Profile

Temporary Resident Visa – family unity

Route status

Active as of 2026-06-17[1][5]

Open to new applications under the rules recorded below.

Residency route facts

Identity

Identity
Official name (local)Visa de residencia temporal por unidad familiar as of 2026-06-17[1][2][5]
Consular route: Lineamientos Trámite 5, requisito III inciso e) "Unidad Familiar". INM-initiated route: Trámite 8, where the sponsor is in Mexico
Official name (English)Temporary Resident Visa – family unity as of 2026-06-17[1]
Translation; no official English name is published
Legal basisLey de Migración arts. 52 frs. VII y VIII, 55 frs. II y III, 56 frs. II, III y V; Reglamento de la Ley de Migración arts. 111, 112, 113, 114 y 141; Lineamientos Generales para la expedición de visas (DOF 25-07-2025), Trámite 5 requisito III inciso e) y Trámite 8 as of 2026-01-15[3][5][6]

Who can apply

Who can apply
Nationals not served by this routeNot applicable
No supranational free-movement bloc applies; the route is open to all foreign nationals
Criminal-record conditionNo as of 2026-01-15[3][5]
No criminal-record certificate is required by the Ley, the Reglamento or the Lineamientos. Ley art. 43 lets the authority refuse a visa where the applicant’s antecedents in Mexico or abroad compromise national or public security, but that is a discretionary ground of refusal, not a documentary clean-record condition

Permit terms

Permit terms
Initial duration1 to 4 years as of 2026-01-15[6]
Card issued with 1, 2, 3 or 4 years' validity at issuance (Reglamento art. 156); renewable up to 4 years total on the condition.
RenewableYes as of 2026-01-15[3][6]
Renewals up to four years on the condition (Reglamento art. 156). Dependants of a residente temporal are authorised "por el tiempo que dure el permiso del residente temporal" (Ley art. 52 fr. VII)
Maximum total duration4 years as of 2026-01-15[3][6]
Four years as residente temporal, after which residente permanente may be sought (Ley art. 54 fr. V) — or two years where the link is spousal, see pr_years_override
Work rightsauthorisation required as of 2026-01-15[3]
The permit carries no work rights; the holder may obtain an INM work permit subject to a job offer (Ley art. 52 fr. VII, second paragraph; Reglamento art. 165)

Permanent residence and citizenship

Permanent residence and citizenship
Counts toward permanent residenceYes as of 2026-01-15[3][6]
Years to permanent residence on this route2 as of 2026-01-15[3][6]
Spouses, concubines and equivalent partners of a Mexican national or of a residente permanente are granted residente temporal for two years, after which they may obtain residente permanente provided the bond subsists (Ley arts. 55 fr. II-III and 56 fr. II-III; Reglamento arts. 139 fr. VII and 141 fr. I c). The two years run from acquisition of the residente temporal condition by virtue of that link. Other family members on this route follow the country default of four years

Requirements

Requirements
Who can sponsorcitizen, permanent resident, temporary permit holder, specific permits as of 2026-01-15[3][5][6]
Mexican nationals, residentes permanentes, residentes temporales and residentes temporales estudiantes may all sponsor (Ley arts. 52 frs. VII-VIII, 55, 56; Reglamento art. 111; Lineamientos Trámite 8). "specific_permits" carries the residente temporal estudiante, which the vocabulary cannot name. Which relations qualify depends on the sponsor’s status: spouses and partners of Mexicans and of permanent residents receive this temporary visa and never a permanent one, while parents and minor children of temporary residents and students also fall here
Eligible relationsspouse, unmarried partner, minor child, adult dependent child, parent as of 2026-06-17[1][3][5]
Trámite 8: parents; minor unmarried children under the sponsor’s legal representation, and adults under interdiction and legal representation; the spouse’s/partner’s children on the same terms; spouse; concubine, concubinario or equivalent figure. "unmarried_partner" carries concubinato — proved by five years’ constant cohabitation, or less where the couple have children in common (Trámite 8, criterios 2–3). "adult_dependent_child" carries "mayores de edad en estado de interdicción bajo representación legal". Minor siblings qualify only for the permanent variant of the route
Sponsor income requirement220 × Measure and Update Unit (UMA), daily value (a daily figure), assessed monthly as of 2026-06-17[1][5]
220 UMA-days per family member: tax-free monthly income from employment or pension above that figure over the last six months, OR an average monthly bank/investment balance of 220 UMA-days over the last twelve months (Trámite 5, III e.1.iii and e.2.iii). Required only where the sponsor holds a residence VISA and applies together at the consulate; the Lineamientos state no solvency threshold where the sponsor already holds the residence CARD (III e.3, e.4), where the sponsor is Mexican (III e.5), or on the INM path (Trámite 8)
Sponsor accommodation requirementNo as of 2025-07-25[5][6]
No accommodation or housing condition appears in the Lineamientos requirement lists (Trámite 5 III e, Trámite 8) or in Reglamento arts. 111–114
Sponsor waiting periodNot applicable[5][6]
No minimum prior residence is required of the sponsor. Trámite 8 requires only a valid, current residence card (or proof of Mexican nationality); Reglamento art. 114 fr. II says the same
Pre-entry language testNo as of 2025-07-25[3][5]
No language condition appears anywhere in the Ley de Migración, its Reglamento or the Lineamientos
Sponsor and relation matrix
    • Sponsor status: citizen
    • Relation: spouse
    • Resulting condition: Granted residente temporal for two years; eligible to convert to residente permanente afterward while the marital/partnership bond subsists (mx-residente-permanente-unidad-familiar) — never granted the permanent visa directly (Trámite 7, información importante).
    • Sponsor status: permanent resident
    • Relation: spouse
    • Resulting condition: Same as citizen-sponsored spouses: residente temporal for two years, then eligible to convert to residente permanente while the bond subsists.
    • Sponsor status: temporary permit holder
    • Relation: parent
    • Resulting condition: Residente temporal, following the sponsor's own temporary status — no independent acceleration to residente permanente via this link.
    • Sponsor status: specific permits
    • Relation: parent
    • Resulting condition: Residente temporal, following the sponsor's own status as residente temporal estudiante.

Process

Process
Where to apply fromeither as of 2025-07-25[5][6]
Three paths. (1) Consular, Trámite 5 III e — available only where the Mexican or resident sponsor is outside Mexico and accompanies the applicant when the application is filed (Reglamento art. 113). (2) INM, Trámite 8 — the sponsor in Mexico files for authorisation, after which the applicant still attends a consular interview abroad. (3) In-country change of condition: a visitor or residente temporal estudiante already in Mexico may change to residente temporal by family link (Reglamento art. 141 fr. II; Ley art. 53)
Statutory processing time10 days as of 2026-06-17[1][5]
"10 días hábiles" (working days) for the consular decision under Trámite 5. Where the sponsor files at INM under Trámite 8 the INM stage is 20 días hábiles, its authorisation is then valid 30 días hábiles, and the consular interview must take place within 12 días hábiles of booking
Fees
    • Kind: application
    • Amount: MXN 990.79 as of 2025-11-07[4][5]
      Consular visa fee, LFD art. 22 fr. III d)
    • Charged per: applicant
    • Kind: other
    • Amount: MXN 247.96 as of 2025-11-07[4][5]
      INM authorisation of a visa by unidad familiar, LFD art. 14 Bis — payable only on the Trámite 8 path. LFD art. 1 updates quotas annually, so the amount charged may differ
    • Charged per: application
    • Kind: card
    • Amount: MXN 11,140.74 as of 2025-11-07[4]
      Residente temporal card, 1-year validity (LFD art. 8 fr. VI a), 2026); 2 yrs 16,693.36; 3 yrs 21,142.58; 4 yrs 25,057.82 MXN. Foreigners documented by family reunification derived from refugee status are exempt from migration-service fees (LFD art. 16)
    • Charged per: applicant
    • Kind: card
    • Amount: MXN 16,693.36 as of 2025-11-07[4]
      Residente temporal card (LFD art. 8 fr. VI, 2026).
    • Charged per: applicant
    • Condition: 2 years' validity
    • Kind: card
    • Amount: MXN 21,142.58 as of 2025-11-07[4]
      Residente temporal card (LFD art. 8 fr. VI, 2026).
    • Charged per: applicant
    • Condition: 3 years' validity
    • Kind: card
    • Amount: MXN 25,057.82 as of 2025-11-07[4]
      Residente temporal card (LFD art. 8 fr. VI, 2026).
    • Charged per: applicant
    • Condition: 4 years' validity
Quota
  • Quota exists: No as of 2026-01-15[3][5]
    No quota or cap mechanism applies to family-unity visas; the Lineamientos quota provision is limited to visas by oferta de empleo
Stages
    • Label: Consular (Trámite 5, III e) — sponsor accompanies the applicant abroad
    • Statutory clock: 10 days as of 2026-06-17[5]
      10 días hábiles for the consular decision.
    • Fees:
        • Kind: application
        • Amount: MXN 990.79 as of 2025-11-07[4][5]
          Consular visa fee, LFD art. 22 fr. III d).
        • Charged per: applicant
    • Label: INM authorisation then consulate (Trámite 8) — sponsor already in Mexico
    • Statutory clock: 20 days as of 2025-07-25[5]
      20 días hábiles for the INM stage; the authorisation is then valid 30 días hábiles, and the consular interview must take place within 12 días hábiles of booking.
    • Fees:
        • Kind: other
        • Amount: MXN 247.96 as of 2025-11-07[4][5]
          INM authorisation of a visa by unidad familiar, LFD art. 14 Bis.
        • Charged per: application
    • Label: In-country change of condition (Reglamento art. 141 fr. II; Ley art. 53) — applicant already in Mexico as visitor or residente temporal estudiante

Physical presence

Physical presence
none statedto keep the permit as of 2026-01-15[3][6]
No minimum-presence rule stated; unlimited entries and exits (Reglamento art. 156). For the spousal two-year track the Reglamento requires "dos años de estancia regular en el territorio nacional como residente temporal" without expressing it as a day count (art. 141 fr. I c)

Family inclusion

Family inclusion
Family members may be includedYes as of 2026-01-15[3][5]
The holder is themselves a residente temporal and acquires the family-unity right of Ley art. 52 fr. VII
Eligible relationsspouse, unmarried partner, minor child, parent as of 2026-01-15[3][5]
Ley art. 52 fr. VII a)-d): minor children (incl. the spouse’s/partner’s minor children), children of any age under guardianship, spouse, concubine/equivalent, and the resident’s father or mother
Family may apply at the same timeYes as of 2026-01-15[3][5]
Family members' work rightsnone as of 2026-01-15[3]
Family members hold residente temporal; work only with an INM permit subject to a job offer (Ley art. 52 fr. VII, second paragraph)
Additional means per family member
    • Relation: spouse
    • Amount: 220 × Measure and Update Unit (UMA), daily value (a daily figure), assessed monthly as of 2026-06-17[1][5]
      Per family member: income >220 UMA-days/month over the last 6 months, OR an average monthly balance of 220 UMA-days over the last 12 months (Lineamientos Trámite 5, req. III e). Required on the consular unidad-familiar path; no solvency threshold is stated for the INM path (Trámite 8) or where the sponsor already holds the residence card (Trámite 5, III e.3)
    • Relation: unmarried partner
    • Amount: 220 × Measure and Update Unit (UMA), daily value (a daily figure), assessed monthly as of 2026-06-17[1][5]
      Per family member: income >220 UMA-days/month over the last 6 months, OR an average monthly balance of 220 UMA-days over the last 12 months (Lineamientos Trámite 5, req. III e). Required on the consular unidad-familiar path; no solvency threshold is stated for the INM path (Trámite 8) or where the sponsor already holds the residence card (Trámite 5, III e.3)
    • Relation: minor child
    • Amount: 220 × Measure and Update Unit (UMA), daily value (a daily figure), assessed monthly as of 2026-06-17[1][5]
      Per family member: income >220 UMA-days/month over the last 6 months, OR an average monthly balance of 220 UMA-days over the last 12 months (Lineamientos Trámite 5, req. III e). Required on the consular unidad-familiar path; no solvency threshold is stated for the INM path (Trámite 8) or where the sponsor already holds the residence card (Trámite 5, III e.3)
    • Relation: parent
    • Amount: 220 × Measure and Update Unit (UMA), daily value (a daily figure), assessed monthly as of 2026-06-17[1][5]
      Per family member: income >220 UMA-days/month over the last 6 months, OR an average monthly balance of 220 UMA-days over the last 12 months (Lineamientos Trámite 5, req. III e). Required on the consular unidad-familiar path; no solvency threshold is stated for the INM path (Trámite 8) or where the sponsor already holds the residence card (Trámite 5, III e.3)

Your next step

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Verification

Verification
Sources cited6
of which official (tier 1)6
Oldest as-of date2025-07-25
Newest as-of date2026-06-17
Reviewed on2026-08-11
Schema version1.1

Sources

  1. [1] Residente temporal por unidad familiar — requisitos
    Consulado de México en Barcelona (SRE) · official portal · Tier 1 · Published 2026-06-17 · Accessed 2026-08-04
  2. [2] Visas — requisitos por tipo (residente temporal y permanente)
    Consulado de México en Yuma (SRE) · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  3. [3] Ley de Migración (texto vigente, última reforma DOF 15-01-2026)
    Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión · statute · Tier 1 · Published 2026-01-15 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  4. [4] Ley Federal de Derechos, arts. 8 y 22 (cuotas migratorias y consulares; última reforma DOF 07-11-2025)
    Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión · fee schedule · Tier 1 · Published 2025-11-07 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  5. [5] Lineamientos Generales para la expedición de visas que emiten las secretarías de Gobernación y de Relaciones Exteriores (DOF 25-07-2025)
    Diario Oficial de la Federación (SEGOB/SRE) · gazette · Tier 1 · Published 2025-07-25 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy · Amended by mx-dof-reforma-lineamientos-2026
  6. [6] Reglamento de la Ley de Migración (última reforma DOF 23-05-2014)
    Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión · statute · Tier 1 · Published 2014-05-23 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy

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