Mexico Student Visa Process
Your step-by-step guide to the Mexico student visa application: procedures, timelines, fees, and interview preparation.
Complete Guide to Mexico Student Visa Process
Students who will stay in Mexico more than 180 days need a student visa (visa de residente temporal estudiante) before they travel.
You apply at a Mexican consulate, go to an interview, then get a residence card in Mexico.
Understanding the Mexico Student Visa
Know the visa types, eligibility criteria, and application timeline
Student visa (visa de residente temporal estudiante)
For bachelor's, master's, PhD and research after a PhD (postdoctoral study), for more than 180 days.
• Stays of more than 180 days.
• Lets you enter once, within 180 days of the date it is issued.
• Exchange it for a residence card in Mexico.
Important
To qualify for a Mexico student visa, you must meet these requirements:
Acceptance at a Mexican school
A letter from a school in Mexico's official school system.
Enough money
Show one of these for the last 3 months: monthly income, after tax, of more than 220 UMA days, or an average monthly bank balance of 2,290 UMA days. UMA is a daily amount the Mexican government uses to set money rules. In 2026 one UMA day is Mexican pesos (MXN) 117.31.
Nationality or legal stay
Apply in the country where you are a citizen, or show you live there legally. Pakistan: see Step 3.
The timing of your visa application is crucial for a smooth process.
New Students
Apply once you have your acceptance letter and 3 months of money papers.
Continuing Students
Already in Mexico? Renew your card with the National Migration Institute (INM, Mexico's immigration office), not at a consulate.
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Mexico Student Visa Application Process
A sequential guide to applying for your student visa
- 1
Step 1: Get your acceptance letter
Get admitted to a school in Mexico's official school system.
Key points:
- The letter shows your name, level, course, start and end dates and the tuition cost.
Check the letter has every detail before you book.
- 2
Step 2: Gather proof of money
Show income or bank papers for the last 3 months.
Key points:
- If you are 25 or younger, your parents or guardian may show the money.
- A scholarship letter or a bank loan letter also counts as proof of money.
- 3
Step 3: Book your appointment
India: book the Embassy of Mexico in New Delhi or the Consulate of Mexico in Mumbai, only on the appointment website (citas.sre.gob.mx). Pakistan: before you book, ask a Mexican embassy which office takes your student visa application.
Key points:
- Upload only the papers listed for a student visa.
- Pakistan: Mexico has two honorary consulates, in Karachi and Lahore. They cannot issue visas. The Embassy of Mexico in Iran takes only visitor visa applications (visitors without permission to work).
- 4
Step 4: Pay the fee
October 2026: New Delhi INR 5,508 by QR code at the embassy on the day. Mumbai INR 5,479 to the consulate's DBS Bank account.
Key points:
- Mumbai: pay only after your appointment is confirmed.
- 5
Step 5: Go to the interview
Bring every paper in original.
Key points:
- Arrive 15 minutes early.
- 6
Step 6: Get the decision
New Delhi: same day if all papers are in order. Mumbai: within 10 working days (Monday to Friday), by email.
- 7
Step 7: Travel and get your card
At the airport, fill in the Multiple Migration Form (Forma Migratoria Múltiple, FMM), the entry form you fill in when you land. Within 30 days of arriving, go to the National Migration Institute (INM, Mexico's immigration office) and exchange your FMM for a student residence card.
The letter comes from your Mexican school, on paper or as an electronic document with an official digital stamp (digital certificate).
Key Information Included:
- Your full name
- Level, degree and subject
- Course name
- Start and end dates
- Tuition cost
- The school's details
Important
All appointments are booked online on citas.sre.gob.mx.
Application Process:
- Booking is free.
- Upload only the papers listed for a student visa.
- A confirmation email can take up to 48 hours.
Tip
Required Documents Checklist
Prepare all necessary documents for your visa application
Organize these documents well before your visa appointment. Keep originals and make copies of important documents.
Visa application form
Filled in and signed.
Passport
Valid, in original and copy, not damaged.
Acceptance letter
From a school in Mexico's official school system, with course dates and tuition cost.
Proof of money
Income or bank papers for the last 3 months.
Fee receipt
Proof you paid the visa fee.
These additional documents can strengthen your visa application:
Financial Documents
• Bank or income papers: Bank or investment statements, or job, pension or scholarship income after tax, for the last 3 months.
Pro Tip: Document Organization
Bring every paper in original, in one folder. When you book, upload only the papers listed for a student visa.
Understanding Visa Fees
Complete breakdown of all costs associated with the Mexico student visa application
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee, New Delhi | 5,508 Indian rupees (INR) in October 2026. The fee is USD 56 (US dollars), paid in rupees at the rate of the month. |
| Visa fee, Mumbai | 5,479 Indian rupees (INR) in October 2026. The fee changes each month with the exchange rate. |
| Visa fee at other Mexican offices | 56 US dollars (USD) |
Additional Potential Expenses:
Official stamps on papers from other countries
Mumbai: papers not from India or Mexico need a notary's stamp and an apostille (an official stamp that proves a paper is real), or legalisation. Get these before you hand them in.
Visa fee, India
Available payment methods:
- Bank transfer to the consulate's DBS Bank account
- Cash deposit at a DBS Bank branch
Pay the exact amount.
Fee Transfers
You cannot change a booked date. Cancel it and book a new one.
Refund Policy
Visa fees are not refunded.
Important
Visa Fee FAQs
Visa Interview Preparation
Prepare for your Mexico student visa interview with expert tips and guidance
- Mumbai: you can speak English, Spanish, Hindi or Marathi, and there is no translator. New Delhi: you must come in person. They take your fingerprints and photo, then the interview.
- Only you may enter. Family and friends wait outside.
- You may be asked for more papers.
Tip
Important
Do's:
- Bring all papers in original.
- Mumbai: bring the printed proof that you paid.
Don'ts:
- Do not bring a phone, smart watch, laptop, bag or backpack.
- Do not wear a cap, hat or sunglasses inside.
Pro Tip
Arrive 15 minutes early. If you are more than 15 minutes late, you must book a new appointment.
Visa Timelines & Application Tracking
Understand processing times and how to track your Mexico student visa application
Book on the appointment website
Up to 48 hours for the email
Upload your papers and wait for the confirmation email.
Interview
On your date
Bring all papers in original. Mumbai: bring your payment proof. New Delhi: you pay at the embassy that day.
Decision
Mumbai: up to 10 working days
Mumbai: the answer comes by email. New Delhi: same day if all papers are in order.
Important
Online Tracking System
The consulate emails you the decision.
- Your booking confirmation email can take up to 48 hours.
- The decision comes to the email you gave when booking.
Tip
Patience is Key
Helpful Resources & Official Links
Access official resources and additional guidance for your Mexico student visa application
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