If you're trying to figure out whether you have enough income to qualify for Mexican residency, you've probably found that most online guides give vague ranges instead of specific numbers. This post gives you the actual amounts each major Mexican consulate publishes for 2026, plus how the underlying formula works.
The short answer: you need approximately $4,400 USD per month in income (or $75,000 USD in savings) to qualify for Temporary Residency in 2026. The exact number depends on which Mexican consulate you apply through.
The longer answer is below. (For the full residency picture — paths, documents, and process — see our complete 2026 requirements guide.)
The 2026 federal baseline
Mexican residency financial thresholds are calculated as multiples of the daily UMA value, set annually by Mexico's national statistics agency.
For 2026, the UMA is 117.31 MXN per day (effective February 1, 2026).
The federal formula for Temporary Residency requires:
- Monthly income: 680 × UMA = 79,771 MXN/month ≈ $4,432 USD
- Or savings/investments: 11,460 × UMA = 1,344,373 MXN ≈ $74,688 USD
For Permanent Residency, the bar is higher:
- Monthly income: 1,142 × UMA = 133,968 MXN/month ≈ $7,443 USD
- Or savings/investments: 45,850 × UMA = 5,378,664 MXN ≈ $298,815 USD
Per dependent (spouse, minor child, dependent parent), add 220 × UMA = 25,808 MXN ≈ $1,434 USD to the monthly income requirement.
These USD amounts use approximate exchange rates and are the federal minimums. Specific consulates often publish slightly different USD figures because they use their own conversion rates.
Income requirements by consulate (USA)
US consulates publish different USD amounts depending on the exchange rate each one applies. Below are the verified 2026 requirements:
| Consulate | Temporary Income | Temporary Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $4,300/mo | $71,000 |
| Boise | $4,400/mo | $75,000 |
| Brownsville | $4,500/mo | $72,000 |
| Del Rio | $4,786/mo | $80,000 |
| Houston | $4,700/mo | $78,000 |
| Las Vegas | $4,630/mo | $78,025 |
| New York | $4,292/mo | $71,530 |
| Phoenix | $4,400/mo | $72,500 |
| Presidio | $4,200/mo | $73,000 |
| San Francisco | $4,081/mo | $68,015 |
| Tucson | $4,450/mo | $75,000 |
The variation is real — San Francisco's $4,081 vs. Del Rio's $4,786 is a 17% spread for the same underlying formula. If your income is comfortably above $4,800, the variation doesn't matter. If you're in the $4,100–$4,700 range, the consulate you choose can determine eligibility. (More on choosing in our consulate comparison guide.)
Income requirements by consulate (Canada and Europe)
Canada (in CAD):
| Consulate | Temporary Income | Temporary Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Leamington | CAD $6,461 | CAD $108,894 |
| Toronto | CAD $6,915 | CAD $115,238 |
| Vancouver | CAD $6,461 | CAD $108,894 |
Western Europe (in EUR):
| Consulate | Temporary Income | Temporary Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid (Spain) | €3,550 | €60,000 |
| Barcelona (Spain) | €3,550 | €60,000 |
| Frankfurt/Berlin/Munich (Germany) | €3,943 | €65,713 |
| Rome/Milan (Italy) | €3,983 | €66,377 |
For consulates not listed above, the federal formula applies at the current exchange rate. UK applicants (London) and French applicants (Paris) should expect amounts in the range of £3,400/£56,000 and €3,990/€66,400 respectively.
What counts as income
Mexican consulates accept several forms of income:
Salary or wages — the cleanest income type. W-2, PAYE, or equivalent. Pay stubs plus bank deposits showing the income hitting your account.
Pension or retirement — pensions, Social Security, IRA/401(k) distributions, equivalents from other countries. Annual pension statements plus bank deposits.
Self-employment — accepted, but with more scrutiny. Plan to bring tax returns, client contracts, and 12 months of statements (rather than the 6 sometimes accepted) to overcome the additional review.
Business owner income — distributions from your business, salary from your own company. Same documentation expectations as self-employment.
Investment income — dividends, rental, interest, distributions. Bring 12 months of statements showing regular payment, plus statements showing the underlying portfolio value.
Mixed sources — perfectly acceptable. Most retirees and many remote workers have multiple income streams. Document each.
What doesn't count as income
Cryptocurrency holdings are not accepted, regardless of dollar value. Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, exchange-held assets — none qualify as either income or savings. If your assets are largely in crypto, you'll need to move them into traditional bank or investment accounts at least 12 months before applying (because the savings threshold requires 12 months of average balance).
Real estate equity doesn't count unless you own residential property in Mexico worth approximately $600,000+ USD, which qualifies you under a separate property-based pathway.
Vehicles, jewelry, art, business equipment — none of these count.
Cash you can't document — even if you have it, if it can't be shown in a regulated bank statement for the required period, it doesn't help.
How consulates evaluate income
The standard evaluation:
Income path: You provide 6 months of bank statements plus matching pay stubs/pension statements. The consulate calculates your average monthly income across those 6 months. The average must meet or exceed their published threshold.
Savings path: You provide 12 months of bank/investment account statements. The consulate calculates the average monthly balance across those 12 months. The average must meet or exceed the threshold.
A few specifics that catch people off guard:
It's the average, not the most recent month. If your income jumped from $3,000 to $5,000 four months ago, your 6-month average is $4,000 — likely insufficient. Waiting two more months pushes the average up.
Deposits must clearly match your stated income. A consulate reading your bank statements wants to see "ACH deposit from [Your Employer]" or similar. Mysterious lump deposits without explanation cause questions.
Statements must be monthly, with bank stamps. Year-end summaries, downloaded PDFs without bank certification, or screenshots are typically rejected. Order proper statements 2–3 weeks before your appointment.
Joint accounts work if you're the primary holder. If your income or savings is in a joint account, you may need supporting documentation showing the funds are yours.
Special situations
Tight margins. If you meet the threshold by less than 15%, treat the case as workable but require thorough preparation. Bring 12 months of statements instead of 6, present both income and savings paths, be calm and clear at the interview. Tight cases are regularly approved with proper preparation.
Variable income. If your income varies significantly month to month, time your application to lean on your strongest 6-month average. Apply when your recent months have been higher. Keep documentation that explains the variation (project-based work, commission, seasonal business).
Recently changed income. If you started a new job, retired, or had a major income change in the past 6 months, your 6-month average may not reflect your current situation. If possible, wait until the average reflects your stable current income. If you can't wait, bring documentation of the change (offer letter, retirement paperwork) plus a brief written explanation.
Self-employment. Plan to over-document. Tax returns, client contracts, 12 months of statements rather than 6, formal business registration if you have it. The goal is to make your income feel as predictable to the consular officer as a W-2 salary would.
Permanent vs. Temporary income requirements
The income requirement for Permanent Residency is roughly 68% higher than for Temporary ($7,443 vs $4,432 monthly at the federal baseline). Most retirees with comfortable pension income can qualify for either.
The choice isn't purely financial:
Temporary first is more flexible. The threshold is lower, the formal "retirement" requirement isn't enforced, and you can convert to Permanent after 4 years.
Permanent direct is cleaner for retirees with strong pensions. No renewals, immediate full work rights, and a faster path to Mexican citizenship eligibility (5 additional years).
If you're a retiree with pension income above $7,500/month, applying directly for Permanent is often the cleaner path. If you're still working or in your 50s, Temporary then Permanent is usually more flexible.
You select which path you're applying for at the consulate appointment. You can't switch mid-process, so think this through before your appointment.
Find out exactly where you stand
The fastest way to know if you qualify is to run your specific numbers through our free Mexican residency calculator. It uses each consulate's published 2026 requirements (the same numbers in this post, plus consulate-specific adjustments) and gives you:
- A clear yes/no on whether you qualify
- Your margin over (or under) the threshold
- Personalized guidance for your specific situation
- The documentation you'll need to prepare
The calculator is free and takes about 2 minutes. Run your numbers.