The Mexican Regularization Program, commonly known as the Registro Nacional de Extranjeros (RNE), underwent significant changes in 2025, with authorities redefining its criteria and signaling its eventual conclusion. This program was originally designed to help foreigners who had overstayed their visitor or temporary residency permits regularize their immigration status without leaving Mexico.
As of March 2025, the program has been restricted to individuals who entered Mexico on a visitor permit before 2023 and have remained in the country since then, or those who held a Temporary Residency permit that has expired and have not left Mexico since its expiration. This adjustment aims to streamline the process and ensure that only long-term residents benefit from the regularization opportunity.
Applicants must visit an immigration office in Mexico to initiate the process, providing documentation that verifies their entry and residency history. The government has emphasized that electronic records will be used to confirm applicants’ eligibility, and those with older passport stamps may be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The program allows successful applicants to obtain Temporary Residency for up to four years, after which they may apply for Permanent Residency.
With the program set to end in 2025, immigration experts advise eligible individuals to act promptly to secure their legal status before the opportunity disappears. The conclusion of the RNE marks a shift in Mexico’s immigration policies, reinforcing stricter regulations for foreigners seeking residency.
If you like guidance on the application process before the program officially ends, go to RNE
Sources: My Latin Life / RNE
