Expat Legal Services in Mexico — Immigration & Tax, in Plain English

Hire a trusted Mexican lawyer straight from home. We guide foreigners through Mexican residency and immigration and handle your Mexican tax setup (RFC before the SAT). Immigration filings before INM are carried out together with allied specialist firms. Everything is arranged 100% remotely, from wherever you live.

Residency & visas INM allied firms RFC / CURP setup 100% remote

Part 1 · Immigration

Immigration Guidance & Residency in Mexico

We provide clear legal orientation on how to become a resident of Mexico and what each status means for your rights, your work, and your taxes. The formal filings before INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración) are carried out together with allied firms that specialize in immigration procedures, so your case is handled by the right hands while we keep everything explained to you in English.

The main ways to become a resident

Mexican law recognizes several grounds for residency. The most common are:

• Studies — for foreigners admitted to a Mexican educational program.
• Economic solvency — proving sufficient income or savings to support yourself.
• Family unity — based on ties to a Mexican citizen or a Mexican resident.
• Employment — based on a job offer or work authorization in Mexico.

As a general rule, most residencies are applied for as a visa at a Mexican consulate in the country where the foreigner lives, and then completed before INM after entering Mexico.

Family unity: the main exception

Family unity is the category that most often can be started from inside Mexico as a regularization, rather than as a consular visa abroad. Typical cases include marriage to a Mexican or the birth of a son or daughter in Mexico. When the case is based on being the son, daughter, mother, or father of a Mexican by birth, this route grants permanent residency. Each case has its own documentary requirements, and the final decision always rests with INM.

Comparing the statuses

This is a general overview. The exact rights in your case depend on your card and its endorsements.

Status	Right to work	Validity	General notes
Temporary Residency	Not automatic — depends on work endorsement	Up to 4 years, renewable	Common starting point; can convert to permanent after four continuous years.
Temporary Residency with work permission	Yes, with the work endorsement	Up to 4 years, renewable	Allows paid work in Mexico when the card is endorsed for remunerated activities.
Permanent Residency	Yes, no separate permit needed	Does not expire, no renewal	Highest status before citizenship; broad right to live and work indefinitely.
Citizenship (Naturalization)	Full rights as a national	Permanent	Generally requires at least 5 years of legal residency; handled by the SRE.

Path to citizenship

As a general rule, five years of legal residency (temporary or permanent) are required before applying for naturalization, which is handled by the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE). Shorter periods can apply in specific cases, such as marriage to a Mexican or having Mexican-born children. Naturalization is a separate process from residency, and holding a permanent card does not automatically make you a citizen.

Overstayed your permit?

INM may run regularization campaigns each year for people who overstayed, but whether one is available at any given moment depends entirely on INM’s internal programs. If this is your situation, contact us and we will check what is currently open.

Part 2 · Tax

Mexican Tax & Compliance: Your RFC before the SAT

What is the RFC?

The RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) is Mexico’s tax ID, issued by the SAT. Foreigners can hold one. To obtain it, you first need a CURP, which is obtained through legal residency or a condition such as refugee status. In practice, the order is: residency, then CURP, then RFC.

Why you need an RFC

Your RFC is what lets you participate formally in Mexico’s economy. You will need it to:

• Be hired for a job in Mexico.
• Receive invoiced income (facturación) and pay taxes.
• It is also recommended when buying a car in Mexico.
• And recommended when buying real estate in Mexico.

The setup, step by step

• Residency first. Your CURP is generated through legal residency or refugee status.
• CURP. This is your population ID and the prerequisite the SAT requires.
• RFC before the SAT. With your CURP in hand, we help you register your RFC with the tax authority.

How we help

We provide remote legal and tax orientation so you understand what your RFC requires and how it connects to your residency. We keep the explanation in English and coordinate the steps so the paperwork moves in the right order.

Frequently Asked Questions

🛂 Residency & Immigration

What are the main ways to become a resident in Mexico?

The most common grounds are studies, economic solvency, family unity, and employment. In most cases residency is applied for as a visa at a Mexican consulate in the country where you live, and then completed before INM in Mexico.

Do I have to apply from my home country?

As a general rule, yes: most categories begin at a Mexican consulate abroad. The main exception is family unity, which in certain cases can be started directly in Mexico as a regularization.

Does marriage to a Mexican, or a Mexican child or parent, help?

Yes, these are family unity cases. Marriage to a Mexican or the birth of a child in Mexico can open this route, and it may be handled as a regularization inside Mexico. When it is based on being the child, mother, or father of a Mexican by birth, this route grants permanent residency. Requirements vary by case.

Temporary vs. permanent residency — what changes?

Temporary residency lasts up to four years and must be renewed; the right to work depends on whether the card carries a work endorsement. Permanent residency does not expire, needs no renewal, and includes the right to work without a separate permit.

How long until I can apply for citizenship?

Generally at least five years of legal residency before applying for naturalization through the SRE. Certain cases, such as marriage to a Mexican or having Mexican-born children, may qualify sooner. The final decision rests with the authority.

I overstayed my permit — is there a way to fix it?

INM may run regularization campaigns for people who overstayed, but availability depends on INM’s internal programs at that time. Contact us and we will check what is currently open for your situation.

💳 Tax & RFC

What is the RFC and can a foreigner get one?

The RFC is Mexico’s tax ID, issued by the SAT. Foreigners can obtain one. A valid CURP is required first, and the CURP is obtained through legal residency or refugee status.

Why would I need an RFC?

You need it to be hired for a job, to receive invoiced income and pay taxes. It is also recommended when buying a car or real estate in Mexico.

Do I need a CURP before the RFC?

Yes. A valid CURP is the prerequisite the SAT requires. The practical order is: residency, then CURP, then RFC.

⚖️ Scope of Service

Do you handle the INM immigration filing directly?

We provide the legal guidance and orientation, and the formal procedures before INM are carried out together with allied firms that specialize in immigration. You get one point of contact in English from start to finish.

Do I need an accountant in Mexico to file my taxes?

It is not a legal requirement, but we strongly recommend it. Mexico’s tax framework is complex, and a Mexican accountant (contador) helps you file correctly and avoid fines caused by errors. For most foreigners with income in Mexico, having one on your side is the safest way to stay compliant.

Ready to plan your move to Mexico?

Tell us your situation — where you live, your family ties in Mexico, and whether you plan to work or invest — and we will map out your residency and tax path in plain English.

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Attorney and author of this information: Lic. Luis Encina Delgado. SEP Professional License (Cédula Profesional): 11932538.
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