However, Mexico is especially attractive to retirees because some of these features and benefits can be especially helpful to people in retirement.

This article summarizes the key benefits Mexico offers to retirees and connects you to detailed information and local knowledge published here on Mexperience for further reading and research.

Agreeable climates

Climate affects us every day, and Mexico offers agreeable climates, often temperate or warm, and cold only at higher elevations in certain regions—and then only for limited times during the year.  Connect to a wide range of articles and guides on Mexperience for more details about climate, seasons and weather in Mexico.

Plenty of choices for location types

Mexico offers retirees choices in the types of places they can live in; from coastal locations that offer winter warmth, to mountain towns at elevation that offer year-round temperate climates.

Some places are more urbanized, others offer a countryside idyll surrounded by nature.  ‘Remote’ places popular with foreign residents tend to be within an hour’s drive of a large town or city that offer services and amenities retirees often seek, including healthcare services and major stores.

Our articles about discovering places to live in Mexico offer practical insights that can help you to consider the various locations on offer and discover potential places to live in Mexico so you can narrow your short-list according to your situation and considered lifestyle needs.

Fresh, locally produced food and drinks

Mexico’s shops and markets provide you with an abundant assortment of fresh food, especially visible at the vibrant, fragrant, local open-air markets here.

The year-round availability of delicious fresh fruits and vegetables, accompanied by a parade of colorful drinks and beverages made using them, makes Mexico one of the most attractive countries to be in if you enjoy good wholesome food that is also affordable.

Mexperience helps you to discover food and drink in Mexico as part of of your retirement research and planning.

Ample range of local products and amenities

Retirees coming to Mexico, especially those from the US and Canada, are likely to feel at home when it comes to obtaining many of the products, services, and amenities they have become accustomed to in their home country.

Mexico’s retail markets are extensive and well-developed; and there’s a large and growing selection of online shopping choices too.

Many products and brands foreign retirees are accustomed to seeing back home will be available in Mexico, either at one of the many supermarkets, through specialist retailers, or through online shopping options.

There are still some exceptions, for example, black tea, and alternatives for smokers are conspicuously absent; but Mexico today offers more choice and variety than it ever has before, and the range and selection of products and amenities continues to improve each year.

Local leisure amenities, including cafés, bistros, restaurants, gymnasiums, event centers, cinemas, theme parks, national parks and reserves, campsites, etc. are plentiful and readily accessible.

Affordable living costs

Retirees have different cost structures compared to people moving to Mexico who are of working age and perhaps with children to raise; for examples:

• they have no school fees to pay or children to ferry around and take on school trips;
• most have no mortgages and may also have no other substantial debts to service; and
• they might also be able to live in Mexico without a car, which can save costs.

However, retirees have costs to consider and budget for in other areas that younger people might not have, perhaps healthcare costs being the major expense, and other assistance services, including home help and specialist care services that might have to be considered and duly funded.

Accessible transportation and communications

Most retirees travel within in Mexico to explore the country, as well as take trips to travel back to their home country to see family and friends (or they might receive visits in Mexico).

Some people retiring to Mexico might do so part time, spending only part of the year in Mexico, perhaps to overwinter here.

It’s for these reasons that good transport links, including decent roads and access to international airports, becomes important.

Mexico offers a well-developed and reliable transportation infrastructure that enable you to travel and be near other people who are close in your life, as well as excellent communications networks that enable you to keep touch at a distance, affordably.

Ample choices in accommodations

Retirees coming to Mexico who want to rent will find an ample choice of property types to choose from; our article about the practicalities of renting a home is worth reading to get local insights about that. (See link below.)

A wider selection of property types is available to retirees seeking a home to buy; and engaging the services of local real estate agent is an effective way search and buy a home here.

The links to the articles below help you to consider your accommodation choices when you’re thinking about retirement in Mexico.

World-class health and wellbeing services

Healthcare services and the availability of medicines is often near the top of retirees’ needs and concerns when they plan a move to Mexico.

All of Mexico’s popular retirement destinations are well served by doctors, dentists, opticians as well as a range of clinical and hospital services, including emergency care and specialized medical professionals and services.

Thriving retirement communities

In addition to the ample variety of types of locations on offer, the more popular locations to live in Mexico offer thriving and well-established retirement communities that help newcomers and long-time residents to get involved in local groups, societies, and events.  This is especially helpful when you are endeavoring to settle properly into Mexico, long term.

Safety, and economic stability

Although media reports about security matters have put-off some people from visiting or retiring to Mexico, foreign residents of all life stages report that they feel safe in Mexico, and that the reality they live here every day is characterized by regular routines and being part of strong local communities where people look out for each other and work together to resolve issues if problems arise.

Retirees also enjoy stable lifestyles here, too—as the macroeconomics of the country are well-managed, markets work well, and there is a wide and regular availability of goods and services available, including increasing ranges of goods available through online companies that specialize in offering less common and imported products.

Warm, welcoming culture and language

Although English is widely spoken across Mexico, especially in the most popular retiree enclaves and tourist towns, learning or improving your Spanish language skills will help you enormously as you settle into your retirement in Mexico because it will give you deeper access to the local culture and enable you to integrate in ways that those who don’t speak Spanish cannot.

Mexico’s rich culture and its canny ability to assimilate foreign things without losing its own identity, offers retirees the opportunity of experiencing unusual celebrations and traditions which are nonetheless familiar.

Retirees get a front-row seat to all this culture and the events that surround it, and while others may dream of visiting Mexico in-season to experience these events, they are part of everyday life here for retirees in Mexico.  It’s an enormous, and often overlooked, benefit of living here.

Further research and resources

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.

• Articles about lifestyle planning in Mexico
• Latest articles about retirement in Mexico
• Discovering potential places to live in Mexico
• Cultivating your home life in Mexico
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free

• buying land to build a residential home; or
• considering a home that is situated in a semi-rural or rural area; and/or
• looking at a property that has been recently constructed.

There are many properties in Mexico that are not connected to a mains or community-managed water network, especially (but not solely) in rural areas, and properties without a mains water feed need to be served by one of two alternative means: rainwater, or water truck deliveries (or a combination of these two).

The effect of the dry season on water supplies

Most of Mexico experiences a ‘dry season’ lasting about six months, between November/December and May/June, although water scarcity doesn’t typically become noticeable until around mid-to-late February.

The dry season brings challenges to the landscape as well to home owners, as water can become quite scarce in some areas or regions—even at properties served by water main systems as supplies to homes are throttled by water authorities to conserve supplies until the rains return and local underground wells get replenished.

How will your property get its water?

When you’re buying property in Mexico, whether it’s a built home, and especially when investing in land upon which you intend to build your home, it’s vital to know exactly what the water supply arrangements are, because it may not be as straightforward as you might expect.

Land (or property) without a reliable water source will require you to depend on water deliveries by truck (if available locally) and/or you will need to collect rainwater in season (between May/June and October/November)—and keep this water stored in underground cisterns on the property.

In Mexico’s established towns and cities, water is most usually piped directly to homes in residential neighborhoods using a water mains network, with each home’s supply routed through a water meter by which you pay according to your consumption. Water bills are sent out bi-monthly. Mains water is usually fine for washing, bathing, and cooking, but it might not be suitable for drinking without being filtered.

If the property you’re planning to buy is not served by a mains water system, then its wise to establish what water supply arrangements are currently in place —or can be put into place— to supply the property with a reliable supply of water before you sign a contract to buy.

Water supply in Mexico

Properties in Mexico usually obtain their water supply from one of four principal sources:

• a mains water system, which is usually metered; or
• a local community water system fed from a licensed water well; or
• a combination of rainwater collection (in season); and
• water-truck deliveries.

You can learn more about water supply services here.

Getting a reliable water supply for your property

If you discover that a property you’re interested in is not served by a water main system, don’t take anyone’s word, or hear-say, about other sources. Undertake due diligence and find out how the property is being served by water (or whether you’ll need to make alternative arrangements) and ascertain that any existing supply agreements that are in place are binding in the event of a property transfer.

In the absence of a water main system, your property may be supplied with water in these ways:

Local mains or community water systems

If a local mains water supply or community water system exists locally, you ought be able to get your property connected to it—but double check this as local rules and regulations about connections can be quirky.

The procedure to get connected can be time-consuming and will involve negotiation with local water authorities or community leaders, as well as connection fees in addition to the consumption or annual supply costs.

Consult with the local water authority (or community leaders in rural areas) as well as a local architect and/or plumber about the options and costs involved to get a property connected to the local mains system.

Local water wells

If the water source is a licensed local water well, this should be stipulated on the deeds or related contract or covenant and the property’s right to access to the well and the system that delivers water from it should be checked and verified by you and/or the Notary Public dealing with your property transaction.

Rain collection

Properties that are not near, or which cannot connect to, mains or community water systems will often have underground cisterns on-site that store rainwater, collected in season using roof capture systems.

Modern rainwater collection methods make optimal use of the roof space to collect and channel rainwater into underground water cisterns.  Read more about this in the next section about water collection and storage.

Water delivery by truck

Most towns and villages, and especially those in (semi)rural areas, have a company or two operating a fleet of local water delivery trucks.  Most of the vehicles are usually kept parked and idle between June and October, but when the dry season starts, they ply a brisk trade by transporting water to local residences that are not supplied by a water main system, and whose rainwater collection arrangements are either non-existent or whose water cisterns have run low and require a refill.

The smaller trucks have tanks carrying 5,000 liters (1,300 US gallons) of water; the large ones carry 10,000 liters (2,600 US gallons) of water.

Water truck deliveries are essential during the dry season for many properties that don’t have a mains water supply; and properties that have large gardens and/or swimming pools tend to require refills of their water cisterns during the dry season if they don’t have rainwater collection and/or substantial underground cistern space.

You can never be sure about the precise amount of water being dispensed by the delivery truck: you buy ‘a tank’ at at an agreed price and whatever amount of water is in the truck gets pumped out of it and into your property’s cistern —there is no metering system— although if you know the full capacity of your cistern, you can estimate the amount of water that was dispensed after it’s been filled based on how full the cistern was before and after the delivery.

Buying water from delivery trucks is the second-most expensive to way to buy water; only purified water in bottles costs more. Prices for a tank fluctuate locally depending on factors such as current diesel fuel costs and how far away your property is situated from the licensed water wells that refill these trucks. If your home is near the water truck station, you’ll be offered a lower price than if it’s situated many miles away from it; and prices can escalate if your home is more remote, e.g., on a mountain ridge requiring the heavy water-laden truck to climb steep roads and negotiate dusty country lanes to arrive.

Water collection, storage, filtering, recycling—and gardening

Rainwater collection is a viable way to enjoy a beautiful countryside property that is not near a mains water feed, or which is too far away from the nearest community run water system to connect at a reasonable cost.

There are five key considerations to take into account when your property needs to collect rainwater as part of its water supply:

Efficient rainwater collection

The tremendous thunderstorms that arrive in the late spring and summer drench the landscape and each storm releases colossal amounts of water that can be collected for use in your home.

One square meter of roof space can potentially collect one liter of water for each one millimeter of rain that falls; thus the ratio is 1:1:1.

• If you’re building your own home, talk to your architect about how to design the roof space to optimize rainwater collection.
• If you’re buying an older home, talk to an architect or water management consultant about how you can use the existing roof space for collection, and/or make adjustments to the existing roof to optimize the amount of rainwater you can collect on your property.

In 2025, Mexico passed new legislation to make rainwater harvesting obligatory in new builds, and encourage existing owners to use rainwater to supplement any other means the property may use for its water supply.  The matter is discussed in this magazine article, and further research can be made online (Google).

Water storage at your home in Mexico

As we remarked on our article about water pressure in Mexico, most properties, even those supplied by a mains water system, have an underground cistern to store water for use on the property.

If your home is not near a water mains feed system, and/or remotely or rurally situated, having ample water storage is essential to keep you sufficiently supplied with water through the dry months of the year when rain is scarce or non-existent, and to minimize your dependency on water truck deliveries.

Properties using rainwater collection, sometimes referred to as Rain Water Harvesting (RWH), need to have a means to collect and store the water.  This is usually done with an underground cement cistern or polyurethane storage tank.

More advanced systems will channel an initial flow of rainwater away from the storage to prevent dust/dirt carried in that flow from being channeled into the storage tank.

Water for your garden during Mexico’s dry season

The dry season brings two key challenges to home owners who have gardens in homes without a mains water supply: the absence of rain requires you to use substantial quantities of water to keep your garden flora alive, and your water cisterns are not being replenished for daily water use around the home.

Don’t underestimate the volume of water that you’ll need to maintain your home’s garden during the dry season.

There are many techniques to optimize the use of water in your garden during the dry season, and this article provides an excellent primer on the subject.

Water filtering for drinking

As we remarked in our article about drinking water in Mexico, most people buy bottled water, or filter the water that is supplied to the property before they use it for drinking—whether it’s supplied by a mains feed system, water delivery trucks, or is collected from rainfall.

Sophisticated water filtering systems exist that will make rainwater potable (drinkable), and any water that is harvested/recycled that cannot easily be filtered for drinking can be rechanneled for use in toilets and for the garden.

Water recycling on the property

The latest techniques used for water collection at residential homes also feature systems to recycle water within the property—channeling water that cannot be reused in the home into the garden to feed the flora, and channeling water that can be filtered and reused in the home back into the property’s main water cistern.

The methods recycle a helpful percentage of every liter used, which reduces the amount of water cistern storage space required (cisterns are expensive to build) and make efficient use of the rainwater that’s been collected.

Talk to an experienced professional

Contact a water consultant in your local area, or talk to a local architect or an experienced plumber about options available for rainwater collection, water storage, water filtering and water recycling on your property.

Learn more about water supplies in Mexico

Mexperience publishes articles and guides to help you understand water supplies and the efficient use of water at your home in Mexico, including:

• How water is delivered to homes in Mexico
• Understanding water pressure systems
• Clarity about drinking the water
• Latest articles related to use of water in Mexico
• Latest articles about Mexico’s rainy season and dry season
• Free and continuously-updated guide to House Maintenance and Security in 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

A snapshot of Mexican coffee production

Mexican coffee production is widespread, with more than 300,000 mostly small growers dedicated to its cultivation across 15 of Mexico’s 32 states, and despite the country being the 10th largest coffee producer in the world, the crop makes up only a small fraction of the country’s agricultural output.

Most of the coffee grown in Mexico is of the arabica kind, and more than a third is grown at high elevation which yields the higher quality, and more expensive, varieties of beans.  Much of it is grown in the shade, which adds to the quality of the coffee.

Quality and yield improving after ‘leaf rust’ blight

Coffee yields have recovered in recent years after a blight of ‘leaf rust’ devastated crops and caused production to fall by half between 2012 and 2016.  However, as the recovery emerges, regions most affected by the blight appear now to be producing some exceptional coffee beans with improving yields. In the 2019-2020 season, producers harvested about 3.7 million 60-kilogram (132 pound) bags, and that is forecast to increase to 3.9 million bags in the 2020-2021 season.  Although less acreage is expected to be planted, efforts have been made to increase the number of plants per hectare and to plant with more disease resistant trees.

Mexico’s coffee-growing regions

Mexico has four principal growing regions, and the coffees that emanate from each one carry distinct flavors and aromas, influenced by the local terrain, rich volcanic soils, the climate, and elevation.

Chiapas: distinct, highly sought-after coffee

Mexico’s southernmost state of Chiapas is the country’s biggest coffee producer, accounting for more than 40% of the annual crop.  The high rainfall in this region keeps the volcanic soils moist which is ideal for coffee growers.  The best arabica coffees from Chiapas carry a smooth, medium-bodied taste, with bright yet moderated acidity, and hints of cacao.  The aroma from these coffees is strong, often chocolatey, but they tend to be smooth and creamy on the palate and often have hints of a caramel-like sweetness to them.  Some coffee connoisseurs consider Chiapas’s coffee to be the among the best of all Mexican coffees.

Veracruz: dark and bold volcanic influences

The state of Veracruz situated along the shores of Mexico’s Gulf coast produces about a quarter of the country’s coffee. Veracruz’s topography climbs steeply from the coastal plains into an elevated mountainous terrain that provides ideal growing conditions for arabica coffee beans.  The coffee from this region is known for its distinct combination of being smooth and full-bodied, with a balanced acidity that carries undertones of nut and chocolate in its flavors.  The nutrient-rich, dark volcanic soils of this region imbue their influence into the taste of this region’s coffee.

Oaxaca: noticeably milder, and refreshing

Mexico’s state of Oaxaca, bordering Chiapas on the south side, Veracruz to the east, Puebla on north side, and descending from its central highlands to the shores of the Pacific Ocean in the west is also a terrain permeated with volcanic nutrients and plenty of moisture.  The Pluma region is the most renowned for coffee growing in Oaxaca, and beans here are grown at lower elevations that produces a range of distinct flavors.  Milder than most other Mexican coffees, Oaxacan beans carry a sweeter caramel overtone, a light citrus acidity that gives them a refreshing taste, a creamy body and, like many Mexican coffees, they also carry base notes of cacao.

Puebla: the dark horse of Mexico’s coffee regions

The Sierra Norte region in the state of Puebla, southeast of Mexico City, produces around 15% of the country’s coffee.  This highland region is the least well-known of Mexico’s coffee growing regions and coffees produced here are strongly influenced by the elevation and diversity of nutrients from this terrain that is watched over by Popocatepetl, Mexico’s most famous —and active— volcano.  The beans harvested from this region create a complex coffee flavor that includes notes of vanilla, citrus, nutmeg, and cacao.

Imported coffees continue to thrive in Mexico

Notwithstanding the wide availability of fine home-grown coffees, around half of the coffee consumed in Mexico is imported.

This is partly because Mexican producers focus on growing the finer quality arabica varieties, instead of the lower grade robusta beans employed for making the instant coffee that remains popular here, and is likely also driven by demand for specialty beans and brands among coffee drinkers in Mexico’s urban areas who can afford to be choosy.

Imported coffee brands, which include erstwhile names like Lavazza and Illy, elaborated using arabica beans —whether from Colombia, Costa Rica or even parts of Africa— are invariably more expensive than similar quality Mexican coffee.  A touch of malinchismo might be at play, or simply a yen for variety.

When you have been granted legal residency in Mexico, you acquire certain rights and carry certain obligations when you live here.

The rights and obligations vary depending on whether you hold Temporary or Permanent residency and this article describes the key points foreign residents ought to be aware of.

Rights and obligations of Temporary Resident card holders

Temporary resident (Residente Temporal) card holders carry the following rights and obligations and they may:

• Reside in Mexico for up to 4 years.
• Register a Mexican-plated car in Mexico
• Receive social security (from Mexico)
• Open bank accounts in Mexico
• May apply for a RFC
• Bring their used household goods from abroad
• Import foreign-plated cars temporarily
• Travel freely in and out of Mexico
• Optionally apply to obtain permanent residency after four consecutive years of holding temporary residency, or two consecutive years if married to a Mexican national.

But…

• Temporary residents cannot vote in Mexico.
• Temporary residents can own land directly if it’s situated away from land borders and the beach; if the property is situated within 50 kilometers of the beach or 100 kilometers from a Mexican land border they can own property through a trust, or through a Mexican corporation, and have right to the property in all but name.

And…

• Temporary residents may optionally apply for work permissions alongside their temporary legal residency status. Note that temporary residency permits sponsored by an employer are tied to that work placement.
• Temporary residents must file a notification of change at their local immigration office of any change of employment if they work here, marital status (marriage, divorce, or death of spouse), nationality, and home address within 90 calendar days of the change.
• Temporary residents may import personal household goods using a one-time duty-free import process.
• There are currently no maximum or minimum times temporary residents must be physically present in Mexico during the course of a year to retain their residency status; however, renewals and notifications of changes (e.g. address, marital status) must be made in Mexico.

Rights and obligations of Permanent Resident card holders

Permanent resident (Residente Permanente) card holders carry the following rights and obligations and they may:

• Enjoy all the rights enjoyed by temporary residents—see previous section; but note the important restriction mentioned below about permanent residency and foreign-plated cars.
• Remain in Mexico indefinitely without having to renew their residency status. Permanent residency cards issued people aged 18 years and older never expire. Minors (aged under 18 years) need to renew their permanent residency cards periodically until reaching the age of 18.
• Be granted the guarantees that the Mexican Constitution affords all Mexicans, except for the political guarantees that are reserved exclusively for Mexican citizens, e.g., voting rights.
• Engage lucratively in any legal work activity without having to request the INM’s permission to work. Notification of job changes is still required.

But…

• Permanent residents cannot vote in Mexico.
• Permanent residents can own land directly if it’s situated away from land borders and the beach; if the property is situated within 50 kilometers of the beach or 100 kilometers from a Mexican land border they can own property through a trust, or through a Mexican corporation, and have right to the property in all but name.
• Permanent resident card holders cannot import foreign-plated vehicles to Mexico using a TIP. This is a notable difference to rules for temporary residents who can import foreign-plated vehicles and keep them while their temporary residency status is valid.

And…

• Permanent residents must file a notification of change at their local immigration office of any change of employment if they work here, marital status (marriage, divorce, or death of spouse), nationality, and home address within 90 calendar days of the change.
• Permanent residents may import personal household goods using a one-time duty-free import process.
• There are currently no maximum or minimum times permanent residents must be physically present in Mexico during the course of a year to retain their residency status; however, notifications of changes (e.g. address, marital status) must be made in Mexico.

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:

• Procedures for entering and leaving Mexico
• Learn about the principal routes to obtaining legal residency
• The difference between temporary and permanent residency permits
• Applying for residency as the spouse or common-law partner of a Mexican national or existing foreign resident
• Financial criteria for residency in Mexico
• Time limits on Mexico’s visitor and residency permits
• Renewing your residency permit
• Temporary residency: expiry and renewal

What is Mexico’s CURP

CURP is an acronym that stands for Clave Única de Registro de Población and is different to the RFC.  All Mexicans are issued with a CURP by default, for example, when their birth is registered.

When you are granted legal residency in Mexico you are automatically assigned a CURP. Your CURP is usually printed on your residency card, but not always.  You can find your CURP using this website.

What is Mexico’s Biometrical CURP

In 2025, Mexico’s lawmakers legislated for a Biometrical (digital) version of the CURP.  The Biometrical CURP is intended to supersede the current version that can be accessed online and printed out.

To obtain a Biometrical CURP, people need to attend special processing centers that the government is setting up —at local RENAPO offices and Civil Registry offices— for people to share their biometrical data including electronic scans of their fingerprints, a digital photo of their face, and an electronic scan of their iris (eyes).

Is Mexico’s Biometrical CURP Obligatory?

In the autumn of 2025, lots of media stories stated that the new law makes the Biometric CURP obligatory; however, at a recent press conference Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, asserted that the Biometrical CURP is optional for individuals and that no one is being forced to share their personal biometric data, and also went on to say that she anticipated most people would participate in the Biometric CURP when the importance of doing so is explained to them.

In practice it might become impossible to enter into certain programs and transactions in Mexico in future without a Biometric CURP, for example: healthcare, government programs, school enrollment, and banking.

As of now, the regular CURP is being universally accepted.

What is a CURP used for and when is it necessary?

Mexico’s CURP is a unique alfa-numeric code that identifies a sole individual. The new Biometrical CURP associates that number with specific biometrical features of an individual and might become the country’s Universal Identification Document.

Presently, the CURP is needed when you want to engage in certain official, often government-related, programs and some private transactions too. Examples include:

• Enrollment in government social programs.
• Mexicans and naturalized Mexicans need a CURP to apply for a passport and their INE—the identification card needed to vote in Mexican elections.
• Mexicans and legal foreign residents need a CURP to enroll in the government’s national healthcare service, the IMSS.
• You’ll be asked for your CURP to register for a RFC at a local tax office.
• Employers ask for your CURP to manage payroll, and to register employees with various government departments.
• A CURP is needed to enroll yourself or your children in any school or university, whether it’s public or private.
• You’ll need a CURP to apply for a Mexican driving license, and to get/renew license plates for a vehicle.
• Banks ask for a CURP when you are opening a bank account and/or applying for a mortgage or other form of credit.
• If you are buying online, and the goods you purchase are being physically imported, the online retailer (e.g. Amazon) is obliged to ask for your CURP number to process the importation of the product(s).

How do I apply for a (Biometrical) CURP?

The CURP is issued and managed by a government agency called RENAPO.  Every state has local offices.  Go to the RENAPO website for further information: https://renapo.gob.mx/citas/

Foreign Residents in Mexico

Foreign residents are issued with a CURP automatically when they are issued with their residency card.

The RENAPO website is directing foreign residents to attend their local immigration office for any matters related to their CURP.

It is presently unclear whether immigration offices will in future take additional biometric details to the ones they already take when issuing residency cards, and thus issue Biometrical CURPs automatically, and whether there might be a different process to apply for a Bio CURP if you’re an existing foreign foreign resident in Mexico.

What happens if I don’t have a (Biometrical) CURP

If you are a legal foreign resident in Mexico with a residency card (Temporary or Permanent) you already have a CURP.

Most Mexican nationals have and use their CURP by default.

If you don’t apply for the Biometrical CURP, in future you might be denied access to certain government programs as well as services and transactions—public and private.

Further information

Here are some additional resources related to Mexico’s CURP:

• CURP main website
• RENAPO (Appointments for Bio CURP)
• DOF (Federal Law Register) for Biometric CURP
• See also: What is the RFC and what is it used for?

Comprehensive guides to money, finances and banking services in Mexico—continually updated

Money, finances, and banking services in Mexico

Complete guides to money, currency and banking services in Mexico.

Our guides and articles give you a comprehensive overview of Mexico’s money system as well as the banks and banking services available that help to facilitate the commercial interactions you’ll need to engage with while you’re here.

The local knowledge shared here helps you to consider your needs and
formulate a plan to manage your money and any investments you have in Mexico, as well as arrange banking and financial services that provide essential support as you begin to realize your living and lifestyle plans.

Complete guide to money & banking services in Mexico

Our guides to Money & Banking Services in Mexico provides you with a definitive resource about managing your money and making use of banking services in Mexico.  The regularly-updated guides and articles include:

• The Mexican peso – learn about the country’s currency and its banknotes
• Bank cards – using debit, credit cards in Mexico
• Using ATMs in Mexico
• Money exchange – learn about different ways of exchanging foreign currency for Mexican pesos and vice versa
• Money transfers – how to transfer money to, from and within Mexico
• Money essentials – money and banking safety tips and local knowledge
• Opening a Mexican bank account – the requirements and mechanics of opening and running a bank account in Mexico
• Mexican banks and banking services – services and facilities offered by Mexican banks, as well as a profile of the principal banks and financial institutions
• Options for financing real estate in Mexico

Learn about managing your money in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a wealth of information about Mexico’s money, banking services, and banknotes.

• Learn more about managing your money in Mexico
• Articles about Mexico’s banknotes
• Latest articles about the Mexican peso
• Latest articles about Money and finance 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 how to find house keepers in Mexico, how they work, and the responsibilities that come with having a housekeeper or other domestic helper working at your home.

Common types of domestic helpers in Mexico

Housekeepers are the most commonly-hired home help.  They typically attend a home for one to six days a week, depending on the household’s needs, and some housekeepers live-in at the home.

Gardeners, part-time or full-time, are common at larger homes with extensive gardens to maintain, and at gated communities and condominium developments that have green areas requiring constant attendance.

Pool maintenance helpers are also common in gated communities and may also be hired to maintain a pool at a larger private home.

Some domestic helpers provide practical living assistance to help people with their daily home routines.  These workers are especially helpful to people who are elderly, have low mobility or need extra care at certain times, perhaps during a period of convalescence.

Wealthy households might have live-in housekeepers who work full-time six days a week, although most people hire a housekeeper only part-time—typically for up to one or two days a week.

Finding a reliable housekeeper in Mexico

Finding a reliable housekeeper in Mexico most often requires you to use your social skills and people networks.  Most reliable housekeepers are found and hired on a referral basis. Here are some tips for scouting for a housekeeper to help at your home in Mexico.

Finding housekeepers through previous owners and occupiers

Housekeepers working at a certain property might have been attending that home for many years. If you are moving into a rented house or buying an existing home, you might be asked if you wish to employ the housekeeper that already works there, or you may ask the property owner or house seller about any housekeepers they know who are looking for work.

If you are buying a house, it’s not uncommon for the previous owners to offer to introduce you to any existing home helpers they might hire, most commonly a housekeeper and/or gardener.

Helpers referred by property owners or previous occupiers is an ideal way of getting introduced to potential new housekeepers (and other helpers), because workers who have been ‘with the property’ for some time tend to be the most reliable; they live locally, they know the property and have a history with the previous owners or occupiers. Loyalty that has been built-up, perhaps over many years, can reflect in reliability for you.

You will, however, need to negotiate terms and cultivate your own relationship with the people who you hire to help at your house and be able to express to them (in Spanish) what you require.

Finding a housekeeper through other referral channels

If you want to hire domestic help but don’t have the convenience of a previous owner or occupier’s reference, common ways to find a housekeeper include:

• Asking your neighbors, friends, and work colleagues for connections to people they know.
• Sometimes a neighbor who hires a housekeeper one or two days a week may be able to refer you to their housekeeper who might be looking for an additional day(s) to fill in their work week.
• If you live in a gated community or condominium development, ask the Home Owner Association about any housekeepers they might know, or post an ad on the community notice board.  Gated communities usually operate WhatsApp groups, which are another way to ask for referrals.
• Visit any local community centers you may attend to look for ads on notice boards, and ask community members for references or referrals.
• Search and ask on online community groups related to the location in Mexico where you live. Sometimes community members will post a notice if their housekeeper (or someone they know) is looking for additional work
• If someone you know (or is part of a local community group) is moving away, they might want to help the housekeeper find new employment.
• Sometimes a neighbor, friend or work colleague may have a housekeeper who has a friend or family member looking for work.
• Some people put a notice on their front door asking for a housekeeper—although that’s less common now than it used to be.  This ought to be a last resort effort, as it’s always preferable to hire by referral.
• If the referral is not a direct contact from someone you know and trust, carefully interview the candidates to get a feel for them and their previous experience, ask about others homes they help (or have helped) and ask for references.

How day-visit housekeepers and some other domestic employees work in your home

Most housekeepers and other domestic employees (e.g. gardeners, pool maintenance people) only visit for some hours during the day.

Housekeepers’ schedules

House helpers, whether day-workers or live-in housekeepers, work a maximum of six days a week. Under Mexican Law, all laborers are entitled to one day a week off work, and most people take Sundays off to be with their family.

Some housekeepers might work all day, others may work a half day or only 2-3 hours if the home is small.  In cases where they work less than a full day, housekeepers will usually want a nearby neighbor to hire them on the same day, to make their commute worthwhile.

Gardeners’ schedules

Depending on the size of your garden, gardeners might attend for a a few hours, or work at your property one or more days a week. Properties with large or well-developed and manicured gardens may have a full-time gardener.

Pool maintenance

If you have a swimming pool at your property (your private residence or gated community) the pool maintenance people will usually come at least one or two days a week; some will attend daily—their visits tend to be short as they will be managing pools for several properties in the area where you live.

Arrival and departure times

Schedules will vary, and are by negotiation.

Housekeepers

If you live in Mexico City, or some other large city in Mexico, housekeepers might have a long way to travel to your house and therefore may not be able to arrive very early in the morning; however, they might stay later into the evening or night before finishing their day.

Ask your housekeeper about their commute and essential family routines so that you can be sensitive to their needs in regard to and arrival and departure times; for example, some housekeepers may have children to drop-off at a local school before they travel to your home.

Gardeners and pool maintenance

If your gardener only comes periodically, e.g. every two weeks, or once a month, they will likely arrive on the agreed date, but arrival times may vary.  If your gardener has a regular schedule one or more days a week, they will likely arrive in the morning at or around an agreed time.

Pool maintenance teams will either attend the property daily, or periodically as agreed with the owner.  Most pool maintenance teams work in defined areas and go to several properties for an hour or less each day; they may stay longer if the pool has a specific issue, e.g., the rains cause the water to turn green.

Providing refreshment for day-helpers

Housekeepers who attend your home during the day ought be given an hour’s break if they work the entire day, or short breaks if they are working part day. It’s appropriate to have water/juice available for them.  Gardeners ought be provided with a reliable supply of fresh drinking water, as a minimum.

Meals for housekeepers

Not all people provide a meal to their housekeeper, but it’s appreciated, good practice, and we recommend you do. A common practice if the housekeeper will do some cooking as part of their routine is for them to eat part of the food they prepare for you and your family.  Otherwise, ask what they enjoy eating and have some of those fresh ingredients stocked so that they may prepare a meal for themselves.

Errands and shopping

Some housekeepers will be prepared to go out and do simple shopping for you.  If you ask them to do this, be sure to give them enough cash for the purchases you ask for, as well as their public transportation to the market/store, and back.

If what you ask them to buy is going to be heavy or bulky, e.g., a large order of fresh fruit and vegetables, you ought to pay for a return cab.

Live-in housekeepers

Live-in housekeepers are not as common as they were in bygone eras, but there are plenty of housekeepers who continue to live-in at homes to provide day-long support without having to commute back-and-fro to their home each day.

Some housekeepers prefer a live-in arrangement as it provides regular full time employment, one day (usually Sunday) plus public holidays to rest, and no need to spend time and money commuting each work day.

If you hire a live-in housekeeper in Mexico, you will be expected to provide suitable and comfortable accommodations (most larger houses and condos in Mexico have housekeeper’s quarters) as well as all meals and usually a uniform or other suitable work clothing.

Live-in housekeepers can expect one day per week off work as well as all Mexican public holidays off and may require extra time off for family emergencies and exceptional occasions (e.g., weddings, funerals).  The family unit is an important concept in Mexico and it’s therefore appropriate to ask your live-in housekeeper about their family routines and and be sensitive to their personal and family needs as these arise.

Rates of pay for housekeepers and other domestic helpers in Mexico

Check with your neighbors and/or friends and colleagues about the current daily pay rates for housekeepers in your area.

Housekeepers and domestic helpers working in larger cities (especially Mexico City) are paid more in good part because they often have a long commute involved in getting to and from your home.

The Aguinaldo

A Christmas bonus (Aguinaldo) is expected and required by law, equal to at least two-weeks of their pro-rata pay, and it’s appropriate to pay four weeks.

For example, if they work for you two days a week, and you want to pay two weeks bonus, the bonus is four day’s pay (2 days x 2 weeks); if they work for six days a week, the bonus is 12 day’s pay (6 days x 2 weeks).

Many households will pay four weeks’ equivalent pro-rata pay as a Christmas bonus, especially to long-serving housekeepers and other helpers. In the examples above, this equates to a payment equal to eight days’ pay (2 days x 4 weeks) and 24 days’ pay (6 days x 4 weeks), respectively.

Making payment

Most payments to housekeepers and other domestic helpers are paid in cash, although some housekeepers might accept payment via local bank transfer.

Day-helpers: Housekeepers (and others) who work one day a week in your home are paid daily on the day they attend; if they attend two your home two or more days a week, you may pay them on the last day of that week’s work.

Live-in housekeepers: Most live-in housekeepers are paid every 15 days and some are paid weekly.  Some may ask to be paid in cash, although others might accept payment via local bank transfer, especially when you’re paying every two weeks.

Employment law, healthcare, and well-being

Changes in Mexico’s laws now stipulate that people who hire domestic employees (housekeepers, gardeners, etc.) register at the Mexican Health Service website.

By doing this, the housekeeper/other helper receives health and medical coverages from Mexico’s social security institute, the IMSS.  The employer (homeowner) is also required to pay a tax to cover this cost, based on minimum salaries.

In practice, many housekeepers in Mexico, particularly those who only work a day or less per week at the house, continue to be informally employed by private homeowners (as well as those renting homes) as neither they nor the people employing them register.

Full-time and live-in housekeepers are most likely to be registered under the scheme as they are effectively a full-time employee of the household they work for.

If your housekeeper is informally employed by you, there is a tacit understanding (culturally) that you are responsible for medical costs (including medicines and medical equipment, where required) caused by any injuries which might be sustained while working in your home.

Furthermore, many householders who hire housekeepers, informally or as full-time housekeepers, and live-in housekeepers, contribute to their housekeeper’s well-being in a variety of ways, including, for example, giving some support to them or their families in times of exceptional need (medical, emergencies) as well as remembering their children’s birthdays and other special occasions, e.g., wedding of their children.

Taking care of your home in Mexico

Mexperience publishes guides and articles to help you maintain and secure your house, home, and dwelling spaces in Mexico.

• Registering your housekeeper/home-helpers with IMSS (Spanish)
• About Mexico’s IMSS health service
• Learn about Quincenas: Pay-days in Mexico
• Learn about the Aguinaldo: the Christmas bonus
• Home insurance: covering third party liabilities
• Latest insights about Home Maintenance in Mexico

If you’ve been living in Mexico a while, and you decide to move home within Mexico, whether that’s across town or across the country, there’s less paperwork to deal with than there is for an international move, but there are other considerations to take into account.

This article helps you to consider key aspects of a home move internationally (to or from Mexico), as well as a domestic home move within the country.

Choosing a reliable moving company

Whether you’re moving across town, across Mexico, or across the world, your personal goods matter.  While insurance can reimburse you in the event of mishap, some things carry sentimental value that cannot be easily replaced by substitution.

Thus, you ought to consider carefully who you will entrust to:

• pack your personal belongings if you won’t be packing yourself;
• care for your goods during their shipment;
• manage them through international Customs procedures; and
• deliver (and perhaps unpack) them safely at your new destination.

The moving company should be experienced and highly professional in the way they manage your move—providing you with personal, specific, and direct help. They should also offer you the ability to fully insure your household goods while they’re in the moving company’s care and control.

What to look for when choosing a Home Moving company

When you’re planning to move your personal goods, whether you’re moving across town, to a new city in Mexico, or internationally, it’s important to choose the right moving company.

Good home movers are experienced specialists packing, local transportation, long-distance shipping, storage, and the integrated logistics which are required to move your personal goods professionally and efficiently across a country, or across the world.

Key things to consider when choosing a home moving company:

Transparent process and pricing: The company should ask detailed questions about your intended moving plans, and provide a personalized quotation based on your individual circumstances and shipment size.

Their experience: Experience matters and the better home movers have years of experience managing home moves across different countries.

Their network: The home moving you choose ought to have a strong network of associates that support the moving effort—in Mexico, and abroad.

Their personnel: Good home movers invest in their people, offering customers professionally-trained removals teams staffed by individuals who are fully vetted and insured.

Their knowledge: Experienced home movers will be fully apprised with current Customs (import/export) rules and management of the paperwork and processes to facilitate your shipment’s swift passage through international ports of entry, including assistance with your Menaje de Casa if you need one.

International home moves to and from Mexico

If your move to or from Mexico involves an international border crossing and you want assistance with the move, you will need to hire a company that is experienced with moving household goods internationally.

Paperwork and restrictions apply: If you are moving personal goods to Mexico from abroad, or if you are leaving Mexico after having lived here for a time and want to take your goods with you, there are special requirements, paperwork, and some restrictions to consider as part of your move.

Residency status: If you are moving to Mexico from your home country (or a third country where you are currently resident) you will need to have residency status in Mexico or hold a Mexican passport. Depending on your individual situation, you might or might not need to get a Menaje de Casa certified by your local Mexican consulate.  For more details about this, read about importing your personal goods to Mexico.

Leaving Mexico with your personal goods: If you’ve been living in Mexico for a while and move out of Mexico with your personal goods, you will need to complete some paperwork for Mexican Customs to clear your goods as they leave Mexico and you’ll need to fulfil the Customs requirements of the country you are moving to. A moving company will be able to advise and guide you.

Clearing customs: Mexican Customs clearance of your goods will usually be undertaken by the moving company, who will ensure that all the paperwork is in order and liaise directly between you and the Customs officials about the status of your shipment.

Domestic home moves within Mexico

In Mexico, moving companies are referred to as “Fletes y Mudanzas.”  It’s common to see trucks and vans on the street and traveling on highways labelled as such and the corresponding firm’s name, e.g., “Hermanos Sanchez: Fletes y Mudanzas.”

If you are moving within Mexico and intend to hire a local firm you will need to be able to speak Spanish, or get someone to interpret for you, to make the arrangements.

Some of the larger and more expensive international moving companies based in bigger cities might have some English-speaking staff on hand to assist, but the majority of local movers based in Mexico are unlikely to speak much English.

Moving companies offer a sliding scale of services; from entire house packing, removal, shipping, and unpacking/reinstallation of your goods in your new home, to a simple ‘lift, ship and unload’ service.  Some firms offer storage services in case your goods cannot be transferred to your new home right away.

Typical fees and charges for home moves

The fees that moving companies charge for moving your household goods can vary considerably.  Typically their fees will depend on some key factors, including:

• The level of service you require—from a basic ‘lift, ship and unload’ of packed items, through to packing, moving, and unpacking at the destination.
• How many things will be moved, and whether there are any special items—this is usually calculated in cubic feet or cubic meters, and extraordinary items like fine art, statues, and antiques may require special handling.
• The distance between the point of origin and the delivery location.
• International shipments cost more, not just because of the distance, but due to the additional paperwork and logistics involved in moving your household goods across international borders.
• Domestic moves (within Mexico) are less expensive, but remember that Mexico is a big country and it may take several days for a truck to move your household goods.
• You might need to pay for storage if the household goods are removed from their point of origin but cannot be unloaded/delivered at their destination as originally scheduled—for example, if you new home is not ready to be moved into yet.

Every home move is unique in some way. We recommend you contact a home movers company, describe your situation, answer the questions they will ask you about your move and intended shipment, and obtain a personalized quote based on your individual circumstances.

Practical tips when you hire home movers to ship your personal goods

Here are some tips to note when you hire a home movers company to ship your personal goods—whether you’re moving across Mexico or moving internationally.

• When the removals team arrives at your house in Mexico, be sure that there is some space reserved on the street for the moving truck if they cannot drive onto and park on your property.
• If you live in a gated community or condo complex, let the gate guards know about your move date and liaise with your neighbors and/or Homeowners Association as may be appropriate.
• When the moving company’s vehicle arrives, check all the paperwork thoroughly, and be clear about what is to be removed from the house.  Ask the moving company about the vehicle and team that they intend to send, including vehicle license plates, ahead of the scheduled arrival.
• Make a note (and take pictures) of the vehicle and its license plates when the moving team arrives. If you become suspicious about anything when the moving truck arrives, telephone the moving company’s offices before your goods are loaded onto the truck.
• If you or anyone in your household doesn’t speak Spanish, be sure to have an interpreter at your home on the day of the move and on the day you expect to take delivery of your household goods at your new address.

Useful resources and contacts

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

Moving companies: We recommend you use a moving company to ship your household goods across borders.

Mexican consulates: Applications for a certified Menaje de Casa must be made through a Mexican Consulate abroad, in the country where the goods are being shipped from.  Contact your nearest Mexican consulate to ask for details of their Menaje de Casa procedures.

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.

Taking care of your home in Mexico

Mexperience publishes guides and articles to help you maintain and secure your house, home, and dwelling spaces in Mexico.

• How to import your personal goods to Mexico
• Protecting your home from burglars
• Latest insights about Home Maintenance in Mexico

This article describes how electricity is supplied to homes in Mexico, how to plan for electric power cuts, how to find current electricity prices, and how to pay your electricity bill.

Electricity supply to homes in Mexico

All electricity in Mexico is supplied by CFE, a colossal state-owned electric company. Rates for domestic electricity are set by the government and include subsidies for homes that conserve energy as well as seasonal subsidies for homes in regions with very hot summers or cold winters. (See the section below for prices and bills.)

Electricity voltage in Mexico

Electricity to homes in Mexico is delivered at 120-140 volts at a frequency of 60Hz.

If you require a 220-240 volts circuit (for example, for certain types of air conditioning units, electric ovens, or high-end induction hobs), you will need to ask the electric company to supply you with a “bifase” circuit and have an electrician undertake the special wiring for you inside your home.

Electricity plugs and sockets in Mexico

Electric plugs (clavijas) and sockets (enchufes) are type A and/or B—identical to those used in the USA.

The older Type A socket plugs have flat pins whereas the newer plugs have a notch on one side and might also have a third (earth) pin that prevents them from being plugged in to an older Type A plug socket without the use of an adapter.

Older Type A sockets have two identical sized pin inlets that will accommodate all older Type A plug pins without an adapter; Type B sockets have a wider pin inlet on one side, allowing Type B plugs (with a notch) to be inserted, and they also have a third (earth) pin inlet to accommodate Type B plugs with three-pins.

All modern homes in Mexico have the newer Type B 3-pin plugs, but there are still many older properties that have the old two-pin plug that will not accommodate newer plugs, or plugs with three pins, unless you use an adapter.

Reliability of electric supply

Mexico’s electricity power grid has been undergoing a continual upgrade in recent years, making electricity supply here more reliable than it ever has been.

Most of Mexico’s electricity supply is delivered by overhead cables. Overhead cables are more susceptible to the elements and this affects the reliability of the supply, especially during the rain and wind storms.

Some towns and cities are beginning to create underground ducts for cabling; new developments are often designed with underground cable ducts now, but it will be decades —if not longer— before Mexico’s electricity system is principally delivered by means of underground ducting.

Power outages which were frequent a decade or more ago —and could last for days in some cases— are far less frequent now and, when they do happen, the outages tend to be quite short or temporary in nature.

How frequent and severe the outages depend principally on local factors. Different neighborhoods tend to have different ‘patterns’ of outages; and ‘good’ neighborhoods can suddenly begin to experience frequent outages for no apparent reason. Rural areas tend to experience more power outages than urban areas.

Old or failing local transformers (the ones you see strapped to lamp posts) are the principal culprits of localized power outages in Mexico, and the electric company has been working hard to replace these with newer and more reliable transformers.

In areas subject to the rainy season (May/June through October/November) power outages tend to be more frequent as heavy rains, wind, and lightning affect the transformers and electricity sub-stations.

Another issue to be mindful of is the fluctuation of voltage, so it’s prudent to protect sensitive equipment (for example, computers, high-fidelity electrical appliances) with power-surge protection boxes if you notice that the voltage fluctuates a lot in your area (light bulbs are a key indicator).

If you live in an area that is susceptible to tropical storms and hurricanes, keep in mind that electricity supplies might be affected, perhaps for days or longer, after a storm or hurricane.

See also: Dealing with electrical power cuts in Mexico

Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS)

If you have electrical equipment that is critical to your work or well-being, an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS – wiki) can be installed in your home.

There are many types of UPS systems on the market, and you will need to do some research to decide which one is best for your specific needs.  Essentially there are two types: battery powered UPS and fuel-powered UPS.

• If you want to keep low-voltage appliances (e.g., WiFi modems, computer monitors, and computers) running during regular outages which may last from a few minutes to a few hours then a battery-backup system will probably work for you.
• If you must keep high-power appliances (e.g. refrigerators) running continuously, or lower power appliances running for long periods, then you will need a fuel-powered (e.g., diesel) generator on your property.

Battery backup units (Amazon Mexico) are affordable and easy to install and use as you simply plug your critical appliances into the unit, which contains a large battery.  When there is power, the unit charges its battery and passes electricity to your appliances directly. When there’s a power cut, the unit’s circuitry detects this and feeds electricity to your appliances from its battery power.

Fuel-based generators come in many sizes and research is required to determine which one is right for your circumstances.

Electricity prices in Mexico

Prices for electricity in Mexico are set by the government and vary each month.  Also, the more electricity you use, the higher your rate is per kwH consumed.  This is done to help low-income families and to encourage users generally to conserve energy, by penalizing higher energy consumers and rewarding lower energy consumers with generous subsidies.

Current electricity prices in Mexico

You can get the current and historical rates from this page on the CFE’s website (Spanish).  Choose the “Domesticas – 1” option for residential electricity prices.

Seasonal electricity subsidies

Subsidies are applied in some northern cities and some southern cities in summer when air conditioning/heating uses rise. The subsidies apply from April to October in the south, and May to November in the north.

Electricity meters

All properties have electricity meters, usually visible to the street, so that the electric company’s representative can visit and read the meter for each bill. Mexico is gradually changing-out old-style analog meters to new-style electronic meters which are digital and can be read and controlled remotely.

Electricity bills in Mexico

Electricity bills in Mexico are dispatched every two months.

CFE workers deliver electricity bills in paper format by hand to homes across Mexico.  You can use the CFE’s smartphone app, CFE Contigo, to pause paper bills and have digital/electronic bills only (the app will alert you when there’s a bill waiting to be paid), although many people still prefer to receive paper bills as these can be used as proof of address for official purposes.

Paying your electricity bill

There are several convenient ways to pay your electricity bill.

You ought to pay your bill in a timely manner because the CFE is efficient at cutting-off supplies to homes and it can take between one and three days to get power restored to your home if you are cut-off due to late payment.

Convenient ways to pay your electricity bill include:

• At any CFE automated teller.
• Through the CFE Contigo smartphone app if you have a Mexican bank account/card.
• Via online banking if you have a Mexican bank account.
• In cash at one of Mexico’s local convenience stores.  Take the paper bill with you to scan the barcode, or show them the PDF bill you can download from your CFE smartphone app. A small service fee is added if you pay this way.
• You can make a line at at retail bank or at the local electricity office and pay there, but we don’t recommend this as lines tend to be long, especially near paydays.

Late payments

We recommend that you pay your electricity bill in good time, because the electric company is very efficient at cutting-off power supply to your home off if you are late in payment.  This can be especially inconvenient if you live in a hot area and rely on air-conditioning and have fridges/freezers running.

If are paying electronically, you ought to pay at least a couple of working days before the due date, as it can take time for the payment to reach your account.  If you are paying cash at a convenience store, the payment will usually register within 24 hours.

Getting reconnected if you’re cut-off

When you don’t pay your electricity bill by the due date, or if you pay too close to the due date and your payment fails to reach the account on time, a technician is assigned and sent to your property to disconnect you. Digital meters are disconnected electronically using a special device carried by the technician.

If you are cut-off due to late payment, you will need to:

• Pay the outstanding bill plus the penalty fee for reconnection; then
• You need to request a reconnection, that is best done using the CFE Contigo app available at the Android and iPhone app stores, or otherwise via the CFE Web Portal; or in person at the local electricity office that deals with your property.

When you request a reconnection, the payment on account will be checked, and your service will join a line for reconnections.  A technician will be scheduled-in to revisit your home and reconnect your electricity supply.

Timescale for reconnection: According to this page on the CFE website, it takes between one and three days after your request for a reconnection to get your home reconnected following cut-off due to late payment.

Risk of contract cancellation: After 15 days of non-payment the electricity company might cancel your contract and if this happens you will need to seek a brand new contract/reconnection afterwards.  This takes longer to arrange than a short-term disconnection/reconnection.  If you only live in your home in Mexico part-time be sure to pay your electricity bill even when you’re absent and avoid allowing the account to remain unpaid for more than a couple of weeks.

Taking care of your home in Mexico

Mexperience publishes guides and articles to help you maintain and secure your house, home, and dwelling spaces in Mexico.

• Dealing with electrical power cuts in Mexico
• Electricity company website (CFE)
• Insurance for your home in Mexico
• Latest insights about taking care of your home in Mexico