art. 8, fr. VII).
- Temporary resident card, 1 year: roughly $5,570 MXN (50% rate) up to $11,141 MXN (full rate).
A 50% discount can apply for family-unit cases, a job offer, or activities without earned income. Treat these as reference figures and confirm the exact amount on your official payment slip (Hoja de Ayuda) before paying.
More than 60 days and no family tie: the consular route
If your document expired more than 60 days ago and no Article 133 ground applies, you generally cannot regularize inside Mexico. The path is: leave the country, apply for a visa (temporary or permanent resident) at a Mexican consulate through the SRE (foreign ministry), re-enter, and exchange that visa for your resident card at the INM within 30 calendar days of entry.
Consular residency usually turns on economic solvency, where US and Canadian applicants need realistic numbers. As an orienting reference, temporary residency typically asks for monthly tax-free income on the order of 300 to 400 times the UMA, or a substantial average investment/savings balance; permanent residency asks for more. Using the 2026 UMA ($117.31): 300 UMA is roughly $35,193/month and 400 UMA is roughly $46,924/month.
| Your situation | Can you fix it inside Mexico? | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Expired ≤ 60 days | Yes | Regularize at INM (Art. 134) — fine + fees |
| Expired > 60 days, with family/humanitarian tie | Yes | Regularize at INM (Art. 133) |
| Expired > 60 days, no qualifying tie | No | Leave, apply for consular visa (SRE), re-enter, exchange for card in 30 days |
The solvency multiple varies between consulates and can change without notice, so always confirm the current threshold with the specific consulate where you book your appointment.
After you regularize: your CURP
Once you obtain a resident card — temporary or permanent — RENAPO automatically assigns your CURP (the national population registry ID), printed on the INM card itself. There is a dedicated procedure for assigning a CURP to foreign residents (SEGOB-2021-069-009-A), and since 2025 the government has been rolling out a biometric CURP. The CURP unlocks everyday life in Mexico: banking, tax registration, and healthcare all ask for it.
The 2025 reform — and one thing it is not
In July 2025 the SEGOB published in the DOF (25-07-2025) an Acuerdo simplifying INM procedures. For humanitarian regularization, the authority no longer demands the prior immigration document or proof of paid fines, and it shortens several deadlines (about 3 business days for change notices, roughly 10 days for issuing or exchanging documents). The INM has 180 days to update its platforms, so some effects arrive gradually.
One clarification for anyone searching online: the “Dignity Act” circulating as a “2025 immigration reform” is United States legislation, not a Mexican reform. It has nothing to do with regularizing your status before the INM.
Frequently asked questions
My FMM expired last week — am I in serious trouble?
Not if you act promptly. Under Article 134 of the Migration Law you can regularize inside Mexico as long as you file within 60 calendar days of the expiration. You will pay a fine (individualized by the INM, typically in the 20–100 UMA range for an expired document) plus government fees, but you can generally resolve it without leaving the country.
My document expired more than 60 days ago. Do I have to leave?
Usually yes — unless you fall under Article 133 (spouse/partner, parent or child of a Mexican or resident, victim/witness of a serious crime, a vulnerability situation, or a child in restitution proceedings). If none of those apply, the standard path is to leave, obtain a consular visa through the SRE, re-enter, and exchange it for a resident card at the INM within 30 days.
How much is the fine in 2026?
It is set in UMA. For a family tie (Art. 133, fr. I–II) the range is 20–40 UMA, roughly $2,346–$4,692 MXN. For an expired document or unauthorized activities (Art. 134) it is 20–100 UMA, roughly $2,346–$11,731 MXN, using the 2026 UMA of $117.31 (these peso figures assume the INM applies the UMA basis). Victims/witnesses, vulnerability, and child-restitution cases carry no fine. The INM sets the exact figure in your interview.
Can I just fly out and come back on a new tourist permit instead?
People do this, but it is not regularization and does not build toward residency — you re-enter as a visitor with a fresh time limit and no right to work, and, as a general matter, repeated entries can draw scrutiny at the border. If your goal is to live in Mexico legally, the regularization or consular-visa routes are the ones that establish status.
Will regularizing get me a CURP?
Yes. When you receive your temporary or permanent resident card, RENAPO assigns your CURP automatically and it is printed on the card. That CURP is what you will use for banking, taxes, and healthcare in Mexico.
Every case turns on your specific dates, and the 60-day window can be unforgiving. If you want someone to look at your situation before a deadline passes, you can book a free consultation with City Laws and we will map the fastest legitimate route for your case.
Legal notice
This content is informational and educational about the general framework for regularizing immigration status in Mexico; it does not constitute legal advice for any specific case, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee any outcome. The Migration Law, its regulations, the fines and fees applied by the INM and SRE, and consular solvency thresholds can change and may be applied differently depending on the circumstances of each case. Before filing documents, paying fees, or making travel decisions, consult a qualified professional about your particular situation.
Reviewed by the City Laws legal team
Written by the City Laws editorial team and reviewed by our attorneys under current Mexican law. Meet our team.
⚠️ General informational content, current as of its publication date. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship; laws change and every case is different. For your specific situation, book a free consultation.