Foreign nationals who will remain in Mexico for periods longer than 180 days should secure a temporary resident visa issued by a Mexican representation. Once in Mexico, they should obtain a temporary resident card.

Foreign nationals are allowed to maintain temporary resident status for four continuous years.

At the end of this period, they may choose to apply for permanent residency or leave the country.

Temporary resident cards may include a work permit. This work permit allows foreign nationals to receive income from a Mexican source. Foreign nationals that will be employed by a Mexican entity require this permit. Temporary resident visas are required to be pre-authorized by the INM.

On the other hand, foreign nationals who will continue to be employed by a foreign entity do not require a work permit and are allowed to request a temporary resident visa at a Mexican foreign representation.

Visitor visas may also be requested for work assignments of less than 180 days in Mexico. This authorization is only requested when a Mexican company or establishment will pay the foreign national's salary or remuneration. These authorizations must first be requested at the INM, which will send the proper authorization to the Mexican Consulate (MC) abroad. The foreign national will receive a visitor visa at the MC and will then travel to Mexico, where they will receive an FMM, which will authorize them to receive remuneration in Mexico for up to 180 days.

This visa and immigration document may not be renewed, and the foreign national must leave Mexico after the authorization period has expired.

Visitor visas for remunerated activities in Mexico are seldom requested, since foreign nationals usually have problems obtaining social security and tax ID numbers with these immigration forms.

Temporary residents are allowed to stay in Mexico for up to four years. These visas and immigration documents also authorize multiple entries into and exits from Mexico. Temporary residents are allowed to enter to perform activities both remunerated and not remunerated by a Mexican source. If foreign nationals perform activities not remunerated by a Mexican source, they must request a temporary resident visa at any MC. However, if they perform activities remunerated by a Mexican source, authorization must first be requested at the INM, which will send the authorization to the MC abroad so that the MC may issue a visa.

After receiving a temporary resident visa, foreign nationals may travel to Mexico, where they will receive an FMM that authorizes a change from an FMM to a temporary resident document. Foreign nationals must request this change within the next 30 days. If not, their temporary resident authorization will no longer be valid, and a new one must be requested.

As a temporary resident, foreign nationals are authorized to remain in Mexico for the entirety of their first year in Mexico and may request renewals for up to three additional years. After the total authorized time of four years has been granted, the foreign national may not extend their temporary resident visa and must either leave Mexico or seek permanent resident status.

Foreign nationals that are not authorized to receive remuneration in Mexico may request a work authorization to receive a salary or remuneration from a Mexican company or establishment.

Permanent residents may remain in the country indefinitely and are authorized to work in Mexico. Permanent resident status may be obtained by having stayed in Mexico for four consecutive years, by being married to a Mexican national and remaining in the country for two years or by having Mexican children.

Permanent resident status may also be requested by a special points system that has yet to be published. There is no timeline for these new rules to be implemented.