Moving to Mexico

How to Become a Mexican Resident

Expats in Mexico are lucky. They don’t have to make visa runs abroad to restart the tourist visa countdown clock, because it’s relatively simple to obtain a temporary or permanent resident visa. After moving to Mexico, foreigners with these visas can do everything from setting up a bank account to accessing public healthcare. Renting an apartment or buying a house is also easy in Mexico, especially if you can communicate with a Spanish-speaking agent or broker.

Take some time to find the perfect home base, and you’ll find that your move to Mexico is the start of a wonderful new experience.

What Are the Requirements to Live in Mexico?

People from places including Europe, North America, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand can stay in Mexico for up to 180 days with a “Visitante” short-term visitor visa.

However, to stay in Mexico for a longer period of time, you’d be best off with either a temporary or permanent resident visa. Both of these visas allow you to enter and leave the country as often as you want.

The temporary resident visa:

• Lets you stay in Mexico for up to four years, as long as you pay a fee and visit an immigration office to renew your visa.
• Is popular with digital nomads who intend to work remotely while enjoying life in Mexico.
• You can switch from a temporary to a permanent resident visa after four years.

The permanent resident visa:

• Does not have to be renewed, unlike a temporary visa.
• Is not an official “retiree visa,” but most retirees can meet the financial and consular requirements for this visa.
• This is a great visa for people who know they want to permanently live in Mexico.

How to Move to Mexico With a Temporary Resident Visa

You should apply for a “Residente Temporal” (temporary resident visa) before heading to Mexico. You’ll need 6 to 12 months of bank statements to demonstrate that you have sufficient savings and/or a reliable income to cover living expenses.

The amount you’ll need is based on Mexico’s minimum daily wage (MDW). This was 207.44 pesos a day in 2023.

In general, you’ll have to demonstrate that you either have savings that equal at least 5,000 times Mexico City’s MDW or your monthly income that equals at least 300 days of Mexico’s MDW. If other family members are traveling with you, you’ll need an additional 100x the MDW per person.

Confusingly, some consulates ask visa applicants to prove that their financial accounts contain more funds than the officially specified amounts, or to provide proof of employment.

In the end, it’s the consulate’s decision about who they give a visa to, so don’t argue with them. You can check with the consulate about its requirements before your appointment to avoid surprises.

If you’re approved, you can now move to Mexico! Make sure to get a “canje” stamp in your passport upon arrival to show that your immigration status will change.

After arrival, you have 30 days to visit a local “Instituto Nacional de Migración” (immigration office), where you’ll receive a temporary resident permit.

Your initial temporary residency permit will be valid for one year, but after your first year in Mexico, you can renew it for up to an additional three years.

Immigrate to Mexico With a Permanent Resident Visa

If you want to get a “Residente Permanente” (permanent resident) visa without first getting a temporary resident visa, you should apply from your home country.

Assemble 6 to 12 months of bank statements that show you have sufficient savings and/or monthly income to support yourself and any family in Mexico.

For this visa, your savings should be at least 20,000 times Mexico City’s MDW. Your monthly income from sources such as Social Security or a pension should be at least 500 times Mexico’s MDW. You’ll still need to demonstrate an additional 100x the MDW per person for other family members.

It’s usually easy for retirees to get this type of visa. In fact, some consulates only grant this visa to people of retirement age or to those who can prove they’re already retired.

If you’re not retired and you don’t have close family in Mexico, you’ll probably have to apply for temporary residency before you can get permanent residency.

Make an appointment at the Mexican consulate that’s closest to you and bring your application and financial documents.

Once the consulate has granted you a permanent resident visa, you can move to Mexico. Upon arrival, you should ask for a “canje” stamp in your passport, which allows you to change your immigration status.

After you arrive, you’ll have 30 days to go to your local immigration office and get your permanent residency permit.

Once that’s completed, you don’t have to renew this permit ever again. However, you should inform the immigration office of changes such as an address change or marriage.

Expats in Mexico Can Move From Temporary to Permanent Residency

Maybe you’d like to stay in Mexico permanently, but you can only get a temporary resident visa from your local Mexican consulate.

Fortunately, once you’ve been a temporary resident for four years, it’s much simpler to obtain permanent residency.

All you have to do is visit your local immigration office in Mexico and fill out an application. There is a fee to switch from temporary to permanent residency status.

However, you won’t have to share the same financial information that consulates ask to see. Just make sure to apply for permanent residency before your temporary residency permit expires!

How Expats Living in Mexico Can Get Citizenship

Once you’ve held permanent residency for five years, you can apply for Mexican citizenship.

Mexico permits its citizens to hold dual citizenship, so applying for citizenship there doesn’t require you to give up your home-country citizenship.

However, once you’ve become a naturalized Mexican citizen, be aware that Mexico can take away this citizenship if you spend five years or more living outside the country.

Before submitting your application, make sure you’ve been in Mexico for 18 months over the last two years. You must pass a criminal background check to get Mexican citizenship.

Unless you’re over 60, you’ll be tested on Mexico’s history and culture. You also need to be at least conversationally fluent in Spanish.

Tips for Immigrating to Mexico

Visit a few different cities, towns, and even villages before deciding where you’ll call home. And try to stop by over a few seasons.

A town that’s wonderful in January might be too humid for you in July. Or a village that’s charming in the off-season can be overrun with tourists and snowbirds the rest of the year.

Mexican culture has its own rhythms. Embrace the fact that these might differ from what you’re used to in your home country.

Try not to let differences in attitudes toward things like punctuality and bureaucracy upset you or make you regret moving to Mexico.

There are many immigrant communities in Mexico. When choosing where to live in Mexico, you might find it easier to settle down in a place that’s popular with other foreigners, at least when you first arrive.

Learn Spanish. Whether you’re shopping in the market, eating dinner, or seeing a doctor, your life will be much easier if you speak the local language.

You don’t have to handle all of the paperwork for your temporary or permanent resident visa on your own. There are law firms and other experts that can guide you through the process.

Mexico Real Estate for Expats

Most new immigrants start off as renters in the Mexican real estate market. Even if you have a permanent resident permit and you want to become a homeowner, renting lets you get to know a place before buying a house.

You might find that the city you’d picked out as perfect on paper isn’t a good fit when you get there. It’s easier to pack up and try a new location when you’re renting.

Don’t limit yourself to digital listings for prospective rentals. Talking to agents and brokers is a great way to find rental units. And remember, you’ll find more people to work with if you speak Spanish or have a translator.

In much of Mexico, it’s relatively easy for immigrants to buy property. But in certain parts of the country, including parts of the coast or along the border, you need to establish a “fideicomiso,” a type of trust, to purchase property.

The bank that holds the trust controls the title, but otherwise, you’ll be able to build on and change the property as any owner would.

Where Do Most Expats Live in Mexico?

Puerto Vallarta, on the Pacific Coast, has a big expat community. People here have a number of ocean activities to enjoy, plus the convenience of an international airport.

Foreigners have also settled in villages around beautiful Lake Chapala, the country’s biggest lake. San Miguel de Allende and its cooler climate are a favorite among retirees, who enjoy walking through the town’s historic center. And many work and live in Mexico City, the country’s capital and biggest city.

Choosing to live in a community popular with foreigners offers multiple benefits. For one, you might find it easier to socialize with your fellow expats. In addition, there are usually excellent private medical facilities with English-speaking staff in these areas.

However, some people find that living among expatriates can cut them off from the local culture. If you decide to move to Mexico to experience authentic Mexican life, you might prefer to avoid areas with many expats.

Can You Get Residency in Mexico by Buying a House?

If you own Mexican real estate that’s worth at least 40,000 times Mexico’s MDW, you should qualify for temporary residency in Mexico.

However, remember that your Mexican consulate will make the final decision about granting a temporary resident visa.

Moving Companies to Mexico

Living in Mexico as an immigrant doesn’t mean you have to sell or give away all your beloved belongings. Instead, consider using a trusted international relocation company.

These companies can securely transport your things to Mexico, no matter where you’re moving from.

If you have any items you’d hate to leave behind but can’t fit in your suitcase, why not get a free quote?

What is Life Like in Mexico for the Average Person?

When moving from abroad to a new country, it’s natural to wonder what your new life will be like.

Will you be able to get medical care? How much money should you plan to spend? Do you have to pay taxes? What can you do to stay safe?

Getting answers to these questions should help ease any worries as you prepare to move to Mexico.

Average Cost of Living in Mexico

The cost of living in Mexico is significantly lower than in the United States and many Western countries. However, the average income in Mexico is also lower than in other parts of North America or in Europe.

If you earn money from foreign sources, such as a pension or working as a digital nomad, you should find life in Mexico to be very affordable.

Public transportation is a common expense: a one-way ride will cost around $0.50. Mexican electricity rates are calculated based on a minimum use threshold, with rates rising if you exceed it.

This means that if you’re the type of person to turn up the air conditioning, you might end up paying a lot for this privilege. Because tap water usually isn’t drinkable in Mexico, you’ll need to purchase bottled water.

Rent in Mexico is the biggest expense for most people. While rental costs vary by location, a one-bedroom apartment typically costs between $400 and $800 per month.

Locations like Mexico City or Puerto Vallarta are more expensive. Overall, a couple can live comfortably in Mexico on $30,000 a year.

Banking and Finances for Expats

If you have legal residency in Mexico, whether temporary or permanent, it’s easy to open a bank account.

You will have to visit the bank in person. Bring your temporary or permanent residency card and your passport. You’ll also need a utility bill or rental agreement to serve as your proof of address.

The last step in opening your account is to make the opening deposit. Rest assured that you can safely deposit more than the minimum.

Your funds are insured by the “Instituto para la Protección al Ahorro Bancario,” or Bank Savings Protection Institute.

Even without a Mexican bank account, you should be able to access your home country’s account via ATMs across the country. Yet keep in mind that ATMs may limit withdrawals.

Taxes in Mexico for Expats

Property taxes in Mexico are usually less than $200 per year. All Mexican residents have to pay taxes on income, whether it’s generated in or outside Mexico.

However, if you pay foreign taxes on income from a foreign source, such as a pension or overseas digital job, you should receive a credit from the “Servicio de Administración Tributaria,” Mexico’s Tax Administration Service. This credit will be applied to any taxes you owe to Mexico.

Education in Mexico

Public schools are free for all children in Mexico. Yet some of these schools, particularly those in rural areas, may lack adequate resources for their students. Older students may also struggle with lessons taught only in Spanish.

Many people, therefore, choose to send their children to private schools. International schools are a popular private school option.

These schools follow internationally recognized curricula, and some offer English-language instruction. Before choosing a school, ask your fellow expats for recommendations. You should also visit the school with your kid(s).

If you’re an expat in Mexico who doesn’t want to use a public or private school, there is another option: homeschooling, which is legal in Mexico. You can find online programs and guides on homeschooling.

Healthcare in Mexico for Expats

People with temporary or permanent residency in Mexico are eligible to participate in Mexico’s national healthcare system.

This provides access to affordable prescription drugs and public hospitals. However, health insurance in Mexico can be complicated, so many expatriates in Mexico choose to enroll in international health insurance.

An international insurance plan will cover your stay and treatment in high-quality private hospitals with English-speaking providers.

This can help you avoid wait times at often overcrowded public facilities. Many international plans will also cover you when you travel outside of Mexico.

Is Mexico a Safe Place to Live?

There are unsafe parts of Mexico, but there are also places where people feel secure as they go about their daily lives.

For example, residents of Ajijic, a town near Lake Chapala, have few worries about safety. On the other hand, criminal cartel activity has been growing in the state of Jalisco.

Keep yourself and your family safe by checking travel warnings before your move to Mexico. Once you’re in the country, try not to rent an apartment or house before you’ve visited the area during the day and at night.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Living in Mexico?

Mexico has a reputation as a beautiful, warm destination with wonderful food. Those things are true, but there’s a lot more to the country, both good and bad.

Good Things About Life in Mexico

• Relocate to Mexico, and you can experience climates that range from warm tropical beaches to cooler mountain towns.
• You’ll find fresh, affordable produce at markets.
• Mexican food culture is amazing. Restaurants serve up a variety of delicious dishes, and you can get an entire meal for just $5 to $10.
• Friendly attitudes. You should find it easy to get to know both locals and expats in Mexico.
• The country has wonderful healthcare facilities and providers – there’s a reason it’s a top destination for medical tourists!

Disadvantages of Living in Mexico

• Safety is a concern for many people in Mexico, with certain areas experiencing cartel violence and kidnappings.
• You can’t drink the tap water.
• Mexico has been hit by devastating earthquakes and hurricanes.
• Some Mexicans have expressed resentment towards foreigners who move to Mexico.
• One downside of living in Mexico is that you can regularly lose power. After storms, power can go out for hours.

Is It a Good Idea to Move to Mexico?

Whether you’re relocating to Mexico for a few years to experience Mexican customs or you’re interested in making a permanent move, you now know that living in Mexico has pros and cons.

The country offers residents delicious food, excellent healthcare, and a welcoming culture. Yet you might also experience hurricanes and dangerous areas.

However, your move will be even more successful now that you know more about what to expect!