Mexico Visas – FM2, FM3 and FMM form
Visitors to Mexico from Canada and the USA require a visa if they want to stay continuously for more than 180 days. 
Last updated January 7, 2012: Changes are anticipated but still not in effect, details here: Immigration Changes – FMM, FM2, FM3 – Summary
FMM – standard tourist form required by all persons entering the country except the northern border zone.
FM2 – Resident visa leading to Mexican citizenship or permanent resident status.
FM3 – resident visa for people who want to live more than 180 days or work in Mexico
Regulations changed as of May 1, 2010. All visas must now be acquired in Mexico. The new rules state that you can no longer get a visa at a consulate. Some people have reported (August 2010) that some consulates still process visas but we should assume this is only during the transition. (January 2012 – that seems to have stopped although you can still get assistance at many consulates with your on line application)
The new visas are shown here with their old counterparts:
The application procedure starts here.
Other resources:
Regulations changed as of May 1, 2010. The regulations in Spanish dealing with all aspects of immigration can be read here.
There is substantial discussion about this on the Mexconnect Forum and on the Lonely Planet Forum.
There is a procedure for getting a permission of entry and exit while your paper work is being processed. It would be a good idea to avoid the necessity of doing that by planning to be in Mexico long enough for the process to be completed.
There is an excellent explanation of the process by the undisputed king of knowledge about living in Mexico, Rolly Brook.
I see that this thread has been going on for quite some time and thank you to all that have contributed. My questions is about obtaining an FM3 as a full-time traveling RVer. We will be crossing the border in a couple of months, and plan to stay well into a year or more. Therefore , we would like to apply for the no inmigrante (FM3), but will not have a “residential address”. Since we will be living in our RV and traversing the country. Any advice on how we can address this issue? We would like to get the process started at a local consulate in Texas, which is where we are now.
Why does one need an fm2 or 3. We have lived here Ensanada off and on for about 5 years and have never been asked for one.
We own a double wide on leased land that we bought without the 2 or 3.Will I be able to sell my trailer without a problem?
I have a question relating to giving up an fm3?
I do not see any need to have one any longer, no car, no property.
I wish to know upon leaving Mexico, although my fm3 expired on the 13th december 2011. I will be leaving in april back to Canada.. So i need to know if i will be apying a fine at the airport, since i have no fmm tourist card?
Upon coming back i will just get a fmm tourist card and stay for 180 days.
Hi, I’ve had my FM2 for 4 years. It expired in November 2010 before I could renew it for its 5th year. I was told that because this is the last year of my FM2 I had a 6 month lapse to renew it past the expiration date, without a fine. Can anyone confirm that it is the truth ’cause I’m having trouble to get the thing renewed at the immigration???? And if you have that info could you direct me to the link, Thanks!
Nadia. I am not sure so I have place your inquiry on the form. Please check here to see if others were able to help:
http://jaltembajalapeno.com/jjforum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1259
In 2007 my husband and I moved to Mexico and got FM3′s. I loved being there but living in Mexico did not appeal to my husband so we moved back to the US before our FM3′s expired. My last visit to Mexico I was via an FMM. Was I supposed to have relinquished my FM3 at some point? Who would I have given it to? Should I find a consulate and give it to them? Will I drop from their records after not renewing since an FM3 is only valid to renew for 5 years (initial plus 4 renewals)?
Since it has expired I think you do not need to do anything but if you would like to be really sure take it to the nearest consulate when you have a chance.
hola soy residente de regimen comunitario en españa, necesito visa para visitar mexico, gracias
Yvonne. I bet that would work. If you do it please ask them what are the implications of just doing nothing and let us now how it went.
Hi, I’m kind of in the same boat as Alex. I did not return my FMM when I returned to the US. I live very far away from a Mexican Border. Can I return my FMM at a mexican consulate here in the US?
Well, further to my starting my FM3 process at the Mexican Embassy in Vancouver all has gone so well. In Vancouver I provided my passport, 2 Canadian sized passport photos(no glasses or jewelry), a letter from my bank stating my income and $140 Cad. They finger printed me, took my photo both in profile and face on and told me to return in three business days. I did and they returned my passport with a hug diplomatic visa in it that included the two photos they took of me. This visa is valid for 6 months. They also gave me a very official receipt, telling me to take that to the Mexican immigration office too. They had no other instructions for me. I read Rolly Brook’s site and filled in and filed the basic immigration form as he suggests. This is very important. I kept the file number and printed the form,
Once in Mexico I went to immigration with a letter from my landlord, the infantile photos in profile and face on, no jewelry, glasses or hair on face (not facial hair, bangs etc!) a photocopy of my entire passport although the officer only took the pages with the diplomatic visa and the main passport page, the receipt from the Mexican embassy and the entry visa into Mexico (very important) and a copy of the form I had filed with the file number. I was out of the office in 20 mins and had my FM3 in 4 working days
No hassles at all. Judging by other folks around me who had to make repeated trips to immigration because they were missing something, I suggest starting the process in the Mexican embassy where you live. Seems to really simplify things.
Jacqui
Unfortunately I let my FM3 expire and there was a fine but I did get my new one and will be more careful next time! I almost missed my airline flight but the man at immigration at the airport let me though, thankfully!
Mary Jane you can show your expired FM3 to the immigration official when you enter the country and they will probably give you an FMM. Go the the INM office within 30 days and ask them what you need to do. I believe they will require you to get a new one but that is better for you anyway since after 5 years you would have to do that anyway. Please let us know what happens. No one is an expert on this yet but we can do a lot for each other by sharing while we figure out the new regs.
Thanks Jaqui that is exactly the kind of info we need. Could you please also update us as you progress. I assume you will be entering on an FMM or will the stamp in your passport do it?
I have an FM3 that was issued in May06. I did not know at the time it had to be renewed every year. Can it be renewed or do I have to start the process all over?
You have to start all over.
Hi there
I visited the Mexican Consulate here in Vancouver, BC on August 1. I was told that Aug 1 was the first day that Mexican consulates could not offer FM3 services BUT that I could do all the paper work here at the Mexican Consulate. They would process the paperwork, put a consular stamp in my passport to show Mexican immigration officials what I was doing and once in my chosen town, I would report to the required officials and get the new FM3. I would not be required to pay again and I would just need one photo to take with me as the consulate here would have used the other.
The very charming woman in the consulate asked me to come back in a couple of weeks by which time they will have worked out all the glitches and would know exactly what to do!
best Jacqui
Hello,
If one does not turn in our FMM visa at border (because you thought you would be back in 180 days) and you do not come back – is there a fine upon entering Mexico again? If yes, how much? Can you pay at a consulate in the US? Can you negotiate the fee?
Alex: I stand to be corrected but I believe the best thing is to have the FMM form with you next time you enter but fill out a new one and have it processed. The FMM is not for multiple entry and exit. If you present your old one I believe you would be in for some hassle because you were supposed to return it on exit. The reason I suggest having the old one with you is just in case they have started a computer system too keep track of them. I have not heard of that and it seems VERY unlikely. Please let us know how it goes…..Johan
Alex –
I did the same thing as you.
Have you been back since and what happened?
Thank you.
Hi – same question: I did not turn in my FMM upon exiting Mexico, expecting that I could return within 180 days; but have not returned, and now it will expire shortly. Can I mail it to the consulate, or just turn it in late on my next entry?
Thanks!
I suspect the best thing is to do nothing. Have it with you next time you enter. You could ask the INM officer what to do but they may not care very much. There may be suggestions by other folks on the forum here:
http://jaltembajalapeno.com/jjforum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1620
Thank you for all of your effort. As we are not fluent in your beautiful language we need all the help you can give us. Please keep up the good work that assists us all.
Thanks Rick and welcome. You are quite right the FMM is not a visa but the other two I believe may be rightly called by that name. I will check a bit further and get the appropriate changes made. These are new pages and I need all the help I can get to make sure they are accurate.
Hola Johan, I am not trying to get nit picky as a first time visitor to this beautiful site but I believe you should not call the FMM,FM2 and FM3 a visa, maybe a tourist card or tourist permit. this site:
http://www.learn4good.com/travel/mexico_visa.htm#req
shows which citizens of different countries need a visa to visit Mexico, the citizens of the USA and Canada do not need visas to visit Mexico…just my dos centavos,Rick