Taking a Mexican-plated car to the US & Canada

If you reside in Mexico, you might own a Mexican-plated vehicle, and you might want to drive it to the USA or Canada on short visits—usually up to six months.

Your Mexican insurance policy probably covers damage to your own vehicle and loss of any personal items inside of it when the car is outside of Mexico (check the policy); however, it will not cover third party liabilities in the USA and Canada in the event of an accident. A special top-up insurance policy is needed.

Short-term third-party liability insurance

Policies for Mexican-plated vehicles driving into the USA and Canada can be purchased on a short-term basis only—you select the number of days you intend to visit the US/Canada as part of the quotation process.

The insurance policy will:

• Cover you in the event of an accident in the USA or Canada and provide third party liability coverage up to the value of the coverage stated on the policy.
• Provide a limited amount of coverage for medical expenses—sufficient to cover very minor incidents, but insufficient for a serious situation, so a separate medical coverage policy is recommended.
• Provide roadside assistance in the event of a vehicle breakdown while you’re outside of Mexico, and legal assistance—as described in the policy.
• You can optionally purchase other defined coverages in addition to those listed above for an extra fee.

These policies are not intended to provide comprehensive coverage but instead top-up your Mexican insurance to cover you for damages in the event of an accident or other incident involving third parties while you’re driving in the USA or Canada.

Learn more about driving in Mexico

Mexperience offers articles with insights to help you prepare for your road trip and drive confidently in Mexico.

• Your Mexico road trip checklist
• Who can drive a foreign-plated vehicle in Mexico
• Insuring your vehicle for driving in Mexico
• Importing a foreign car or other vehicle to Mexico
• Latest articles about driving in Mexico
• Guide to auto insurance in Mexico

Practical insights to help you keep your Mexican home well-maintained and secure

How to maintain, manage, and secure your home in Mexico

When you have moved to Mexico and taken possession of your home, whether you own your property in Mexico or are just renting it, there will be certain matters to organize and deal with on a regular basis to keep your house properly maintained and secured when you are home and away.

With some local insights and forward planning, maintaining and securing your home in Mexico ought not to pose any major headaches or inconveniences.

Our guides to home maintenance and home security share tips and practical knowledge to help you secure your dwelling spaces and prevent your Mexican home from falling into disrepair.

Practical advice combined with local knowledge to help you manage your home in Mexico

Our guides are an integral part of our homestead management series and topics related to house maintenance and home security include:

• Moving house: to, from and within Mexico
• How to hire domestic helpers for your home
• How water is supplied to homes in Mexico
• Managing the water supply at your house
• Drinking water in Mexico
• Water pressure at residential properties in Mexico
• Learning about waste water systems at your property
• Keeping your home warm in the cooler or cold months
• Dealing with household waste disposal and recycling
• Managing the electricity supply at your house
• Learn about gas supplies and gas-fired appliances
• Keeping in touch at home using phone and internet
• Tips for securing your Mexican home and property
• Keeping unattended properties safe
• Insurance coverages for your home in Mexico

More resources for Living & Lifestyle in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Our resources include:

• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free
• Regularly-updated articles about lifestyle planning  in Mexico
• Insights about day to day living with Mexico Home Life

By late June 2026, it was estimated that less than half of all lines were registered, and the government announced a new timetable that focuses on registration of pre-pay cellular telephony lines—that is, lines without a monthly contract.

New rules and timetable for registrations between August 15 and December 31, 2026

On June 25, 2026 the Mexican government announced a new timetable for registrations.

If you have an active Mexican cell phone number on a Pre-Pay System:

• Whether you are situated in Mexico or abroad (or travel between countries); and
• Whether that number is active with a physical SIM card or a virtual eSIM; and
• If you are on  prepay phone plan; and
• You want to keep the line active—
• You’ll need to act between Aug 15 and Dec 31, depending on the last digit of your phone number.

This article describes the revised rules as announced on June 25, 2026 and how to register your Mexican pre-pay cell phone.

Requirements for registration

Pre-pay cell phone numbers, that is cell phones with no monthly contract, must have a verified person associated with the number. A staggered disconnection timetable has been announced that will disconnect pre-pay phone lines starting Aug 15, 2026.

If your number gets disconnected, it won’t be cancelled immediately. It will be reactivated when you register, but telephone companies will likely cancel numbers that are not registered after a (presently undefined) period of time.

How to register

Mexicans: Mexicans can register their cell phones using their INE Card or their Mexican passport.

Foreigners:  Foreigners, whether visitors to Mexico or legal residents, will need to use a valid passport. If you are a legal resident of Mexico, the process will automatically match your name and passport details to your CURP.

New cell phone lines

Any new pre-pay cell phone lines will need to be registered within 30 days of their activation.

If you are a visitor or tourist to Mexico and purchase a local pre-pay SIM card (or eSIM) for use during your stay in the country, the registration that associates the number with your passport will be part of the activation process.

Home internet cellphone modems

If you have internet service at home that uses the mobile network (these modems are provided by cellphone providers and have a SIM card inside them) you probably don’t need to register this if it on a contract.  Contact your service provider for details.

Foreign cell phone numbers and landlines

If you roam in Mexico using a foreign-issued cell phone number, you do not need to register the number in Mexico. This requirement is only for pre-pay cell phone numbers issued by Mexican cell phone companies.

If you live in Mexico and have one or more landlines (from whichever provider) you do not need to register these.  Only Mexican-issued cell phone numbers need to be registered.

How to register your Mexican pre-pay cell phone number

Mexico’s telephone companies are offering users two methods to register:

• Online, using a special registration portal provided by each cell phone service provider; or
• In person at one of their service centers nationwide in Mexico.

Registering online

The quickest way to register your pre-pay Mexican cell phone number is to go online to your phone company’s official website (see links below) to register.  The registration process is similar to the one that e.g. banks use when you register online, and you will be asked for:

• An upload of a photo of your government-issued ID:
• Mexicans (and naturalized Mexicans) may use their INE card or Mexican passport.
• If you are not a Mexican national, you will need to upload a photo of your valid passport—no other ID is accepted.
• It’s possible that the online registration might also ask for the IMEI number of your device. The IMEI number can be displayed by accessing the phone’s settings.
• If you are unable to register online, you will need to visit a customer service center and register in person.

Registering in person

Cell phone companies operate service centers across all major towns and cities in Mexico.  If you attend a service center in person to register your number, you will be asked for:

• Government-issued ID.
• If you are not a Mexican national, you will need to present a valid passport.
• Mexicans (and naturalized Mexicans) may use their INE card or Mexican passport.
• The service attendant might also ask for the IMEI number of your device. The IMEI number can be displayed by accessing the phone’s settings.

Data protection

The online registration process states that personal data will be stored in alignment with Mexico’s data privacy laws.  The data are being stored by private companies (telephone companies) not the government; although government can request access to a user’s details at any time through a ‘due legal process’.

Mexico’s cell phone providers

To register your Mexican cell phone number, visit only the official website of your cell phone provider, most usually Telcel, AT&T, or Movistar.

We recommend that you do not click any links inviting you to register your Mexican cell phone number sent by SMS, social media and/or email messages.

Official website addresses of Mexico’s big three cell phone providers:

Telcel: https://www.telcel.com/

AT&T: https://www.att.com.mx/

Movistar: https://www.movistar.com.mx/

Learn more about keeping in touch in Mexico

Our guides and articles about communications help you keep in touch when you’re in Mexico: by phone, by internet and by post/courier.

• Mexican cell phone plans
• The cost of communications services in Mexico
• Learn about internet services in Mexico
• Wireless high speed internet at home via mobile and satellite
• How to dial numbers to, from and within Mexico

Policy wording for Mexican property insurance

Property insurance policies sold in Mexico differ from policies you are used to seeing in your home country. The policy wording is unique, and the types of coverage offered by insurance companies is different here, so some things that you would expect to be included as standard, might not be present if you purchase your insurance in Mexico directly from a Mexican insurer.

Familiar policies, fully underwritten in Mexico

To help foreign residents who own property in Mexico to purchase insurance products familiar to them, specialist companies based in the U.S. have developed property ownership insurance policies which reflect the wording, terms and covers included on US and Canadian policies.

The insurance policy is fully underwritten by a Mexican insurance company (by law, it has to be this way), but the U.S. companies work in partnership to create a product that is familiar to those purchasing insurance in the US and Canada, and which is legally sound under Mexican law.  The premiums are paid in US dollars and any pay-outs are also paid in US dollars.

Policies to suit your situation and needs

The home insurance policies available in the market offer a wide range of options, and you can choose what to include and what to exclude as part of your coverage plan.

Depending on where your home is situated in Mexico, the risks (and coverage) you need to insure against will vary. For example, homes near the coast should be insured against hurricane damage and earthquakes, whereas inland only cover for earthquakes (and perhaps flooding, if you home is situated near water) will be needed.

Home insurance policies cover a wide range of eventualities and the most common coverages include reimbursement of costs related to:

• Damage caused by hurricanes and earthquakes
• Damage caused by and wind storms and floods
• Injuries to housekeepers and other workers in your home
• Burglaries and vandalism
• Damages to third parties, e.g. falling trees
• Coverages for owner-specific liabilities, e.g. in condos

You can cover all risks or named perils

Policy options and choices include all risks versus named perils, whether to cover assets like outbuildings surrounding the main property, and the option to insure your personal goods.

• The better policies will include coverages for third party liability: this is  helpful in the event that someone who does not live at your home meets with an accident on your property, or where some damage is caused to a neighbor, e.g. by a falling tree.
• This article about third party liability in relation to your home shares more details.
• Other considerations to take into account when you’re assessing your insurance needs include purchasing cover for any watercraft you may own, as well as special arrangements for condos, where some liabilities are shared and some are owner-specific.

Regardless of the type of insurance you choose, the insurer underwriting the policy is far more important than the broker or agent selling you the product: in the event of a claim, the integrity of the underwriter will determine pay-outs, not the insurance broker.

Learn more about caring for and insuring your home in Mexico

Mexperience publishes extensive information to help you plan and care for your home life in Mexico through guides, articles and free eBooks:

• Free eBook: House maintenance and home security
• Latest articles about property insurance
• Articles about real estate in Mexico

Comprehensive and detailed guide to living and cultivating a lifestyle in Mexico, continually revised and updated. Free—no payment or subscription needed.

Complete and detailed guide to Living & Lifestyles in Mexico that’s continually updated

Our extensive guides and articles offer insights to anyone exploring prospects for living, working, retirement and cultivating your lifestyle in Mexico.

They provide practical insights, incisive local knowledge, and meaningful guidance that helps you to discover opportunities, consider your choices, and make informed decisions.

Discover what lifestyles Mexico offers, identify opportunities of interest to you, weight up the compromises, consider your options, and plot a course based on the things that are important to you.

Guides to lifestyles in Mexico, for all life stages

Our continually-updated guides help you to begin weaving together the key components which create a workable and realistic lifestyle plan in Mexico, whatever planning stage and life stage you are in presently:

• To those considering a move to Mexico, whether you are single, with your partner, or a family with young children, Mexperience helps you to discover the country and evaluate living and lifestyle choices available here.  Our guides also offer thoughtful guidance about setting out your intentions and reshaping your situations.
• To those planning their retirement or seeking a place to retire, Mexperience guides provide specific guidance about matters related to retirement planning and retirement lifestyles, as well as the practicalities of retiring in Mexico.
• When you’re already living in Mexico, our guides and articles provide practical insights that help you to settle-in, adapt, and cultivate your new lifestyle here day-to-day.
• Regardless of your life stage, the information we publish provides meaningful insights about the essential day-to-day practical matters of living in Mexico, adapting to the country, the climates and culture, and more—with extensive cross references and links to further information and helpful contacts who can help you to realize your Mexico plans.

Planning or redefining your lifestyle in Mexico

Obtain practical insights, get incisive local knowledge and meaningful guidance that helps you to consider opportunities, weigh up your choices, and make informed decisions about planning or redefining your lifestyle in Mexico.

Mexico as a place for your retirement

We publish comprehensive information to help you plan a retirement here, whether you’re planning ahead or already retired and considering Mexico as a potential retirement haven.

Exploring locations and finding a place to live in Mexico

Our extensive articles help you to consider key aspects as you explore your options and make choices about your lifestyle and potential location types in Mexico.

Getting your residency permit for Mexico

Mexico’s immigration laws are reasonable and allow non-Mexicans with the financial means or family roots, and/or skills, to live here legally. We publish extensive knowledge to help you, including:

Moving and settling-in to life in Mexico

When you’ve decided to move to Mexico and made key decisions about where and how you’ll live, there’s the move a period of adapting and settling-in.  We publish extensive guides and articles to help you settle.

Learn how to keep in touch when you’re in Mexico

Our guides include detailed information about how to keep in touch when you’re in Mexico: by phone, by internet, as well as using postal and courier services here.  Our local knowledge helps you to choose a mobile phone plan, explore choices for high speed internet in Mexico (even if you live in a remote area) and our cost of living guide includes a section about the cost of communications services.

Detailed insights into the practicalities of living in Mexico day-to-day

Our articles and guides also include comprehensive insights about day to day living in Mexico that help you to plan your lifestyle, settle-in, and make the most of your life and activities in Mexico.

Mexico’s living costs and managing your finances

Financial considerations are an important aspect of any move.  Mexperience helps you to calculate your cost of living in Mexico and offers practical tips for managing your money and finances here.

Mexico as a place for working-age professionals

Working-age professionals, especially those plying a trade in the knowledge economy, are also considering Mexico as a base to live and work.

And more… resources for Living & Lifestyle in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Our resources include:

• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free
• Regularly-updated articles about lifestyle planning  in Mexico
• Insights about day to day living with Mexico Home Life

This article introduces you to property insurance choices and guides you through important considerations as you search for and choose a home insurance policy for your needs and lifestyle situation.

Principal coverages offered by insurance policies for your home in Mexico

Depending on your needs, circumstances, and budget, you can insure your property entirely or partially.

The insurance premium will depend on key variables related to the risks you want underwritten, including: the location and type of your property, its age and replacement cost, and what events you want coverage for.

You can insure your home in Mexico for:

• Structural damage caused by natural phenomena like wind, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, as well as damage caused by acts of vandalism and burglary (owners only).
• Loss or damage of personal possessions in the event of flooding or theft (whether you own or rent).
• Third party liabilities related to owning or renting property, for examples if a tree falls on your neighbor’s house or your housekeeper is injured while working in your home (whether you own or rent).

Property insurance policies in Mexico

Property insurance policies in Mexico are different to policies sold in the U.S. and Canada. The policy wording is different, and the types of coverages offered are different, so some things that you might think are included as standard, might not be if you purchase your insurance in Mexico directly from a Mexican insurer.

To bridge this gap, specialist companies based in the U.S. have developed property ownership insurance coverages which reflect the wording, terms, and coverages typically included on US and Canadian policies.

The insurance itself is underwritten by Mexican insurance companies (by law, it must be this way), but the U.S. companies work in partnership with Mexican underwriters to create an insurance coverage that is familiar to those purchasing insurance in the US and Canada (or those who want a US-style policy), and which is legally valid under Mexican law.

Some homeowners in Mexico purchase property insurance from a Mexican insurer direct that charges premiums in Mexican pesos and pays out in Mexican pesos; others purchase from a specialist US-based company that offers US style insurance with premiums in US dollars and pay outs in US dollars.

Buying insurance for your home in Mexico

Should you buy your insurance from a local Mexican broker or a specialized US firm?  Here are some key points to consider about each route:

Buying from an insurance broker in Mexico

When you buy home insurance from a Mexican broker you will typically:

• obtain coverages sold with Mexican-style terms and characteristics, often different to those offered in the US and Canada and which may offer less coverages or have limitations you are not accustomed to;
• have policy wording presented in Spanish, so you will need to be able to read Spanish fluently or have someone translate and/or explain the policy terms to you;
• need to file insurance claims in Spanish and any discussions or disputes about claims will need to be argued in Spanish; you will need to get an interpreter to deal with claims if your Spanish is not that good;
• pay your insurance premiums in Mexican pesos and any claims will be paid out in Mexican pesos.

Buying insurance from a specialist US firm

When you buy home insurance from a specialist US firm you will typically:

• obtain coverages sold with US-style terms with the same kinds of characteristics you see on insurance policies offered in the US and Canada;
• have a policy sold and worded in English;
• be able to file claims and undertake discussions about claims in English;
• pay your premiums in US dollars with any claims paid out to you in US dollars.

Should you choose a Mexico or US based home insurance policy?

If your Spanish is good, you have a decent local insurance broker contact, and you’re satisfied with the coverages offered by a Mexican-style insurance policy, then a local insurance policy will suffice, although there’s no harm in obtaining a quote offered by US-based policies to compare coverages and rates.

We recommend that you consider the services of US-based specialists set-up specifically to service foreign-home ownership in Mexico if your Spanish is not fluent and if you don’t have much experience of buying insurance in Mexico.

It’s also important to consider that, in the event you need to claim, you will find yourself in a stressful situation, and having an insurer that has issued a policy in English, in terms you are familiar with, and covering events which you are used to seeing covered in an insurance policy will be worth any additional premium on the day you may need to make that telephone call to file a claim.

Further, US-led policies can include coverages (for example, third-party liability cover) as standard, whereas many Mexican policies do not cover these without them being specifically scheduled—and with significant additional premiums.

Learn more about property insurance in Mexico

Mexperience offers detailed insights about property in Mexico for buyers, owners, renters, and sellers.

• Practical checklist for home insurance coverages
• Earthquakes in Mexico
• Hurricane season
• Windstorms in Mexico
• Latest articles about property insurance in Mexico
• Get a no-obligation online quote for home insurance in Mexico

Continually revised & updated guide to visas and residency permits for Mexico

Guide to Mexico Immigration 2026

Our free and continuously updated guide to Mexico Visas and Immigration is an exhaustive resource that enables you to learn about Mexico’s visas and residency permits, and how to visit and/or apply for legal residency in Mexico.

This comprehensive guide helps you to navigate the rules, latest information, and processes —from applying for residency at a Mexican Consulate to managing your existing residency card— and connects to extensive knowledge and helpful resources.

Planning your visit and arrival in Mexico

Whether you plan to visit Mexico as a tourist, for business, to volunteer, or you want to apply to obtain legal residency in Mexico, this section helps you to plan for your visit and arrival in Mexico.

Applying for legal residency in Mexico

If you intend to stay in Mexico for longer, spend defined periods of time here, or intend to live in Mexico part-time or full-time, this section helps you to consider your choices, learn about qualification criteria, and make your application.

Mexico legal residency essentials

When you have obtained legal residency in Mexico, this section shares practical insights and advice about exchanging your visa for a residency card and managing your legal residency card and status in Mexico.

This article describes what you to do, based on the type of residency you have in Mexico, to keep your card current and your legal residency status updated.

Managing your Temporary Residency card

If you are resident in Mexico under the auspice of temporary residency —Residente Temporal— you’ll need to file for renewals and file other notifications.

• Temporary residency cards are valid for between one year and four years, maximum.  The expiry date is printed on the card.
• To maintain your residency status, your card must be renewed within the 30-day window before the expiry date printed on the card.
• Renewals must be filed at a local immigration office in Mexico by the card holder.
• After four consecutive years* of holding temporary residency, you may apply to exchange it for permanent residency.
• If you allow your temporary card to expire, you might be able to renew it within a 60-day grace period.  See this article for details.
• If your temporary residency card is more than 60 days expired, you’ll need to restart the residency application process.
• We recommend that you set a reminder for yourself to renew your card if you intend to remain legally resident in Mexico.
• See also: entering and leaving Mexico, keeping your personal details updated, and replacing lost or damaged cards, in the sections below.

*Two years if you are married to a Mexican national.

Assistance: If you need assistance with residency card renewals, our associate can help.

Managing your Permanent Residency card

If you are resident in Mexico under the auspice of temporary residency —Residente Permanente— you won’t need to file for renewals if you are over 18, but you do need to file change notifications.

• Permanent residency cards issued to adults aged 18 and older do not expire.
• Permanent residency cards issued to minors (aged under 18 years) need to be renewed periodically and must be to be renewed within the 30-day window before the expiry date printed on the card.
• Renewals must be filed at a local immigration office in Mexico by the card holder’s parent or guardian, and the minor must also be present.
• See also: entering and leaving Mexico, keeping your personal details updated, and replacing lost or damaged cards, in the sections below.

Assistance: If you need assistance with permanent residency card renewals for minors, our associate can help.

Entering and leaving Mexico with a residency card

You must present your residency card when you enter Mexico, and each time you leave the country. If you are a legal resident here and enter Mexico as a visitor, your residency status will become jeopardized.

Keeping the immigration office informed

When you are a foreigner with temporary or permanent legal residency status in Mexico, you must attend your local immigration office to inform them about:

• Change of your home address in Mexico.
• Change to your marital status.
  (marriage, divorce, death of spouse)
• Change to your nationality.
• If you’re working in Mexico and you change jobs/company.

Filing notifications: All notifications must be started using an electronic form filled-out online, which you must also download, print out, and sign. However, your procedure does not get officially registered until you go in person to your local immigration office and file the documents.

Time scales: Notification of changes must be filed in person at the local immigration office within 90 days of the change date to avoid penalty charges.

Assistance: If you need assistance with the filing, our associate can help.

Lost or damaged residency cards

If you lose your residency card, or it becomes damaged beyond use, you’ll need to apply for a replacement.

The process for requesting a replacement of your Mexican residency card varies depending on whether you are in Mexico or abroad when you discover the loss.

• If you are in Mexico, you’ll need to file a police report if the card is lost and begin a card replacement process via your local immigration office.
• If you are abroad, you need to file a police report if the card is lost, and request an appointment at your nearest Mexican consulate.  The consulate will issue you with a residency visa sticker that you must exchange for a card when you return to Mexico.
• If the card is damaged beyond use, but not lost, you don’t need to file a police report, but you will need to hand-in your damaged card.

Filing for card replacement in Mexico: If you are in Mexico, notifications about lost and damaged cards and requests for a replacement must be started using an electronic form filled-out online, which you must also download, print out, and sign. However, your card replacement procedure does not get officially registered and processed until you go in person to your local immigration office and file the documents.

Filing for card replacement abroad: If you are abroad, you need to make an appointment at your nearest Mexican consulate first.  They will issue a residency visa replacement sticker in your passport that you need to exchange for a replacement residency card when you arrive back in Mexico.

Card replacement process: Learn about the process for replacing a lost or damaged residency card.

Assistance: If you need assistance with the filing, our associate can help.

Learn more about residency in Mexico

Mexperience publishes information and resources to help you learn about how to apply for and obtain legal residency in Mexico:

• Rights and obligations when you’re legally resident in Mexico
• The difference between temporary and permanent residency permits
• Time limits on Mexico’s visitor and residency permits
• Renewing your current residency permit
• Renewing an expired residency permit
• See also: How to apply for residency in Mexico

Our continually-updated guide to Living & Lifestyles in Mexico helps you to define your lifestyle intentions, determine whether Mexico is a good fit for you, consider key choices that will underpin your intentions, and organize your residency permit.  And then when you begin the process of physically moving to Mexico, you’ll need to begin managing the logistics of your move.

Once you have taken that decision to move to Mexico, this comprehensive guide gives you a practical and detailed checklist of actions and activities that need to be considered and taken care of over a three-month timescale leading up to your moving day—as well as local knowledge to help you plan for those first days and weeks after your initial arrival in Mexico.

Actions Checklist: 3 Months to Move Day

Here is a checklist of items to be organized three months before your planned moving date:

Travel documentation and residency permits

Ensure that you and all members of your family have valid passports and that you applied for your residency permit to live (and if relevant, to work) in Mexico. Some employers will take care of the work permit for you, but if you are moving independently, or to retire in Mexico, then you will need to take care of this yourself. Be sure that you can fulfill the requirements needed to qualify for a residency permit—our articles about obtaining legal residency in Mexico and applying for residency describe the routes and requirements.  If you need additional assistance, consider the Mexico immigration assistance service.

Passport validation

We recommend that your passport(s) be valid for at least six months from the date when your residency visa is issued; this is because the visa itself is valid for six months and the consulate may refuse your application if your passport expires in the interim period.  Check the expiration date on all relevant passports and if they are due to expire soon, you may need to renew them before you apply for residency / travel to Mexico.

Driving license

You can take your home country’s driving license with you, although if it’s not issued in English, you might consider taking an International Driver’s Permit (Wiki) as well. Once you are settled in Mexico, you may apply for a Mexican driving license if you want to. The procedures to apply for a Mexican driver’s license vary from state to state. Check with the state where you plan to live for local procedures and fees.

Check electrical appliances

Make a list of the electrical appliances you plan to take with you to Mexico. Items working on low voltage, for example: laptops, iPads, and smart phones, etc. will usually adapt automatically when used in Mexico. If you live in the Americas, then your voltage will be identical to Mexico’s (120v), and big-ticket items (e.g., TVs and refrigerators) may be moved with you. If you live in Europe or somewhere else where the voltage is 240v, you will need to leave most electrical items behind. A European TV will not work in Mexico either, as Europe uses the PAL (Wiki) system and the Americas use NTSC (Wiki).

Consider your pets

Cats and dogs can be easily imported into Mexico, provided the veterinary paperwork is in order. Importing pets other than cats and dogs might be more complex; some (not all) species require an import license and some specifies are banned from import. Read the guide about bringing your pets to Mexico for full details and links to relevant authorities. The Mexperience section about pets in Mexico contains articles and guides for further insight about keeping your pets in Mexico.

Consider items to take and items to leave behind

Make a checklist of the items you would like to take with you and those you are definitely going to leave behind. Consider selling your items online or via garage sale. Go around your home and physically look at all the items you need to consider; you probably have a lot of things you don’t realize you have, and it won’t be until you begin putting things to one side that you’ll get a grasp on the extent of things which have built-up over the years. Don’t forget to check the nooks & crannies including the garage, sheds, attics, and cellars if you have them. If you won’t be taking your pets, now is also the time to start arranging an alternative loving home for them.

Consider your real estate

If you own (or are buying) your home you will probably have decided by now whether to rent it out, sell it, or leave it empty. If you plan to sell it, then it ought to be on the market by now, unless you plan to delay the sale for some special reason. If you plan to rent it, then you need to decide whether it will be rented with furniture or unfurnished, and have arranged a local realtor to manage the rental while you are in Mexico. If your home is mortgaged, check with the lender about terms to rent it out.  If you are living in rented accommodation, check your lease to see when it expires and how much notice you must give before you leave. We recommend that you don’t give notice on your rented home, or agree to rent your home out, or close the sale of your house before your residency permits are confirmed.

Consider your vehicles

If you have cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, etc., then you need to consider what you will do with these. If you live in the USA or Canada, then it’s feasible to move some or all of these to Mexico if you feel it’s worthwhile; however: if you apply for and are granted permanent residency, you will not be able to import your foreign plated vehicles to Mexico using a temporary import permit (TIP); only residents on temporary resident permits may do this. Learn more about importing foreign-plated vehicles to Mexico and applying for a TIP. If you plan to sell your vehicle(s), then prepare to get them advertised after your residency permits are confirmed.

Temporary accommodation in Mexico

If you will be staying in a hotel when you first arrive in Mexico, and you are moving during the high seasons (Christmas/New Year, Easter, and high summer months of July and August) we recommend you book your temporary accommodations well in advance as demand rises substantially during these periods.

• Find information about temporary accommodations in Mexico using AirBnB etc.
• Find practical advice about finding a home for rent in Mexico.
• If you are planning to move straight in to a rented house or apartment in Mexico, you should be making arrangements for that to happen as soon as your residency permit is confirmed.
• If you are buying a house in Mexico and you expect the sale to close in the next weeks or months, you should be in continual touch with your vendor and/or agent in Mexico.

Actions Checklist: 2 Months to Move Day

Here is a checklist of actions and activities to be organized two months before your planned departure date.

Get quotes from moving companies

Once you have decided what personal goods you will be taking and leaving behind and have created a list of the things to move, you’ll be able to assess whether you need a removals company to help you.  If you plan only to take things in a few suitcases/small boxes then you might be able to move those personal items yourself.

If you plan to move with a significant number of household goods to Mexico, we recommend you hire the services of a removals company, as they’ll take the weight off your shoulders and they’ll also deal with the paperwork for the import of your personal goods. We’ve heard of cases of people hiring vans to do it themselves only to be stopped at the border by customs and turned back because they don’t have the import paperwork for their personal goods. Contact at least two, and ideally three, moving companies and ask for a quote to have your personal items moved to Mexico. Choose well-established companies with a strong presence in the market and check reviews online.

If you live in Canada or the USA, the goods will be shipped by road, or by road and then by sea to a port in Mexico where they will be subject to customs inspection and clearance and afterward loaded onto a truck and delivered to your home. If you live in Europe, then you will need to choose whether your goods will travel by sea freight or air freight: the latter is considerably more expensive. Our guide to moving your goods to, within, and from Mexico shares detailed insights.

Traveling heavy or traveling light?

Depending on your circumstances, you may want to leave all your “big ticket” items behind (either by selling them or by placing them in storage) and travel light. You can rent furnished accommodation in Mexico or buy things you need when you arrive: see the Mexperience Mexico cost of living guide for details living costs, including the purchase of homewares. An alternative is to store the things you want to keep, travel to Mexico light, arrange your accommodation and get settled-in, and then have your personal items moved to Mexico later.

Accommodation and storage in Mexico

You should have worked out your accommodation strategy for arrival in Mexico by now. If you are shipping your personal goods to Mexico when you move, they will probably arrive after you. You’ll need to have a plan for the arrival of your items, otherwise you’ll pay storage fees in Mexico—and note that customs’ storage fees are expensive.  If you use a removals company, they ought to coordinate your arrival and delivery dates to avoid excess storage charges.

Preparing to take your vehicles to Mexico

If after considering what to do with your vehicles you have decided to take your car or other vehicles with you, learn more about importing foreign-plated vehicles and applying for Temporary Import Permits for vehicles (TIP).  You don’t need a TIP if your vehicle(s) remain exclusively in the one of Free Zones near the northern and southern borders—read the guides in the links above for details.

Getting ready for your road trip to Mexico

Our comprehensive guide to driving and taking road trips in Mexico is packed with practical advice for driving on Mexico’s roads; and our latest articles about driving in Mexico share helpful insights and advice.  Be sure that your foreign-plated vehicles are property insured for driving in Mexico. See our road trip checklist for more details.

Schooling for your children

If you have school-age children, you should be researching potential schools in Mexico for their schooling needs and making a short-list of potential schools to visit when you arrive in Mexico. If you are employed by a company, your relocation package may include this; if you are moving independently, you will need to research potential schools in Mexico yourself. You might draw up a shortlist and visit two or three upon your arrival in Mexico. Your country’s foreign consulate in Mexico might be able to provide you with a list of private schools you may contact.

Make airline reservations

If you are flying to Mexico, now is the time to start looking at your flight options and making reservations. If you are taking pets with you, the airlines will have certain rules and regulations you need to follow as well.

Change of address

Make a list of all the organizations you need to contact to tell them about your change of address. Arrange a holding and/or forwarding address in your home country if you still don’t yet have a permanent address in Mexico.

Start to organize your personal belongings

Begin to segregate the things you will be keeping (for storage or transportation) from the things you will be disposing of. Begin to advertise items that you no longer use, and which may take longer to sell.

Gather together important documents

Gather all the important documents that you will need to take with you such as birth certificates, passports, marriage certificates, professional qualification certificates, etc.  Note that your foreign-issued official documents such as birth certificates and marriage certificates will need to be Apostilled and Translated into Spanish if you present them for an official procedure in Mexico.

Consolidate your financial arrangements

You may want to consolidate any financial arrangements you have in place; for example, you may want to pay-off or cancel certain credit cards, close bank accounts—although most people tend to keep at least one bank account open in their home country. Any paperwork you dispose of containing personal or financial details should be shredded to avoid someone potentially stealing your identity. Bank cards and check books you no longer need should be securely disposed of, too.  Read our comprehensive free guide to Money, Finances and Banking Services in Mexico and for the latest insights, read our articles about money and finances in Mexico.

Financial documents and tax affairs

Be sure to have all your financial, banking, pension and investment papers organized and safely filed. Share certificates, bonds, and other financial instruments should be carefully stored or carried with you in your hand luggage if you’re flying to Mexico.

Note that you must declare the import/export of cash and other negotiable monetary instruments if the sum exceeds US$10,000; there is no limit on the amount of money that may be brought in or taken out from Mexico but if the amount is over US$10,000 you must declare it. If you are traveling via the USA into Mexico, you will also need to make a separate declaration of amounts over US$10,000 to US Customs. Your home country, if not the US, might have a similar requirement when you leave.

You will need to consider your tax situation, as well. A qualified accountant will be able to advise you in detail about the best framework for your personal circumstances. You (or your accountant on your behalf) will need to contact your country’s tax authorities to advise them of your intentions as part of your personal tax-planning program.  For matters related to tax in Mexico, we recommend you contact and hire a local accountant near when you intend to live in Mexico.

Arrange overseas voting rights

Many countries allow their citizens to vote in elections, even when they are living abroad. If you wish to continue voting for your home-country’s elected officials while you are living in Mexico, check with your local authorities or your country’s consulate in Mexico about how to register to do this.

Actions Checklist: 1 Month to Move Day

This is going to be a busy month. All the preparation work you have been doing over the last sixty days will begin to come together very quickly over the next few weeks. Your last week (see next section) might be one of the busiest in your life.

Your passports and visas

All your travel and visa documentation should be in order by now.  Your residency permit for Mexico should be confirmed, with visa stickers in your passport(s) ready to make the exchange from the visa to a residency card when you arrive in Mexico.

Your home residence

If you are renting a house in your home country, you should have given notice to the landlord or renting agent by now. If you are selling, then you are about to close or will leave the selling/closing to the realtor or other person to do on your behalf. If you are leaving your home vacant, you ought to have planned for house-sitting or someone to check-in regularly.  If you are renting your home out, then you will need to make final preparations for your tenants to move-in after you leave. If you do not have the time to clean the house, hire the services of a professional cleaner and arrange for them to come in a day or two before you plan to vacate the property.

Your personal goods and belongings

You should be selling or donating all your unwanted goods by now. The items that you are keeping should be kept separate (perhaps in a spare room, garage, or rented storage unit) and you should have the removal and, if appropriate, storage of the items arranged and booked with the removals company.

If you are moving yourself and driving to Mexico, you should ensure that your vehicle will safely transport all the items you are planning to take with you. Return any borrowed goods to friends, neighbors, and other family members.  If you are moving a lot of things, you should have made preparations for your personal goods to be moved and imported to Mexico.

Inform key people and organizations of your move

Now is the time to contact all the people and organizations on the list you’ve made to let them know you are moving. The list should include:

• Local authorities (e.g. municipality or council)
• Property management association (where relevant)
• All utilities; telephone, cell phone and TV companies
• Banks and financial institutions (including insurance and investment companies)
• Cancelation or redirection of any physical delivery of newspapers, magazines you may have active
• Cancel regular food deliveries, the local library (and return any books), local clubs, gym membership, and other associations
• Contact your children’s school (arrange for their last day at school, pick up any work and school certificates, report cards, etc.) and any clubs they attend
• Inform the car registration agency, the tax office, your vehicle breakdown service company, the family attorney and accountant and doctors (see medical below) about your move.

Medical records, prescriptions, and health coverages

Get copies of yours and your family’s medical records from your doctor/health center; also get copies of any prescription medicine you are taking if you will need to buy more in Mexico. You may want to have a last eye-test and dental check-up before your departure to Mexico, and thus not have to concern with those for a while. (Note that dental work is considerably less expensive in Mexico than in the US.) You can learn about options for health insurance in Mexico and get detailed information about health and well-being on the latest articles here at Mexperience.

Run-down your food supplies

Begin to run-down your fridge and freezer in readiness for defrost; empty kitchen cupboards of dry goods; use up food and/or donate it to friends, neighbors, or shelters.

Get your personal goods ready to move or dispose of

Prepare furniture and appliances being sold or donated for removal from the house or apartment; encourage people to take delivery of items you no longer use now and try to negotiate late-pick up of items you need until your last day in the house, e.g., beds.

Begin to clear and empty out all cupboards and storerooms including the attic, basement, or cellar if your home has these. Your items checklist should make this process straightforward as you will know what you are keeping and disposing of.

Dismantle any furniture that will not easily transport when built. This is your final chance to sell goods and personal items you don’t need—do some more advertising if you need to and reduce prices of things that have not sold to date; you might host a final garage sale. You cannot take house plants with you to Mexico, so find new homes for them.

Confirm final-week arrangements

Confirm your moving date with your removals company, cleaner, and any other essential service providers (e.g., your rental agency). If you are not taking your pets, begin preparations for their move to their new loving home; if you are taking your pets to Mexico, be sure you have all of the paperwork in place and that you have the correct type of carry box or kennel to transport the pet(s) if you’re flying.

Actions Checklist: One Week to Move Day

Everything must come together this week; and you need to organize matters so that your move out of your property goes smoothly.

Prepare to vacate your current residence

Anything you have not been able to sell needs to be donated or recycled. Your freezer should be emptied, defrosted, and dried out if it has not been done already. All items you are not putting into storage or taking with you need to be removed; those items you are storing or taking will need to be segregated (where possible) or labeled for removal and ready for the removals people to collect.

Find new owners to adopt your house plants: you cannot take them to Mexico with you. Do last minute laundry and dry-cleaning; don’t forget to collect any items you may have pending at the dry cleaners. If you no longer have a bed to sleep on, you may arrange to stay the last few nights with family members, close friends, or a local hotel or Airbnb. Arrange letter-post forwarding if this service is available in your country.

Gather your personal belongings together

Separate all of the personal items that you will be taking with you in your baggage (i.e. not being removed by the removals company if you’re using one); ensure that you have sufficient clothes to get by while you wait for your shipment if you are transporting any clothes via the shipping company; also check that what you want to take fits into the bags you have available and that you are within the airline’s weight limits if you are flying. All high value items such as jewelry and items of high sentimental value should be taken with you as carry-on if you’re flying to Mexico.

Get ready for the moving day(s)

If you have very young children, arrange for someone to look after them on moving day. Older children can help with the move. Your removals company should arrive early and empty out the house of all items you are not carrying with you to Mexico. If you have hired a professional cleaning firm, they should be scheduled to arrive after your movers have taken everything out of the house and begin a thorough clean of the property. You should give yourself plenty of time to vacate the property if you have sold it or if you’re renting it out to someone. Try to build in some time in the late afternoon or evening, the day you move out, to simply relax; you may want to go to a comfortable hotel/spa.

Actions Checklist: Moving Day(s)

It might take more than one day to move out, depending on your circumstances; however, if you can, try to move out in one day, and arrange for any hand-over of the property (rental or sale) to happen no earlier than the day after you expect to have vacated the property.

Home removals company

If you have hired a removals company to move your personal goods to Mexico, they should arrive early and leave you with an empty property to clean. If you are moving yourself, then this is your final day to empty the property of all your personal goods and items.

Thorough clean

If you are vacating the property, it ought to be left thoroughly clean, whether you are selling, renting to someone, or handing back possession of a rental property. Hire professional cleaners if you don’t have the time or inclination to do this yourself.

Final utility meter readings

Take final meter readings from the gas, water, and electricity meters and telephone the suppliers to let them know the details and a forwarding address for your final bills. Cancel your land-line phone service and cable TV if you have not organized this already.

Final check of your property

Once the property is cleared, and the cleaning is done, make a thorough check of the property one last time to ensure everything is in order.

Important paperwork and documentation

Ensure that all your important paperwork and travel documents are together and readily accessible. Don’t leave them where they may be lost, accidentally disposed of, or packed away with the items in the shipment (this happens!).  Make sure you have auto insurance if you’re driving to Mexico and read our Mexico road-trip checklist.

Property handover or care

If you are handing the property over to someone else, arrange for this to happen the day after you move or later. There is nothing worse than having people waiting outside to move in while you are busy moving out. If your property will remain vacant for a long period, have someone —a friend or a professional property management company— visit the property regularly to check on any issues that may arise (e.g., leaks, breakages etc.) and to deal with post and other matters related to owning a property.

Actions Checklist: On Arrival in Mexico

Arriving in Mexico is the start of your new lifestyle situation! There are some formalities to follow when you arrive, but they are straightforward, and you can quickly begin the process of settling-in. Here is a run-down of the main things to do upon arrival:

Arrival at the port of entry in Mexico

Depending on whether you arrive by road or air, there is a straightforward arrival process at your port of entry.

• If you arrive at an airport, ensure you show your residency visa(s) to the immigration official, and do not enter Mexico as a visitor or tourist.
• If you arrive by road or at a seaport, ensure you stop to visit the immigration kiosk to have your residency visa(s) stamped on entry.
• You will need to have the visa stamped to successfully complete your visa exchange process. If it’s not stamped, this will cause problems and delays when you go to get your residency card(s).

Exchanging your residency visa in time

Arriving to live and settle-in to Mexico will be a busy period, but you must make time to get your residency visa(s) exchanged for residency card(s) before the visa expires.

• Upon your first entry to Mexico using your Mexican resident visa(s), the officer at the port of entry will stamp a page marking your entry date to the country. You now have 30 days from this date to exchange your visa(s) for a residency card(s).
• If you fail to commence this exchange process within 30 calendar days of your arrival date, your visa(s) will become void, and you will need to restart the residency application process from a Mexican consulate abroad.  There are no exceptions to this rule.
• See our guide to exchanging your residency visa sticker for a residency card for more details.

Transport to your hotel or local accommodation

If you need ground transportation from the airport are official taxis operating from all airports that will take you to your hotel or other accommodation that you have arranged.  Other ground transportation options include:

• Using an App Cab service like Uber or Didi.
• Having friends or family pick you up at the airport.
• Renting a car from the airport.
• Taking a bus from the airport to your destination.

Obtain some local currency

Now is a good time to buy some local currency. You can buy Mexican pesos at currency exchange kiosks at the airport and near border crossings; you can also withdraw Mexican pesos from local ATMs with the sums debited to your bank account abroad.

Helpful resources and contacts

Here is a list of helpful contacts and resources related to importing your personal goods to Mexico.

Mexican consulates: Applications for a Menaje de Casa, if you need one, must be made through any Mexican Consulate abroad.  Contact your nearest Mexican consulate to ask for details of their Menaje de Casa procedures.

Removal companies: We recommend you use a professional removals company to help you ship your personal goods to Mexico. Read our guide to finding and choosing a relocation company for your move to Mexico.

Bringing your pets: Read additional information about procedures and paperwork needed to bring your pets to Mexico

Temporary vehicle imports: Useful information if you plan to use your foreign-plated vehicle to move your things to Mexico.

Mexican Customs: If you want further advice, visit the Mexican Customs website

Customs brokers: If you decide to self-ship, you might consider contacting a Customs Broker for advice and help to get your consignment through Customs.  Removals companies work with Customs Brokers too, so if you hired a removals company, they usually liaise between you and the Customs officials. You can begin your search for Customs Brokers here (Google).

Settling-in after your arrival

Mexperience continues to support you after your move to Mexico with extensive and regularly updated guides and articles to help you experience more of Mexico.  Here are some of the resources you’ll find on Mexperience… and don’t forget to sign-up to our free monthly Mexico newsletter.

Settling-in to your new life and routines

Our guide to Living & Lifestyles includes chapters with helpful local knowledge about adapting & settling-in, finding purpose & balance, cultivating friendships and community networks, and developing key skills to help you adapt to your new environment.

Homestead care and management

Whether you’re renting a home or have purchased a property here, our regularly updated guides help you manage your home and dwelling spaces in Mexico, with tips and local knowledge to keep them well maintained and secure for you and your family.

Cultivate your home life

When you’ve made the move and you’re living here, our regularly updated articles about cultivating a fruitful home life in Mexico will give you insights, inspiration, and ideas to make the most of your everyday lifestyle.

Learning and improving your Spanish

We encourage you to learn Spanish to help you make the most of your experiences in Mexico.  We connect you to language courses, and our in-depth PinPoint Spanish series helps you to learn about the nuances of language usage in Mexico.

Manage your money & finances in Mexico

We publish detailed, updated, information about managing your finances in Mexico, including bank accounts, money exchange, and money transfers.

Many of the these documents (whether on paper, digital, or on a website) are straightforward to deal with; but some that arrive might be confusing, especially if you don’t know much Spanish and a translation or AI scan still doesn’t give you clarity about what the document is telling you, asking for or demanding.

Document interpretation service

If you receive a document(s) in Mexico that you’re struggling to understand and respond to, our associate offers human assistance with document interpretation.

Whether you have received a physical document or email in Spanish, been given information online that is difficult to understand our associate helps by providing a clear explanation of the information to help you interpret it.

This service is designed for foreign residents or visitors in Mexico who would like personalized assistance understanding information, researching a topic cited in the document to obtain clear explanations in English about what the document is about and what it’s asking for so that you can make an informed response.

Example of situations our associate can assist with

Our associate will be pleased to receive your request and assess your situation when you have a document(s) in Spanish that you need assistance in understanding. Most typically these include:

• Understanding emails, physical letters, or other messages written/published in Spanish.
• Interpreting information found on or delivered on website portals.
• Translation and human interpretation of short texts and everyday communications delivered in Spanish. (If you need a certified translation read this.)
• Human review of forms, documents, instructions, and procedures, and clear interpretation offered for these

How the service works

To keep the service simple and focused our associate offers this personalized human assistance service using email.  They do not provide support by telephone, video meetings, or text-messaging support.

• Complete the request form below.
• You will receive an email introducing you to our associate, and providing you with their email address to which you can send the documents and other relevant information.
• Our associate will review your request, offer you a no-obligation quote, and if you decide to proceed, they will bill you directly.
• Typically, our associate quotes US$20-US$50 per request, depending on the situation and complexity.
• If you decide to proceed, our associate will interpret your document(s) and provide a written response by email.

Make a service request

Complete the request form below and our associate will contact you directly.

What happens next?

• After you complete the request form below, you’ll receive an email introducing you to our associate, and that provides you with an email address to which you can send the documents and other relevant information.
• Our associate will review your situation and offer a no-obligation quote for the service. (Typically between US$20 and US$50 per request.)
• When you’ve paid, they’ll begin work to interpret your document(s) and provide a written response by email.
• Mexperience will send you an email to confirm these details.

If you, or a family member is struggling to cope, therapy is an option that some people consider as part of a range of support mechanisms that may help.

Psychotherapy for foreign residents in Mexico

Adela Iglesias is a qualified psychotherapist with more than 30 years of experience working with adults of all ages, teens, and couples—helping them to navigate life’s challenges.

Based in Mexico, she offers one-on-one online sessions providing a confidential and warm space where you will feel at ease to share whatever is troubling you and have the opportunity to address it and help restore balance to your life.  Adela’s therapy is helping expats in Mexico to settle-in and adapt to their new environment.

Her training began in the field of psychoanalytical psychotherapy. She went on to incorporate perspectives that take into account both the body as well as the environment as essential factors to understand human behavior and the patterns that cause us suffering.

She is specialized in the use of Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) for the treatment of trauma, that is, the aftermath of stressful or challenging life experiences, such as loss and change, whether foreseen or unexpected, whether deemed as positive (e.g. moving to a new country), or negative (e.g. dealing with loss).

Therapy and the expat experience

Moving to a new country is an exciting opportunity that entails a unique set of challenges, ranging from culture shock and language barriers to complex logistics, financial management, and homesickness. There is an emotional and psychological toll when you settle abroad, which can include:

• Culture shock: Adjusting to new social norms, dining habits and communication styles can bring about disorientation, confusion and frustration, while you adapt.
• Loneliness and homesickness: As much as you might love the new place, being far from family and friends, especially during personal milestones or holidays, can lead to isolation, sadness and feelings of guilt.
• Identity struggles: Becoming an expat might involve a temporary sense of loss of belonging and the realization that it might be harder than you thought to adapt and fit in.
• Unfulfilled expectations: Relocating to a new country will not magically solve internal problems, which are part of your own baggage, or guarantee happiness, but it may open the opportunity to work through them.

Seeking professional help through therapy can help ease feelings of anxiety, burnout or isolation, and prevent them becoming unmanageable. Psychotherapeutic accompaniment can be a supportive strategy that makes the process of adapting to a new life abroad easier, gentler, and even enjoyable.

How Adela works with her clients

Adela believes that psychotherapy is a process through which we can reconnect to our innate capacity to heal, finding a way to lead a satisfying life while accepting and dealing with the challenges, pains, and losses that living entails.

Nobody knows more about us than ourselves, but in times of turmoil we may need someone to accompany us to help find the way through the maze of habitual patterns that can make us suffer needlessly.

Adela therefore works as a facilitator for exploration to help you identify and clear obstacles, and to offer gentle guidance as you regain your own balance.

Make a service request

Adela will be pleased to schedule a free 30-minute consultation so that you can meet her, talk about your situation and ask questions before you commit to any therapy sessions.

What happens next?

• After you complete the request form below, you’ll receive an email introducing you to Adela.
• Adela will respond to you directly to schedule a free 30-minute consultation video call to introduce herself, talk about your situation, and answer your questions without pressure or obligation.
• If you decide to engage in therapy with with Adela, she will work personally with you.

Medical insurance for short visits to Mexico

If you’re visiting Mexico for a short period —on a vacation or short business trip, for example— travel insurance policies which cover you for a limited time while you’re away from home should suffice.  These might be provided by your current healthcare provider—but double-check as many policies exclude or significantly limit out of country coverage.  Learn more about getting short-term emergency and medical expenses insurance coverage for your visit to Mexico.

Medical insurance for Extended Stays in Mexico

If you plan to be in Mexico for an extended stay —for longer than 90 days and less than 180 days— for example, you might take a sabbatical, a volunteer job, or plan to stay in Mexico part-time, then a short-term travel insurance policy won’t cover you as they are limited to 90-day stays in Mexico.  You can however obtain emergency & medical insurance for extended Stays in Mexico on a policy that will last for visits up to 180 calendar days, about six months.

Health insurance for foreign residents in Mexico

If you intend to apply for, or have, legal residency in Mexico, a travel insurance policy won’t be valid as these are designed for people who come to Mexico for a defined period and return to their country of residence, or travel back and forth between Mexico and another country.

Therefore, if you plan to reside in Mexico, you should consider health insurance coverages that will be valid and provide adequate care for your needs.  Here are the options:

Mexico’s IMSS medical coverage

Foreign residents (temporary or permanent) can apply for the Mexican public healthcare insurance system known an IMSS on a voluntary basis which provides access to certain doctors, clinics and hospitals in Mexico.  Some medications are also covered under this plan.

Coverage costs depend on your age; restrictions and limitations apply and, like all publicly-funded healthcare systems, patient demand is usually higher than the supply of services, so you may have to wait for care. (Note also that people who are enrolled in IMSS through an employer get priority over those who enroll voluntarily.)  This article explains the IMSS medical insurance system in Mexico.

Private medical insurance in Mexico

Most foreign residents who can afford to do so will take out a private medical insurance plan that covers their personal needs and gives them direct access to private doctors, clinics and hospitals in Mexico.

Policies are crafted to the individual situation of the person, couple, or family, and premiums depend on things like your age, term of coverage, coverages included, and the deductible you are willing to pay in the event of a claim.  Learn more about private health insurance providers in Mexico.

Medical evacuation from Mexico

If you are resident in Mexico and continue to have health coverage in your home country then you might consider a medical evacuation plan to enable you to get home for treatment and to convalesce close to your own doctors and family in the event that you experience a serious accident or health event (e.g. heart attack) while you are here.  Note that medical evacuation insurance coverages only cover evacuation costs in serious cases and so you’ll need to get routine or non-critical health matters attended to in Mexico.  Learn more about medical evacuation plans.