Mexico raises Permanent Residency fees to 13,500 MXN starting Jan. 1

Federal and state fees climb across Mexico

Mexico raised its federal non-resident fee from 717 MXN to 860 MXN in 2025, with cruise passengers nationwide now liable for the same charge even if they never step off the ship. The airport immigration fee on international departures also climbed from 185 MXN to 223 MXN, per changes to the Federal Fees Law approved by the Senate.

Bigger jumps land Jan. 1, 2026. The Visitor (no work) permit rises to 983 MXN, Temporary Resident fees for one to four years roughly double against 2025 levels and Permanent Residency climbs past 13,500 MXN, according to law firm guidance based on the Diario Oficial de la Federación. Any application filed on or after Jan. 1 pays the new amount.

State levies stack on top. Quintana Roo charges a VISITAX of roughly 281 to 283 MXN per foreign visitor arriving in Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and other state destinations, paid once per trip. Baja California Sur's "Embrace It" tourist fee covers Los Cabos, La Paz and Loreto, rising from 470 MXN to 488 MXN per person as of Jan. 1, 2026, for international visitors staying more than 24 hours.

Who absorbs the costs

Short-stay tourists pay the federal non-resident fee, usually bundled into airfare, plus any state tax tied to their destination. Land arrivals staying under seven days remain exempt from the federal fee; stays of seven to 180 days pay in full.

Long-term residents take the hardest hit from the 2026 immigration schedule. Retirees, remote workers and families renewing or applying for Temporary or Permanent Residency could face hundreds of dollars in added costs across a multi-year permit cycle.

Cruise travelers calling at Quintana Roo ports pay an extra $5 per person in 2025 for the National Disaster Prevention Fund, climbing to $10 from August 2026 through July 2027, $15 in 2027 to 2028 and $21 projected for 2028.

Budgeting and payment steps

• Federal non-resident fee: typically collected by the airline; verify on the ticket breakdown.
• VISITAX: paid online through the state-linked portal before departing Quintana Roo.
• Baja California Sur fee: paid via the official "Embrace It" portal; children under 12 and Mexican citizens exempt.
• Residency applications: file before Dec. 31, 2025, at the INM to lock in 2025 fee levels.

Track visa updates for further state-level changes and read our full Mexico guide for the complete picture.