Thinking Of Moving To Mexico we did and I love It! Four years ago, we took a flight out of Miami and moved our family to Mexico. In the past two years, we have had time to get accustomed to many of the intricacies of life in Mexico. We have gathered a list of questions for you, from our experiences. These are the questions we should have contemplated more before making the move. Moving to Mexico is a huge decision and there is a ton to consider.
Each moving to Mexico experience is different. Mexico does not have a one size fits all approach to things. Every person you meet, every article you read, and every video you watch will have different answers to common straightforward questions. That’s why it is important to consider all sources and form an individual solution.
We have compiled these questions for you to gather as much information as possible. Then you can decide for yourself if moving to Mexico is right for you.
Thinking Of Moving To Mexico: 10 Questions You Should Answer Before You Move To Mexico
1. What Are The Legal Requirements For Living In Mexico?
It is no mistake that we listed this as the first question. You should understand the legal requirements necessary for Mexican residency. Countless videos, articles, and group comments address this very question. Help and advice on residency questions are everywhere. There are businesses focused on helping you transition from another country. We used a lawyer to help us, and it was worth every penny.
We will discuss 3 of the most common visas in Mexico. Your visa status determines if you can work in Mexico, how long you can stay in Mexico, and what services the country of Mexico will allow you to take part in.
Tourist Visa – There was a time in Mexico when you could come on vacation and never go home. Those days are gone! We often hear about other Expats that have been in Mexico for more than 5 years and profess to rely on “Border Runs” to get an extra 180 days. Unfortunately, this advice is a thing of the past. Technology has made it to the borders and all movement in and out of the country is documented digitally. It is not a viable option for legally moving to Mexico.
We came on Tourist Visas for 6 months. A few days after getting here all flights were grounded and the borders were closed. COVID-19 happened. It seems now all the rules of residency have changed. That is why it is so important for you to do your homework. After 2 years in Mexico, we all have our permanent residency. It took two trips back to the states, countless hours, and a small fortune to get our permanent residency. This step is no easy feat, but it is totally doable
This step is no easy feat, but it is totally doable.
Temporary/Permanent Residency – The process for Temporary and Permanent Residency in Mexico is the same. The steps for the process are as follows:
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Thinking Of Moving To Mexico Visa Requirements
1. First you must make a residency appointment to submit your application. Most people will need to make this appointment with the Mexico Consulate in their home country.
2. Gather the extensive amount of documentation needed for the application. You may need to get birth certificates or marriage licenses apostilled. If not for the first appointment you may when you get here in Mexico. We had to. Trust me when I say it is cheaper to do this step in the states. We were also asked to have these documents translated into Spanish.
3. Take all the required paperwork to the Mexican Consulate. At this appointment, the Mexican Government will determine if you qualify for residency. If you do qualify, they will state if the visa is temporary or permanent.
4. If approved, they will place an Residency Visa Sticker in your passport. Make sure you follow the proper steps when you fly into Mexico. You will not come in on a tourist visa. You will be entering Mexico as a resident.
5. You have 30 days to enter Mexico and get an appointment with the Mexican Consulate here.
6. The Mexican Consulate in Mexico will issue you a residency card along with your CURP number.
Check out this link. It is a printable PDF from gob.mx. It describes in full detail and in English the Visa process.
This link will take you to the official gob.mx visa page.
2. Thinking Of Moving To Mexico? How Will I Adapt To The Language Barrier?
If you are fortunate enough to speak, read, and write Spanish then this question is not for you. If you are like we were, not knowing Spanish is something you must consider. We came up with a learning strategy that has worked for our family. The quest to be fluent in Spanish has yet eluded us.
We use tools like Duolingo and listen to Spanish Podcasts. This helps us stay sharp. We try to practice our Spanish as much as we can with our local neighbors. The importance of communication is something easily taken for granted. In the United States, we never understood the importance of communication. Not being able to speak Spanish makes the simplest task daunting at times.
In our experience as a family learning Spanish, simple tasks like answering the phone, ordering delivery, asking for gas, or meetings at the school are difficult. Local people are very considerate of our broken Spanish as we practice and improve. Yet, we have had situations where Spanish was necessary, and we were left playing charades and fussing with google translate.
Mexico is a vast country, and we know that there are areas of Mexico where Spanish is not as important. Some areas have a large population of people who speak English. Nonetheless, you should have a plan on how you are going to navigate living in another country while learning the language.
3. Thinking Of Moving To Mexico? Is My Budget Realistic?
Most who take the leap of faith and move to Mexico have at least once experienced Mexico’s grandeur. Many come to Mexico on vacations at All-Inclusive Resorts. For most, this is where the dream of living in such a beautiful country starts to take shape. Of course, the dream of laying on a white sandy beach, staring at the hypnotic turquoise blue waters all day is not reality.
Things to remember when it comes to money in Mexico. Think about the first vacation you had in Mexico. Think about how long you had to save to make that vacation an amazing reality for a week. Now multiply the cost of that amazing week by 52. You can see that living at an All-Inclusive for the rest of your life, for most is not realistic.
We sometimes hear uneducated tourists utter words on vacation, like “We could live like a King here, you see how cheap beer is…lol”. Well, yes beer is cheaper in Mexico! Yet, there are many things to consider when budgeting the cost of living in Mexico.
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Here is an example we like to use. In the United States, in the morning I enjoyed French vanilla creamer in my coffee. No big deal, that isn’t expensive, right? Well, wrong, it is very expensive here in Mexico. At our local grocery store, items like French vanilla creamer, cheese, frozen food, and American-type junk food cost more. We are constantly finding items that our family enjoyed before in the United States, to be very expensive or non-existent here. So, if you’re going to live like a king here, you better take a good inventory of what luxuries you think are important and price them out before you move. You could be surprised that your grocery bill does not decrease when you move.
We have found that there is a balance between enjoying the amazing places, people, and activities in Mexico with normal family life at home. The quicker you find that balance between new activities and new surroundings with a fiscally healthy home life, the less money you will end up spending and the better your Mexico experience will be. The reality of higher-than-expected cost of living is one of the top reasons people move back home after being here for some time. Other popular reasons people move back home are family and health.
4. Where Should I Live?
A clear idea and plan will make the move much more enjoyable and cost thousands less. Mexico is a large country, and each region differs significantly. For us, we choose the beaches of the State of Quintana Roo. The Riviera Maya is home to the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world and beautiful beaches. Quintana Roo is one of the most visited locations on earth. Over 3 million tourists visited Cancun this year over Spring Break week.
Well, guess what, living in a place where more than 3 million people visit in one week can get old fast. You will not spend your days in an All-Inclusive resort, but your life will be affected by those All-Inclusive Resorts and the people visiting the area. In Quintana Roo almost every business has some connection to tourism.
Let Me Plan Your Best Vacation!
Moving from Florida, we were accustomed to crowded beaches and living amongst the tourists. But, if you are moving from a small town in the United States or Canada, moving to Cancun may be a culture shock. These are things to take into consideration when choosing where in Mexico you want to live. How prepared are you to move to a place that is 10 times bigger than where you are moving from? Is warm weather the only reason you want to move to Mexico? What activities do you enjoy having near your home? Do I need to Work? How important is it for you to have a large expat community nearby? How many modern convinces do you need?
These are all personal questions you should have the answer to before you move to Mexico.
It is easy to point to a map and say, I want to live here. Did you know that beautiful beaches come with humidity and mold? Mountains and mild weather seem appealing. These areas tend to be heavily populated or extremely remote. Like all things in life, the devil is in the details. It is important to engage with people who live in the area you are considering. Facebook Groups are great resources for information on living and moving to Mexico. YouTube is another great resource for getting information on possible places to live in Mexico. Our suggestion is to find a place that feels safe enough to use as a home base. Explore the area and continue to search for your perfect home.
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Our story is a perfect testament to this strategy. We currently live in a small village located in the Caribbean, which is awesome! After exploring more of Mexico, we are considering moving to a completely different area in Mexico. We have felt comfortable here because it is like our home back in the States. It has been a great place to get our feet wet and explore the country. Now that we have had some time to adjust, we have decided our journey in Mexico will continue in another city.
5. Thinking Of Moving To Mexico? Does Mexico Meet My Medical Needs?
We have had many experiences with the Mexican medical community. For the most part, the care fits our needs. But medical needs differ and what works for us may not work for another family. The expats that live here have many different opinions on medical care, insurance, and how to handle medical emergencies. Our suggestion is to make a list of medical concerns/needs that are critical to your wellbeing. Take this list and start to research if that type of care is available around the area of Mexico you are thinking of relocating to. The healthcare in Mexico differs by region as vastly as the terrain.
Mexico has private and public medical care. As permanent residents, we do qualify for medical care through the Mexican Government. We have chosen at this point to use private health care for our medical needs. Mexico does have large well equipped private and public hospitals. Deciding what to do for medical care heavily ways on the options available to you in your area. Some areas do accept certain types of U.S. medical insurance. The VA has a program for vets that live overseas. The options are overwhelming, and it will take time to develop the best plan for you.
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In our experience, most doctors speak perfect English. But only a small percentage of nurses or staff speak English. Even in a hospital that focuses on medical tourism. So, it pays to do your homework. Translate your list of medical needs into Spanish and have it on hand when you go to the doctor. Be aware that if you need a large amount of medical care, the language barrier and out-of-pocket cost could be a determining factor on whether Mexico is right for you.
Another topic you need to consider is your daily medication. The medicine you take in the states could be called something different in Mexico. Some medications are not even available here. I find it hard to get supplements in Mexico. Shipping certain medication in the mail could be a stressful situation or even impossible. Take into consideration the expense of your medications. Some medicine is cheaper in Mexico, but other medications can cost quite a bit. Without insurance, you will most likely be paying out of pocket for your medication.
6. Thinking of Moving To Mexico? How Will I Access My Money In Mexico?
There are some important considerations when dealing with money and Mexico. Of course, the quick thought is that you will run down to the local bank in your new Mexican home and open an account. Not so fast!
To open a bank account in Mexico you must be a citizen, temporary/permanent resident. There are a small number of Mexican Banks we have heard will open an account on a (Tourist Passport). But we have never heard any positive comments about opening an account before you receive your residency. Again, this area is very personal, and attention should be made to getting the right information for your individual needs.
Mexico is not like the United States when it comes to banking. Of course, why would it, Mexico is its own country. We are the guests in Mexico, and we must learn to live by its rhythms. We are not financial experts, nor claim to be. That is why you need to ask yourself these questions before you move.
Trying to figure it all out while you are here in Mexico could be very overwhelming.
When we went to open a bank account, we were surprised that the bank did not offer joint accounts. When asked the bank what would happen with the account in the event one of us died, we were told “It’s No Problem, write down the password and ATM Pin, and the other person can keep using the dead person’s account.”
This is not how you handle this situation. So, to say the least, everyone you talk to will have different advice on what works best. The moral of the story is to do your homework. We chose to not open a Mexican Bank Account and we continue to use our bank in the United States. This decision does come with disadvantages. Did you know if you open an account in Mexico, deposit money, and let it sit in an inactive account for 3 years the money will be considered abandoned and confiscated?
If you use a bank in the United States, while you live in Mexico, you should be aware of some factors. Consider things like how your bank in the United States handles international banking fees, exchange rates, international atm charges, international bank to bank wire fees, and more. All these banking topics will come up at some point when you move to Mexico.
7. What About School?
This was a question we thought we had researched. Yet after the move, we realized we were not fully informed on education for the kids in Mexico. In the United States, most children attend free public school with free busing. Of course, some kids attend private school or take part in homeschooling. But most children attend public schools.
Mexico has public and private schools and, many parents choose to home-school their children. I have read some expat parents send their children to public schools. That is not a common practice in our area. If you have a child that is not fluent in Spanish public school could be a huge transition. Private school does tend to teach in Spanish and English making it a little easier on your child. Most key classes are taught in Spanish. Science, history, music, and physical education class are all held in Spanish. This may make it harder for your child to learn essential core topics. Also, it is worth mentioning that teaching English in the school does not ensure the front office staff or even the principal will speak English.
At least this has been our experience in 4 schools.
Coming from the states there are certain questions I wasn’t aware I should ask the school. As I stated before we moved to Mexico from Florida. We are used to the heat and humidity in Q.R. We are also accustomed to staying cool in the AC even in public spaces. I know this may be a little Karen of me. But none of the 4 schools we have attended use AC. Even on extremely hot days. The children go to school until July here. The kids have adjusted, and it isn’t a huge problem with them. But if you have a child with a breathing condition like asthma.
This may be something you need to ask the school before you invest your time and money.
In Mexico, both public and private education is ran by the government. Both public and private schools must complete the same government-required classwork and testing. The effort is to provide all students with an equal foundation-level education. So really children in private and public schools are following the same curriculum.
You must account for the cost of private schools in Mexico before you move. If you, don’t you may be in shock when you add 500 to 900 USD to your monthly budget. That’s not including yearly uniforms, books, and registration fees. Don’t get me started on all the costume expenses. There are so many school productions throughout the school year. Lol. Private schools do offer slightly smaller class sizes, better amenities, extra-curricular activities, English half the day, and sports. Thus, our kids go to private school.
The English your child will learn in class will be at a lower level than your child was learning before. Of course, the classes will be different. The local children are learning English as a second language. I wanted the boys to stay at grade level with their peers in the states. So, they attend homeschool classes online. This is an extra expense we did not plan for. They take math, English, science, and Spanish online. Putting the kids in private school and adding work online is the best school situation for us. Again, these are our experiences and are in no way shape, or form meant to be a one-size-fits-all answer. The point is to bring these questions up before you move.
8. Thinking About Moving To Mexico? How Will I Get Around?
Most people that move to Mexico arrive without securing transportation. There of course is the percentage of people who drove their vehicle from the United States or Canada. For this article, we are focusing on the masses that arrive without transportation.
When you arrive in Mexico there are a few options for transportation. You can do a long-term car rental. A no-hassle option is to buy a car when you arrive. You can also use taxi services to take you to each destination. Public transportation is an option depending on the area you live in.
Rental Car Option
The most convenient transportation option is renting a car. That is if you do not arrive in Mexico with an amount set aside to buy a car immediately. It also is an expensive option. Be prepared when you rent a car in Mexico. Your online quoted price will not account for the Mexico Required Insurance. The insurance is required and costs no less than 500 USD extra per month, on top of the rental car fee. Plus, they will also put a 150% hold on your credit card until the car has been returned. The hold usually takes about 6 or 7 days before it is released. For a monthly rental car in Quintana Roo, Mexico it was costing us 1500 USD per month.
Taxi Option
After months of eating crazy high rental car prices. We decided to try our hand at using taxis for our everyday outings. We used this option to save enough money to buy our car in Mexico. I will say that you need to be careful when budgeting taxis as transportation in Mexico. Some destinations can be costly. When we traveled to Cancun and back for shopping at Costco, we were charged 75 USD round trip. That’s a lot to go grocery shopping. We started to focus on what was important and what wasn’t important enough to warrant a taxi. We rode our bikes a lot and didn’t leave our small town often. The taxi option was costing us around 200 USD per month. It’s not a lot, but it is enough that you should account for.
Bus Option
The bus is not an option for us. We tend to bring a lot of stuff home with us. Getting on and off a bus with a lot of stuff and little ones is “No Bueno”. We have had many friends that use the bus system with little to no complaints. It is an option, and it deserves further exploration. But it is not for our family of four.
After 1 year in Mexico, we bought our car and have loved exploring this beautiful country. We are always planning our next family road trip. If we had come prepared and fully thought out our transportation options, we could have saved a ton.
9. How Will I keep My Digital Data Safe And Watch My Favorite Shows In Mexico?
When you move to Mexico and start playing online. You will be on a Geo-Restricted server. Yes, you read that correctly. If you do not have a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service, you will not be able to access many sites outside of Mexico. This unforeseen reality has happened to us and found the perfect solution for our family. We have used CyberGhost for the past 4 years. We love the services they provide.
The kids couldn’t stand being geo-restricted. I was getting complaints constantly. They didn’t have access to their Netflix accounts from the States and their google searches were all in Spanish. After the move, many of our normal online activities ceased. I was having trouble with my site and the boys were struggling with their entertainment. Now that we have CyberGhost VPN everything runs smoothly.
My husband never misses an NFL game, and the kids can game their heart out. I do not watch TV often, but I do love that I can watch local US news hassle-free.
We use this service every day to bring you articles like this one. ExpatFamilyLiving.com has readers in 141 Countries around the world. If we didn’t use CyberGhost VPN, we would not be able to grow our community around the world as we do. CyberGhost provides high-level security when I am online. This protects my data and my business from things like fraud. I never have to worry if the connection I am on is safe when I am traveling. Connected to CyberGhost I am always secure.
CyberGhost is not like the other guys. We used many services before finding and sticking with CyberGhost. I love that I can use CyberGhost on our mobile devices and smart TVs. We can now access our U.S. Pandora Music accounts in Mexico. I am always working on my phone. Having CyberGhost on my phone keeps my mobile data secure while I am on the go. They are the number 1 VPN service in the U.S. and Mexico.
10. Thinking of Moving To Mexico? Should I Buy or Rent?
We have heard horror stories of Expats who took the leap and bought a house without ever living in Mexico first. In the United States when you buy a home, you have a very good idea of the location, property values, local infrastructure, future development plans in the neighborhood, and an understanding of daily living in that area. Yet, for some reason, we hear of people buying property in huge expat developments sight unseen. Then wonder how and why when they arrive all is not what was promised.
In our opinion, it is a better plan to rent in a location you have researched as a potential home buying location.
Get a feel of the neighborhood. See how you fit into your new neighborhood. Remember, your new Mexican neighborhood will not modify to fit your ideals. You must find where your ideals are. Rightfully so. We have lived in Mexico for two years and have moved three times. We are planning to move again in August. If we had bought a house before we moved. We would be in a very stressful situation right now. It would have had drastic financial consequences.
The three houses we have lived in all were in gated communities and were cookie-cutter homes. I was shocked to find out each home looked so different inside. Why? Because when you buy a home in most of these communities you are buying a shell of a home. The price of the home does not include a kitchen, bathroom sinks, light fixtures, faucets, cabinets, laundry room, closets, or toilets. The doors and windows that come with the home package are bottom of the line and are far from energy-efficient. I have met a handful of people that have bought a new home from the states and got here to be seriously upset. Their home was far from ready to be lived in.
Take your time, do tons of research, and be selective. Even renting has had its ups and downs in Mexico.
Use the resources that are available like Facebook and YouTube. Reach out to Expats and ask your questions.
I hope that you take this article and use it as a catalyst. We want to better prepare you and your family for your move to Mexico. We know that you will never have all the answers and that is ok. Just know that you will be fine. There are others before you that have made the move to Mexico from another country. We at Expat Family Living have formed a community of World Travelers. Our goal is to help you achieve your dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem.
