Mexican Senior Discount Card Available to Foreign Residents
Tara A. Spears
Good news for retired folks that are residents of Mexico! The Mexican government opened the senior discount program to allow internationals with the residente permanente visa. That means that people aged 60 and over are eligible to apply for the Mexican INAPAM. This card enables seniors to enjoy worthwhile discounts on a whole range of goods and services including food, medicines, transport, clothing, as well as recreation and leisure activities. Locally, you receive a discount on bus fare, your property tax, municipal water and sewer bill, and are eligible for covid vaccine. A fantastic benefit!
The INAPAM senior card entitles you to is a reduced price for many goods and services. Increasing numbers of firms and businesses are actively advertising the fact that they offer discounts to INAPAM card holders, and even those who don’t may well give a discount on purchased goods and services if you present your card to them. Many organizations in Mexico are pleased to give seniors a discount, and this card is the means by which prove your residency and age qualification status.
Once you are enrolled, you receive a plastic card that you can present at thousands of stores, businesses, and government service agencies across Mexico to claim discounts of between 10% and 50% on goods and services you buy. Note that many establishments will only allow a certain number of senior discounts per bus or event, so you may not always receive the bargain price when you present your card.
“The document is free and those who obtain it receive a series of benefits including 50 percent discount on tickets to travel by passenger bus, in payment of property tax, in receipt of potable water consumption, as well as other percentages in purchase of medicines and more, “said María Lourdes Rodríguez Pérez, representative of the National Institute for Older Adults in Tepic. 
The application requirements are: You must have an active residente visa which gives one a CURP number; proof of age such as a birth certificate; and proof of address in the form of a recent utility bill. Renters should ask their landlord for the original of water/ electric or telephone that shows the address. It will be necessary to present two child-size photos in black and white or in color, from the front, without glasses, as well as two photo copies of your other documents.
For those living in Jaltemba Bay area, you can obtain the necessary photos and required copies of your documents on the main avenida in La Penita. In the last block before the main street splits into two separate roads, there is a photo shop on the south side of the street. After getting the photos printed-be sure that they are ‘infantil’ small size. There are a couple of local translation services that will process the INAPAM card application for a fee.
However, you can do it yourself for free by going to the auto parts store, Refaccionaria Padilla Junior, 327-274-2064, is two corners south of the bank on the same street. The store’s address is Oceanic Pacifico Sur at the corner of Esteban Baca Calderon Street. The older lady, Senora Padilla, usually has your card ready the same day.
It is worth the small amount of time and effort to obtain the INAPAM senior discount card. Just imagine the fun you’ll have getting reduced prices on hundreds of touristy stuff!
