The Essential Guide For Relocating To Mexico

Mexico is widely known for its sandy beaches, rich cultural heritage, warm weather, and, of course, the world’s best tacos.

With all these alluring attributes, it’s easy to understand why thousands of ex-pats choose Mexico every year. Even so, relocating to a new country or city is a pretty stressful undertaking, so it’s crucial to plan every detail of the move at least six months in advance.

If you’re wondering, “How can I move my family to Mexico?” this essential guide will walk you through the process of setting down roots in a new country.

Tackle All The Legalities

Depending on where you are moving from, the legalities may vary a bit. For example, if you are moving from America, you will need an FM3 visa, allowing you to stay in Mexico for more than six months. But when it comes to permanent residency, you will need an FM2 immigrant visa. On the other hand, EU, UK, and AUS citizens will need the same forms but may need to provide additional documentation for visa applications.

Consider The Cost Of Living

Living in Mexico is relatively affordable; hoards of pensioners decide to relocate here for a pocket-friendly retirement. But it’s still important to know the cost of living. Otherwise, you might end up unprepared for everyday expenses, rental prices, or other fees.

Set Up Your Finances

Aside from sorting out the legalities of relocating to Mexico, the most critical step is to set up your finances in your new home region. With this, you must open a local bank account. Most international banks will convert your money into Mexican pesos, and it shouldn’t take longer than two days to set up a bank account.

Even though this step is pretty straightforward, it’s essential to set up your bank account before moving. This way, you will have access to your funds the moment you arrive instead of having to wait a few days. Moreover, it’s also wise to keep an eye on the exchange rate before converting your funds to get the most out of your savings.

Secure Employment In Mexico

Unless you are moving to Mexico for an exciting employment opportunity that you have already secured, the next step is to find a job in Mexico. Relocating without employment can be disastrous, especially if you don’t have six months’ salary saved or another stable backup plan.

Nevertheless, finding a job in Mexico is pretty easy, even more so if you can speak Spanish. Getting a permanent immigrant visa is also much easier if you have already secured employment.

Find Accommodation

It’s always best to find suitable accommodation before moving to a new country; staying in a hotel or guesthouse until you can find your new home can be extremely expensive. The costs of relocating to a new region are already pretty substantial, so saving on accommodation as much as possible is wise.

The most popular areas in Mexico for ex-pats include Playa del Carmen, Mexico City, Tulum, Puerto Peñasco, and Puerto Peñasco.

Short-term rentals and Airbnb listings are typically the most affordable solutions. With these options, you can rent a furnished property for a few months while you find your new dream home in Mexico.

Purchase Healthcare Insurance

Healthcare in Mexico is a privatized system, which means you will need health insurance to access healthcare. If you don’t purchase health insurance for ex-pats, you might end up spending a fortune on healthcare bills if you fall ill or become injured.

International health insurance policies also provide additional benefits like coverage for travel issues and even emergency evacuation. Because these policies are created for expatriates, the benefits also consider other unpredictable costs associated with relocating to a new country.

Learn Some Spanish

Even though many locals can speak English, you will find it much easier to navigate Mexico if you know some Spanish. Learning a new language will take time, but you can speed up learning by opting for online language classes. There are also language apps and e-readers that can help you grasp basic Spanish.

Visit Before Your Move

Regardless of how much you have researched about living in Mexico, visiting the country before you decide to move is still beneficial. When visiting, you can explore the neighborhoods, property market, get to know the locals, and even find out more about the job market and cost of living. So, visiting your next home region for at least a month is undoubtedly the only way to get the closest and most accurate experience to living in Mexico.

Relocating to a new country is a big decision. But because relocating offers benefits like more affordable housing, expanding social and business networks, educational benefits, and even better quality of life, relocating is a decision that can transform your life.