Before you start

A valid driving licence from your home country (with 6+ months validity remaining)
A CURP (Mexico's unique population ID number) - generate it free online once you have residency or an FM/visa record
A Llave CDMX digital account (the city's single sign-on used to book the appointment)
Proof of address in Mexico City or Estado de Mexico in your name

Step-by-step

1
Drive on your foreign licence while you settle in
A valid foreign licence lets you drive in Mexico immediately - no Mexican licence is legally required just to be behind the wheel. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is worth carrying because it translates your licence for traffic police and is often demanded by car-rental and insurance companies, but it is a translation, not a separate authorisation. Mexican auto insurance (not the licence) is what actually matters if you have an incident.
In personWho: Anyone with a valid home-country licenceImmediateIDP from your home automobile association, roughly USD 20
2
Get your CURP and set up Llave CDMX
You need a CURP to book a licence appointment - print it free from the gob.mx CURP portal. Then create a Llave CDMX account (llave.cdmx.gob.mx), the city's mandatory single sign-on. The appointment system logs you in via Llave CDMX and asks for your CURP to show available modules and dates.
OnlineWho: First-time applicantsSame day once you have residency/CURPFree
3
Pass the online theory exam (first-time applicants only)
CDMX reintroduced a knowledge exam in November 2024. If you have no prior CDMX Tipo A licence (an antecedente), you must pass a theory exam based on the Ley de Movilidad and Reglamento de Transito before you can collect the licence: 20 questions, about 30 minutes, minimum score 8, and two attempts. It is taken digitally through the official permanent-licence portal. There is NO practical road test and NO driving simulator in CDMX - unusual versus states like Jalisco or Nuevo Leon.
OnlineWho: First-time applicants without a previous CDMX Tipo A licenceAbout 30 minutes; redo immediately if you fail the first of two attemptsIncluded in the licence fee
4
Book the appointment, pay, and collect the permanent licence
Through the SEMOVI citas portal (or Locatel 55 5658 1111) pick a module and time. Pay the roughly MXN 1,500 fee via the linea de captura at a bank or online, then attend with your documents and printed appointment. Photo and signature are captured on site and you typically walk out with the physical Tipo A permanent licence the same day. Holders with a recent prior licence and current biometrics can sometimes complete a digital version fully online without an appointment.
In personWho: All applicantsOften same-day issuance at the module; up to ~5 business days in some cases~MXN 1,500 (Tipo A permanent)

Documents you’ll need

Valid official ID (passport plus residency card / tarjeta de residente for foreigners)
CURP (printed from the gob.mx portal)
Comprobante de domicilio in CDMX or Estado de Mexico, under 3 months old, ideally in your name
Printed appointment confirmation (cita) and proof of payment (linea de captura)

Things most newcomers don’t know

The big draw is that CDMX issues a truly permanent, no-expiry licence - pay once (~MXN 1,500) and never renew.

Almost every other jurisdiction (and most Mexican states) makes you renew every few years for a fee. This is a deliberate CDMX policy and a strong reason to get licensed here rather than in another state.

Source: licenciapermanente.cdmx.gob.mx

There is no driving test or simulator in CDMX - only a 20-question online theory exam for first-timers.

Newcomers often brace for a road test like back home. CDMX has none; the only hurdle is a multiple-choice exam (min score 8, two tries) on local traffic rules, so the practical barrier is low.

Source: motorpasion.com.mx

You cannot even book an appointment without a CURP and a Llave CDMX account.

The citas portal is gated behind Llave CDMX sign-in and asks for your CURP up front. Sort both out first or you will be stuck at step one - and CURP generally requires your residency/visa record to exist.

Source: elfinanciero.com.mx

If you already hold a recent CDMX licence with current biometrics, a renewal can be done fully online - no exam, no module visit.

The online-only digital route is reserved for people with an antecedente and up-to-date biometrics; first-time foreigners do not qualify and must attend in person. Knowing which track you are on avoids wasted trips.

Source: xataka.com.mx

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming an IDP is mandatory - it is not; your valid home licence authorises driving, the IDP is just a translation. Conversely, residents are widely advised to switch to a local licence within a few months as the rules are ambiguous.
Booking with no CURP or Llave CDMX account - the SEMOVI citas system blocks you immediately without both.
Bringing a proof of address that is too old, not CDMX/Edomex, or not in your name - a frequent rejection at the module.
Expecting the permanent licence to always be available - the program has been extended through 2026, but it is periodically given an end date, so check the current deadline before assuming it still exists.

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