Eligibility quiz
Are you married?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Mexico
You can live legally in Mexico for your authorized stay, up to four years.
Your personal safety must be protected, whatever your immigration status.
Study in Mexico
You can attend public or private schools under the usual admission rules.
Work with permission
With a job offer, you can seek permission to work for pay.
Your permission is tied to the approved offer or activity.
Travel in and out
You can leave and return to Mexico as often as you like while your residence card is valid.
To return, you need your card and a valid passport or travel document.
Bring your belongings
You can bring your belongings into Mexico under the applicable rules.
Use public healthcare
You can receive public or private care, and emergency care needed to save your life is free, whatever your immigration status.
Your residence card does not automatically include health insurance.
How to apply
From outside MexicoFrom outside Mexico
Find the immigration office
Your spouse or partner in Mexico must find the immigration office serving their home address. If their workplace is in a different office’s area, they can use the office serving their workplace.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Mexico immigration office serves your city for a residencia temporal por unidad familiar application?”
Open the application form
Your spouse or partner must open the immigration services portal, create an account or sign in, and select the temporary-residence visa application for family unity.
Open the application formSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where do I open the Mexico visa de residencia temporal solicitada al INM por unidad familiar application form?”
Fill in the form
Your spouse or partner must complete the form online, list the documents being submitted in the comments or attachments section, then print and sign it by hand.
See how to completeSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I complete and sign the Mexico visa de residencia temporal solicitada al INM por unidad familiar application form?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the immigration office and the consulate.
See required documentsPay the immigration fee
Your spouse or partner must pay the immigration application fee by card at the office or using the official payment sheet. The office does not accept cash.
Find payment instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the Mexico visa de residencia temporal solicitada al INM por unidad familiar application fee?”
Hand in the application
Your spouse or partner must take the signed original form and required documents to the immigration office, including originals where required and simple copies. They can ask for a stamped receipt.
Find filing instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I hand in a Mexico visa de residencia temporal solicitada al INM por unidad familiar application?”
Wait for authorization
Your spouse or partner must wait for the immigration office’s decision and respond if it asks for more information or documents. The authorization is for your consular visa application; it is not the visa.
See how to follow upSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I follow up on a Mexico visa de residencia temporal solicitada al INM por unidad familiar application?”
Find your consulate
Find a Mexican embassy or consulate where you can apply after your spouse or partner has obtained authorization.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Mexican consulate serves your city for a visa de residencia temporal por unidad familiar?”
Download the visa form
Get the Mexican visa application form for your consular application.
Download the formSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I download the Mexico visa de residencia temporal por unidad familiar application form?”
Fill in the form
Complete and sign the visa application form yourself.
See how to completeSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I complete the Mexico visa de residencia temporal por unidad familiar application form?”
Book an appointment
Book a consular appointment through MiConsulado.
Book an appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book a MiConsulado appointment for a Mexico visa de residencia temporal por unidad familiar?”
Go to your appointment
Bring your signed form and required documents to the consulate, attend the interview and provide your biometric data. Pay the visa fee at the office as instructed by the consulate.
Prepare for your appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens at a Mexico visa de residencia temporal por unidad familiar consular appointment?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the consulate’s decision and respond if it asks you for more information or documents.
See how to follow upSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I follow up on a Mexico visa de residencia temporal por unidad familiar application at a consulate?”
Collect your visa
If your application is approved, collect your visa from the consulate. You can then use it to travel to Mexico and present yourself for entry.
Find collection instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I collect my Mexico visa de residencia temporal por unidad familiar from a consulate?”
Travel to Mexico
Travel to Mexico and present your visa when you enter.
See entry informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I enter Mexico with a visa de residencia temporal por unidad familiar?”
Once in MexicoOnce in Mexico
Get your residence card
Within 30 calendar days after entering Mexico, apply to the immigration office for your temporary-residence card. The card proves your residence status for the period you are allowed to stay.
Find card instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get a Mexico temporary residence card after entering with a visa de residencia temporal por unidad familiar?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Marriage or partnership record
Provide your marriage certificate or an official record of your partnership issued where it was legally established. Your spouse or partner needs the original and a copy for the INM filing; take the original or a certified copy to the consulate.
Partner's residence record
Your spouse or partner must provide their valid Mexican residence card for the INM filing, with a copy. Your consulate may also ask for proof of their current residence status.
Considerations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Residence and work duties
To keep your residence, you must renew it and pay the fee while you still meet the conditions of your stay.
Tell the immigration office within 90 days of a change in your marital status, citizenship, address or workplace.
You may work for pay only with permission and within its terms.
Property transaction requirements
For a property transaction before a notary or authorized broker, you must prove your lawful stay.
You must also make any legally required declarations giving up certain rights.
Residence can end
Your residence ends or is cancelled if it expires without renewal, you declare a permanent departure, or you obtain another immigration status.
It can also be cancelled for false information or documents, or if your background threatens national or public safety.
Losing refugee or other protection, or another legal reason, can also end it.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Trámites de visados con Aly Explica en el consulado de México en la Habana
Spanish Facebook group for people living in Mexico interested in Mexican visas
Join on FacebookTramites En Instituto Nacional De Migración Nuevo León
Facebook group for people living in Mexico interested in Mexican visas (Spanish & English)
Join on Facebookresidencia temporal por unidad familiar en México �
Spanish Facebook group for people living in Mexico interested in Mexican visas
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
Adavia doesn't provide advice, but we're building a directory of professionals who do. If you'd like, we can notify you when help is available.
Updated