Key Points
- Mexico launched digital visa processing and updated residency rules on July 25, 2025.
- UMA now replaces the Minimum Salary for financial eligibility assessments.
- Digital services include QR code visas, remote applications, and electronic documentation.
- Administrative burdens for reporting personal changes have been reduced.
Overview
Mexico has announced its most significant update to immigration rules since 2014, introducing digital visa processing and modernizing residency qualification standards. The reform, effective July 25, 2025, impacts all visa categories, including visitor, temporary, and permanent permits.
The new digital services aim to simplify applications and improve efficiency. Key features include electronic visas with QR codes, the acceptance of digital documentation in place of paper, and remote application options in select cases. These improvements are designed to reduce the need for in-person visits and shorten processing timelines.
Residency eligibility will now be calculated using Unidad de Medida y Actualización (UMA) rather than the Minimum Salary. Although UMA is numerically lower, the revised multiples maintain financial thresholds similar to prior requirements for 2025. Additionally, Mexico has eased certain administrative obligations for residents, such as reporting changes in personal status, to further streamline compliance.
Looking Ahead
Employers and global mobility teams should ensure applicants understand the shift to UMA-based calculations and take advantage of digital visa features where available. Continued monitoring of official government publications will be essential as Mexico gradually expands electronic services and updates eligibility requirements.
