{"id":13214,"date":"2026-07-28T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/?p=13214"},"modified":"2026-07-26T09:10:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T14:10:09","slug":"requisitos-economicos-residencia-mexico-solvencia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/en\/abogado-migratorio\/requisitos-economicos-residencia-mexico-solvencia\/","title":{"rendered":"Financial solvency requirements for residency in Mexico: income and balances required"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/strong>, not in minimum wages. For the temporary residence<\/strong> You are asked to choose one average monthly balance of 11,460 days of UMA<\/strong> during the last 12 months (approx. $1,344,373 MXN<\/strong> with the UMA 2026) or<\/strong> monthly tax-free income of 680 days of UMA<\/strong> during the last 6 months (approx. $79,771 MXN<\/strong>). For the permanent residence due to retirement or pension<\/strong> a balance is required 45,850 days of UMA<\/strong> (approx. $5,378,664 MXN<\/strong>) or a pension of 1,140 days of UMA<\/strong> per month (approx. $133,733 MXN<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

One of the most frequent questions we receive at City Laws is: \u201cHow much money do I need to show to live legally in Mexico?\u201d The answer recently changed, which explains why so much outdated information is circulating.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.<\/p>\n

What changed in 2025 (and why it matters)<\/h2>\n

The amounts of economic solvency required to obtain a residence visa are governed by the General Guidelines for the Issuance of Visas<\/strong> 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<\/strong>. This was the first comprehensive reform of the subject in more than ten years: repealed the 2014 Guidelines<\/strong> and it came into force 15 calendar days after its publication, around August 9, 2025.<\/p>\n

The fundamental change is not just about numbers, but about unit of measurement<\/strong>. Previously, the thresholds were expressed in "minimum wages"; now they are expressed in UMA days<\/strong> (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<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What is the value of the UMA today?<\/h2>\n

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<\/strong> It's from $117.31 daily<\/strong> (monthly $3,566.22; annual $42,794.64), effective from February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027<\/strong>, an increase of 3.69% compared to the UMA 2025, which was $113.14 daily.<\/p>\n

One detail that causes confusion: many consulate cards They continue to show the amounts with the UMA 2025<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

Temporary residence based on solvency: the two paths<\/h2>\n

The temporary residence visa based on economic solvency corresponds to the Procedure 5<\/strong> 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<\/strong> of these two options, but not both:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. By balance (savings or investment):<\/strong> an average monthly balance in investments or bank accounts equivalent to 11,460 days of UMA<\/strong> during the last 12 months<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  2. By income (employment or pension):<\/strong> monthly tax-free income greater than the equivalent of 680 days of UMA<\/strong> during the last 6 months<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    Permanent residence due to retirement or pension<\/h2>\n

    Permanent residency as a retiree or pensioner corresponds to Procedure 7<\/strong>, 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:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Balance due:<\/strong> average monthly balance in investments or bank accounts equivalent to 45,850 days of UMA<\/strong> during the last 12 months<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    2. By pension:<\/strong> a pension with monthly income free of taxes greater than the equivalent of 1,140 days of UMA<\/strong> during the last 6 months<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      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.<\/p>\n

      Comparative table of amounts<\/h2>\n

      These are the figures, first in UMA days (the legal data) and then their approximate equivalent in pesos with the UMA 2026:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Procedure<\/th>\nVia<\/th>\nAmount in UMA<\/th>\nPeriod<\/th>\nApprox. in pesos (UMA 2026)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
      Temporary Residence (Procedure 5)<\/td>\nBalance<\/td>\n11,460 days<\/td>\n12 months<\/td>\n$1,344,373 MXN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Temporary Residence (Procedure 5)<\/td>\nIncome<\/td>\n680 days\/month<\/td>\n6 months<\/td>\n$79,771 MXN\/month<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Permanent residence due to retirement (Procedure 7)<\/td>\nBalance<\/td>\n45,850 days<\/td>\n12 months<\/td>\n$5,378,664 MXN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Permanent residence due to retirement (Procedure 7)<\/td>\nPension<\/td>\n1,140 days\/month<\/td>\n6 months<\/td>\n$133,733 MXN\/month<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      For each dependent (both)<\/td>\nBalance or income<\/td>\n220 days<\/td>\n12 or 6 months<\/td>\n$25,808 MXN<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      <\/p>\n

      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<\/strong>. The Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) prevails. This is precisely the type of discrepancy that warrants comparison with a... immigration lawyer<\/a> before putting together your file.<\/p>\n

      How is solvency documented?<\/h2>\n

      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<\/strong>, without global summaries:<\/p>\n