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This page brings together information, recommendations, and references related to entry into Mexico, the Temporary Resident Student Visa application process, and its subsequent exchange for a Temporary Resident Student Card for participants in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program (RYEP).
Its purpose is to serve as a practical guide to help exchange students, their families, counselors, and Rotary program officials navigate the process by consolidating official information, recommendations, and lessons learned from previous cases in one place. However, each student is responsible for ensuring that they meet the current immigration requirements and for submitting any documentation that may be required by the competent Mexican immigration authorities in their particular case.
Visa for Entry into Mexico
Before traveling to Mexico, the student must obtain a Temporary Resident Student Visa from the Mexican Embassy or Consulate in their country of origin.
Upon Arrival in Mexico
When arriving in Mexico with the Temporary Resident Student Visa stamped in your passport, you must follow these steps:
1. At the Immigration Checkpoint at the Airport
Present the following to the immigration officer:
Your valid passport, opened to the page containing your Temporary Resident Student Visa.
It is essential and very important to inform the immigration officer that you are entering Mexico to exchange your visa for a Temporary Resident Student Card.
The officer will register your entry with the notation "CANJE" (Exchange), which begins the 30-calendar-day period during which you must complete the exchange process with the National Immigration Institute (INM).
After you pass through immigration, a Digital Multiple Immigration Form (FMMd) is automatically issued. The FMMd serves as proof of your immigration status upon entering Mexico and is one of the documents required later for the visa exchange process. The Digital Multiple Immigration Form (FMMd) can be downloaded after passing through immigration from:
https://www.inm.gob.mx/spublic/portal/inmex.html
Because this is especially important for students participating in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, we would like to emphasize the following once again:
When you arrive at the immigration checkpoint in Mexico, you must present your passport opened to the page containing your Temporary Resident Student Visa and tell the immigration officer that you are entering the country to exchange your visa for a Temporary Resident Student Card (ingreso al país para realizar el canje de mi visa por la Tarjeta de Residente Temporal Estudiante).
This is of critical importance because the National Immigration Institute (INM) must register your entry as a future temporary resident student. This registration allows you to complete the visa exchange process and obtain your resident card within 30 calendar days of your arrival in Mexico. The resident card is the official document proving that you are legally authorized to live in Mexico as a student.
The Resident Card Will Allow You To:
Identify yourself as a legal resident before Mexican authorities.
Remain legally in Mexico for the authorized period.
Complete other immigration-related procedures during your stay, such as renewals or, where permitted by law, applying for additional immigration authorizations.
What Could Happen If You Do Not Present Your Visa?
If you do not present your visa or fail to inform the immigration officer that you are entering as a temporary resident student, there is a risk that your entry will not be recorded under the correct immigration status. This may create difficulties when exchanging your visa for your resident card and may require you to request a correction from the INM, potentially causing delays, additional expenses, or extra administrative procedures.
If you do not present your visa and the immigration officer does not realize that you have one, you could be admitted as a visitor (tourist) or under another immigration status. In that case, you would not be able to complete the visa exchange directly, because the exchange process requires that your entry be registered as a temporary resident. You would first need to request a correction or regularization with the INM before obtaining your resident card.
Our Rotary District has had cases where students had to leave Mexico and re-enter the country in order to meet this requirement. This situation can occur because Mexico allows citizens of many nationalities to enter the country as tourists without a visa.
For this reason, the practical recommendation is very simple:
When entering Mexico, always present your passport opened to the page containing your Temporary Resident Student Visa and tell the immigration officer:
"I am entering Mexico to exchange my visa for my Temporary Resident Student Card."
"Ingreso para realizar el canje de mi visa por mi Tarjeta de Residente Temporal Estudiante."
This helps ensure that your entry is recorded correctly from the very beginning.
TIP: Before leaving the immigration area, verify that your entry has been recorded correctly for the visa exchange process by downloading your Digital Multiple Immigration Form (FMMd). See the next section.
2. Download the Digital Multiple Immigration Form (FMMd)
After passing through immigration, download your Digital Multiple Immigration Form (FMMd). This document serves as proof of your legal entry into Mexico and will be required for the visa exchange process. Be sure to back up the FMMd so that you can always access it.
To obtain your FMMd:
Go to the INM Services Portal:
https://www.inm.gob.mx/spublic/portal/inmex.htmlYou may also scan one of the QR codes available at the airport.
Complete the required fields on the form and click Search.
Download and print your FMMd.
It is recommended that you save and print the FMMd immediately, as the system may limit the number of times it can be downloaded.
Siguientes pasos
Disclamer
The information contained on this page is provided for informational purposes only and is intended to guide participants in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program (RYEP) through the procedures related to entering Mexico, obtaining a Temporary Resident Student Visa, and exchanging it for a Temporary Resident Student Card.
Requirements, procedures, forms, fees, deadlines, and application criteria may be modified at any time by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores – SRE), the National Immigration Institute (Instituto Nacional de Migración – INM), Mexican embassies and consulates, or any other competent authority. Therefore, each applicant is responsible for consulting official sources and verifying that they have the current information and required documentation before beginning or completing any immigration procedure.
The Rotary Club, Rotary District, and their members, officers, and volunteers provide this information solely as a guidance resource. They do not represent the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), the National Immigration Institute (INM), or any government authority. Accordingly, they assume no responsibility for changes in laws or regulations, modifications to requirements, processing delays, visa or residency denials, financial losses, or any other consequences resulting from the use of the information published here or from decisions made by the competent authorities.
If there is any discrepancy between the information on this page and the information published by the official authorities, the official information issued by the competent authorities shall always prevail.
If, during your application process, you become aware of any changes to procedures, requirements, or documentation, or if you would like to share an experience that could improve this guide, we would appreciate it if you informed your club's Youth Exchange Officer (YEO) or the Rotary District Youth Exchange Committee. Your feedback will help keep this resource up to date for the benefit of future exchange students.
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