Yes, Mexico Is Cracking Down on Visas.

Introduction

Mexico Is Cracking Down on Visas

In the 18th Century, Scottish philosopher David Hume best articulated the Problem of Induction. To paraphrase it poorly, it states that: Just because things have always been one way, does not mean that they will always continue to be that way.

Later, an analytic philosopher named Bertrand Russel would offer a metaphor to articulate this idea better: "The chicken that is fed by the farmer each morning may well have a theory that it will always be fed each morning. . . and it works every day, that is, until the chicken is slaughtered."

When it comes to Mexican visas, we have seen the same mentality from many expats and nomads, a reluctance to accept a changing climate in favor of how things have always been.

Unfortunately, yes, Mexico is cracking down on visas, and it has only intensified since we first wrote this piece. In this article, we'll tell you why, how, and what you can do about it.

Last updated: April 2026

Why Is Mexico Cracking Down on Visas?

Mexico is Cracking Down on Visas

It all started back in 2021, when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Mexican President López Obrador in Mexico City. They were set to overhaul a 13-year-old, joint security accord between the two nations, called the Merida Initiative. They discussed how best to tackle security, drug and precursor chemical flows, smuggling American guns into Mexico, and above all: immigration.

After the difficulties posed by the Trump administration in protecting the southern border of the United States by means of a wall, and the controversies the Biden administration faced involving Haitian and other Latin American migrants, immigration became a top priority issue in Mexico.

Though their ideologies differed, a deal was struck between the Biden Administration and AMLO's cabinet. In the new agreement, called the Bicentennial Framework, the pressure would be put on Mexico to stop illegal immigration in its own borders so it didn't reach the United States. In exchange, AMLO would be allowed the freedom to pursue his own agendas in other areas without American interference or pressure.

That was just the beginning. Since then, the pressure has only grown. President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office in October 2024, has continued and expanded her predecessor's enforcement policies. In February 2025, her government deployed an additional 10,000 National Guard troops to Mexico's borders, and INM has continued to ramp up checkpoint operations along train routes, at bus stations, and at airports. Mexico has also accepted thousands of non-Mexican migrants returned from the United States as part of ongoing cooperation with the Trump administration's renewed deportation push.

Sure, the crackdown on immigration in Mexico is aimed at targeting refugee migrants from further south. However, the U.S. government's pressure to secure their southern border continues to put many American expats and nomads in Mexico at risk of losing their homes, temporary incarceration, and even deportation.

And some of these American expats and nomads in Mexico, who became dependent on Mexico's lax approach to immigration, are getting caught in the new restrictions.

Reports continue to come in from expats in Facebook groups around the country. We're seeing immigration officials setting up checkpoints to check for papers on bus routes and at bus stations.

We're seeing restrictions placed on international tourists arriving at the border, more so from those flying into airports than crossing by land. Overall, people who have clearly been living in Mexico, floating from one travel visa to the next, are facing real consequences.

It's even worse if you're in Mexico on an expired visa. Whereas before a well-placed mordida might resolve any issues, now American expats and nomads in Mexico are being detained in the deplorable conditions of Mexican jails.

Perhaps as a courtesy to the United States government, many of these detained Americans are being offered the opportunity to purchase their own flight home. The only other option is to be deported, whereby one couldn't return to Mexico for roughly 7 years.

The United States Embassy released a statement about jailing American citizens. In short, they said, the Mexican government has the right to detain foreigners without a visa for 60 days while they verify the paperwork of the occupant. They recommend that you carry your FMM permit, temporal visa, or permanent visa on you at all times.

What's New in 2025 and 2026

Mexico is Cracking Down on Visas

A lot has changed since this article was first published. Here's where things stand now.

The paper FMM has been retired at major airports. Mexico has shifted to a digital entry system, which sounds convenient until you realize what it actually means: immigration officers can now pull up your complete entry and exit history in seconds. The old strategy of doing a "visa run" to Belize or the U.S. and coming back for a fresh 180 days is now a red flag. Officers can see exactly how many times you've done it, and they're using that data to issue shorter stays of 30, 60, or 90 days, or in some cases, denying entry altogether.

The 180 days is no longer the default. It used to be that almost everyone arriving by air received the full six months. Now, officers are exercising more discretion. They're asking pointed questions about return tickets, accommodations, source of income, and how often you've been in and out of Mexico. Some travelers still get 180 days, but plenty are walking out of the airport with 30 or 60.

Residency just got more expensive. As of January 1, 2026, INM processing fees for temporary and permanent residency have gone up by more than 100% in some categories. The one-year temporary resident card, which cost around 5,328 pesos in 2025, now runs roughly 11,140 pesos. Three-year temporary residency is now over 21,000 pesos. There is a possible 50% reduction for certain qualifying applicants, but INM has not yet released the rules for how that will work.

Income thresholds for residency have increased. In July 2025, Mexico updated its immigration guidelines and raised the financial bar for qualifying for temporary or permanent residency. The qualifying amounts are now tied to UMA (Unidad de Medida y Actualización) instead of the old minimum daily wage formula, and the multiples were rebased upward. In practical terms, you need more income or more savings than you did a few years ago to qualify.

Processing times are longer. Lead times for consulate appointments have stretched out. In-country procedures are taking longer too, with some Family Unit applications now requiring INM home visits and stretching from one week to two or three months.

The visa run is dying. Mexican immigration officers are now openly questioning the practice. If you've been bouncing in and out of Mexico for a year or two on tourist permits, expect to be flagged. The official position is clear: if you live here, you need a residency card.

From a Recent Interview with an INM Agent about Incoming Flights

Mexico is Cracking Down on Visas

Back when this story first broke, there was a live radio broadcast in Spanish with a guest who is a senior executive with Inmigracion in Mexico City. Immigration Broker Sonia Diaz took down some notes from the radio feed to share on her Facebook profile, in hopes of clearing up some of the confusion found in many Facebook groups and forums. Her summary remains relevant today, and in many ways even more so. She wrote:

INM has been more diligent recently in attempting to crack down on misuse of tourist visas. This is not to punish travelers but to educate and inform.

INM agents are asking for more proof of travel itineraries such as hotel accommodations and dates; return airline tickets; length of stay. . . etc. Regular tourists (typical 1-3 week stay) are given appropriate tourist visas.

Snowbirds (and tourists with longer-term stays) now require that an INM agent review the applicant's age and the retirement factors in their assessment. These people are given appropriate time-based FMM's based upon the length requested, provided that they satisfy the agent's questions.

*Note: There is one exception. If snowbirds own and rent out property in Mexico, they are expected to be a temporary resident with permission to work, or be a permanent resident.

Concerning Remote Workers / Digital Nomads, these tend to be younger travelers. INM officials believe if you work in a country, then you are a resident of that country. You are not a tourist. You are expected to have a temporary resident visa card.

Anyone who stays for 180 days, leaves, and then comes back for another extended period within the same year is obviously living in Mexico and not living in their native country. These people are now being flagged by agents and given short FMM periods. Some tourists will be denied entry altogether. They will be encouraged to return to their home countries where they can apply for residency.

*Note: Repeat or serial tourists should be aware that all travel history is available to INM agents. It's constantly updated. INM staff can quickly identify misuse of tourist visas.

In summary, agents are more thoroughly assessing the following factors (among other requirements):

• Tourist's age
• Accommodations
• Length of stay
• Return plane ticket
• Being a landlord
• Digital nomad
• Source of income
• Repeated entries
• Duration of previous entries
• Suspected Criminal Activity
• Country of Origin

To view Sonia Diaz's original Facebook post discussing the content listed above, click here.

Everything she described back then is still happening, and the digital entry system has only made it easier for agents to enforce. The factors above are now standard parts of the assessment, not occasional spot checks.

What Can You Do About It?

Mexico is Cracking Down on Visas

The first thing you can do is make sure that you have proof of residency on you, and that everything is in order. If you've overstayed your visa, click here to learn what you can do.

If you're still operating on tourist permits, our advice is simple: stop. The era of getting away with serial 180-day stays is over. The longer you wait, the harder and more expensive it becomes to regularize your status. With the 2026 fee increases, applying now is also cheaper than applying later.

The best thing you can do is apply for a temporal residency visa from a Mexican consulate in your home country. This involves booking an appointment, presenting your financial documents (bank statements, pay stubs, or proof of pension), paying a consular fee, and getting a visa sticker placed in your passport. Once you arrive in Mexico, you have 30 days to visit your local INM office to convert that into your resident card.

For more on Mexican immigration policy and how the system works, take a look at our guide to Mexican immigration law. And if you want to know whether the crackdown shows any signs of easing, our follow-up piece, Will Mexico Slow Its Immigration Crackdown?, goes deeper on what to expect.

If you're not sure where to start, working with a qualified immigration broker or attorney is well worth the cost. They know which consulates are running smoothly, which documents your particular consulate prefers, and how to avoid the small mistakes that get applications rejected. The 30-day window after entering Mexico is where most rejections happen, so having someone on the ground in your destination city can save you a lot of frustration.

It's a different Mexico than it was a few years ago when it comes to immigration, but the country is still one of the best places in the world to live as an expat. Getting your residency in order isn't a hurdle, it's the price of admission to actually settling in and enjoying it.