To obtain residency in Mexico based on financial solvency, you currently need to provide specific figures, and from 2025 onwards, these figures are calculated as follows: UMA days, not in minimum wages. For the temporary residence You are asked to choose one average monthly balance of 11,460 days of UMA during the last 12 months (approx. $1,344,373 MXN with the UMA 2026) or monthly tax-free income of 680 days of UMA during the last 6 months (approx. $79,771 MXN). For the permanent residence due to retirement or pension a balance is required 45,850 days of UMA (approx. $5,378,664 MXN) or a pension of 1,140 days of UMA per month (approx. $133,733 MXN).
One of the most frequent questions we receive at City Laws is: “How much money do I need to show to live legally in Mexico?” The answer recently changed, which explains why so much outdated information is circulating. In July 2025, new guidelines were published, replacing those from 2014 and standardizing all amounts to the UMA (Unit of Measurement and Update). Below, we explain exactly what is required, how to document it, and why the figures in pesos you see online often don't match.
What changed in 2025 (and why it matters)
The amounts of economic solvency required to obtain a residence visa are governed by the General Guidelines for the Issuance of Visas issued by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on July 25, 2025. This was the first comprehensive reform of the subject in more than ten years: repealed the 2014 Guidelines and it came into force 15 calendar days after its publication, around August 9, 2025.
The fundamental change is not just about numbers, but about unit of measurement. Previously, the thresholds were expressed in "minimum wages"; now they are expressed in UMA days (Unit of Measurement and Update), expressly defined in the general provisions of the Guidelines themselves. This is key because the law establishes a number of days in UMA The value of the UMA (Unit of Measurement and Update) doesn't change, but its equivalent in pesos is updated annually. Therefore, it's always best to calculate in UMA days first and only convert to pesos at the end.
The legal amount is the number of UMA days. The figure in pesos is only its translation for the current year and may vary depending on the current UMA value and even the exchange rate used by each consulate.
What is the value of the UMA today?
To convert those days to pesos, you need the daily value of the UMA. The current value is published by INEGI and appears in the DOF: the UMA 2026 It's from $117.31 daily (monthly $3,566.22; annual $42,794.64), effective from February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027, an increase of 3.69% compared to the UMA 2025, which was $113.14 daily.
One detail that causes confusion: many consulate cards They continue to show the amounts with the UMA 2025 or with equivalents in dollars and euros. The legal value is expressed in UMA days, and each office translates it using the value they have on hand. With the 2025 UMA, for example, the balance of the temporary residence permit was equivalent to approximately 1,296,584 MXN; with the 2026 UMA it rises to approximately 1,344,373 MXN.
Temporary residence based on solvency: the two paths
The temporary residence visa based on economic solvency corresponds to the Procedure 5 of the Guidelines, based on articles 52 section VII, 55 and 56 of the Migration Law and 102, 107 and 111 to 113 of its Regulations. You must provide proof a of these two options, but not both:
- By balance (savings or investment): an average monthly balance in investments or bank accounts equivalent to 11,460 days of UMA during the last 12 months.
- By income (employment or pension): monthly tax-free income greater than the equivalent of 680 days of UMA during the last 6 months.
A point worth its weight in gold: In immigration practice, "free of taxes" is usually understood as net income, that is, what remains after taxes and discounts. And it is enough to fulfill one of the two paths; the income path is usually convenient for those who have a stable salary or pension, and the balance path for those who have assets but not a high monthly flow.
Permanent residence due to retirement or pension
Permanent residency as a retiree or pensioner corresponds to Procedure 7, Based on Articles 52, section IX, and 55 of the Migration Law and Articles 102, 109, 111, and 112 of the Regulations. Here, the thresholds are notably higher because it grants permanent residency upon entry. It is also accredited with one of two options:
- Balance due: average monthly balance in investments or bank accounts equivalent to 45,850 days of UMA during the last 12 months.
- By pension: a pension with monthly income free of taxes greater than the equivalent of 1,140 days of UMA during the last 6 months.
Remember that this is not the only path to permanent residency: it can also be obtained after four years as a temporary resident or through family ties; the Migration Law also provides for a points system, the application of which in practice has been limited. Procedure 7 is the direct route for those who live on a retirement or pension.
Comparative table of amounts
These are the figures, first in UMA days (the legal data) and then their approximate equivalent in pesos with the UMA 2026:
| Procedure | Via | Amount in UMA | Period | Approx. in pesos (UMA 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Residence (Procedure 5) | Balance | 11,460 days | 12 months | $1,344,373 MXN |
| Temporary Residence (Procedure 5) | Income | 680 days/month | 6 months | $79,771 MXN/month |
| Permanent residence due to retirement (Procedure 7) | Balance | 45,850 days | 12 months | $5,378,664 MXN |
| Permanent residence due to retirement (Procedure 7) | Pension | 1,140 days/month | 6 months | $133,733 MXN/month |
| For each dependent (both) | Balance or income | 220 days | 12 or 6 months | $25,808 MXN |
A word of caution about the figures you'll see: the Mexican Consulate in Houston's own record labels the temporary residency balance as "11,400 UMA days," while the text in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) says "eleven thousand four hundred and sixty," that is to say 11,460. The Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) prevails. This is precisely the type of discrepancy that warrants comparison with a... immigration lawyer before putting together your file.
How is solvency documented?
Having the money isn't enough: you have to prove it with very specific documents, and this is where most applications fail. The general rule is that proof is required. month by month, without global summaries:
- If you're going for credit: certified account statements (with signature or seal) or electronic document with digital certificate of each of the last 12 months.
- If you are applying based on income or pension: letter of employment or from the institution that pays the pension, plus certified pay stubs or bank statements each of the last 6 months.
- They are not accepted Global, semi-annual or annual reports: the authority wants to see monthly behavior, not a snapshot of a single day.
If you are traveling with family: additional solvency
If you are going to include financial dependents or direct family members —spouse or partner, parents or children—, you must prove solvency. additional for their maintenance equivalent to 220 days of UMA for each one (approx. $25,808 MXN with the UMA 2026), either as a monthly balance in the 12 months or as monthly income in the 6 months.
In consular practice this is applied in a cumulativeAn additional 220 days of UMA (Unit of Measurement and Update) is added for each dependent. Therefore, a family should recalculate their figures before the appointment, because the effective threshold increases with each additional member.
How does it compare to a visitor visa?
To understand why residency requires so much, it helps to compare it to the visa of visitor (stays of less than 180 days). There the thresholds are much lower: for ample solvency (Procedure 2) a balance of 680 days of UMA in 6 months or income of 220 days of UMA in 3 months is required. The difference is logical: it's not the same to ask for permission to spend a few months as it is to ask for permission to settle down and live there.
Where to apply and how long does it take?
Solvency is proven before the consular office of the SRE abroad (Procedures 5 and 7 are visas that are requested outside the country) or, as the case may be, before the Migration's national institute in Mexico. The maximum time to resolve is 10 business days, and the issued visa has a maximum validity of 180 days to enter the country; once inside, you must exchange it for your resident card at the INM.
Keep in mind that, in addition to proving income, the visa entails the payment of fees set forth in Article 22 of the Federal Law of Fees, and that the consulate charges in local currency. If you want to review your specific case before gathering 12 months of bank statements, at City Laws you can book legal advice and avoid a second appointment due to a poorly prepared document.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need for temporary residency in Mexico in 2026?
You must demonstrate one of two things: an average monthly balance equivalent to 11,460 UMA days in the last 12 months (approx. 1,344,373 MXN with the UMA value of 2026) or tax-free monthly income of 680 UMA days in the last 6 months (approx. 79,771 MXN). The legal figure is the number of UMA days; the amount in pesos changes each year.
Why do the figures I see in pesos not match between different sites?
Because the law sets the amounts in UMA days, not in pesos, and each consulate converts them using the UMA value they have on file (2025 or 2026) or their own exchange rate to dollars or euros. The correct reference is the number of UMA days published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF); the peso value is simply its translation for the current year.
Do the 2014 Guidelines still apply?
No. The Guidelines published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) on July 25, 2025, repealed those of 2014 and came into effect around August 9, 2025. The old amounts, which were expressed in days of minimum wage, are no longer valid. If a source cites figures in minimum wages, it is outdated.
How much does it cost for each family member I want to include?
For each dependent or direct family member, additional solvency of 220 days of UMA (approximately 1,440,000 MXN with the UMA value of 2026) must be demonstrated, either as a balance in the last 12 months or as income in the last 6 months. In consular practice, one additional amount is added for each family member, so a family must recalculate its total threshold.
Does permanent residency always require demonstrating such a high level of wealth?
No. The thresholds of 45,850 days of UMA balance or 1,140 pension apply to the retiree or pensioner route (Procedure 7). Permanent residency is also obtained after four years as a temporary resident or through family ties; the Migration Law also provides for a points system, whose application in practice has been limited, without this economic requirement.
Legal notice
This content is for informational purposes only and provides general guidance on the financial solvency requirements for residency in Mexico. It does not constitute legal advice for a specific case, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee any outcome. The Guidelines, the Migration Law, the value of the UMA (Unit of Measurement and Update), and the criteria of each consulate or the INM (National Institute of Migration) may change and be applied differently depending on the circumstances. Before gathering documentation or submitting your application, consult an attorney about your specific 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.