Immigration and CURP and RFC, OH MY!
Jim Dobson-Kelley
So, now you’re ready for your move to Mexico and obtain resident status. There are three types of statuses for your stay in Mexico:
FMM (Forma Migratoria Multiple)- Tourist Permit: This is issued upon entry into Mexico and intended to be used for tourism and short-term stays. You will be given from 1-180 days (not 6 months) permission to be in Mexico. You are not guaranteed a full 180 days, the amount of time you receive is up to the discretion of the immigration officer processing your entry. A return airline ticket will help document the time you will be in-country. People report various experiences at different airports regarding length of time given. Land entry is more likely to give you 180 days.
You can purchase and own property with an FMM (tourist permit). Some people own and live here very part-time with only a Tourist Permit, but many are finding it more difficult because of the recent requirement of having an RFC placed on utility accounts and for banking. Since an FMM (tourist permit) is not always guaranteed to be the full 180 days, obtaining residency is recommended. Records kept by immigration will show how often and how long you visit. Repeated back-to-back trips (Border Runs) are more likely to trigger fewer days or even refusal of entry. If you plan on spending more than a few weeks at a time in Mexico you will find that having Residente Temporal or Residente Permanente status will make living here so much easier in regards to doing business and dealing with the government.
Please keep in mind if you are moving your household, you only have six months from receiving your residency to move your household to Mexico duty-free. Generally, I encourage my clients to obtain resident status as early as possible (because sooner is usually easier and we never know if/when/how immigration laws may change). So the timing of your resident visa may be critical, depending upon your own situation.
LOOKING FORWARD to selling: a seller can only utilize the Capital Gains Tax Exemption if they are a citizen or have resident status. For this reason alone, being either Residente Permanente or Residente Temporal is most beneficial.
With resident status (either Permanente or Temporal) there are no restrictions or limits on time in-country or out. The application process for either Permanente or Temporal starts at a Mexican Embassy or Consulate outside the country of Mexico. (Usually, the one closest to your home.) Once approved, you have 6 months to come to Mexico to complete the process and the process must be completed upon your first entry into Mexico after receiving approval, which is placed in your passport marked “canje”. You will then enter Mexico with a Tourist Permit and start the completion process in the city you intend to live. (San Miguel de Allende, of course!). Once here you have 30 days to go to immigration to complete the process. This completion process can be done in as little as one week in San Miguel de Allende. Currently, appointments are required which at times can be as far out as three weeks from date of request.
The Mexican Consulates in the U.S. are helpful and friendly, they love welcoming new residents to their homeland! You will find it relatively easy working the consulates, they will provide you with detailed information and documents they require at their location. What happens if something is not quite right and they deny your application? Not much. They will explain why. They don’t keep records. You just re-group and return with everything as they request.
Many people find using the services of a facilitator once here in San Miguel de Allende very beneficial. The facilitator gets you through the appointment process and will even provide a “placeholder” in line for you so you don’t have to get there in the wee hours on the morning and wait (sometimes in rain, cold, or heat). If you’d like a referral to a facilitator, please send me an e-mail at [email protected].
Which is best for you: Residente Permanente or Residente Temporal?
Being either Residente Permanente or Residente Temporal you are not a dual citizen. You are simply a bonafide foreign resident of Mexico.
Residente Temporal can only be obtained for a maximum of four years, after which the Mexican Government expects that you love living in Mexico and desire to become a permanent resident. You are first granted one year, then 30 days prior to expiration you may re-new for up to three additional years with no need to prove financial solvency again. Remember, Mexico uses the international date format of dd/mm/yy. Don’t misread the expiration date!
With Residente Temporal or Tourist Permit you can own and drive a foreign plated vehicle. If you wish to work or engage in lucrative activities, you will need to apply for permission. (It’s easiest and best to apply after you’ve made your move.)
Financial requirements for Residente Temporal for 2025 are $4,185 USD monthly or $69,750 USD in liquid investments per individual. This is proven by one-year’s bank statements.
Residente Permanente never needs to be renewed. If you are retired with sufficient assets/pension income you may be eligible to go directly to Residente Permanente.
This carries all the rights of a citizen except the right to vote and be politically active. It automatically comes with the right to work and engage in lucrative activities, all you need to do is inform immigration of your activities and register with Hacienda (the Mexican IRS) and pay your taxes on income earned in Mexico. With Residente Permanente, owning a foreign plated vehicle is not allowed.
Financial requirements for Residente Permanente for 2025 are $6,975 USD monthly or $279,000 USD in liquid investments per individual. Again, proven by one-year’s bank statements.
Every consulate interprets the regulations and requirements differently. Some will allow home ownership in Mexico valued at $11,160,000 MXP or greater.
Many couples choose to have one obtain Residente Permanente and the other Residente Temporal so that individual can temporarily import a foreign plated vehicle for the duration until they transition to Permanente.
Note: When you enter you will enter on a Tourist FMM and only given 30 days (the time to complete the process). DO NOT go through the line for scanning passports (that will invalidate your status). Make sure you present yourself to an immigration officer. Be sure to first show your passport page with the residente approval. Your passport will be stamped “canje”.
Another path to obtaining Residente Temporal without leaving Mexico or proving financials is the program Registro Nacional de Extranjeros (RNE), is commonly referred to as ‘Regularization”. This program was initiated by the SRE (Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores) in the spring of 2020 to accommodate those foreigners “trapped” in Mexico by travel restrictions due to the pandemic. This provides the ability to obtain legal residency.
The Regularization Program grants a 4-Year Residente Temporal without the need to provide financial solvency and is processed here in Mexico. (San Miguel de Allende is one of the few immigration offices in Mexico still offering the program.
To qualify you must have entered Mexico before January 1, 2023 as a tourist, proven by the stamp in your passport and not left Mexico since that entry. If you have an expired Residente Temporal and have not left/returned since its expiration you may also qualify. There is a small fine to pay in addition to the immigration fees. This is more easily done with the help of a facilitator because of all the forms necessary. This change in the process was just initiated mid-March 2025.
Please keep in mind if you have any change in your life status you must inform immigration within 90 days of the change. This includes: change of address within Mexico or change in marital status (marriage, divorce, becoming widowed).
What is a CURP?
You will have a CURP (Clave Unica de Poblacion) printed on your residency card. The CURP (Unique Population Code) is your official Mexican identification number. It is an 18-character string of numbers and letters, comprised of a combination of your birth date and selected letters of your first and last name.
OK, then what is an RFC?
RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes): Mexico requires all residents obtain an RFC (Official Taxpayer Identification Number) which is comprised of 13 characters similar to the CURP. You will need this even if you do not plan on generating income within Mexico. If you’re not generating income, you will have the classification “no-lucrativa”. The RFC is required to open bank accounts, will also be included on your electric, water, and telephone/internet accounts. Most importantly, the RFC is required in order for you to utilize your capital gains tax exemption when you decide to sell your property. The RFC can only be obtained in person at the local SAT (Servicio de Administracion Tributaria, also known as Hacienda…Mexico’s IRS) office. If you need assistance, I can provide referrals for a facilitator.
I hope you have found this information helpful. It is sure to generate questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] with questions or requesting additional information. Keep in mind some people will think what they did is the only way, saying you “must do it this way or that way”, pay no attention! It’s your life, your things, your move! You know what is best for YOU and what YOU want!
In the future in I’ll be discussing healthcare/insurance, cultural assimilation, and other information I think you’ll find helpful for a smooth transition to your dream home in San Miguel de Allende! If there is a topic you’d like to read about, shoot me an e-mail or give me a call!
I have been working with foreign buyers here at Coldwell Banker SMART for over a decade. I am proud to provide the excellent client service for which our brand is known. If you haven’t yet connected with an agent, please reach out to me and let’s get started on making your dream a reality!
