How long is the e.firma certificate valid?

For tax purposes, at most four years from issue (CFF, Article 17-D). Sheet 17/CFF of Annex 2 of the RMF 2026 states that the renewed certificate is valid for four years from its issue date.

Can I renew before it expires?

Yes. Before validity ends, the holder may request a new certificate (CFF, Article 17-D). Legal entities with a valid, active e.firma do it online: a .ren file generated with Certifica, submitted in CertiSAT Web and downloaded under "Recuperación de certificado" (Annex 2 RMF 2026, sheet 17/CFF).

What if the company's e.firma has already expired?

If it expired up to one year before the application and the legal representative is the same and holds an active e.firma, renewal is still online (RMF 2026, rule 2.2.19; sheet 17/CFF). Otherwise it is done at a SAT office by appointment, with the legal representative's ID, power of attorney, proof of address, a USB drive and the partner or shareholder information (sheet 17/CFF).

What if the legal representative changed?

The online route for expired certificates requires the same legal representative who obtained the previous certificate (RMF 2026, rule 2.2.19). With a new legal representative, renewal is filed at a SAT office; the representative must be registered in the RFC, hold an active e.firma and prove their power of attorney (sheet 17/CFF).

No. Sheet 17/CFF states that the procedure is free of charge and resolved immediately.

MX · Expiry & renewal tracking

Never let your company's e.firma expire

The SAT e.firma certificate in Mexico lasts at most four years and can be renewed before it expires (CFF, Article 17-D). Once expired it ceases to have effect (Article 17-H); a company may still renew online up to one year later if the same legal representative holds an active e.firma (RMF 2026, rule 2.2.19).

When Mexican tax law requires documents to be filed, they must be digital and carry the advanced electronic signature (e.firma) of their author. This requires a certificate issued by the Tax Administration Service (SAT) confirming the link between the signer and the signature-creation data. For tax purposes, certificates are valid for at most four years from the date they were issued, and before that period ends the holder may request a new one (Federal Tax Code, Article 17-D). The certificate states the day its validity starts and the date it ends (Article 17-G, section V) and ceases to have effect once that period has elapsed (Article 17-H, section VI).

Renewal follows the procedure sheets in Annex 2 of the 2026 Miscellaneous Tax Resolution (RMF): sheet 15/CFF for individuals and 17/CFF for legal entities (RMF 2026, rule 2.2.14). A legal entity with a valid, active e.firma generates a renewal file (.ren) with the Certifica program, submits it in CertiSAT Web signed with its e.firma and downloads the new certificate under "Recuperación de certificado"; the procedure is immediate and free of charge, and the new certificate is valid for four years from its issue date (Annex 2, sheet 17/CFF).

If a legal entity's certificate has already expired, it can still be renewed online within the following year, provided the legal representative who obtained the expired certificate is the same person and holds an active e.firma (RMF 2026, rule 2.2.19; sheet 17/CFF). Otherwise renewal takes place at a SAT office by appointment, with the legal representative's official ID, power of attorney, proof of address, a USB drive and the statement on partners or shareholders (sheet 17/CFF). Individuals whose certificate expired within the previous year can renew through SAT ID (rule 2.2.14, third paragraph; sheet 15/CFF).

The e.firma underpins other obligations: anyone who must issue CFDI e-invoices needs a valid e.firma certificate (Article 29, section I), and the digital seal certificate (CSD) can only be requested through an electronic form signed with the applicant's e.firma (Article 29, section II; sheet 41/CFF). The holder must act diligently to prevent unauthorised use of the signature-creation data and request revocation if their privacy is at risk (Article 17-J).

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At a glance

Issued by	The SAT, for legal entities and for digital seals; for individuals also certification service providers authorised by the Bank of Mexico (CFF, Article 17-D)
Validity	At most four years from the issue date; the certificate states its start and end dates (CFF, Articles 17-D and 17-G, section V)
Early renewal	Before validity ends, the holder may request a new certificate (CFF, Article 17-D); legal entities with a valid e.firma: online, with the .ren file from Certifica and CertiSAT Web (Annex 2 RMF 2026, sheet 17/CFF)
Already expired (legal entity)	Online for up to one year afterwards, if the legal representative is the same and has an active e.firma (RMF 2026, rule 2.2.19); otherwise at a SAT office by appointment (sheet 17/CFF)
Already expired (individual)	Through SAT ID, when the certificate expired within the year before the application (RMF 2026, rule 2.2.14; sheet 15/CFF)
Decision time	Immediate; no fee (sheet 17/CFF)
What you get	Digital e.firma certificate (.cer) and a renewal receipt (sheet 17/CFF)

The SAT may refuse to issue or renew the certificate when the taxpayer falls under Article 17-D, fifth and sixth paragraphs, of the CFF and has not corrected its tax situation (RMF 2026, rule 2.2.14).

Who is responsible?

The certificate holder. For legal entities, the legal representative signs the renewal request with their own active e.firma (sheet 17/CFF) and, at the office, must be registered in the RFC, hold an active e.firma and prove their authority (sheet 17/CFF). The holder is liable for the legal consequences of failing to meet the obligations of Article 17-J of the CFF in time, including preventing unauthorised use of the signature-creation data.

If the deadline passes

Once the validity period has elapsed, the certificate ceases to have effect (CFF, Article 17-H, section VI). Only an advanced electronic signature backed by a valid certificate replaces a handwritten signature (Article 17-D), and issuing CFDI requires a valid e.firma certificate (Article 29, section I). A legal entity can renew online for up to one year after expiry if the legal representative is the same and has an active e.firma (RMF 2026, rule 2.2.19); after that, or if the legal representative changed, it must go to a SAT office by appointment with the documents listed in sheet 17/CFF. If the SAT finds inconsistencies in the tax situation of the taxpayer, the legal representative or the partners, it issues a request for additional information and the applicant has six working days to respond (rule 2.2.14).

e.firma and CSD are two different certificates

The digital seal certificate (CSD) used for invoicing is a separate certificate, also valid for four years (Annex 2 RMF 2026, sheet 41/CFF), and it can only be requested with the e.firma (CFF, Article 29, section II). Track both separately.

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add your company (and, where relevant, each individual who signs filings) as a record and enter the end-of-validity date shown in the .cer certificate: at most four years from issue.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the day, leaving time to generate the .ren file in Certifica and renew in CertiSAT Web while the e.firma is still valid.
The legal representative or tax team can upload the new certificate and the renewal receipt through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person, such as accounting or the tax team; if the certificate expires without renewal, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the e.firma certificate valid?: For tax purposes, at most four years from issue (CFF, Article 17-D). Sheet 17/CFF of Annex 2 of the RMF 2026 states that the renewed certificate is valid for four years from its issue date.
Can I renew before it expires?: Yes. Before validity ends, the holder may request a new certificate (CFF, Article 17-D). Legal entities with a valid, active e.firma do it online: a .ren file generated with Certifica, submitted in CertiSAT Web and downloaded under "Recuperación de certificado" (Annex 2 RMF 2026, sheet 17/CFF).
What if the company's e.firma has already expired?: If it expired up to one year before the application and the legal representative is the same and holds an active e.firma, renewal is still online (RMF 2026, rule 2.2.19; sheet 17/CFF). Otherwise it is done at a SAT office by appointment, with the legal representative's ID, power of attorney, proof of address, a USB drive and the partner or shareholder information (sheet 17/CFF).
What if the legal representative changed?: The online route for expired certificates requires the same legal representative who obtained the previous certificate (RMF 2026, rule 2.2.19). With a new legal representative, renewal is filed at a SAT office; the representative must be registered in the RFC, hold an active e.firma and prove their power of attorney (sheet 17/CFF).
Is there a fee?: No. Sheet 17/CFF states that the procedure is free of charge and resolved immediately.

Sources

Last checked: Oct 7, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

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