How to set up your family in Mexico?

Mexico might seem like a world away from the dreary skies of the UK, but it has lots to offer expats searching for a new life. From gorgeous beaches, delicious food, a low cost of living and a laidback lifestyle, more and more expats from all over the world are finding a home in this tropical paradise.

In fact, Mexico ranked as the top destination for expats in a global survey of foreigners living abroad in 2023. Expats felt it was easy to settle in and make friends, enjoyed the lower cost of living and found the visa process straightforward and stress free. All great points if you’re thinking about moving there!

Here are some of iad Overseas other reasons for moving to Mexico:

1. On average, the cost of living in Mexico is 36.5% lower than living in the UK with prices of groceries, rent, childcare and utilities all being considerably cheaper. Moreover, the cost of living in Mexico is 46.4% lower than in the USA, excluding rent.
2. The country has a tropical climate and enjoys around 300 days of sunshine every year.
3. Many of the big cities enjoy the convenience of American life in terms of supermarkets, transport, activities and so on. So even though you’re in a Spanish-speaking country, you’ll still be able to find many of the things you love from back home.
4. Spanish is one of the most popular languages in the world, so if you’re hoping to pick it up, there’s nowhere better to learn than Mexico (where many people can also speak English).
5. There are plenty of expats living in Mexico from all over the world to welcome you. Many have emigrated from North America, so you’ll be able to settle down and make friends with ease.

If you’re planning a permanent move with your family, then you’ll have to apply for the right documentation to comply with Mexican laws. You can stay in the country visa-free for 180 days but thereafter you will need either a permanent or temporary visa.

Whilst visa rules may differ from country to country, generally you should apply for a temporary residence visa before leaving your home country. This can be done by contacting your local Mexican consulate. Once you have a temporary residence visa and you’re in Mexico, you can go about applying for a permanent visa.

You will need to show proof of income (how you plan to support yourself in Mexico) such as earnings, savings or your pension. You will also need to provide documents such as a valid passport and the correct visa application.

There are different types of visas depending on your circumstances – make sure you know which one to apply for when you speak to your local consulate service.

As some of the information may be in Spanish, it might be worthwhile working with a visa professional (or lawyer) to complete your visa application. This will ensure that you have met all the legal requirements for you and your family to live in Mexico.

After five years of holding a permanent residency visa, you and your family will be eligible for Mexican citizenship.

When you’re moving with family – whether young or old – it’s important to know where you’re going to stay once you arrive in your destination country. And, if you’re moving to Mexico on a long-term or permanent basis there’s lots to sort out before you leave.

Do you need to sell your current home? Or is it a rental? Either way, you should sort this out prior to moving. Similarly, what do you want to do once you live in Mexico? Are you planning to purchase a property or rent somewhere first?

If you’re planning to buy a property in Mexico, then here are some important things you need to know:

• On the whole Mexican property is cheaper than US or European property. A city centre apartment costs approximately £1,484 ($1,942.83)/m2 in Mexico, compared to £5,004 ($6,551.15)/m2 in the UK or £3,388 ($4,435.51)/m2 in USA.
• There are rules around property ownership depending on where you buy in Mexico. For example, if you buy a property near the coast, the land will need to be held by a trust (or fideicomiso). This is a common occurrence and can be dealt with by most property professionals in Mexico.
• The Mexican Government offers lots of tax benefits for foreigners investing in Mexico such as reduced property taxes and no capital gains tax.

Mexico has a strong rental market, so if you do want to rent before a purchase, make sure you have somewhere suitable lined up before the move.

If you want to purchase a property, contact us and one of our property consultants in Mexico will help you find your dream property abroad. Get in touch with our team here so we can assist you in your search.

When you’ve got a family, you’ll want to make sure you understand the healthcare system of your destination country before your move. This will help ensure you’re eligible for free healthcare or have budgeted for any insurance needs.

Although Mexico has a national healthcare system, this might not be suitable for you and your family as many public hospitals can experience overcrowding or long waiting times.

It’s a good idea to budget for healthcare insurance to access the best medical services. There are many private hospitals in Mexico providing world class care which is cheaper than private healthcare in the UK and USA. So make sure you’ve investigated this prior to your departure.

If you’re moving to Mexico with kids, you will want to know about the standard of education and availability before you make the move.

The good news is that childcare is a lot more affordable in Mexico than the UK and the USA. Whilst education is free in public schools, this may not be suitable for non-Spanish speaking children. Most of the large cities have international schools where children are taught in English and learn Spanish as a second language so they can communicate effectively.

On average, the cost of Mexican private schools is less than a third of private education in the UK.

School is compulsory for all children until 18. Primary school is for children aged between 6 and 12 years, junior high (or lower secondary school) is for 12 to 15-year-olds, and high school (or upper secondary) is for 15 to 18-year-olds.

As an expat, you will need to provide certain documents such as ID, visa, vaccination details and so on when applying for school places.

If you’re planning to work whilst living in Mexico, then you will need to apply for a work permit. If you have a Mexico-based employer, then they should apply for this on your behalf before you move.

If you plan to work remotely in Mexico for more than 180 days, then you can apply for a Digital Nomad visa which lasts for up to four years.

Whilst the job market isn’t as robust as other countries, if you want to teach English then you’ll find plenty of work in private schools or as a tutor. Many American companies have locations in Mexico due to cheaper costs of manufacturing and land, so there is scope for finding well-paid work once you’ve settled in.

Our goal is to help you find your dream home wherever in the world you choose to go. Our iad Overseas property consultants can help you in your search in Mexico.

Our agents speak Spanish and English so will make your moving journey
easier with their local knowledge and experience.

Ready to start your search? Contact us today.