Family & Spouse Visas in Mexico
Sponsoring a partner, children, or parents
Family unity is a strong route in Mexico: the spouse, children, and parents of a Mexican citizen or resident qualify for residency without meeting any income test, and marriage to a Mexican shortens naturalisation to two years.
| Spouse of a Mexican citizen | Temporary residency, 2 years, then permanent |
| Parent of a Mexican child | Permanent residency directly |
| Family of a resident | Temporary residency matching the sponsor's |
| Income test | Waived for family unity applications |
| Naturalisation after marriage | 2 years of residency |
Who qualifies
- The spouse or concubine of a Mexican citizen or of a temporary or permanent resident.
- Children under eighteen, and dependent adult children.
- The parents of a Mexican citizen — a route which grants permanent residency directly and is heavily used by families of children born in Mexico.
- Siblings in limited dependent circumstances.
Birth in Mexico changes everything
Mexico grants citizenship by birth on its territory. A child born in Mexico is Mexican, and the parents of a Mexican child qualify for permanent residency. This is the fastest legal route to permanent status in the country and it is entirely lawful and routine.
The child's other nationality is unaffected; Mexico does not require a choice.
How to apply
Family unity applications for a spouse or parents of a resident are usually filed at a consulate abroad like any other residency application, with the relationship evidenced by apostilled certificates. Where the anchor is a Mexican citizen or a Mexican-born child, applications can generally be filed inside Mexico at an INM office — one of the few real exceptions to the consulate rule.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.