Legal information and procedures for living or moving to Mexico
Official links for migration, taxes, licenses, diplomatic representations, repository of current laws and exchange rate (Banxico).
Checklist (quick start)
Define your immigration status and check current requirements on the official portal.
Keep digital copies of: passport, immigration documents, receipts, payments, and appointments.
If you are going to work or issue invoices, check your RFC, e.firma, and your obligations before the SAT
Locate your consulate or embassy (your own or your country’s) for emergencies and documentation.
Migration (INM)
For immigration procedures (residence permits, renewals, changes, etc.) use the official INM directory and verify current requirements before going.
INM office hours and locations (by state): gob.mx/inm — offices
INM (main site): gob.mx/inm
If you want to display detailed “delegations” within the site, the most reliable thing to do is to link to the INM directory by entity and keep it as a “source of truth”.
Example office (INM reference): Puebla inm.gob.mx — use it as a template for other entities.
SAT and taxes (RFC, e.firma, invoicing)
If you’re going to work, issue invoices, buy real estate, or open a business, you’ll usually need to complete paperwork with the SAT (Mexican Tax Administration Service). The official directory allows you to locate offices by state/city.
Official links
Tax Service Modules (directory):
sat.gob.mx/directory
SAT main portal:
sat.gob.mx/home
SAT appointments:
citas.sat.gob.mx
Quick Glossary
RFC : Taxpayer Identification Number.
e.firma : electronic signature (advanced procedures).
CFDI : Mexican electronic invoice.
Driver’s licenses
Driver’s licenses for private vehicles are usually issued by
the state (each state has its own authority). For commercial vehicles, there is a
Federal License
Federal License (motor transport)
SI(C)T Single Window:
ts.sct.gob.mx
State drivers licenses links
Directory of consulates and embassies (Mexico ↔ USA/Canada)
Specific details (embassies + example) and official links to consult the complete updated list.
| Representation | Address | Phone | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embassy of Mexico in the USA (Washington, DC) | 1911 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC, 20006, USA | (202) 728-1600 | embamex.sre.gob.mx/eua |
| Embassy of Mexico in Canada (Ottawa) | 45 O’Connor St., Suite 1000, Ottawa, ON K1P 1A4, Canada | Switchboard: (613) 233-8988 / Customer Service: (613) 787-5177 | embamex.sre.gob.mx/canada |
| Consulate General of Mexico in Toronto | 11 King Street West, Suite 350, Toronto, ON M5H 4C7, Canada | (416) 368-2875 | SRE Directory — Toronto |
| US Embassy in Mexico (CDMX) | Angostura Dam 225, Irrigación neighborhood, Miguel Hidalgo, CP 11500, Mexico City | 55 2579 2000 | mx.usembassy.gov (location) |
| Embassy of Canada in Mexico (CDMX) | Schiller Street No. 529, Polanco neighborhood, 11560, Mexico City | +52 55-5724-7900 | international.gc.ca (Embassy) |
Directory of consulates and embassies (Mexico ↔ USA/Canada)
To maintain accurate information throughout the country, official directories (searchable by entity/city) and federal portals are prioritized here.
INM (offices)
- Offices by entity: gob.mx/inm — offices
- Migrant Assistance Center (guidance): gob.mx/inm — guidance
SAT (modules)
- MST Directory: sat.gob.mx/directory
- Appointments: citas.sat.gob.mx
Ministry of Economy
- SE (site): gob.mx/se
- Single Window (procedures/services): ventanillaunica.economia.gob.mx
Other useful federal leagues
- Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) — Laws and Regulations: dof.gob.mx/ley-reg.php
- National Legal Order (compilation): ordenjuridico.gob.mx/leyes
- Gob.mx (procedure search engine): gob.mx/tramites
State licenses (nationwide)
In Mexico, “individual” licenses are managed by entity. To integrate it reliably:
- It includes a list by state of official links (state portals for mobility/finance/road safety).
- Avoid third-party directories for addresses/phone numbers; instead, link to the relevant state portal.
Repository of current Mexican federal laws
Mexican Congress maintains the library of current federal laws and regulations.
| Library (Mexican Congress) |
|---|
| Index of Federal Laws: diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio |
| Migration (federal) |
|---|
| Migration Law (PDF): LMigra.pdf |
| Regulations of the Migration Law (PDF): Reg_LMigra.pdf |
Click to access the driver’s license application page for the state where you live
| Ciudad de México | Durango | Guanajuato | Guerrero |
|---|---|---|---|
| https://www.semovi.cdmx.gob.mx/tramites-y-servicios/licencias | https://www.durango.gob.mx/tramites-y-servicios/secretarias/secretaria_de_finanzas__y_de_administracion/licencia_de_conducir_automovilista_autocamioneta_y_motociclista_servicio_particular_por_primera_vez | https://seguridad.guanajuato.gob.mx/licencias_conducir/ | https://licencias.guerrero.gob.mx/ |
| Hidalgo | Jalisco | Estado de México | Michoacán |
|---|---|---|---|
| https://ruts.hidalgo.gob.mx/ver/10614 | https://gobiernoenlinea1.jalisco.gob.mx/multiTramites/licencias | https://smovilidad.edomex.gob.mx/licencias_permisos | https://michoacan.gob.mx/tramites/licencias/ |
| Puebla | Querétaro | Quintana Roo | San Luis Potosí |
|---|---|---|---|
| https://ventanilla.puebla.gob.mx/web/fichaAsunto.do?opcion=0&asas_ide_asu=1949&ruta=/web/asuntosMasUsuales.do?opcion | https://citaslicencias.sscqro.gob.mx/tramite/6d667cb0db6e11ebb442e454e8843527/5e4fafcadb7211ebb442e454e8843527 | https://imoveqroo.qroo.gob.mx/ | https://enlacesipel.slp.gob.mx/RequisitosLicencias |
| Tlaxcala | Veracruz | Yucatán | Zacatecas |
|---|---|---|---|
| https://smyt.tlaxcala.gob.mx/portal/ | https://www.veracruz.gob.mx/seguridad/licencias-de-conducir/ | https://tramites.yucatan.gob.mx/tramite/2c75119d | https://catalogoestatal.zacatecas.gob.mx/tramites/152 |