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Mexico

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At a glance

Living index rating
Affordable
Monthly rent
MX$5,000 – MX$9,000 for a shared room (Mexico City higher)
Monthly food
MX$4,000 – MX$7,000
Other monthly expenses
MX$2,000 – MX$4,000 (transport, phone, insurance, personal)
Visa processing time
About 10 – 20 working days at the consulate
Family allowed for students
Limited

Visa requirements

  • Temporary resident student visa from a Mexican consulate for courses over 180 days
  • Acceptance letter from a Mexican institution registered with the education authorities
  • Proof of economic solvency: a monthly balance of about MX$278,800 over the last 3 months (amounts vary by consulate), or a parent's/guardian's support if under 25, or a scholarship
  • Exchange the visa for a temporary resident student card at the National Migration Institute (INM) within 30 days of arriving
  • You can't work unless you get a separate work authorisation from the INM

Work permit after studies

  • No post-study work visa
  • Graduates need a job offer and a temporary resident visa with work permission, or can change status in Mexico in some cases

Citizenship route

  • Permanent residence after 4 years as a temporary resident (student status generally doesn't count towards this)
  • Naturalisation after 5 years of legal residence, with Spanish and a Mexican history and culture test (shorter for Latin American and Iberian nationals)

Family details

  • A spouse and children can apply for residence as family members of a temporary resident student
  • You must show extra financial solvency for them, and they can't work without INM authorisation

Universities in Mexico

Top-ranked

All other universities and colleges (310), A–Z

This guide is for general information. Visa and immigration rules change often, so always check the official government website before you apply. Last updated 6 October 2026.