Moving to Mexico from the US: the steps in order

Most of the work in a move to Mexico happens before you leave the US. Residency in particular starts at a Mexican consulate in the US, not in Mexico, and that surprises many people who plan to sort it out after they arrive.

1. Decide whether you need residency at all

US citizens can enter Mexico as visitors without a visa. The immigration officer decides how many days you get, up to 180, and many people now receive fewer than the maximum. Visitors can’t work for a Mexican employer, and visitor status generally can’t be converted to residency from inside Mexico.

If you plan to stay longer than a visitor permit allows, open a bank account, register a car, or live in Mexico year after year, you need residency.

2. Choose a residency route

There are two main options:

• Temporary residency lasts one to four years and is the usual starting point. Most people qualify by showing steady income or savings.
• Permanent residency has no expiry. Retirees with higher pension income can sometimes get it directly; most other people get it after four years as a temporary resident.

Read the temporary resident visa guide and the permanent residency guide for what each requires.

3. Apply at a Mexican consulate in the US

You book an appointment at a consulate, bring your documents, and have a short interview. If approved, the consulate puts a visa in your passport. That visa is only the first half of the process:

• You have about 180 days to enter Mexico with it.
• After you enter, you have 30 days to start the exchange for a resident card at the immigration office (INM) where you will live.

Each consulate sets its own document list and applies the income rules a little differently, so check the requirements of the consulate you will use. An immigration attorney or facilitator in Mexico is most useful for the second half, at the immigration office.

4. Pick a place, and rent first

Where you live decides your climate, costs, healthcare and how much Spanish you need. Most people who move successfully rent for six months to a year before buying. Foreigners can buy property in Mexico, but land near the coast or a border must be held through a bank trust, which is one more reason to take advice before buying.

5. Move your belongings

Many people move with suitcases and furnish locally. If you are shipping a household, new residents can usually bring used household goods in once without import duty, using an inventory certified by the consulate (the menaje de casa). An international mover handles the customs paperwork, and needs several weeks’ notice.

6. Bring pets and decide about your car

Dogs and cats from the US are inspected on arrival, and airlines add their own rules, which are often stricter than Mexico’s. Other animals need permits.

A US-plated car can enter under a temporary import permit tied to your immigration status. Temporary residents can keep one. Permanent residents generally cannot, outside the border and Baja free zones, so decide about the car before you choose a residency route.

7. Arrange health cover

Medicare does not pay for care in Mexico. Most new arrivals buy private insurance, either a Mexican policy or an international one. Residents can also apply to join the public system (IMSS), which has exclusions for existing conditions.

8. Keep up with US taxes

US citizens file a US tax return every year wherever they live, and must report foreign bank accounts above a threshold. If Mexico becomes your main home, you may also become a Mexican tax resident. A preparer who works with Americans abroad is worth having before your first filing season.

A typical timeline

When	What to do
9 to 12 months before	Visit the area you are considering. Check which residency route your income supports.
6 months before	Book the consulate appointment. Gather bank statements and documents.
3 to 4 months before	Get mover quotes. Start pet paperwork. Arrange a rental.
1 to 2 months before	Buy health insurance. Set up a way to move money.
Arrival	Start the resident card exchange within 30 days.
First year	Get your local tax ID and bank account. File your first US return from abroad.

Common questions

Can a US citizen just move to Mexico?

You can enter Mexico as a visitor without a visa and stay for the number of days the officer grants, up to 180. To live in Mexico longer than that you need a temporary or permanent resident visa, which you apply for at a Mexican consulate before you move.

How much money do you need to move to Mexico?

For temporary residency, consulates have recently asked for income of roughly $4,000 to $5,000 a month, or savings of roughly $70,000 to $85,000. The figure changes each January and differs by consulate. Moving costs depend mostly on whether you ship a household or arrive with suitcases.

Can I apply for Mexican residency after I arrive?

In most cases, no. The application starts at a Mexican consulate outside Mexico. There are exceptions for close family of Mexican citizens and residents, and a few other situations.

Do I need to speak Spanish to live in Mexico?

Not in the towns with large foreign communities, where many services are available in English. Government offices work in Spanish, which is one reason people hire a facilitator or attorney.