Three amounts people confuse
When people ask ’how much does a residence permit cost’, they usually expect a single number. In practice there are three, and only two of them are an expense.
1. What to show the authorities — this is not an expense
Almost every ground requires proof of income or savings. This money remain yours: they are not needed by anyone transfer, freeze, or spend. You only need to prove that they if there is one — with a bank statement, certificate, or contract. This figure is most often are mistaken for the cost of a residence permit, which is why relocation seems costs tens of thousands of euros.
2. What to pay us — for the work
This covers case review, selecting the right grounds, compiling and checking the document package, and submission and case management through to the card. Amounts for each basis are in the table below.
3. What is paid outside our service
Government fees go directly to the authority. Certified translations, apostille and certificates — to those who arrange them. We do not mark them up and we do not process them through ourselves.
By basis
On the left — what you must prove to the authorities; on the right — how much it costs our work. These are separate accounts.
| Grounds | Who it suits | Show the authorities | Our work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary residence | live there or relocate, long-term, with status | ≈ 4 400 $ monthly income over 6 months | named after the review — depends on family composition |
| SAE electronic authorisation | visit and take a look around, up to six months, without status | 0 pesos SAE cost | named after the review — depends on family composition |
| Canje — exchanging your visa for a card | already entered on a visa, resident visa in the passport, card not yet issued | 30 days calendar days, from the date of entry | named after the review — depends on family composition |
| Naturalization | thinking about a passport, I live in Mexico or plan to stay long-term | 6 months the cap on exits over two years | named after the review — depends on family composition |
Processing times are intentionally not listed here: this is the authority’s timeline, not our promise. Each basis is covered separately — links in the first column.
If you need more than just a status
The status is half the job. Next come a residence card, a bank account, document translation. Each service is priced separately, openly:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| CURP the public service is free and takes a morning — you pay for us to handle it on your behalf | $99 |
| RFC — tax identification number with SAT | $249 |
| Account at a Mexican bank | $249 |
| Joining IMSS annual fee is charged separately | $199 |
| Private health insurance we select for free, we earn from the insurer’s commission | $0 |
| A local number and connectivity | $79 |
| Apostille and translation by a perito traductor translation is tied to the state of application: from another state it may not be accepted | from $149 |
Prices are in US dollars; 16% IVA is added on top. Government fees are paid separately. Two or more services — 5% off each for each: tick the boxes you need on the country page — amount will be counted immediately.
What is not included in the price
Government fees, certified translations, and official certificates are paid those who provide them, unless stated otherwise in the line. We do not include into their own price what is paid to third parties: this way you can see exactly what you are paying for us, and what would have been spent regardless.
Why we don’t quote a price upfront
Because it cannot be named honestly without first looking into it. The same goal covered by different bases, each with its own cost, timelines, and its own consequences after five years. First, a consultation: a lawyer reviews your situation against the documents and provides a plan — which basis, what will be required and how much it will cost. A consultation costs 100 $ and is credited toward the service fee: if you continue with us, it adds nothing to the cost.