Detailed Guide to Renewing Mexican Temporary Residency

First refer to a basic guide, then refer to these notes to get the finer details right the first time.

Basics

You may start the renewal process as soon as 30 days before your residency expires. You should start towards the beginning of this process in Vallarta, because appointments are fully-booked sometimes weeks in advance.
As long as you get the first appointment in before the expiration, you’re golden. After that, if you’re residency expires before they give you your card, you’re still fine because you have a special temporary status.

Real Life Differences from Other Guides

It’s not possible to get your new card same-day in Puerto Vallarta since the renewed ID card gets shipped from Guadalajara. It can take 1-2 weeks.
Your own “cover letter” isn’t needed. The generated “bajo protesta” takes its place.

Real Life Differences from Official Requirements

Payment is done at the INM office, after they’ve validated your paperwork. So there’s no need to prove any payment at a bank anymore.

Photo is done at the INM office. No need to bring photos.

	_**Note:** There's a sign on the door in Vallarta that you must not wear light colored or sleeveless clothing for the photo. I wore a light blue short-sleeved shirt without any issues, but don't give them any potential reason to turn you away!_

You need your passport along with a copy of it.
* Make sure there are no visible fingers in the copy. They will reject you for fingers in the copy.
You’ll need a smartphone or laptop with internet access to do some steps via email during your appointment.

Before going to INM Steps

Find the requirements for renovation

1.1. Go to the microsite.

1.2. Click “Trámites Migratorios”.

1.3. Click “Expedición de documento migratorio por renovación”. Here you have the official requirements. You can also see more details in the link on that requirements page.

Remember: there are some differences between the official federal requirements and the Vallarta office.

Generate and print the “solicitud”

	2.1. On the requirements page, click "solicitud"  

	2.2. "Extender la Estancia"  

	2.3. "Expedición de Tarjeta de Residente por Renovación"  

	  _**Note:** If all your data is the same as officially on your old residency card, you can check "conozco mi NUE" and put in the NUE found on the frontside of your residency card._

Fill out and print the “formato básico” electronically.

There seem to be specific options for “actividad en su país de residencia” and “actividad en méxico”. Since I was renewing after getting permission for work, here’s what I put:
- Actividad en méxico: Trabajador independiente (other options are trabajador, jubilado, estudiante)
- Ocupación: Profesionista o técnico
- Sector o rama de trabajo: Industria eléctrica, electrónica o de computo
For “actividad en su país de residencia” I put the income that coincides with how I originally applied for the temporary residency (economic solvency). For “actividad en México”, since I was renewing after I got permission to work, I put “trabajador independiente”. I wasn’t making any money yet in Mexico, so I just put what I estimated to make in the future.
Generate and print the “bajo protesta” form.

You will see 3 links towards the bottom of the “requisitos” section. For economic solvency, “escrito renovación acreditando que subsisten las condiciones” is likely the one for you.

For “número del documento migratorio” I put my US passport number and they accepted it. I also printed another version with my NUE just in case, either they didn’t look at that part thoroughly or it in-fact should be the passport number.

Share your own experience in the comments!

INM Visit 1 (appointment setting)

Once you have the paperwork printed out and ready to go, bring everything to the INM office to schedule an appointment. They are not accepting appointments online at this time, and you must have your papers ready before you even get an appointment.

INM Visit 2 (appointment)

Present your paperwork, pay, get your photo taken, and your fingerprints scanned.
They will send you an email while you’re there. It has a link with a “pieza” number and “contraseña” (password).
- During my visit they sent 3 of the same email with varying piezas and contraseñas. You have to try all of them, and only 1 will work.
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💡 _**Protip:** Think of getting anything done at INM like solving a puzzle, or getting out of an escape room!_
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  2.1. In that page there is a link to fill out a form. Fill it out with the same data from your other forms.
After you fill out the form from step 2, you will get another email saying there’s a new notification. Go back to the same page as from step 2 with the pieza and contraseña that worked before. Now there will be a link to a document there. Open the document, save it somewhere safe on your phone, and show it to the INM staff to let them know you’ve gotten it.
They should return your passport to you and you should be good to go at this point!

Note: You’re officially required to keep your passport on you while you wait for your new residence card and are out and about.

INM Visit 3 (card pickup)

After a week or two your card should be ready. There’s no way to know except for going to the office and asking.

You need to bring 2 things:

Passport
The paper that was stamped on the bottom right and has your NUE on it.

🇲🇽 Enjoy México!