Responses to Information Requests

Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

1. Overview

The UNHCR indicates in a 2024 annual report on Mexico that Venezuelans represented 7% of asylum applications submitted that year (UN 2025-04-29, 10). Statistics from the UNHCR's website indicate that Venezuelans submitted 5,419 applications in 2024 (UN 2025-11-03a).

[Based on "[m]id-year statistics" for 2025 from the UNHCR Refugee Data Finder (UN n.d.a)], there are 26,948 Venezuelan refugees in Mexico (UN 2025-11-03b) and 15,204 pending asylum applications for Venezuelans (UN 2025-11-03c). [In the first half of 2025 (UN n.d.a)], Venezuelans submitted 9,663 new asylum applications and 1,086 decisions were rendered on Venezuelan asylum claims (UN 2025-11-03d).

El Economista, a Mexico-based news publication, cites the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V) [1], to report that there was a 325% increase in Venezuelan asylum applications in the first 6 months of 2025 compared to the previous year (2026-01-10). Still citing R4V, the same source indicates that 935 Venezuelan asylum requests were approved between January and June 2025 (El Economista 2026-01-10).

Citing the National Migration Institute (Instituto Nacional de Migración, INM), the Mexican government agency responsible for managing immigration (Mexico n.d.a, 3), R4V reports that as of March 2024, 99,400 Venezuelans had received residence permits in Mexico (2025-11-15). Citing data from Mexico's Ministry of the Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación, SEGOB), El Economista indicates that national authorities issued 3,859 permanent residence cards (tarjetas de residente permanente) to Venezuelan nationals in 2024 and another 2,640 between January and July of 2025 (2026-01-16). The same source further notes, again citing SEGOB, that authorities issued 1,711 temporary resident cards (tarjetas de residencia temporal) to Venezuelan nationals in 2024 and another 771 between January and July of 2025 (El Economista 2026-01-16).

Mexico's Immigration Law (Ley de Migración), first published in 2011 and most recently amended in 2026, provides the following:

[translation]

Article 132. Foreign nationals will have the right to request regularization of their immigration status when they find themselves in one of the following circumstances:

1. They lack the necessary documentation to establish their regular immigration status;
2. The documentation that establishes their immigration status has expired, or;
3. They no longer satisfy the requirements granting them a given status.

Article 133. The Institute [INM] may regularize the immigration status of foreign nationals who are in the country and who state their interest in residing permanently or temporarily in the country, provided that they comply with the requirements of this Law, its Regulations and other applicable legal provisions. Regularization may be granted by awarding the foreign national the appropriate stay status under this Law.

Regardless of the foregoing, foreign nationals who are in the country and are in any of the following circumstances are entitled to regularization:

1. A person who can establish that they are the spouse or common-law partner of a Mexican national or a foreign national with resident stay status;
2. A person who can establish that they are the parent or child, or have legal guardianship or custody, of a Mexican national or a foreign national with resident stay status;
3. The foreign national is identified by the Institute or a competent authority as the victim or witness of any serious offence committed in the country;
4. Persons whose degree of vulnerability makes their deportation or assisted return difficult or impossible, and;
5. Children and adolescents who are subject to child abduction and international restitution proceedings. (Mexico 2011a, emphasis in original)
   
   

2. Refugee Status

2.1. Legislation

According to the Association of Venezuelans in Mexico (Asociación de Venezolanos en México, VeneMex) [2], Venezuelans have the right to apply for refugee protection in Mexico (VeneMex n.d.b). Mexico's Law on Refugees, Complementary Protection and Political Asylum (Ley sobre Refugiados, Protección Complementaria y Asilo Político), first published in 2011 as the Law on Refugees and Complementary Protection (Ley sobre Refugiados y Protección Complementaria) and most recently amended in 2022, provides the following:

[translation]

Article 11. All foreign nationals who are in Mexico have the right to apply, on their own, by legal counsel or intermediary, for recognition of refugee status. If the foreign national applies for this recognition through legal counsel or by intermediary, they must ratify their application before the Ministry [SEGOB] within three business days. If the foreign national ratifies the application, the recognition proceeding will continue; if not, the application shall be deemed not to have been filed. The refugee status recognition proceeding may only be continued by the applicant or their legal representative in accordance with this Law and its regulations.

…

Article 13. Refugee status will be recognized for any foreign national located in the Mexico in any of the following cases:

1. Due to well-founded fears of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, gender, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, [the individual] is outside the country of their nationality and is unable or, due to such fears, unwilling to avail themselves of that country's protection; or being stateless and, as a result of such circumstances, outside the country of former habitual residence, [the individual] is unable or, due to such fears, unwilling to return there;
2. [The individual] has fled their country of origin because their life, safety or freedom are at risk by generalized violence, foreign aggression, internal conflicts, massive human rights violations, or other circumstances that have seriously disrupted public order, and
3. Due to circumstances arising in their country of origin or as a result of activities carried out during their stay in Mexico, [the individual] has well-founded fears of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, gender, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, or that their life, safety or freedom could be at risk by generalized violence, foreign aggression, internal conflicts, massive human rights violations or other circumstances that have seriously disrupted public order.

… (Mexico 2011b, emphasis in original)

2.2. Requirements and Procedures to Submit a Claim

Sources state that a refugee claim must be filed within 30 working days of entering the country (El País 2025-01-30; Mexico 2021-08-13; UN n.d.b). Sources indicate that if a claimant makes a claim after the 30-day period, they must explain the reasons for the delay (El País 2025-01-30; Mexico 2021-08-13). According to the UNHCR, claimants wishing to file a claim can go to an office of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (Comisión Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados, COMAR), the government body responsible for adjudicating refugee claims (Mexico 2022-04-22, 3), located in the following cities:

• Mexico City;
• Tapachula, Chiapas;
• Palenque, Chiapas;
• Tenosique, Tabasco;
• Oluta, Veracruz;
• Guadalajara, Jalisco;
• Tijuana, Baja California;
• Saltillo, Coahuila; and
• Monterrey, Nuevo León (UN n.d.b).
  
  

The UNHCR further notes that claimants have the option to request to be connected to the COMAR from an immigration station (estación migratoria) or they can visit one of INM's immigration regulation offices (oficinas de regulación migratoria) if there is no COMAR office in the state where they are based (UN n.d.b). According to a 2022 COMAR report, claimants have [translation] "the right to a public defender" throughout the entire asylum claims process (Mexico 2022-04-22, 6).

The following list of the steps in an asylum claim appears in the same COMAR report:

1. The claimant contacts the COMAR or INM to initiate the application.

2. The claimant completes a form explaining why they left their country of origin and cannot return.

3. The claimant is assigned specific days to appear in person at a COMAR or INM office to provide their signature; if they fail to appear on the appointed days, authorities will consider their claim [translation] "abandoned."

6. The COMAR carries out "at least" 2 interviews throughout the process to better understand the claimant and the reasons underlying their claim.

7. The COMAR reviews the claimant's case and informs them of its decision. "Estimated processing time is 45 to 100 business days"; however, the decision "may take longer."

8. If the claim is approved, the claimant will be considered a refugee. If it is rejected, the claimant can appeal the decision (Mexico 2022-04-22, 6-7).

According to the COMAR website, claimants must register their presence at COMAR or the INM offices [translation] "at least" once every 10 business days until their case concludes (Mexico 2025-12-23, 7).

The 2022 COMAR report further indicates that the claimant will receive the following documentation:

• a certificate (constancia) proving that they have filed a claim and [translation] "cannot be returned to [their] country" of origin. The claimant's certificate "will only be valid" within the state or federal district where they filed their asylum claim. If a claimant leaves the jurisdiction where they filed their claim, their application will be considered "abandoned."
• a temporary Unique Population Registration Code (Clave Única de Registro de Población, CURP) [3] enabling them to access public services.
• a Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons Card (tarjeta de visitante por razones humanitarias, TVRH) [see section 5.2 of this Response], which grants them legal residency in Mexico and authorization to work (Mexico 2022-04-22, 6-7).
  
  

3. Political Asylum

Information on political asylum claims in Mexico, including the requirements and procedures to submit such claims, was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

3.1. Legislation

Mexico's Law on Refugees, Complementary Protection and Political Asylum defines political asylum in Article 2 as follows:

I. Political Asylum: Protection granted by the Mexican State to a foreign national who is considered persecuted for political reasons or for offences of a political nature, or for state-level offences with political motivations, whose life, liberty, or safety is in danger. This protection may be requested through diplomatic or territorial channels. Asylum shall at all times be understood to mean political asylum.

… (Mexico 2011b, emphasis in original)

The law further provides the following on authority competent to assess political asylum:

Article 14 bis. In matters of political asylum, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores) to:

I. Decide on the granting of political asylum to foreigners who, while in the diplomatic mission or the country, submit their application in accordance with the provisions of this Law and its regulations. In all cases referred to in this section, the opinion of the Ministry [SEGOB] shall be sought in advance.

… (Mexico 2011b, emphasis in original)

The law further provides the following on application procedure:

Article 63. Applicants for political asylum must appear in person at the diplomatic mission, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at its regional offices located outside the Federal District, in order to submit their application in writing and provide their identification details, the reasons on which they base their application for political asylum, and any supporting evidence they may have.

If the applicant is unable to submit the application in writing, they may do so verbally. (Mexico 2011b, emphasis in original)

4. Detention

Sources indicate that individuals who are detained by the INM are sent to an immigration station (TV Azteca 2023-03-29; Mexico n.d.a, 3). Article 3 of Mexico's Immigration Law defines immigration station as follows:

[translation]

XI. Immigration Station: The physical facility established by the Institute [INM] to temporarily detain foreign nationals who cannot establish their regular immigration status, until their immigration status is decided. (Mexico 2011a, emphasis in original)

The same Law further provides the following:

[translation]

Article 99. It is a matter of public order that adult foreign nationals appear at immigration stations or designated places until their immigration status is decided.

The compulsory appearance of foreign nationals is the measure ordered by the Institute [INM] whereby an adult foreign national who cannot prove their immigration status is temporarily housed, for the regularization of their stay or assistance with their return.

… (Mexico 2011a, emphasis in original)

According to Mexico's National Human Rights Commission (Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, CNDH) [4], the INM is responsible for carrying out the Administrative Immigration Procedure (Procedimiento Administrativo Migratorio), thereby determining whether a given foreigner has the right to remain in the country and under what conditions (Mexico 2024, 32–33). The same source indicates that at the [translation] "[i]ntake and detention" step of the Administrative Immigration Procedure, INM must do the following:

1. Temporarily detain a foreign national not having proven their immigration status for the purpose of regularizing their stay or assisting them with their return.
2. Following the foreign national's placement in custody, create a "presentation agreement" (acuerdo de presentación) within 24 hours of the individual's placement in custody. At this point, the individual under temporary detention may request "assisted return" or a "departure order for their regularization."
3. For "alternative detention," authorities may place foreign nationals in the custody of their country of origin's diplomatic mission, or a "reputable" human-rights focused "legal entity or institution," with the expectation that the individual remain in the neighbourhood of the immigration station to continue the administrative immigration procedure.
4. Open an administrative file for every foreign national admitted to an immigration station or a "temporary holding facility" to record all the steps taken to resolve each individual's immigration status.
5. According to Mexico's Immigration Law, authorities may detain foreign nationals for a maximum of 15 business days, though certain exceptions established by law allow individuals to be held for more than 60 business days.
6. If the foreign national wishes to apply for refugee status, the INM must notify the COMAR within at most 72 hours from the time the authorities are apprised of the request.
7. If the foreign national wishes to report to the competent authorities that they were a victim or witness of a crime during their stay in or transit through Mexico, the authorities will provide the necessary assistance (Mexico 2024, 32, 34−36).
   
   

SPR Informa, a news platform of Mexico's public broadcaster (SPR n.d.), reports that in April 2023, the Mexican House of Representatives' Migration Affairs Committee approved a reform to the Immigration Law under which migrants cannot be detained by the INM for more than 36 hours while their immigration claim is being processed (SPR Informa 2023-04-12). Sources indicate that in March 2023 Mexico's Supreme Court had determined that the maximum detention period in immigration stations should be 36 hours (SPR Informa 2023-04-12; Animal Político 2023-03-15) and that any longer was [translation] "unconstitutional" (Animal Político 2023-03-15). Information on implementation of the new detention limit could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

Mexico's Immigration Law provides the following:

[translation]

Article 109. Where applicable, all those who appear will have the following rights upon entry to the immigration station:

1. To know the location of the immigration station in which they are detained, the applicable rules and the services they have access to;
2. To be informed of the reason for their intake into the immigration station; the immigration proceeding; their right to apply for recognition of refugee status or determination as a stateless person; the right to regularize their stay under the terms of articles 132, 133 and 134 of this Law, if applicable, the option to voluntarily request assisted return to their country of origin; and the right to appeal the determinations of the Institute [INM].

…

(Mexico 2011a, emphasis in original)

El País, an international Spanish-language newspaper, reports that Mexican policies of [translation] "detention" and "internal 'deportation'" accelerated "from December 2023 onwards," noting that "more than" 20,000 people have been transferred from the northern border states to southern cities (El País 2024-08-19). Citing [translation] "databases obtained through transparency requests," the Mexico-based digital news source N+ reports that in 2019 authorities launched "an unwritten policy" of "internal deportation" from the north to the southern part of the country that remains "active" as of 2024 (2024-09-18). El País cites a lawyer for Asylum Access Mexico in the state of Tabasco as stating that their office has handled cases of people being [translation] "transferred" notwithstanding ongoing asylum requests and "even" possession of permanent residency (2024-08-19).

A 2024 report on non-refoulement published by a working group of Mexico-based NGOs [5] notes instances in 2022 and 2023 of asylum seekers and refugees [translation] "with documentation" being returned to their country of origin (IMUMI, et al. 2024, 11). According to the same report, of the 238 people involved in instances [translation] "detected" in 2023, 205 were refugees and 30 were asylum seekers (IMUMI, et al. 2024, 11).

4.1. Venezuelan Nationals

Sources report that Mexican authorities detained 20,973 Venezuelan undocumented immigrants in 2025 (Animal Político 2026-01-08; El Economista 2026-01-05); that statistic was 361,203 in 2024 (El Economista 2026-01-05). Animal Político, a Mexico-based online news source, notes that [translation] "tightening" immigration policies in the US and in "other countries" in the region have "pushed more" Venezuelans to transit through Mexico undocumented, thus increasing their vulnerability to detention by authorities (2026-01-08). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, Asylum Access Mexico [6] stated that Venezuelans entering the country through a "regular" port of entry "may nevertheless be subject to immigration detention" (2026-03-02). In response to a question about the challenges faced by Venezuelan asylum seekers, the same source indicated that those detained "do not enjoy adequate defence, due process guarantees, interpretation services, or effective legal representation" (Asylum Access Mexico 2026-03-02).

Sources report that in June 2025 INM officials detained a Venezuelan mother and her young son at the Felipe Ángeles International Airport in Mexico State [translation] "without justification" and contrary to a provision in the Immigration Law introduced in November 2020 which "prohibits the detention of migrant families, children, and adolescents" (La Jornada 2025-06-27; Infobae 2025-06-27). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Director of Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos [7] stated that [translation] "in many cases," authorities detain undocumented Venezuelans entering the country through the southern border and issue them a departure order mandating them to regularize their immigration status within 10 days or leave the country through the same border (Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos 2026-02-25). The Director also indicated that, against the backdrop of [translation] "backlogs" at the COMAR, Venezuelans wishing to seek refugee status must "pre-regist[er]" and wait for an email to "formalize" their application, which takes "6 to 8 months," adding that, throughout that period, those without "any supporting documents may be subject to deportation" (Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos 2026-02-25). The same source stated that [translation] "many" undocumented Venezuelans are held in "administrative detention," noting that their lack of status makes them "likely" to face deportation to Venezuela or to "third countries without clear guarantees of their safety" (Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos 2026-02-25).

5. Documents

5.1. Visitor Visa Without Permission to Engage in Paid Activities

According to the website of the Embassy of Mexico to Venezuela, effective 21 January 2022 Venezuelan nationals require a visa to travel to Mexico as [translation] "visitors without a permit to engage in paid activities" (Mexico 2026-03-02). The same source notes that Venezuelan holders of this visa can stay in Mexico for up to 6 months and must have a [translation] "valid and current" passport for the entirety of their stay (Mexico 2026-03-02). For information on the ability to access Venezuelan passports, see Response to Information Request VEN202520 of February 2026.

Sources indicate that holders of this document are eligible to apply for a TVRH if they fit one of several profiles (Migrans 2025-05-27; Mexico n.d.b, 9).

5.2. TVRH

A report from Mexico's Supreme Court provided the information in the following 2 paragraphs:

If granted the status of visitor for humanitarian reasons, foreign nationals are able to stay in Mexico [translation] "temporarily due to special circumstances." The INM issues a card, the TVRH, as proof of this status. The following 3 categories of individuals are eligible for a TVRH:

1. Victims or witnesses of a serious crime committed in Mexico;
2. Children or adolescents;
3. Applicants for political asylum or refugee status.
   
   

Authorities issue the TVRH for [translation] "'up to'" 180 days, and holders of the document may request its renewal within the 30 days prior to its expiration provided that the underlying reasons for the initial TVRH are still valid (Mexico 2026-01-02, 111).

Sin Fronteras, a Mexican non-profit organization that promotes the rights of migrants and those under international protection (Sin Fronteras n.d.a), notes that to apply for the TVRH, asylum seekers go to their nearest COMAR office to complete a form (Sin Fronteras n.d.b). The application is then filed with the nearest INM office, which will require the following documents:

• An original and a copy of the certificate attesting to their refugee status application;
• An original and copy of a current travel document or passport;
• Proof of address or, if the applicant has no proof of address, an alternative document requested from the COMAR;
• A letter signed and drafted [translation] "under oath" indicating the applicant's date of entry into Mexico and reasons for seeking "regularization";
• For minors, a birth certificate (Sin Fronteras n.d.b).
  
  

According to a INM guide on immigration status, a foreign national wishing to apply for the TVRH must present themselves at an INM office to provide photographs, a signature and fingerprints for the [translation] "basic form" and again to obtain the TVRH once issued (Mexico n.d.b, 10).

A report by the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), a "knowledge centre" headquartered in Switzerland that researches and analyzes migration (MMC n.d.), indicates that a TVRH "should be granted" to an applicant "as soon as they apply for asylum" (MMC 2026-02-05, 6).

The US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), a US-based NGO that provides legal, social, and health services to refugees and immigrants in several countries including Mexico (USCRI n.d.), indicates that TVRH holders can obtain a temporary CURP to access public services, including healthcare (USCRI 2025-12-10). Eje Central, a Mexico-based news publication, indicates that holders of the temporary CURP can [translation] "access health services, open bank accounts, or request work permits" (2025-07-20). The Supreme Court report states that the TVRH [translation] "guarantees" access to healthcare services and includes "an implied work permit" (Mexico 2026-01-02, 111). The Director of Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos noted that TVRH holders can access primary education provided they have a valid CURP (Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos 2026-02-25).

5.2.1. Samples

A sample of a TVRH is available on the website of Mexico's National Employment Service (Servicio Nacional de Empleo) (Mexico n.d.d). A sample is also shown in a report published in 2022 by Mexico-based news publication Juárez Hoy (Juárez Hoy 2022-08-23).

5.2.2. TVRH Issuance in Practice

El Economista reports that between January and July 2025, 306 Venezuelans were issued a TVRH (El Economista 2026-01-10). Citing data from Mexico's Immigration Policy, Registration and Identity Unit (Unidad de Política Migratoria, Registro e Identidad de Personas) [8], the Argentina-based newspaper La Nación indicates that between January and August 2024, authorities granted 395 Venezuelans a TRVH, accounting for 11.4% of all such documents issued during that period (La Nación 2025-02-25). According to the MMC, "since 2024" authorities have reduced the number of TVRHs issued by 97% (MMC 2026-02-05, 7). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, the Institute for Women in Migration (Instituto para las Mujeres en la Migración, IMUMI), an NGO that [translation] "promotes the rights of women in migration" in Mexico (IMUMI n.d.), stated that "only around 7%" of asylum seekers obtained a TVRH in 2025 "assuming that" all of the 4,981 TVRHs issued that year "corresponded to individuals applying for asylum" (IMUMI 2026-03-03). The NGO working group report on non-refoulement, whose authors include IMUMI, Asylum Access Mexico, and Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos, among others, provides the following statistics:

Year	Number of Applications for Recognition of Refugee Status	Number of TVRH Issued
2022	118,756	93,014
2023	140,982	94,829
2024	78,975	618

(IMUMI, et al. 2024, 16)

According to the USCRI, while Mexican law "entitle[s]" asylum seekers to receive a TVRH while their asylum case is pending, "[i]n practice, the INM has systematically ignored this obligation, leaving thousands in legal limbo" (2025-12-10). The USCRI indicates that since 2023, the INM has "blocked" TVRHs for "most" new applicants, who "face near-total denials" (USCRI 2025-12-10). The same source also states that the INM "has continued to renew cards" for current TVRH holders "on a limited basis" (USCRI 2025-12-10).

According to the UNHCR, starting in November 2023, asylum seekers began reporting [translation] "obstacles" in obtaining the TVRH, which "limited" their access to "essential services" and "increased" their exposure to crimes such as fraud and extortion (UN 2024-04-15, 5). In its world report covering the events of 2024, Amnesty International notes reports from civil society organizations that the INM was "fail[ing]… to expedite" TVRHs, thus "preventing" asylum seekers from accessing healthcare, education and employment (Amnesty International 2025-04-28, 257). The NGO working group report indicates that the INM ceased issuing TVRHs in October 2023 and that this continued in 2024 (IMUMI, et al. 2024, 30). The report further states that the lack of a TVRH exposes people to "detention, deportation, and exclusion" from "health, education, and formal employment" (IMUMI, et al. 2024, 30).

In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a national protection officer at the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Mexico stated that while authorities are also mandated to issue a TVRH to victims of serious crimes in Mexico, [translation] "in practice," state authorities are "reluctan[t]… to grant victim status" (National Protection Officer 2026-02-12). Citing the IOM's [translation] "monitoring in administrative detention centers" (immigration stations), the same source noted that although children and adolescents are eligible for the TVRH, authorities "generally only" issue them a "departure orde[r]" (oficio de salida) to leave the country or a Multiple Immigration Form (Fórma Migratoria Múltiple, FMM) [9] "for a limited period" (National Protection Officer 2026-02-12).

The NGO working group report indicates that authorities have begun issuing [translation] "another document attesting that the person's status has been 'regularized for humanitarian reasons'," which "does not meet the minimum standards" for an identity document (IMUMI, et al. 2024, 9). The USCRI reports that instead of issuing TVRHs, "some" INM offices issue a "proof of pending process" (constancia de trámite) that "is not valid under Mexican law" and "cannot be used as identification or for employment, banking, or access to public services" (2025-12-10).

According to sources, asylum seekers rely on the amparo proceeding (juicio de amparo)—a "constitutional mechanism that protects individuals from human rights violations committed by public authorities" (USCRI 2025-12-10)—to access a TVRH (CMDPDH 2026-02-13; USCRI 2025-12-10). The USCRI reports that each ruling "only" applies to a single petitioner, noting that achieving "universal, class-wide relief" through court rulings is "unlikely" due to "legal and procedural constraints" (2025-12-10). The MMC notes that while asylum claimants in Mexico can "file legal challenges to push for the issuance" of their TVRH, "most lack the means to do so" (2026-02-05, 6-7).

5.3. Provisional Visitor Document with Permit to Engage in Paid Employment (Documento Provisional de Visitante con Permiso para Realizar Actividades Remuneradas) [10]

The information in the following paragraph was provided by a representative of the Mexican Commission for the Defence and Promotion of Human Rights (Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos, CMDPDH) [11] in correspondence with the Research Directorate:

The INM [translation] "no longer issues" the Provisional Visitor Document with a Permit to Engage in Remunerated Activities (CMDPDH 2026-02-16). Instead, the INM issues a "work permit" (CMDPDH 2026-02-16) for which foreign nationals in Mexico legally—for example, as visitors or temporary residents— can apply (CMDPDH 2026-02-19). Applicants must have a "job offer" from an employer who is "duly registered with the INM," though the offer can come after they are already legally visiting or residing in Mexico (CMDPDH 2026-02-19). Subsequently, the applicant must visit the immigration office to request an update to their immigration status (CMDPDH 2026-02-19).

Further and corroborating sources could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

6. Rights of Asylum Seekers and Documented Migrants in Practice

The Director of Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos stated that, owing to [translation] "backlogs" at the COMAR, applications for refugee status are taking "around 2 years" to be resolved "for all applicants"; this is in violation of the Law on Refugees, Complementary Protection and Political Asylum, which stipulates that cases should be resolved within 45 business days (Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos 2026-02-25). Asylum Access Mexico indicated that owing to the COMAR's operational constraints and the "lack of legal certainty in the resolution of cases," it is "difficult" for claimants to receive a "timely response" to their claim (2026-03-02).

In response to a question about the barriers to accessing asylum faced by Venezuelan nationals, the CMDPDH noted the [translation] "lack of information" provided by immigration officials; this leaves people at risk of "detention" or without access to "basic services," "especially in critical areas" such as Tapachula, Chiapas, and Villahermosa, Tabasco (2026-02-13).

According to the CMDPDH, holders of a TVRH remain unable to open a bank account, because banks require a "valid passport" (2026-02-13). The Director of Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos indicated that TVRH holders require a bank account to be employed, noting that even individuals with permanent residency cannot open a bank account without a "valid" passport, which is "very difficult" for Venezuelans to obtain (Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos 2026-02-25).

Another barrier reported by sources is that many employers are unaware that the TVRH authorizes its holder to work legally (CMDPDH 2026-02-13; Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos 2026-02-25). IMUMI stated that while Venezuelan TVRH holders "formally" have the right to employment, they face "the same structural barriers" encountered by TVRH holders of other nationalities (2026-03-03). The same source noted that "in practice, the majority of Venezuelan TVRH holders" work in the informal labour market or in "low-wage, precarious jobs," adding that "many" do not have "formal contracts, social security registration, or access to labour benefits" (IMUMI 2026-03-03).

7. Permanent Residency

According to sources, foreign nationals who have been granted refugee status have the right to apply for permanent residency in Mexico (IMUMI, et al. 2024, 6; Mexico n.d.b, 15). The INM report notes that foreign nationals granted complementary protection [12] or political asylum are also eligible to apply for permanent residency (Mexico n.d.b, 15). The NGO working group report notes that, once granted, permanent residency is valid [translation] "indefinitely" for adults, and "temporarily" for minors (IMUMI, et al. 2024, 6). The INM report further notes that to apply for permanent residency, TVRH holders must present the original of their [translation] "valid and current" TVRH (Mexico n.d.b, 15). Refugees and those granted complementary protection must provide the original and a copy of the COMAR resolution regarding their status (Mexico n.d.b, 15). Those granted political asylum must show an original and a copy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs resolution confirming political asylum (Mexico n.d.b, 15).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Notes

[1] R4V is "jointly led" by UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and is "made up by over 200 organizations," including NGOs (R4V n.d.).^[back]

[2] VeneMex is a non-profit civil society group supporting the Venezuelan community in Mexico (VeneMex n.d.a).^[back]

[3] The temporary CURP is a [translation] "registration and identification instrument" issued by the INM or the COMAR for 180 to 365 calendar days to foreign nationals in Mexico who have "proven" that they have begun procedures to remain in the country legally (Mexico 2019-04-03).^[back]

[4] Mexico's National Human Rights Commission (Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, CNDH) is an [translation] "autonom[ous]" government body tasked with the promotion and defence of human rights in Mexico (Mexico n.d.e).^[back]

[5] The working group that authored the report includes the following NGOs:

• Asylum Access Mexico,
• Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos,
• Sin Fronteras,
• the Institute for Women in Migration (Instituto para las Mujeres en la Migración, IMUMI),
• Alaíde Foppa Legal Clinic for Refugees (Clínica Jurídica para Personas Refugiadas Alaíde Foppa),
• the Strategic Litigation Clinic of the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí (Clínica de Litigio Estratégico de la Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí),
• Programa Casa Refugiados, and
• the Jesuit Refugee Service of Mexico (Servicio Jesuita a Refugiados México) (IMUMI et al. 2024, 3).^[back]
  
  

[6] Asylum Access Mexico is a Mexico-based NGO with offices in Mexico City, Tijuana and Villahermosa, with a mission to improve access to asylum in the country through "legal empowerment, government capacity building, and partnerships in the private and social sectors" (Asylum Access Mexico n.d.).^[back]

[7] Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos (Help for Venezuelan Migrants) is a Mexico-based NGO that provides "guidance on legal matters and employment" to help refugees obtain status, "access rights, and integrate economically (R-SEAT n.d.).^[back]

[8] The Immigration Policy, Registration and Identity Unit is a government body responsible for [translation] "formulating the country's immigration policy" (Mexico n.d.c).^[back]

[9] The FMM is an immigration document that enables a foreign national to legally reside in Mexico for a [translation] "specific period," though it does not provide permission to engage in "paid activities" (InfoDigna 2025-02-04a). To obtain the FMM, foreign nationals must demonstrate [translation] "sufficient financial means," present "specific documentation," and meet "certain eligibility criteria upon entering Mexico " (InfoDigna 2025-02-04a). Foreign nationals can obtain an FMM after entering Mexico through an international land, air or sea border crossing, passing through INM immigration checkpoints and having their passport stamped (InfoDigna 2025-02-04a).^[back]

[10] The Provisional Visitor Document with a Permit to Engage in Remunerated Activities was a document issued to foreign nationals, which enabled them to legally work in Mexico for 45 days (Bourgeois 2024-02-22, 29).^[back]

[11] The CMDPDH is a civil society organization with consultative status at the UN and the Organization of American States (OAS) that works on advocacy, research, and the promotion of human rights in Mexico (CMDPDH n.d.).^[back]

[12] InfoDigna states that complementary protection is granted to foreign nationals that do not qualify for refugee status, yet whose return to their country would put them at risk of [translation] "torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment," adding that holders of this protection cannot be deported and are eligible for permanent residency (InfoDigna 2025-02-04b).^[back]

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Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Asociación de Venezolanos en México; Casa Refugiados; Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Matías de Córdova; Derechos Humanos Integrales en Acción; Grupo de Trabajo sobre Política Migratoria; InfoDigna; International Detention Coalition; law firm in Mexico City specializing in immigration; Mexico– Comisión Mexicana de Ayuda a Refugiados, Instituto Nacional de Migración; Scalabrinianas Misión con Migrantes y Refugiados; senior researcher at a university in Mexico with expertise on migration and refugee policies in Mexico; Servicio Jesuita a Migrantes México; Sin Fronteras IAP; UN – UNHCR; US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants; Venezuela – Embassy in Mexico City.

Internet Sites, including: A Tiempo; Bloomberg; Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística; Chiapas Paralelo; Deutsche Welle; Diario de Yucatán; EFE; El Informador; El Sol de México; The Forum; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; International Detention Coalition; Keesing's Documentchecker; La Silla Rota; Migration Policy Institute, Milenio; National Immigrant Justice Center; Norwegian Refugee Council; PanAm Post; Pie de Página; Proceso; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; US – Department of State; Venezuela – Embassy in Mexico City; Verificado MX; Washington Office on Latin America.