Migration
to Mexico is on the rise. People planning for retirement, baby-boomers
looking to spend winters in warmer climates, retired or semi retired
folks who want to live in Mexico full-time and, increasingly,
professional people who can tele-work using the Internet are some of the
types of people who are considering to move their lives south of the
border.
Who is moving to Mexico?
Whether it’s for retirement, to take an extended sabbatical, to work or
set-up a business, Mexico has become a country on foreigners’ radars.
From the emails and inquiries we receive, we can conclude that most of
those interested in moving here live in the United States and Canada,
although interest from some European nationals is also noticeable.
Plan ahead to secure your Mexican visa
When you begin to plan your move to Mexico, one of the first
considerations you will need to take into account is the type of visa
you’ll need to stay here legally. Citizens from many countries (you can
find a list on our immigration guide) can arrive in Mexico as tourists
and remain for up to 180 days (6 months). However, you cannot work or
settle here on a tourist visa. To work or remain in the country beyond
the 180 day tourist limit you will need to apply for and be granted an
appropriate FM3 or FM2 visa.
The right visa for your circumstances
There are different visa sub-categories to apply for and, depending on
your situation and intentions, you will need to apply for the correct
visa for your circumstances. You can apply for the visas yourself or
hire an immigration lawyer to take care of the application process on
your behalf. Foreigners who speak good Spanish and are familiar with
the procedures tend to renew their visas themselves, others opt to pay a
professional to undertake the work. Applying for Mexican visas has
never been more straightforward than it is today: the applications are
usually made online and the fees are reasonable when compared to fees
for equivalent visas to enter the U.S., Canada or Europe.
Learn more about Mexican visas
You can learn about the different visa types and the outline procedures on our Guide to Mexican Immigration.
If you want detailed information about the type of visa needed for your
specific circumstances and also instructions about how to apply for it,
and the associated costs, from there you can download the Mexico Immigration eBook—a
fully updated guide to the procedures you need to know. If you need
professional advice, you’ll also find links to immigration lawyers from
our guide.
If living, retirement or working in Mexico is part of your lifestyle
plans, you should start researching your visa requirements as soon as
possible. Lead times for issuance of visas are not too long, but it’s
important to apply for the correct visa, gather the necessary paperwork
evidence, and apply in the right way to save money and avoid
inconvenience during the application process.