Why a visa is not the same as status
A consulate abroad issues a visa that allows you to travel to the border and request entry. At the border, an officer processes your entry, and the clock starts from that day. You then need to visit INM and exchange your entry documents for a resident card — this procedure is what’s known as canje.
The statutory wording is precise: Article 59 of the migration law gives temporary and permanent residents ’thirty calendar days from their entry into national territory’ to apply to the Institute for the corresponding resident card. The card is valid for exactly as long as the stay is authorised, and it is the document that proves lawful status.
- A visa grants the right to enter; a card grants the right to stay
- The count starts from the date of entry, not from the date the visa was issued
- The rule applies equally to temporary and permanent residents
- Exception — asylum seekers and stateless persons follow a separate procedure
What happens at the appointment
An appointment is booked in advance through the INM system, and the visit takes place at the office covering your location. The standard package is: passport with visa, entry form, completed application form, paid fee, and photos in the required format. The authority explicitly states that the document may be issued the same day if the package is complete and there are no questions about the documents.
Fee amounts are intentionally omitted here: the federal schedule of charges is reviewed annually. The applicable rate should be checked with the relevant authority on the day of payment — this is the only way to avoid giving someone an outdated figure.
- Passport with a valid residence visa
- Entry form received at the border crossing
- Completed application form and paid fee
- Photos in the required format
If thirty days have passed
An overstay cannot be extended or settled with an on-the-spot payment. The visa is single-entry: it was already used upon arrival, and you cannot enter again on the same visa or make a canje after its expiry through the standard process. What follows is a separate procedure for regularising your status — and it is more expensive, takes longer, and has an unpredictable outcome.
The worst combination is an overstay followed by leaving the country: a person departs assuming they will return and sort everything out, only to find they cannot re-enter on a used visa. This is the most common way to lose a paid consular authorisation entirely.
How to travel while the case is still open
If a trip falls during a period when the case at INM is still open, there is a separate permit for that — a permit to leave and return. It is designed specifically for those with an ongoing immigration case, must be requested at the office of the state where the case is being handled, and is valid for up to sixty calendar days from the date of issue. It is separately stated that it does not apply to procedures for regularising status.
The permit carries a fee, which is also a government charge reviewed annually — check the current rate with the relevant authority.
Canje: resident card, handled end to end
- Calculating your timeline from the date of entry and booking your appointment first
- INM appointment at the office nearest to your location
- Checking the package before the appointment — so you do not have to come back a second time
- Appointment support, including language assistance
- Exit and re-entry permit if your travel falls during the processing period
- Analysis of the situation if the thirty days have already passed
A legal consultation — 100 $.Credited toward the full service fee if you continue with us.
During the consultation the lawyer reviews your situation based on your documents and provides filing route: which basis, what will be needed and in what order.
Government fees, notarisation, certified translations and apostille, where required, billed separately at actual cost — we will itemise them for your situation. Processing time depends on the authority and its workload, which is why we do not publish an average figure.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you have to exchange your visa for a residence card?
Thirty calendar days from the date of entry into the country — that is what Article 59 of the migration law states. The days are calendar days, meaning weekends and public holidays are included.
Does the count start from the date the visa was issued or from the date of entry?
From entry. The visa has its own validity period for entry, but the thirty days for the card are counted from the day you actually crossed the border and received your entry document.
What happens if I miss the thirty-day window?
The visa was used upon entry, so the standard canje process after the deadline does not apply. What follows is a separate regularisation procedure — more expensive, more time-consuming, and with no guaranteed outcome. This needs to be worked through based on your specific dates, not general articles.
Can you leave Mexico while your card is being prepared?
Yes, but a separate exit and re-entry permit is required for this — it is specifically for those with an open immigration case. It is valid for up to sixty calendar days from the date of issue and must be obtained in the state where the case is being handled. Without it, there is no basis for returning: the visa will have already been used up.
Does a permanent resident need to renew their canhé?
Yes. Article 59 covers both temporary and permanent residents: the timeframe and procedure are the same. The only difference is that a permanent resident card is not tied to an authorized stay period in the way a temporary one is.
Verified September 2, 2026. The thresholds and amounts are tied to indicators that are reviewed annually — check the official source for your country before filing.
Services and prices — openly, before any conversation
People usually add: curp — $99 · rfc — tax identification number with sat — $249. Two or more services — 5% off each.
Prices are in US dollars; 16% IVA is added on top. Government fees are paid separately.