I thought this was interesting, considering today’s protest marches.
“What Are the Immigrant Permits
Immigrant Permits are issued to foreign nationals who have the intention of gaining permanent residency in Mexico. Under immigrant schemes, you are permitted to reside in the country, provided that you fulfil certain criteria (as specified by the type of permit) for a period of up to one year. The permit is renewable annually, for one year, for a further four years. At the end of the five year period, you automatically receive residency status, entitling you to full rights and benefits as any other Mexican Citizen, with the exception of the right to vote.
Upon receiving this status, you will receive a document that looks like a Mexican Passport (called a “FM2″) which enables you pass through Mexico’s borders as if you were Mexican National. You do not need to surrender your national passport, and you use your own passport when you return to your home country, either for visits, or when returning home to dwell. If you stay outside of Mexico for longer than 2 years, or for 5 years in any 10 year period, you will lose your resident status in Mexico.
Below are the kinds of people who can apply for Immigrant Permits, with a view to taking up permanent residency in Mexico:
Retirees
Investors
Professionals
Scientists & Technicians
Artists and Sportspeople
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Retirees
If you are over 50 years of age, and want to engage in “non remunerative activities” and you are receiving funds from abroad (from a pension or other investments or fixed income) at least to the value of 400 times the daily minimum daily wage per month and a further 200 times daily minimum wage per month for each dependent (e.g. spouse, children) then you can apply for a Retiree Immigration Permit. Read more about retirement in Mexico on Mexperience.
[Back to Immigrant List]
Investors
You can receive an immigration permit if you are willing to invest your capital in Mexico. You investment can be directed at industry or services, and must equal a minimum of 40,000 times the minimum daily wage in Mexico City.
[Back to Immigrant List]
Professionals
If you are a qualified professional, you can have your certificates validated by the Mexican Consulate and apply for an immigration permit to live in Mexico. You must be sponsored by a company who must satisfy the authorities that you are essential to their operative requirements.
[Back to Immigrant List]
Scientists & Technicians
If you are involved in science, or are a qualified technician, whether commercially or for education, you can apply for an immigration permit in Mexico. You may need to be invited by one of the established scientific or technical organizations in Mexico.
[Back to Immigrant List]
Artists and Sportspeople
These people can apply for an immigration permit. Each case is considered individually and entry is at the Interior Ministry’s discretion.
[Back to Immigrant List]
Can I be granted Mexican Citizenship?
Acquiring Mexican Citizenship is an involved process, and it is not easy to do. As a minimum, you must have been living in Mexico for 5 years (2 years under special circumstances) and have resident status. Marriage to a Mexican national may allow Citizenship without the residency requirement. For matters concerning the acquisition of Mexican Citizenship, seek professional advice and contact your local Mexican Consulate.
Mexico has strict measures in its constitution dealing with immigration. Mexican law classifies all illegal immigrants as felons, subject to a two-year prison sentence plus deportation. As a point of information, Mexico deports more illegals than the US.
Mexico posts its military on both the north and south borders to prevent people from sneaking into the country. These measures are in stark contrast from what Mexico advocates the U.S. to do.
Mexico also has a law making exiting the country, except at specified ports of exit, a federal crime. Perhaps the U.S. should consider assisting Mexico in enforcing this law.
Visitors and immigrants who are granted visas to live in Mexico are not allowed to demonstrate nor voice their opinions in public regarding Mexican domestic policies.
Visitors and foreigners with resident visas are subject to immediate deportation for any reason by the Mexican government. These individuals are not afforded due process of any sort.
P.S. This information was taken DIRECTLY from http://www.mexperience.com/liveandwork/immigration.htm so to those posters who think “I” need to study the laws better…
Tags: Investments, Mexican Passport, Mexico

Maybe they assume it’s that easy to get citizenship here. Sounds like something we should adopt.
You know what happens when we assume…
Interesting *rubs chin*
you mean i can’t immergrate to mexico just to take advantage of all they have to offer if i’m not already rich. wow. i thought are laws where tough.
I find it VERY interesting. I heard about Mexico’s super-strict immigration requirements, and it made me want to punch the nearest Mexican politician I see. “Free and fair immigration policy”, my ****. Talk about hypocrisy…
When you know the mexican government will ***** ou why not come to America!
I would!
Hopefully we can educate these people and they will be able to fix Mexico and return! Then i cac have more great days like this one where i can drive in less traffic in California!
If you want to make your too long speech longer, talk about the southern mexican border with the mexican military on oit to prevent immigration!
HAHAHAHAHA don’t make me laugh….you need to do more investigating about Mexican Laws…..that’s all I have to say
This is interesting.
I can understand why our media outlets have not made this information widely available to the public, it would tend to dull up the “shine’ on their so-called “headlines”. And have a de-legitimizing effect upon their news reporting status.
As a U.S. citizen in Mexico I can vouch for a lot of this info. Mexico would never allow demonstrations like the ones in the US today (May 1st). The illegals should be happy they are in such a free country and stop waving the Mexican flag!
Seems like Mexico wants to make it easy as possible for people to get IN, considering so many want to get OUT.
Mexico is a corrupt open cesspool which explains a lot.
Under the Mexican constitution only a natural citizen can be in the military, be priest or hold any politician office.
A natural citizen who becomes a dual citizen also losses those same right. There is no full rights except for natural born citizen.
Read their constitution it is in both the old one before dual citizenship went into effect in the late 90’s and the new one.
Your point being? The reason they patrol the boarder so heavily is because they have agreements with the U.S. to do so. To prevent narco-trafficking. Your argument however is a reasoned one I respect that. Your right this nation is very open to immigration its part of what made it great. But, the question is whether it is just to felonize behavior simply because another nation does. Just because a law exists in another country does not make it just.
You are using a circular argument. We should do this because they do this, so we should do this. Circular arguments may sound rational but they rest on false premises.