Mexico · Student
Mexico Student residence
Income needed: MXN 26k+ a month ≈ $1,410
Visa de Residente Temporal Estudiante (Lineamientos, Trámite 6)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Student residence is a student route for Mexico. Applicants need income of MXN 26k+ a month ≈ $1,410. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Money needed
- MXN 26k+ a month ≈ $1,410
- Government fees
- MXN 991 ≈ $54
- Processing
- 10 working days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee MXN 991 ≈ $54; income to show MXN 26k+/mo ≈ $1,410; decision: 10 working days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesMXN 991 ≈ $54
- MXN 990.79 (≈ $54)Consular visa fee, Ley Federal de Derechos art. 22 (III d). The resident student card issued in Mexico carries no fee (art. 11 I).
Shown, not spentMXN 26k+/mo ≈ $1,410 · MXN 269k+ ≈ $15k
- MXN 25,808.2 a month (≈ $1,410)Alternative 1: employment, pension or scholarship income free of liens above the equivalent of 220 days of UMA per month over the last 3 months (220 UMA days x MXN 117.31 (≈ $6) daily UMA 2026). The money may be shown by the applicant, or by the parents or legal guardian when the applicant is not older than 25, or with a scholarship letter from the school or a document from a bank or financial institution showing financing.
- MXN 268,639.9 (≈ $14,700)Alternative 2: investments or bank accounts with average balance equivalent to 2,290 days of UMA over the last 3 months (2,290 UMA days x MXN 117.31 (≈ $6) daily UMA 2026).
RenewalRenewable
The student authorisation is renewed each year while the studies, research or training continue.
Instituto Nacional de MigraciónCámara de Diputados / Instituto Nacional de Migración
Processing10 working days
The consulate decides within 10 working days of the consular interview.
Where to applyFrom abroad
Apply for the visa at a Mexican consulate, then collect the resident card from the immigration institute in Mexico within 30 days of arriving.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Mexico, not after arriving
- Needs a place at a school or university in Mexico
What you'll need
What you must show1
- Proof of ability to pay tuition, lodging and living costs is required.
Documents2
- An acceptance letter from an institution of the National Education System is required.
- The letter states the programme, dates and tuition cost.
When you become tax resident
How Mexico decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Foreign-source income
Worldwide income of Mexican residents; Mexican-source income of non-residents without a permanent establishment.
All tax rules for Mexico Tax records checked
Full official text
Student residence for study at an institution of the Mexican national education system. 1 2 3 4
What you must show and pay
- Income of over MXN 25,808.2 a month (≈ $1,410) · Alternative 1: employment, pension or scholarship income free of liens above the equivalent of 220 days of UMA per month over the last 3 months (220 UMA days x MXN 117.31 (≈ $6) daily UMA 2026). The money may be shown by the applicant, or by the parents or legal guardian when the applicant is not older than 25, or with a scholarship letter from the school or a document from a bank or financial institution showing financing. 1 2
- Savings of at least MXN 268,639.9 (≈ $14,700) · Alternative 2: investments or bank accounts with average balance equivalent to 2,290 days of UMA over the last 3 months (2,290 UMA days x MXN 117.31 (≈ $6) daily UMA 2026). 1 2
- A fee of MXN 990.79 (≈ $54) · Consular visa fee, Ley Federal de Derechos art. 22 (III d). The resident student card issued in Mexico carries no fee (art. 11 I). 4 1
Requirements
- Proof of ability to pay tuition, lodging and living costs is required. 1 3
- An acceptance letter from an institution of the National Education System is required. 1 3
- The letter states the programme, dates and tuition cost. 1 3
Stay
- Consular visa valid up to 180 days, single entry; resident student card issued in Mexico.
- Visa validity: 6 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
Work
Work not covered by this status in the Lineamientos.
Family
Family members can apply for temporary residence as family unit while the student continues studies.
Official sources
- Lineamientos en materia de visas (DOF 25 July 2025): Trámites 5, 6, 7, 10 · Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores / Diario Oficial · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2025-07-25
- Comunicado 1/26: Unidad de Medida y Actualización 2026 (daily MXN 117.31) · INEGI · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-01-08
- Visa de residente temporal estudiante · Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores · checked 2026-10-10
- Ley Federal de Derechos, arts. 8, 11, 14 Bis and 22 (text current to DOF 7 Nov 2025, amounts for 2026) · Cámara de Diputados · checked 2026-10-11
- Expedición de documento migratorio por renovación (Instituto Nacional de Migración trámite sheet) · Instituto Nacional de Migración · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2012-11-08
- Ley de Migración (arts. 52 to 56 and 111; text as last amended DOF 29 April 2022) · Cámara de Diputados / Instituto Nacional de Migración · checked 2026-10-12
Student residence and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student residence | Needs income of MXN 26k+ a month ≈ $1,410 | – | – |
| Student visa V Colombia | – | 2 yr | Yes |
| Student stay Costa Rica | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Student visa Brazil | – | 1 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Student residence Argentina | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Student residence?
Income of over MXN 25,808.2 a month (≈ $1,410). Alternative 1: employment, pension or scholarship income free of liens above the equivalent of 220 days of UMA per month over the last 3 months (220 UMA days x MXN 117.31 (≈ $6) daily UMA 2026). Savings of at least MXN 268,639.9 (≈ $14,700). Alternative 2: investments or bank accounts with average balance equivalent to 2,290 days of UMA over the last 3 months (2,290 UMA days x MXN 117.31 (≈ $6) daily UMA 2026). A fee of MXN 990.79 (≈ $54). Consular visa fee, Ley Federal de Derechos art.
How long can I stay on the Student residence?
Consular visa valid up to 180 days, single entry; resident student card issued in Mexico.
How long does the Student residence take to process?
The consulate decides within 10 working days of the consular interview.
Can I work on the Student residence?
Work not covered by this status in the Lineamientos.
Can I bring my family on the Student residence?
Family members can apply for temporary residence as family unit while the student continues studies.
How are Student residence holders taxed in Mexico?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Student residence. The standard rules apply: Persons resident in Mexico pay income tax on all their income wherever the source is located (LISR art. 1 fr.
More in Mexico
Study visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 6 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Lineamientos en materia de visas (DOF 25 July 2025): Trámites 5, 6, 7, 10 · Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores / Diario Oficial · checked 2026-10-12
- Comunicado 1/26: Unidad de Medida y Actualización 2026 (daily MXN 117.31) · INEGI · checked 2026-10-12
- Visa de residente temporal estudiante · Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores · checked 2026-10-10
- Ley Federal de Derechos, arts. 8, 11, 14 Bis and 22 (text current to DOF 7 Nov 2025, amounts for 2026) · Cámara de Diputados · checked 2026-10-11
- Expedición de documento migratorio por renovación (Instituto Nacional de Migración trámite sheet) · Instituto Nacional de Migración · checked 2026-10-12
- Ley de Migración (arts. 52 to 56 and 111; text as last amended DOF 29 April 2022) · Cámara de Diputados / Instituto Nacional de Migración · checked 2026-10-12
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.