Moving to Mexico in 2026

Moving to Mexico: entry, first 30 days, 3-month budget

Citizens of many countries visit Mexico visa-free; for others a valid visa or residence permit from the US, Canada, the UK, Japan or the Schengen Area replaces a Mexican visa. To live there you obtain a resident visa at a Mexican consulate abroad: temporary residence with income from $4,630 a month over the last six months or savings from $78,025, permanent residence for retirees with a higher income. The consular fee is $56.

1. Before the trip. Apply at a Mexican consulate: income or savings statements, an interview, the resident visa in your passport.
2. Days 1-30. Exchange the visa for a resident card at the National Migration Institute within 30 days of entry and get the unique population registry code.
3. Days 30-90. A bank account, a tax number if you will work, a one-year lease.

Rents are higher in central Mexico City and the Caribbean resorts: a one-bedroom in the capital's centre costs about $907-1,061 a month. A family budget depends on its size; we calculate it in the chat. Exchange rate: about 18.15 pesos per dollar on 5 October 2026.

Mexico in brief

Mexico is the second most populous country in Latin America, with about 130 million people, and shares its entire northern border with the US. The capital is Mexico City, whose metropolitan area has more than 20 million people, and the major centres are Guadalajara, Monterrey, Querétaro and Mérida. The economy rests on manufacturing, especially cars and electronics serving the US market under the trade agreement with the US and Canada, on oil, tourism and remittances. The language is Spanish, and the currency the Mexican peso.

Mexico suits remote workers and entrepreneurs with income from abroad, families planning a birth, and those who value living next to the US, a warm climate and a clear path to permanent residence. It suits less those for whom low crime in every region comes first.

How to move in 2026

The visa is issued at a Mexican consulate abroad, and within 30 days of entry it is exchanged for a resident card. Citizenship is granted after 5 years in the country, or after 2 years through marriage or the birth of a child, with a history and culture exam, and on receiving the certificate you sign a written renunciation of previous citizenship. More on the page about Mexican citizenship.

Rules for specific nationalities

Some rules in Mexico depend on the passport.

• Russia. For a trip by air Russian citizens need only a free electronic authorisation, and none at all with a valid visa or residence permit from the US, Canada, the UK, Japan or the Schengen Area.

Taxes

Mexican tax residents pay income tax on worldwide income on a scale from 1.92% to 35%. Residency usually follows a permanent home in Mexico. VAT is 16%, and 8% in the US border zone; corporate tax is 30%. Freelancers and small businesses with modest revenue can choose a simplified regime with tax of 1% to 2.5% of turnover. More on the page about Mexican taxes.

Property

Foreigners buy homes directly across almost the whole country. The exception is the restricted zone within 100 kilometres of the borders and 50 kilometres of the coast, where a foreigner owns property through a bank trust or a Mexican company; this is a normal, lawful form of ownership, for example in Cancún and Puerto Vallarta. The deal is executed by a notary, and a state acquisition tax and notary costs are paid. More on the page about property in Mexico.

Cost of living

Mexico is cheaper than the US and Canada: groceries, cafés, taxis and services cost noticeably less, while rents in popular parts of Mexico City and on the Caribbean coast have risen because of newcomers from the US. Public healthcare is aimed at citizens and workers, and newcomers use private hospitals, which are of a good standard in the big cities. Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey have many international schools.

Where to live

• Mexico City. The capital at about 2,240 metres; Roma, Condesa, Polanco and Coyoacán are popular with newcomers.
• Guadalajara. The second city and a tech hub with a mild climate.
• Querétaro. A fast-growing industrial city and one of the calmest.
• Mérida. The capital of Yucatán: hot, calm and inexpensive.
• Playa del Carmen and Tulum. The Caribbean coast, resort life and holiday rentals.

Practicalities

• Documents. With a resident card you obtain a personal registration number and a tax number, without which you cannot open a bank account or sign a lease.
• Safety. It varies greatly by state and district: tourist areas of the big cities and Yucatán are calmer, while some northern and western states are dangerous.
• Language. Spanish; English is known in tourism and business.
• Earthquakes. Mexico City is seismically active and has an alert system.
• Getting there. Mexico City and Cancún have direct flights to dozens of US cities, Madrid and across Latin America.

Who Mexico suits

Mexico is a convenient country for living next to the US on income from abroad: residence by income, permanent residence after 4 years and citizenship after 5, or after 2 for families with a child born in Mexico. Write in the chat and we will check whether your income qualifies and calculate the full cost of moving.