FM3 Non-immigrant resident visa – No Inmigrante
New Non immigrant resident card and old FM3 booklet
You will need an FM3 visa if you want to:
– stay in Mexico for more than 180 days continuously
– keep a foreign plated vehicle
– build a home
– open a bank account (maybe)
– do any kind of work.
The FM3 visa allows foreigners to stay in Mexico all year. It is renewed annually for 5 years. After 5 years you must reapply. There is no limit to how many times you may apply for and FM3. There is a rumour that this may have changed and after 5 years you may need to get an FM2 but that is not confirmed.
To qualify you must be able to prove that you have an annual income of about USD$15,000.
Follow the application process here. Since it can now only be done in Mexico you must have a valid FMM form first or an FM2 or an FM3.
This should be a great deal easier than the old process which is kept for historical purposes here. There are actually names of people who can do the job for you toward the bottom of that old page.
My wife and I have owned a place in Manzanillo for about 7 years and this year we are planning to take a car which we intend to leave. Any problems doing that as of the 2010 FM3 changes? Is it true FM3′s can no longer be obtained at a Mexican Consulate in the USA? Is a bond on the car required if it is our intention to get an FM3 when we get to Manzanillo this year?
Thank you very much for your time!!
Jeff: I don’t believe you will have a problem. Enter with the standard tourist card (FMM) and indicate you will be going for your FM3. Do that within 30 days of entry.
The import permit for your car will automatically transfer to your FM3 when you get that and then stay in force as long as you keep your FM3 current.
I have also put your comment on the forum here:
http://jaltembajalapeno.com/jjforum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2083
I was wondering if someone could help me clarify something. I have an FM3 no inmigrante visa in Mexico. It does not have the company I work for on this visa, and I am wondering if when I leave this job, do I then lose the visa?
My boss told me that if I choose to leave, I will then lose the visa and have to apply for a new one altogether or be shipped off home, whereas a lawyer in Mexico told me the opposite. The other source said all I need to do is inform immigration of my change of employment and they alter my information accordingly.
I am having difficulty of finding any information that is useful on the internet and was hoping you might have advice?
Very much appreciated.
Sukie: The part about informing INM of your change of status is correct. I assume you have the right to work in Mexico. Your FM3 is yours. Your right to work may be associated with your employer but your actual FM3 is not. You should have no problem to continue your FM3 status. I have started a thread on the forum in your name in case there are others who want to comment and will not see it here:
http://jaltembajalapeno.com/jjforum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1027
Thank you so much for your comment, I appreciate your help. I was hoping someone would be able to tell me if there is a time period inbetween finding other employment. I would like to resign and then have time to find another job, however is there a limited period?
Sukie I really don’t know but folks on the forum may be able to help you. Check it here: http://jaltembajalapeno.com/jjforum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1027
Details on FMM in that .doc file I linked will be on pages 14 and 15. Note that when you get one for entry to apply for FM-3 or FM-2 it is limited to 30 days, and there are sanctions for staying over that time without getting the other documents.
I see no where that it limits you to one FMM a year.
There is no limit to the number of FMM’s you can get in a year.
http://www.sat.gob.mx/sitio_internet/asistencia_contribuyente/informacion_frecuente/salarios_minimos/ is where it lists the legal minimum salary which one uses times 250 for FM-3 Rentista, and times 400 for FM-2, times 1/2 if FM-2 owns a house.
Found it. On page 38 of the Jan 2010 rules it plainly says 4 renewals.
“Vigencia del permiso:
Hasta por un año prorrogable hasta por cuatro veces.”
That is correct tiredandretired 4 renewals plus one original equals five years. The FM3 can be used continuously. You may have to get a new one after 5 years but there is no limit to the number of times you can do that.
You can find the Jan. 2010 rules at http://www.cddhcu.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/regla/n247.doc
On page 38 it says for (FM-3) 250 days of minimum wage for $1105 a month, times 12 ( I messed that up, sorry) $13260 a year for the first person. No discount for house.
Page 61 says for (FM-2) 400 days minimum wage. $1768 a month, or 21216 a year. On the same page it says 50% off if a house is owned, which would be $10608 a year with house for FM-2 for the first person.
Note there is also a requirement for renewal for a carta bajo protesta, which the Puebla office called a solicitud, thus totally confusing me. There was no form listed. My best friend here was a secretary, and gave me an idea what it was. heaven help you if you sign that and lie!
Anyway, on my link to Thorn Tree I gave the exact content which they accepted, though TT format for page layout is wrong. Obviously change it to suit your circumstances, for example if you DO have a dependent, you will need to say so, etc.
>>It is renewed annually for as long as you want.
Are you sure? I thought it plainly said one can only renew an FM-3 four times, then must start over. I do know that was the old rule, since I did not look for it, it might be changed, not sure.
The FM-3 covers different circumstances, which means requirements will vary based on type of FM-3. Mine is the FM-3 rentista, which means I have to show adequate income from outside the US. That income is 250 times minimum daily wage in Mexico City, which is closer to $11,000 USD at current conversion rates. This year minimum wage in DF is something like 57.46 pesos. If the conversion rate is 13, that would be very close to $11000 a year.
Johan, you can find at http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1907848&start=30 the exact events recorded as they happened for renewing FM-3 Rentista in Puebla, almost exactly as described in the rules. I will be surprised if there is any major shaking out process.
I also listed the various government URL’s and the official rules, but do note the ones which are the new ones since I listed the old rules as well.
For folks who want to read the very detailed explanation on Lonely planet using the link supplied by tiredandretired need to go to about page 3 of the discussion to get it. I have read it and find it pretty consistent with what is here. It is worth repeating a few issues discussed there: The FMM is not a multiple entry; you get a new one each time you enter; you can do that as many times as you want.
Can anyone direct us to the on-line forms for RENEWING our FM3s. Thanks!
The first line of the “Application procedures for FM3 and FM2″ (above) where it says –> start here. Click on the green word “here”.
The screen shot of the correct entries is further down that same page. Look for “Renew your FM3″.
Thanks for the information. I have a few questions I would love to ask. I want to move to Mexico and work for a non-profit and it may take a while to earn $15,000 per year from the NPO. Is there somewhere I should go for these types of questions?
Yes we have a great local forum with lots of helpful folks that do just that. Go here: http://members5.boardhost.com/CasaLibertad/
Thanks Mia: That is exactly what I need to know. I have corrected the error….Johan
Hi i hate to correct this, but we do own property trough a bank trust, and we also have the mexican medical insurance without having an FM3 .for the past 3 years.
In the meantime we did get our FM3 but not becauce it was requered for any of the above.