Canje (Exchange / Card Issuance)KAHN-heh
Canje is the process where a foreign national exchanges a residency visa issued abroad for a physical resident card at INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración) after entering Mexico. Article 59 of the Migration Law requires temporary and permanent residents to apply for their resident card within 30 calendar days of entering Mexico.
By Daniel Ortega · Last reviewed 7 November 2026
How it works
After a Mexican consulate approves residency and places a visa stamp in the passport, the applicant enters Mexico and has exactly 30 calendar days to begin the canje at a local INM office. The applicant creates an online account at INM, completes the formato básico, pays the card fee at a bank (MXN 11,141 for a first temporary resident card valid one year, or MXN 13,579 for permanent residency as of November 2026), and books an appointment. At the appointment INM photographs the applicant, takes fingerprints, and processes the file. The card typically arrives within two to four weeks. Missing the 30-day deadline voids the visa and requires starting the entire residency process over. The canje is mandatory for all residency visa holders except those seeking asylum or refugee status.