Current Mexican Immigration Law includes an immigration status for "Visitante-Rentista". This law applies to those foreigners who wish to reside temporarily or permanently in Mexico as pensioners and live on funds or pensions brought from abroad, or on any other permanent income obtained from Mexican fixed interest-bearing securities. Such persons are not entitled, however, to engage in any remunerative activity in Mexico. A foreigner meeting the requirements may acquire retiree status for a year, which must be renewed on a yearly basis. After five years, the individual may apply for permanent resident status as an immigrant.

To apply for a visa at any of our consulates Canadian applicants are required to submit the following:

  • A completed application form. Acrobat Reader
  • A passport valid for at least one year.
  • Two (2) identical, passport-sized frontal photographs (1.05 sq. in.).
  • Proof of financial resources. Income must be equivalent to US$1,000 per month, per applicant, plus US$500 per dependant.
  • Police clearance letter, issued by the applicant’s local police department.
  • Consular fee of US$134 in Canadian funds. (This ammount covers the migratory card and the visa fees)
  • Documents accepted as proof of financial resources (bank statements showing monthly interests, social security letter or pension receipts). The documents submitted must be notarized.


To renew an FM-3 migratory card

When the visa is granted, the applicant will receive an FM-3 migratory card. To renew this form, the person must contact the National Institute of Migration of the Ministry of the Interior (Instituto Nacional de Migración, Secretaría de Gobernación), in Mexico City at the address:
Ejército Nacional #862,
Col. Los Morales, Sección Palmas,
CP 11540, México D.F.

Outside of Mexico City, the renewal must be requested through the regional offices of the Ministry of the Interior


Household Goods

 A person holding a retiree status may take his or her household goods to Mexico duty free, by obtaining a permit from the nearest Consulate to their place of residence. Household goods include: furniture, linens, books, clothes, scientific and art work (as long as these are not collections for exhibitions), etc. A vehicle is not considered a household good. However, please consider that a pensioner may bring a car into Mexico, by presenting a temporary import permit.

This permit must be obtained when bringing the goods into Mexico, but no more than six months after the retiree's first entry.

To obtain a temporary import permit the following documents must be presented:

  • A list of the household goods, containing the label information and serial number of all electrical household appliances, in five copies.
  • A letter addressed to the Mexican Embassy stating the retiree's last address and, if possible, his or her new address in Mexico.
  • Documents proving that the applicant has a previous house (telephone or hydro statements, lease)
  • The consular fee equivalent to US $128.00, in Canadian funds.


To Import a Vehicle

A person with a migratory status of "No-inmigrante rentista" may obtain a temporary import permit for one car for the duration of his or her migratory status, including its extensions.

To obtain a temporary vehicle import permit at Banejército (Bank of the Armed Forces), a pensioner must present the following:

  • Valid driver's licence.
  • Vehicle registration certificate or document certifying legal ownership of the vehicle.
  • A fee of US$ 29.70 plus 15% local tax, which may be paid with an international credit card (American Express, Diner's Club, Visa or MasterCard) that has been issued in the name of the vehicle's owner
  • If you do not have an international credit card, you must post a bond payable to the Federal Treasury by paying the appropriate fee.
  • As an alternative to posting a bond, you may leave a refundable security deposit in cash at Banejército in an amount equal to the vehicle's value. This cash deposit will be recovered when the vehicle is removed from the country and the import permit is returned to the same port of entry through which the vehicle was brought into Mexico.

When the temporary import permit holder decides to cancel his/her migratory status or change his/her vehicle, and a credit card has been used to pay for the permit, the temporary import permit may be returned through any port of entry. Under Mexican law, a vehicle with an expired permit will be impounded subject to confiscation, and fines may be levied against the owner/driver. If a temporary permit was not cancelled and the retiree brings another vehicle, he/she may experience delays at the border and will pay a fine for the non-previous cancellation.


While in Mexico, please consider that only the permit holder's spouse, his/her parents, children or siblings may drive the vehicle if they are foreign residents or any other person if the permit holder is in the vehicle.

Taxes

An individual will be considered a resident of Mexico when he or she establishes a home there and is physically there for more than 183 days in a calendar year, in which case he/she is subject to pay income tax in Mexico, representing about 35% of his/her gross earnings.

A Canadian citizen may apply for this migratory status in Mexico at the National Institute of Migration of the Ministry of the Interior (Instituto Nacional de Migración, Secretaría de Gobernación), in Mexico City at:

Ejército Nacional #862,
Col. Los Morales, Sección Palmas,
CP 11540, México D.F.

Outside of Mexico City, the renewal must be requested through the regional offices of the Ministry of the Interior. The Institute may request the applicant to present documents such as birth and marriage certificates, as well as bank statements that have been legalized by the Mexican Embassy or Consulate.


Useful Links

Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs (Retirement)

Canada Pension Plan

If you have further questions, please contact this Embassy or the nearest Mexican Consulate.