Does the 180-day tourist allowance reset every time I leave Mexico?

Yes — the FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) tourist entry allows up to 180 days per entry. When you leave Mexico and re-enter, you receive a new 180-day allowance on your new FMM record. This means many Canadians who do multiple shorter trips accumulate significant days in Mexico annually (e.g., two 90-day trips = 180 cumulative days) without any single stay exceeding the tourist limit. The distinction matters: the 180-day tourist limit is per-trip, while the 183-day tax residency trigger is cumulative across the calendar year.

What is the 3-year weighted formula for Mexican tax residency?

Mexico's ISR (income tax law) includes a secondary test beyond the single-year 183-day threshold: it looks at presence over a rolling 3-year window with weighted factors. Specifically, if your weighted sum — current year full days + (prior year days × 1/3) + (two years prior days × 1/6) — equals or exceeds 183, Mexico can assert tax residency. Example: Year 1: 120 days, Year 2: 120 days, Year 3: 120 days. Weighted sum = 120 + (120 × 1/3) + (120 × 1/6) = 120 + 40 + 20 = 180 — just under. But Year 3: 130 days, with Year 2: 130, Year 1: 130 would yield 130 + 43 + 22 = 195 — over the threshold. This formula primarily catches people who spend borderline-high time consistently over multiple years rather than triggering in any single year. Most snowbirds spending 120–150 days annually clear both tests comfortably.

What happens if I accidentally become a Mexican tax resident?

If you spend 183+ days in Mexico within a calendar year (or trigger the 3-year formula), Mexico's SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria, Mexico's equivalent of CRA) may consider you a Mexican fiscal resident. This means Mexico has the right to tax your worldwide income — not just your Mexican-source income — at Mexican marginal rates (up to 35%). The Canada-Mexico Tax Treaty provides relief from double taxation, but navigating dual tax residency is complex and expensive. The practical answer: most Canadians who inadvertently tip over 183 days are not audited, but the risk is real and increases if you have Mexican-source income (rental income, etc.). Keep a day count and leave before hitting 183 if you want to avoid all exposure.

If I own a property in Mexico, do I have to get a residency visa?

No — property ownership does not create any visa requirement or immigration status obligation. You can own a fideicomiso property in Puerto Vallarta and enter as a tourist every winter without ever applying for a residency visa. However, if you want to stay longer than 180 days at a stretch, or if you plan to work or earn significant income in Mexico, a Temporary Resident visa is appropriate. The Temporary Resident visa (Residente Temporal) requires demonstrating income or savings (approximately $1,500 CAD/month in income or ~$30,000 CAD in savings) and is applied for at a Mexican consulate in Canada before departure.

How does the Canadian 183-day rule interact with the Mexican 183-day rule?

Canada has its own 183-day rule, but it works very differently. In Canada, the 183-day threshold is used to determine whether a non-resident is deemed a Canadian resident in a tax year — if a non-resident spends 183+ days in Canada, they may be deemed a Canadian tax resident for that year. For Canadians considering whether they've given up Canadian residency, the number of days in Canada is just one factor among many; CRA looks at the totality of residential ties (home, family, social connections, assets). Spending 183 days in Mexico does not automatically sever Canadian residency — but it contributes to a picture that CRA might review if your Canadian ties are weak. These are two separate legal systems that must each be navigated.

What should I do if I want to stay in Mexico for more than 6 months?

Apply for a Temporary Resident visa (Residente Temporal) at a Mexican consulate in Canada before your trip. The visa is based on income or savings, is renewable annually for up to 4 years, and then can convert to Permanent Residency. As a Temporary Resident, you are still considered a non-resident of Mexico for tax purposes in most circumstances in your first year, so the 183-day Mexican tax residency issue doesn't automatically apply immediately. However, if you establish formal Mexican residency status, consult a Canadian accountant about CRA implications — having formal residency status in Mexico is one more factor in CRA's residency determination.

Does becoming a Mexican tax resident affect my OAS and CPP payments?

OAS and CPP continue to be paid regardless of where you live — they are not means-tested or residence-contingent. What changes is the withholding rate. Service Canada withholds 25% on non-resident pension payments by default. However, if you are resident in Mexico (either formally or deemed), you can file NR5 forms to reduce the withholding to the treaty rate of 15% under the Canada-Mexico Tax Treaty (Article 17). If you become a Mexican tax resident with worldwide income taxable in Mexico, Mexican taxes on the pension income would apply, but the Canadian tax credits mechanism in the treaty prevents true double taxation. The net effect for most retirees is that they owe roughly 15% withholding in Canada on OAS/CPP, with potential additional Mexican tax depending on total income levels. A cross-border accountant should model both scenarios before you make the move.

What is the FMM tourist permit and do I still need to fill out a paper form?

The FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) is the Mexican tourist entry permit that authorizes your stay. Since approximately 2021, Mexico has fully digitized the FMM for most air arrivals — airlines collect your information during check-in and transmit it electronically to INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración). There is no longer a paper slip to fill out on the plane for most Canadian arrivals at major airports. Your entry is recorded electronically in INM's system. However, if you arrive by land or on smaller charter flights, paper FMM forms may still be issued. In all cases, the entry and its expiry date are tracked by INM, and border officials have access to your entry history. Keep track of your entry date regardless of whether you received a physical document — you are responsible for not overstaying.

Does the 180-day tourist allowance reset every time I leave Mexico?

Yes — the FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) tourist entry allows up to 180 days per entry. When you leave Mexico and re-enter, you receive a new 180-day allowance on your new FMM record. This means many Canadians who do multiple shorter trips accumulate significant days in Mexico annually (e.g., two 90-day trips = 180 cumulative days) without any single stay exceeding the tourist limit. The distinction matters: the 180-day tourist limit is per-trip, while the 183-day tax residency trigger is cumulative across the calendar year.

What is the 3-year weighted formula for Mexican tax residency?

Mexico's ISR (income tax law) includes a secondary test beyond the single-year 183-day threshold: it looks at presence over a rolling 3-year window with weighted factors. Specifically, if your weighted sum — current year full days + (prior year days × 1/3) + (two years prior days × 1/6) — equals or exceeds 183, Mexico can assert tax residency. Example: Year 1: 120 days, Year 2: 120 days, Year 3: 120 days. Weighted sum = 120 + (120 × 1/3) + (120 × 1/6) = 120 + 40 + 20 = 180 — just under. But Year 3: 130 days, with Year 2: 130, Year 1: 130 would yield 130 + 43 + 22 = 195 — over the threshold. This formula primarily catches people who spend borderline-high time consistently over multiple years rather than triggering in any single year. Most snowbirds spending 120–150 days annually clear both tests comfortably.

What happens if I accidentally become a Mexican tax resident?

If you spend 183+ days in Mexico within a calendar year (or trigger the 3-year formula), Mexico's SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria, Mexico's equivalent of CRA) may consider you a Mexican fiscal resident. This means Mexico has the right to tax your worldwide income — not just your Mexican-source income — at Mexican marginal rates (up to 35%). The Canada-Mexico Tax Treaty provides relief from double taxation, but navigating dual tax residency is complex and expensive. The practical answer: most Canadians who inadvertently tip over 183 days are not audited, but the risk is real and increases if you have Mexican-source income (rental income, etc.). Keep a day count and leave before hitting 183 if you want to avoid all exposure.

If I own a property in Mexico, do I have to get a residency visa?

No — property ownership does not create any visa requirement or immigration status obligation. You can own a fideicomiso property in Puerto Vallarta and enter as a tourist every winter without ever applying for a residency visa. However, if you want to stay longer than 180 days at a stretch, or if you plan to work or earn significant income in Mexico, a Temporary Resident visa is appropriate. The Temporary Resident visa (Residente Temporal) requires demonstrating income or savings (approximately $1,500 CAD/month in income or ~$30,000 CAD in savings) and is applied for at a Mexican consulate in Canada before departure.

How does the Canadian 183-day rule interact with the Mexican 183-day rule?

Canada has its own 183-day rule, but it works very differently. In Canada, the 183-day threshold is used to determine whether a non-resident is deemed a Canadian resident in a tax year — if a non-resident spends 183+ days in Canada, they may be deemed a Canadian tax resident for that year. For Canadians considering whether they've given up Canadian residency, the number of days in Canada is just one factor among many; CRA looks at the totality of residential ties (home, family, social connections, assets). Spending 183 days in Mexico does not automatically sever Canadian residency — but it contributes to a picture that CRA might review if your Canadian ties are weak. These are two separate legal systems that must each be navigated.

What should I do if I want to stay in Mexico for more than 6 months?

Apply for a Temporary Resident visa (Residente Temporal) at a Mexican consulate in Canada before your trip. The visa is based on income or savings, is renewable annually for up to 4 years, and then can convert to Permanent Residency. As a Temporary Resident, you are still considered a non-resident of Mexico for tax purposes in most circumstances in your first year, so the 183-day Mexican tax residency issue doesn't automatically apply immediately. However, if you establish formal Mexican residency status, consult a Canadian accountant about CRA implications — having formal residency status in Mexico is one more factor in CRA's residency determination.

Does becoming a Mexican tax resident affect my OAS and CPP payments?

OAS and CPP continue to be paid regardless of where you live — they are not means-tested or residence-contingent. What changes is the withholding rate. Service Canada withholds 25% on non-resident pension payments by default. However, if you are resident in Mexico (either formally or deemed), you can file NR5 forms to reduce the withholding to the treaty rate of 15% under the Canada-Mexico Tax Treaty (Article 17). If you become a Mexican tax resident with worldwide income taxable in Mexico, Mexican taxes on the pension income would apply, but the Canadian tax credits mechanism in the treaty prevents true double taxation. The net effect for most retirees is that they owe roughly 15% withholding in Canada on OAS/CPP, with potential additional Mexican tax depending on total income levels. A cross-border accountant should model both scenarios before you make the move.

What is the FMM tourist permit and do I still need to fill out a paper form?

The FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) is the Mexican tourist entry permit that authorizes your stay. Since approximately 2021, Mexico has fully digitized the FMM for most air arrivals — airlines collect your information during check-in and transmit it electronically to INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración). There is no longer a paper slip to fill out on the plane for most Canadian arrivals at major airports. Your entry is recorded electronically in INM's system. However, if you arrive by land or on smaller charter flights, paper FMM forms may still be issued. In all cases, the entry and its expiry date are tracked by INM, and border officials have access to your entry history. Keep track of your entry date regardless of whether you received a physical document — you are responsible for not overstaying.

Reviewed on March 2026 by the Compass Abroad editorial team

The 183-Day Rule: How Long Can Canadians Stay in Mexico?

Canadians can stay in Mexico up to 180 days per tourist entry without any visa. Mexican tax residency is triggered by spending 183 or more days (cumulative, not necessarily consecutive) in Mexico within a single calendar year — or by triggering the 3-year weighted formula. Most Canadian snowbirds who winter for 3–5 months are far below both thresholds.

This is one of the most misunderstood rules for Canadian snowbirds. The tourist limit (180 days per trip) and the tax residency trigger (183 days cumulative in a year) are two different rules in two different legal systems — and they're often confused. Here's the complete explanation including the 3-year formula, OAS/CPP implications, and when you need a residency visa instead.

Key Takeaways

Canadians can stay in Mexico up to 180 days on a tourist entry (FMM form) — no visa required. The 180 days is per trip, not per year.
Mexican tax residency is triggered by spending 183+ days (not necessarily consecutive) in Mexico within a single calendar year — or under the 3-year weighted formula.
If you exceed 183 days in Mexico in a calendar year, Mexico may consider you a tax resident and subject your worldwide income to Mexican tax.
Most Canadian snowbirds who winter in Mexico for 3–5 months per year are nowhere near the 183-day threshold and have nothing to worry about.
Property ownership in Mexico does not itself create tax residency — it is physical presence (days in the country) that determines Mexican tax obligations.
OAS and CPP continue to be payable to Mexicans residents, but the Canada-Mexico tax treaty reduces the withholding rate to 15% vs. the standard 25%.
The FMM tourist permit and the Temporary Resident visa operate in two separate systems — choosing between them is an immigration decision with tax consequences.
The 183-day Mexican rule and Canadian departure tax rules are two separate systems — exceeding 183 days in Mexico does not automatically sever Canadian tax residency.

183-Day Rule: Key Numbers for Canadian Snowbirds

Tourist entry limit (FMM): 180 days per trip(INM (immigration))
Tax residency trigger: 183 days in calendar year(ISR Art. 9)
3-year formula weight (current year): Full day count(ISR Art. 9)
3-year formula weight (year -1): 1/3 of days(ISR Art. 9)
3-year formula weight (year -2): 1/6 of days(ISR Art. 9)
Mexican top tax rate (worldwide income): 35%(SAT 2026)
Canada-Mexico treaty pension withholding: 15% (vs 25% default)(Treaty Art. 17)
OAS/CPP continuity abroad: Continues — withheld at treaty rate(Service Canada)
FMM tourist entry — fee: Included in airfare (electronic since 2021)(INM)
Temporary Resident income requirement: ~$1,500 CAD/month(SRE guidelines)

The Two Rules You Need to Understand

When Canadians ask about "the 183-day rule in Mexico," they're actually conflating two separate rules that operate in different legal systems:

Rule 1 — The Immigration Rule (180-day tourist entry):Under Mexican immigration law, Canadians (and citizens of most countries) are permitted to enter Mexico as tourists for up to 180 days per entry. When you board a flight to Mexico, an immigration officer (or the airline check-in system) determines how many days to grant you — up to 180. This is per trip. When you leave Mexico and return, your new entry grants a fresh 180-day period. The FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) tourist card documents this — since 2021, it's managed electronically rather than as a physical slip of paper.

Rule 2 — The Tax Rule (183-day residency trigger):Under Mexico's Ley del Impuesto Sobre la Renta (income tax law, Article 9), a person who spends 183 days or more within Mexico in any 12-month period — specifically a calendar year under most interpretations — is considered a Mexican tax resident. Mexican tax residents are taxed on their worldwide income, not just their Mexican-source income. This is a tax concept, not an immigration concept, and it operates independently of your tourist entry status.

Both rules matter, but they measure different things. You can trigger the tax residency rule while still being well within each individual tourist entry. And you can be a Temporary Resident under immigration law without being a Mexican tax resident. Understanding the distinction is the foundation of good cross-border planning.

For Canadians planning to purchase property in Mexico, see our complete Mexican property buying guide and our deep explainer on the fideicomiso bank trust structure.

The 3-Year Weighted Formula: The Part Nobody Talks About

Most articles about the 183-day rule stop at the single-year test. But Mexico's ISR also contains a rolling 3-year weighted formula that can catch people who spend just under 183 days each year but maintain a pattern of extended presence.

The formula works as follows: take your days in Mexico in the current year (full weight) plus your days in Mexico in the prior year multiplied by 1/3, plus your days in Mexico two years prior multiplied by 1/6. If the total equals or exceeds 183, Mexico may assert tax residency even if you never reached 183 in any individual year.

Practical example: A couple spends 160 days in Mexico every year for 3 consecutive years. Weighted sum: 160 + (160 × 1/3) + (160 × 1/6) = 160 + 53 + 27 = 240. That is well above 183 — they are potentially Mexican tax residents under this formula even though they never reached 183 in any single year.

Safe zone for typical snowbirds:If you spend 120 days or fewer each year, the weighted formula produces 120 + 40 + 20 = 180 — just under the threshold. At 150 days each year: 150 + 50 + 25 = 225. Over. This means a buyer who does a full Nov–Apr stay (approximately 150 days) for several consecutive years is in the risk zone for the 3-year formula even if they're safe on the annual test. The calendar-year split (November–December in one year, January–April in the next) helps the annual count but does nothing for the rolling formula.

This formula is rarely enforced against foreign tourists who don't have Mexican-source income and aren't on SAT's radar. But for property owners generating Mexican rental income, it creates an exposure worth discussing with a qualified cross-border tax professional.

Stay Duration Scenarios for Snowbirds

Day-count scenarios for Canadian snowbirds in Mexico
Scenario	Days in Mexico	Tourist Entry OK?	Mexican Tax Residency Risk?	Canadian Tax Residency Impact?
Winter snowbird (Nov–Mar)	~120–150 days	Yes — well within 180-day limit	No — below 183-day threshold	None if significant Canadian ties retained
Extended stay (Oct–Apr)	~180 days	At the limit — plan carefully	Borderline — must count carefully	Possible review if Canadian ties weak
Near year-round (Jan–Nov)	310+ days	No — tourist limit exceeded; need residency visa	Yes — definitively Mexican tax resident	May lose Canadian tax residency too
Two trips per year	90 days + 90 days = 180 total	Yes — each trip is separate	180 total below threshold — likely safe	None with strong Canadian ties
Digital nomad (works remotely)	Variable — could exceed 183	Depends on days — may need Temporary Resident visa	Yes if 183+ days cumulative in year	Review carefully — may affect both residencies

FMM Tourist Permit vs Temporary Resident vs Permanent Resident

There are three distinct immigration statuses a Canadian can hold in Mexico. Each has different limits, tax implications, and requirements. Understanding which status is right for your situation is a foundational planning decision.

Immigration status options for Canadians in Mexico — limits, work rights, and tax consequences
Status	How Obtained	Maximum Stay	Work Permitted?	Mexican Tax Residency?	Annual Cost
Tourist (FMM)	Automatic at entry — passport + airline check-in	180 days per entry	No	Risk if cumulative days exceed 183 in year	Nil (included in airfare)
Temporary Resident (Residente Temporal)	Apply at Mexican consulate in Canada before departure; show income or savings	1 year, renewable up to 4 years total	Only with work visa endorsement	Generally no in first year; varies thereafter — get qualified advice	$300–$600 CAD application fees + Mexican immigration fees
Permanent Resident (Residente Permanente)	After 4 years as Temporary Resident, or via investment/family	Indefinite — can stay full-time	Yes, without separate work visa	Yes — considered Mexican fiscal resident	Annual renewal card ~$100 CAD; no further income requirement

Note: Tax residency consequences of Temporary Residence are nuanced and depend on the specific facts of each case. Get qualified advice before making the transition.

Counting Your Days: What Counts and What Doesn't

For Mexican tax residency purposes, the general rule is that any day (or part of a day) in which you are physically present in Mexico counts as a day of presence. This includes:

The day of arrival in Mexico
The day of departure from Mexico (in most interpretations)
All days in between, including weekends and holidays
Days from multiple trips within the same calendar year (cumulative)

The practical implication: if you arrive in Mexico on November 1 and leave April 30, that's approximately 181 days. If November 1 to April 30 spans two calendar years (November–December in Year 1, January–April in Year 2), you have roughly 60 days in Year 1 and 120 days in Year 2 — neither of which approaches 183 on the annual test. This is why the calendar-year counting is significant: a winter stay that crosses the December 31 / January 1 boundary is naturally split across two years. This is one reason why many experienced snowbirds arrive in early November rather than late October.

Mexico's INM tracks your entry and exit electronically through passport scans at airports and land crossings. Unlike the old paper FMM cards that were sometimes not collected on departure, the electronic system creates a record of every air entry and exit. INM can theoretically calculate your cumulative days in-country going back years. This data can be requested by SAT in a tax audit context, particularly if you have Mexican rental income reported.

Property Ownership and the 183-Day Rule: What You Need to Know

One of the most common misconceptions: buying property in Mexico does not trigger any immigration or tax residency obligation. A Canadian who owns a fideicomiso property in Puerto Vallarta or Playa del Carmen can continue entering as a tourist indefinitely and never need a residency visa — as long as they don't stay more than 180 days per trip.

Property ownership does, however, change your Mexican tax obligations in one specific way: if you rent your Mexican property, you have Mexican-source income. Mexican-source rental income is taxable in Mexico regardless of whether you are a Mexican tax resident. Non-residents pay a flat 25% withholding on gross rental income (or can opt to calculate net income at graduated ISR rates with deductions). Residents pay graduated ISR rates on net income. Your residency status determines which regime applies to rental income, but both regimes require Mexican tax compliance.

The interaction between property ownership, rental income, and the 183-day rule becomes complex: a property owner who spends extended time in their Mexican property AND earns rental income from it when they're not using it sits at the intersection of all three issues. For a detailed look at the rental income side, see our guide to reporting Mexican Airbnb rental income to CRA.

What Mexican Tax Residency Actually Means

If you cross the 183-day threshold in a calendar year (or trigger the 3-year formula), Mexico's SAT may consider you a fiscal resident of Mexico. This has significant implications:

Mexico has the right to tax your worldwide income at Mexican marginal rates (top rate of 35%)
You may be required to file a Mexican annual tax return (declaración anual) reporting all sources of worldwide income
If you already have Mexican-source rental income, your tax filing obligations change significantly — you move from withholding-based non-resident treatment to net-basis ISR as a resident
The Canada-Mexico Tax Treaty provides relief from true double taxation, but navigating dual residency is complex and requires both a Canadian and a Mexican tax professional

The good news: most snowbirds who stay for a typical Canadian winter (November to late March) accumulate well under 183 days. A November 15 to March 31 stay is approximately 136 days. Even a November 1 to April 15 extended winter runs about 166 days — still under the threshold. The at-risk group is primarily Canadians who are effectively living in Mexico year-round on tourist entries, or snowbirds with multi-year consistent stays above ~120 days who might trigger the weighted formula.

For those considering full-time or near-full-time residence in Mexico, the appropriate path is the Temporary Resident visa — which provides legal clarity, a path to Permanent Residency, and makes the immigration status explicit. The ownership structure of your Mexican property may also need to be considered alongside your residency planning.

OAS and CPP: What Happens to Your Canadian Pensions?

OAS (Old Age Security) and CPP (Canada Pension Plan) continue to be paid to Canadians regardless of where in the world they live. There is no residency requirement for receiving these benefits — once you qualify, you qualify. What changes is the withholding rate applied.

For Canadian non-residents, Service Canada applies a 25% withholding tax on OAS and CPP payments by default. However, Canada's tax treaty with Mexico (Article 17) reduces this withholding to 15% for Mexican residents. To claim the treaty rate, you must file an NR5 form (Application by a Non-Resident of Canada for a Reduction in the Amount of Non-Resident Tax Required to Be Withheld on Income Earned from Employment, Pension, or Annuities) with CRA. This is a routine process for Canadians living in treaty countries.

The practical impact: on $30,000/year in combined OAS + CPP, the difference between 25% withholding ($7,500/year) and 15% withholding ($4,500/year) is $3,000/year — money that stays in your pocket. For retirees moving to Mexico, filing the NR5 is one of the first tasks to complete. For a full treatment of this topic, see our guide on OAS and CPP when moving abroad.

Note that if you become a Mexican tax resident, Mexico may also tax your worldwide income including OAS and CPP. The treaty's double-taxation prevention mechanism ensures you don't pay full tax in both countries — but the compliance burden increases. Mexican taxation of foreign pension income depends on your total Mexican-source and worldwide income; get qualified cross-border advice.

Canadian Tax Residency: A Separate Question

Many snowbirds worry that spending extended time in Mexico could cause them to inadvertently lose Canadian tax residency. This is a separate analysis from Mexican residency rules.

CRA determines Canadian residency based on your residential ties to Canada— not primarily on day-counts. Strong ties include: owning or renting a Canadian home, having a spouse/dependents in Canada, maintaining provincial health insurance, holding a Canadian driver's licence, maintaining Canadian bank accounts, and belonging to Canadian professional organizations or clubs. Someone with a family home, a spouse, and provincial health coverage in Canada doesn't lose Canadian residency by wintering in Mexico for 5 months.

The risk increases significantly when you retire to Mexico full-time, sell your Canadian home, give up your provincial health card, and have no Canadian social ties remaining. At that point, CRA may view you as a non-resident regardless of whether you intended to maintain Canadian residency. A formal departure (filing a departure return and cutting ties) is different from inadvertently losing residency.

The Canadian T1135 reporting obligation applies to Canadians with qualifying foreign property valued over $100,000 CAD — including Mexican real estate held in a fideicomiso or directly. See our guide to T1135 compliance for foreign property holders and the complete guide to Canadian tax on foreign property.

For a comparison of what spending patterns look like in various popular Mexican destinations, see our cost of living comparison between Mexico and Canada, or our destination guides for Mérida, Mazatlán, and Lake Chapala.

Practical Day-Counting Strategies

The simplest way to stay well clear of both the 183-day annual test and the 3-year weighted formula is to keep your Mexican stays below 120 days per year. This gives you an annual buffer of 63 days and a weighted-formula total of 120 + 40 + 20 = 180 — just under 183 under the rolling formula.

Practical strategies used by experienced snowbirds:

Cross the New Year in Mexico: a stay from December 1 to March 31 is 121 days but spans two calendar years — 31 days in Year 1, 90 days in Year 2. Both years are well under the annual threshold.
Add a second shorter trip: instead of one 150-day trip, do 90 days in winter and 40 days in shoulder season (spring or fall) for 130 total — under 183 for the year and reduces the 3-year weighted score vs a single long stay.
Keep a day diary: use a notes app or spreadsheet to record entry and exit dates from Mexico. INM tracks this electronically, but so should you. One lost count mistake could have significant consequences.
Compare destinations: consider splitting time between Mexico and the Dominican Republic — time in the DR counts toward DR presence, not Mexico's 183-day test.

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