INAPAM (Senior Citizens Card)

Persons aged 60 or older are entitled to an INAPAM card, whether you are a Mexican citizen or not… but you must have the equivalent of Temporary or Permanent Resident, ie, just a tourist visa is not an acceptable status.  It used to be that this card entitled you as a property owner to a 50% discount on your Predial tax (land tax), but as of January 2014 that seems to be a thing of the past.  Oromapas, the water company, stopped giving a discount 2 years ago.

Some long distance bus companies give 50% discount, and some domestic airlines do – you need to check first. You can generally get 5% discount at some pharmacies on actual medicines (not toiletries etc). Wherever you go, cinema, tourist attraction, it’s always worth showing your card and see if they will give you a discount.  Applications are processed at DIF in Valle de Banderas, and there is no charge for the card.

You will need to have original and 1 copy of:

  • Current visa (not tourist) back and front on same side of piece of paper
  • Birth certificate;
  • Passport – photocopy of every page, even the blank ones, and both covers;
  • Electric or phone bill;
  • Three “infantile” size photographs (left over from creating your visa).

They will ask you for your address, blood type and an emergency name & number to call in case of accident.  You will provide a thumbprint and a signature.

DIRECTIONS TO DIF/Valle de Banderas: Take Avenida Estaciones =  traffic light on Hwy. 200 by Famar Restaurant inland.  Lovely smooth new road!  Follow it until you see the small planes “aerodrome”  on the left, take the fork to the right – back to unmade and bumpy surface!   The road loops around town, a final one way section brings you to the highway leaving Valle to Mezcales and the town archway.  The DIF office is across the highway at that intersection.

Alternatively: take the road inland from the lights at Mezcales: watch out for the topes and the fast traffic!  Keep going until you see a sculpture of the Maya Indians, turn left onto another lovely smooth road and follow it – you will come to the Valle archway, with DIF on your right.

The office opens at 10:00 a.m.  There may well be a lot of people waiting, but it is not for the same office that you want – hurrah!  Tell  the receptionist that you want to apply for the “tarjeta INAPAM”, and within minutes you’ll be directed down the corridor to a small office.  The process itself only takes a few minutes.  If you need any unexpected photocopies, there are small places near the town square that have copiers. This is a lifetime card, you don’t have to renew it.

They have been known to run out of cards in the past, so you might want to call ahead:  329-291-0050.  Hopefully you are all set to go, but if not – at least it’s a scenic drive!

This information correct as of 28 January, 2015.  If you encounter otherwise, please Contact Us.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant as legal advice. It is for educational and informational purposes only. Government policies vary between States and offices, and Mexican Government officials have broad discretion in how they individually enforce policies, so, your personal experiences may vary. See a professional for advice on important issues.

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