While some people dread the march of advancing years, people in Mexico actually have something to look forward to when they turn sixty years old… the INAPAM Card! Once you become a card-carrying person of the tercera edad (third age), you are entitled to many privileges and discounts. And you don’t have to be a Mexican citizen to get one!
How To Get Your INAPAM Card
Here is how to get your INAPAM card in Merida, Yucatan.
First of all, the main requirement for the INAPAM card is that you must be 60 years old. To prove that you comply with this basic requirement, you must show the appropriate authorities the following documents original and copy:
PERMANENT RESIDENTS
- Your passport
- Permanent Resident Card
- CFE (electricity) bill
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- JAPAY (water) bill
- Telmex (telephone) bill
- Gas bill
- Predial (property tax receipt)
- A bank statement with your addressComprobante or proof of address. This can be any of the following, and do NOT have to be in your name. The document just has to show your address:
- Two color front-facing photos, infant size or infantil (2.5 cm by 3 cm)
TEMPORARY RESIDENT
- Your passport
- Temporary Resident Card
- Comprobante or proof of address. This can be any of the following, and do NOT have to be in your name. The document just has to show your address:
- CFE (electricity) bill
- JAPAY (water) bill
- Telmex (telephone) bill
- Gas bill
- A bank statement with your address
- Two color front-facing photos, infant size or infantil (2.5 cm by 3 cm)
- Predial (property tax receipt)
- Proof of ownership or legal possession of a property in Yucatán:
- Fideicomiso
- Comprobante or proof of address in your name
- Document that proves legal possession, legalized by Notary Public.
Make one copy of each document. If there is an unforeseen requirement for another copy, you will not be forced to lose your place in the process and leave to get a copy.
INAPAM Office in Merida
Bring your original documents and the copies to the INAPAM offices which are located on Calle 61 number 444 between 50 and 52 Centro; one block from “Parque Mejorada”INAPAM offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and most certainly they are closed on all national holidays. The phone number is 9 23 96 00 and 9 28 42 54
When you enter the office, you will have to get at the end of the waiting line. When it is your turn, the officer will request to see your original documents and will keep the copies that you provide him or her. If your documents are complete and valid, the officer will create your card and you will get the card on the same day. If the office is not crowded, the entire process will only take about one hour. The cost of the card is only 5 pesos.
Benefits of the INAPAM Card
With your INAPAM card, you can look forward to discounts of 5 to 50% in many places. You can expect to find discounts at hotels, restaurants, drugstores, travel agencies, doctors, medical services, buses and other transportation, furniture stores and much more. According to the INAPAM website, you can even get 15% discount on Aeromexico and 20% discount on Interjet airline tickets.
Getting your INAPAM card is easy if you speak or understand a little bit of Spanish. But if you would like assistance, Yucatan Expatriate Services is always here to help! Contact us at info@yucatanyes.com.
For more information (in Spanish), you can visit the INAPAM website: http://www.inapam.gob.mx/en/INAPAM/Yucatan