Frequently Asked Questions

• 1. What are the opening hours and addresses of the NMI Offices?

  

  The 32 Offices of the National Migration Institute are open to the public from Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 15:00 hours.

  Please visit the following page to find the address of the office closest to your domicile. Micrositio

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• 2. Which days will there be no service for migration procedures?

  

  Non-working days are considered to be those established in Article 28 of the Federal Act on Administrative Procedure, Saturdays and Sundays and those indicated below:

  • 01 January;
  • The first Monday in February, in commemoration of 05 February;
  • The third Monday in March, in commemoration of 21 March;
  • 01 May;
  • 05 May;
  • 16 September;
  • The third Monday in November, in commemoration of 20 November;
  • 1 October of every six years, when it corresponds to the transfer of the Federal Executive Power;
  • From 20 to 31 December, only for applications to be submitted to the Institute's processing offices; and

  Any others established in the decree issued by the Ministry of the Interior, which shall be published in the Official Gazette of the Federation in January of each year.

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• 3. Can I submit my immigration application online or is it necessary to attend the INM Offices?

  

  Online, you only have to fill in the application form in websites listed below, and then present it at the Office closest to your address along with the documents of the respective requirements so that it can be registered and formally begin the processing and resolution of your application.

  The websites are:

  • Migration status procedures
  • Visa procedures
  • Procedures for employers

  
  

  All applications are submitted in person at the competent offices of the National Migration Institute.

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• 4. How can I find out what I require to submit an application at the INM Representation Offices?

  

  Visit the Microsite page and select the application procedure you wish to carry out. Micrositio

  You can also call 800 004 6264 at the Migration Attention Centre or attend the nearest Office of the National Migration Institute to request specialised support.

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• 5. Why haven't I received a notification about my immigration application yet?

  

  If you have not yet received a notification on the progress of your application, it is because your application is in the process of being reviewed and/or to be verified the information provided in your application and documents submitted to official bodies, both internal and external to the Institute, which may lead to an extension of the regulatory deadlines for resolution.

  Click on the following link of Microsite to check the progress of your procedure. Micrositio.

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• 6. What happens if my immigration document expires on a weekend or on a non-working day?

  

  You must attend the Office of the Institute closest to your domicile on the following working day so that the application can be received, remember that you must bring the application as well as the corresponding requirements. It will only be received on the following working day, but not later.

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• 7. What happens if my immigration document expires while I am abroad?

  

  As long as the procedure you intend to apply is a renewal of the immigration document, you may remain abroad with the expired immigration document for up to 55 calendar days. Upon your arrival in the country, you will only have 5 working days to attend the office closest to your domicile to submit the application for renewal procedure.

  Remember that you must bring the application form and the documents of the corresponding requirements.

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• 8. Where can I check the amounts for the payment of the procedure of my application?

  

  Visit the Microsite to obtain information regarding the payments to be made for those migration procedures that so indicate, so that only those charges contemplated by the migration services should be received. Micrositio

  Remember that the data to be recorded in the corresponding form are those of the foreign person for whom the procedure is requested.

  You can also call 800 004 6264 at the Migration Attention Centre or attend the nearest Representative Office of the National Migration Institute to request specialised support.

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• 9. What happens if my immigration document is lost, stolen or damaged?

  

  The procedure you must apply in case of theft, loss, partial deterioration or total destruction of your resident card, visitor's card or your Multiple Migration Form is the replacement of your immigration document.

  Therefore, please call 800 004 6264 at the Centro de Atención Migratoria (Migration Service Centre) or visit the following link for information about how to process your application. Micrositio

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• 10. What happens if my immigration document is lost or stolen abroad?

  

  You must contact the nearest Mexican Consulate to apply for a replacement visa if your visitor or resident card has been stolen, lost or destroyed abroad.

  The foreign national must apply for the replacement of the corresponding visitor's or resident's card within thirty calendar days of entering the national territory.

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• 11. Is the exit and return permit extendable?

  

  No, the exit and return permit is valid for 60 calendar days and is issued for a single occasion of exit from and entry into Mexican national territory.

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• 12. What happens if I have an immigration document issued in 2008, is it still valid?

  

  On 25 May 2011, the Migration Act came into force, so that the migration statuses granted prior to that date, were equated as detailed below:

  • Foreign persons who have obtained the status of non-immigrant, within the categories of political asylum seeker and refugee, will be equated to permanent residents;
  • Foreign persons who have obtained the status of immigrated have been equated to permanent residents.

  In these cases, the documents are valid. Only if you deem it necessary, you can apply for a replacement document at the Institute, so that you have an updated format of it: permanent resident's card.

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