How to Prepare for your move

Apply for and obtain all necessary visas, work permits, or residency documents required for Mexico. Entering with a tourist visa limits your stay to up to 180 days. And overstaying could subject you to large fines and possible deportation. 

Your passport (and any family members) must be valid for at least 6 – 12 months beyond your entry date to Mexico. Always make a photo or digital copy of the main page and keep in a safe place.

Ensure you have copies of your birth and marriage certificates (including your children). The marriage certificate is vital in the event of your partner’s untimely demise. Mexico requires it in order to release the body of your spouse to you. Otherwise, a next of kin (blood relative) would need to be contacted.

NOTE: In Mexico, common-law relationships are not legally recognized. Therefore, C.L. partners do not have the same rights as they may have in the USA or Canada.

PRESCRIPTIONS – Make sure you bring a PAPER copy of your current prescriptions. 

Notify your bank(s) and investment companies of your planned move. Ensure that you are connected with them online or through an app on your phone. 

VERIFICATION CODES: Some banks require a home country cell number for these codes. Before moving permanently to Mexico, DO NOT CANCEL your cell plan (it can be done from here). We can guide you through the process of keeping your original CDN or USA number and then canceling your original overpriced cell plan.

IN MEXICO: We encourage you to open a Mexican bank account. Don’t worry, we can help make that process go very smoothly!

CELL PLANS –  when you arrive you can get yourself an inexpensive Mexican cell plan while KEEPING your CDN or USA cell number! We can help you with this process.

EMAIL ADDRESS (Rogers, etc.) – If you have a proprietary email address with your internet/cable provider in Canada or the USA, you will lose all access to it once you close your account. Create a Gmail or Hotmail (or any free email) before you leave your home country and start using it right away with your family, friends & service providers.

PHYSICAL MAIL – Make sure you have stopped receiving as much physical mail as possible. Opt in to ONLINE statements for all your services, especially bank & c/c statements and including all your government services.
However, keeping a “mailing address” back home is not a bad idea for receiving credit/debit cards if required. You could have someone monitor it if it is a service. Often you can find someone to bring the mail down to you, OR have them courier it.

SUBSCRIPTIONS – Cancel all your magazine subscriptions.