Obtain Citizenship by Investment in Mexico

If you are an investor who wants to carry out business in Mexico in 2026, you must obtain an investor visa first. The Mexico investor visa enables you to engage in commercial activities related to your business and influences your eligibility for permanent residence.

Mexico is the 3rd largest country in Latin America that offers foreign investors a relatively secure and stable business environment.  For this purpose, immigration to Mexico is quite sought by foreign entrepreneurs.

The Foreign Investment Law of 1993 governs the foreign investments in Mexico; under this law, the locals and foreign investors receive the same legal treatment.

As an investor, you can use Mexico's residency by investment route. Keep in mind that citizenship by investment is not permitted in Mexico now. Citizenship can be obtained by descent or ancestry. If they are claiming citizenship via their parents, children of Mexican citizens are entitled to petition for Mexican citizenship and are not obliged to first become permanent residents. To learn more about other routes to getting citizenship in this country, you can get information from our lawyers. 

If you want to benefit from Mexico’s large internal market and an extensive network of free trade agreements (FTAs), you can rely on the legal services of our Mexican lawyers.

In addition, the services of our experienced lawyers will help you obtain residency by investment, which can later lead to naturalization.

Along with the citizenship matter, our lawyers can also help you in other legal matters, such as debt collection in Mexico.

How to get a Mexico investor visa in 2026?

In 2026, a foreign national can invest in Mexico without visiting the country. However, being in Mexico has its own perks. But if it is not possible for you to visit Mexico for making an investment, you can get in touch with experienced lawyers at our law firm in Mexico. They will not only offer you comprehensive guidance but also practically assist you in obtaining Mexican citizenship by investment without unnecessary delays. If you plan to stay in Mexico for business purposes for a period greater than 180 days and for up to 4 years, you must obtain an investor visa.

The Mexico investor visa will allow you to live, work, and also have an option of qualifying for permanent residence. The process of obtaining a Mexico investor visa implies: 1) requesting an appointment with a Mexican consulate and 2) filling in the application form with all the correct information.

A 3rd step would be to submit the necessary documents and pay the application fee.

For obtaining Mexico citizenship by investment, the following documents are required to check the financial status of the investor:

• documentation that proves the fixed assets/real estate of the owner is equivalent to at least approx. MXN 5.38 million (45,850 days of UMA in 2026; check with the consulate);
• the value of the property must be free of any debts, charges, or mortgages;
• documentation that certifies the development of a business or economic activities in Mexico;
• the authenticity of documents may be proven through business plans, service orders, contracts, invoices, or proof issued by the Mexican Social Security Institute indicating the employment of a minimum of 3 workers;
• a document that proves that the foreign investor participates in the capital stock of a company established in the country or a deed legalized before a notary public shows a company’s constitution in Mexico – the investment amount must be greater than approx. MXN 5.38 million (45,850 days of UMA in 2026; check with the consulate).

The review and approval of these documents can take up to 2 days. After that, you can get legal backing from our lawyers. They will help you obtain Mexico citizenship by investment. We can also advise on other ways related to immigration to Mexico.

What is the procedure after the approval of documents?

The Mexican consulate will grant you a provisional visa once your submitted documents get approval. The provisional visa will allow you to enter the country and continue the visa application process for a Mexico investor visa.

You may pay a government fee of MXN 11,141 to 25,058 (approx. USD 600–1,400) for a 1- to 4-year temporary resident card (2026 rates), depending on the length of stay requested in the country. This process can take up to 3 days.

Next, you must visit the INM office, where you will be fingerprinted and issued a temporary residence permit, and this process may take up to 4 weeks to complete.

After getting a Mexico investor visa, you can apply for permanent residency if you expect to live and work in Mexico for more than 4 years. Again, the process for permanent residence may take up to 6 months to complete.

If you are interested in acquiring Mexico citizenship by investment in 2026, get in touch with our immigration lawyers in Mexico.

Our Mexican attorneys will provide you with legal assistance throughout the process.

Income requirements for the Mexican investor visa

Here are the income requirements when applying for an investor visa:

• a minimum monthly income of about USD 4,000–4,400 (2026, varies by consulate) for the previous 6 months is required for temporary residency;
• a minimum monthly income (e.g. pension) of about USD 7,500 (2026, varies by consulate) for the previous 6 months is required for permanent residency;
• An average monthly balance of at least about USD 68,000–74,000 (2026) in savings or investments within the previous 12 months when seeking temporary residency;
• an average monthly balance of at least about USD 300,000 (2026) in savings or investments within the previous 12 months when pursuing permanent residency.

When seeking to apply for the visa through property investment, the minimum value of the real estate must be MXN 10,758,500 (around USD 600,000) in 2026. The applicant’s name must match that on the title deed or sales contract, the property must be in Mexico, and it must be debt-free.

What are the advantages of the investor visa in Mexico? 

Although this visa will not automatically imply that a foreigner will receive the Mexico citizenship by investment, the visa program definitely can open the legal pathway to this right, if the foreigner will still be interested in taking the legal steps for citizenship. 

Through this program, the foreigner will have a set of advantages. The 1st advantage when applying for Mexico citizenship by investment, is that the foreigner will have the right to maintain his or her 1st nationality, as Mexico recognizes dual citizenship. 

Generally speaking, most countries provide the right to dual citizenship and this can be attained as long as the law applicable in the home country of the foreigner allows dual citizenship. 

The 2nd important advantage is given by the fact that the investor has the right to bring his or her close family members (spouse and children) to live in Mexico. This is a typical right that foreigners have when applying for an investment visa. 

Other advantages are: 3) the investor is not required to know the Spanish language in order to be eligible, and 4) the value of the qualifying investment is the same regardless if the investor will come here alone or with the family.  Permanent and temporary residences are the two categories of residency.

Depending on your reasons for relocating to Mexico and your circumstances, just one of these may apply to you. Making an appointment at a Mexican consulate will start both procedures. The consulate will be in your nation or a nearby place (outside Mexico). If you are already in Mexico when you apply, you must leave to attend an appointment in the Mexican embassy of your choice. You will also have an appointment at your local immigration office after your consular appointment and upon (re-)entering Mexico (INM).

How many foreigners live in Mexico?

At the beginning of 2024, the country’s population was approximately 129.4 million. Mexico is the 10^th most populous nation in the world. After the United States and Brazil, it is the most populated country in the Americas and the largest Spanish-speaking nation worldwide. Mexico is home to around 2 million expats. For American citizens, Mexico is the most sought-after retirement location worldwide.

With 8, 900,000 residents, 11,40% of them are foreign-born when taking into account migrant workers from other countries, refugees, asylum seekers, and native residents who have moved to the city. Also, 5% of the city’s population are indigenous people from other states, who make up the largest minority group. Moreover, 4% of Mexico City’s population is non-native.

Foreign investments in Mexico

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) 2024 World Investment Report:

• Mexico occupied the 3^rd position among developing economies and the 9^th place as a beneficiary of foreign direct investment last year;
• The majority of foreign investments went toward the manufacturing sector (total FDI: USD 36.9 billion in 2024 and a record USD 40.9 billion in 2025), according to data from the Ministry of Economy;
• manufacturing, financial, mining, commercial, construction, real estate, tourism, media, professional services, and transportation sectors have also received USD 300 billion in foreign direct investment flows.

The countries that invested the most in Mexico in 2024 were the United States and Canada, Mexico’s main economic partners, several countries in Europe (the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, and Switzerland), and Japan in Asia.

Keeping in view such facts, if you are interested in Mexican residency, get in touch with our lawyers to learn more about the process of acquiring a Mexican residency permit.