Requirements and procedures necessary before migrating to Mexico

Conditions for staying in the national territory are authorized to foreign in any of the following cases:

1. Be an offended party, victim or witness of a serious crime committed in national territory.

2. Be an unaccompanied migrant child or adolescent.

3. Be an applicant for political asylum, recognition of refugee status or complementary protection from the Mexican State, until such time as his or her immigration status is resolved.

4. When there is a humanitarian cause or of public interest that makes necessary their regularization in the country.

Regularization for Humanitarian Reasons (To obtain a Humanitarian Visitor Card TVRH)

This procedure is initiated once the person is inside the country. It is done through an immigration regularization procedure or change of stay status.

If you are in Mexico and you are in an irregular situation, that is to say, you do not have an immigration document that can demonstrate that you have a valid and current residence or status of stay in Mexico, and you are in one of the situations that will be mentioned below, you can request to regularize your immigration status for Humanitarian Reasons, which is granted to people who are in a situation of vulnerability and allows you to have a Visitor's Card for Humanitarian Reasons for one year.

Important about TVRH acquisition outside Mexico 

• Foreigners shall apply for a visa at the consular offices. These will authorize and issue the visas, in accordance with the applicable legal provisions. In cases of the right to preserve the family unit, for job offer or for humanitarian reasons, the visa application may be made at the offices of the Institute. In these cases, the Institute is responsible for the authorization and the Mexican consular offices abroad for the issuance of the visa as instructed.

• The consular office may request the Institute to reconsider the authorization if in its opinion the applicant does not comply with the requirements established in this Law, its Regulations and other applicable legal provisions.

  The Institute will make the final decision without liability for the consular post.

  This is in accordance with Article 41 of the Federal Migration Law.

 

Requirements:

1. Passport, identity and travel document or official document issued by the authority of country of origin, containing at least the foreigner's name, nationality, date of birth and photograph.

2. Migratory document in case the foreign person has condition of stay.

3. Proof of payment of the fine determined by the authority according to the provisions of article 145 of the Immigration Law, unless they are expressly exempted.

4. Submit the documents that back up some of the following assumptions:

• Public documentary issued by the authority from which the victim or witness of a serious crime committed in national territory is derived, or agreement issued by the migratory authority based on the manifestation of the foreign person and other elements from which the character of witness or victim is derived.

• Proof of receipt of application by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), in the case of an applicant for political asylum.

• Proof issued by the Mexican Commission of Aid to Refugees (COMAR), in the case of an applicant for refugee status.

• Proof of the statelessness determination procedure issued by the immigration authority, in case of statelessness determination.

• Documentary evidence of the restitution procedure issued by the SRE, or by the judicial authority, in the case of children or adolescents who are subject to an international abduction and restitution procedure.

• Document issued by a public institution that certifies the degree of vulnerability that hinders or makes impossible the deportation or assisted return of the foreigner. It could be a recommendation from COMAR or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), or a request on letterhead of the consular or diplomatic representation of the country of origin or residence of the minor or a written request from the National System for the Integral Development of the Family, State Systems (DIF), in the case of unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents when it is in their best interest.

• Departure document for regularization in the case of a foreigner who confirmed the other requirements in the migratory station.

• Conditions outside the national territory: If the person wishes to apply for a refugee status in Mexico and is outside the national territory, please go to here.

More information and start the process digitally here.

Initial validity: three hundred and sixty five calendar days.

Representative office of the National Institute of Migration of Mexico here.

Important: This procedure does not have any cost and in case the resolution is positive, you will be issued a Humanitarian Visitor Card for a temporary period of one year. The card may be renewed for another year as long as it is demonstrated that the reasons for which it was authorized the first time persist.

Change of Status of Stay to Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons (To obtain a Visitor's Card for Humanitarian Reasons)

If you are in Mexico and have a valid and current immigration document authorized as:

• Visitor without permission to carry out remunerated activities (tourist); visitor with permission to carry out remunerated activities; visitor for adoption purposes; regional visitor; or border worker visitor,

If you also find yourself in a situation like the ones mentioned below, you can request the Change of Condition of Stay to Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons, this condition is granted to people who are in a situation of vulnerability, and allows you to have a Visitor Card for Humanitarian Reasons for one year.

In order to carry out this procedure, you must be in one of the following situations:

-. Unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents when it is in their best interest and while temporary or permanent legal or humanitarian alternatives to assisted return are offered;

-. Pregnant women, elderly, disabled or indigenous persons;

-. Foreigners who can prove that they suffer a serious health alteration and the transfer to their country implies a risk to their life, or

-. Foreign persons whose life or integrity is in danger due to violence or natural disaster.

• d) Applicants for refugee status, political asylum or those initiating proceedings for the determination of statelessness. They will receive this card until the respective procedure is concluded.

Documents to be presented: 

1. Original and copy of passport, identity and travel document or official document issued by authority of their country of origin, containing at least, name of foreign person, nationality, date of birth and photograph.

2. Valid and valid FMM or visitor's card.

3. Present the documents that prove that you are in one of the following cases:

• a) Document granted by the INM or by the competent authority (Public Prosecutor's Office) acknowledging that you were a victim or witness of a serious crime committed in Mexico;

• b) Proof of receipt of the application by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), if you have applied for political asylum;

• c) Copy of the Certificate of initiation of the refugee procedure issued by COMAR, in case you have applied for refugee status in Mexico;

• d) Proof of initiation of the statelessness determination procedure issued by the immigration authority, in the case of statelessness determination. These cases are presented when no country recognizes you as its national;

• e) Documentary evidence of the initiation of the restitution procedure issued by the SRE, or by the judicial authority, in the case of children or adolescents who are subject to an international abduction and restitution procedure, or

• f) Document issued by a public institution that accredits the degree of vulnerability that hinders or makes impossible the deportation or assisted return of the foreigner;

4. In the case that it is your situation, an exit document for regularization when it has been accredited that you are in one of the aforementioned cases.

Important: This procedure does not have any cost and in case the resolution is positive, you will be given a Visitor's Card for Humanitarian Reasons for a period of one year. The card may be renewed for another year as long as it is demonstrated that the reasons for which it was authorized the first time persist.

More information and start the process here.

E-mail: cam@inami.gob.mx.