Mérida YUC
Guadalajara
Lake Chapala JAL
The climate, especially in the band of Mexico that stretches from Guadalajara through Mexico City to Merida, and low cost of living makes Mexico and attractive retirement destination. Frequently, staying in Mexico 6 months at a time allows enjoying the winter season or decide on where to retire to that offers life style, community and services which make sense. Applying for a Temporary or Permanent Resident Visa for Mexico later could prove desirable. These application have implications for the arrival of possessions that Mexican regulations dictate. Bekins will help you coordinate household goods shipment, either from temporary storage or direct from your existing home.
Moving usually means giving up Canadian health care, so ensuring health care coverage is important. Seeking the advice of local accountants and lawyers regarding: income taxes, real estate purchases, etc. is a close second in things to be arranged.
Approval of a Temporary Resident Card establishes your right to public health care, buy a car or deal with Mexican banks and others requiring local status for up to four years. before deciding on returning to tourist or permanent status. This needs to be applied for in Canada.
Approval of a Permanent Resident Card continues your rights for the rest of your life. Now you can import used possessions without incurring extra Mexican charges.
Retirement in Mexico tips include:
Leave as many non sentimental value items behind as possible, downsize and buy new on arrival. Many problems and surprise expense items will be avoided.
Arrange a local bank account at first opportunity. Payment by cash will be more of a norm than you might expect.
Arrange a Mexican phone number. Besides making communications easier you will get access to apps that benefit locals.
Mexicans are friendly. They speak Spanish. Their culture has priorities you won't be accustomed to. Hire locals to help you. Join the closest Canadian expat group for local guidance and learn some Spanish.
COST OF LIVING IN MEXICO
• Cost Of Living in Guadalajara
• Cost Of Living in Mérida
• Cost Of Living in Mexico City
LIVING IN MEXICO
• Mexican Visa and Immigration
• Mexican Health Care Private health care covered by private insurance.
• Mexican Education Options
MEXICO CITY WEATHER RIGHT NOW
• Current Weather in Mexico
MEXICAN CONSULATE
Open: 8am to 1pm
Phone: (604) 684-1859
Suite 411, 1177 West Hastings St
Vancouver, BC, V6E 2K3
CANADIAN EMBASSY IN MEXICO
Open: Monday to Friday 8:45am to 5:15pm
Phone: 55-5724-7900
Schiller 529, Col. Bosque de Chapultepec (Polanco)
Del. Miguel Hidalgo
11580 Ciudad de Mexico, D.F.
• Accurate recording of your used possessions inventory is critical, for the successful move to Mexico. Unlisted, new or unused items, as well as prohibited items, put it at risk. Mexico is known for arbitrary and higher gingo prices. Costly extra penalty charges can come from seemingly small item issues. Situations movers have shared with one another are:
A bottle of Tylenol a customs inspector found triggered a more thorough examination. Time used to unpack and repack was charged back to the owner. The container continued to build up daily storage and demurrage charges. A couple of thousand dollars a day quickly grew to $20,000 extra costs.
An artist moving to the scenic Lake Chapala included their art supplies. Tubes of paint that had been partially used were not separated from paint in unused tubes. Customs then proceeded with a more thorough further examination. An additional $5000 in processing, storage and handling charges resulted.
- If there is a serial number or AC plug, list it separately.
- Your Bekins contact will go over restrict items and document implications with you.
- The ports at Manzanillo, Mexico and St Petersburg, Russia compete worldwide, for the most items not make it through the port. Poor documentation helps them retain items from any shipment.
• Mexican culture is different. Yes required translating from English to Spanish adds processing time. There is also a less mission critical approach to dealing with what currently has their attention often at the expense of other tasks and commitments. Things tend to come up, from traffic issues to family matters. Optional alternate plans are a good idea.
It’s Mexico so you have to adjust to their rules. Spanish is the language. While there are about three quarters of a million USADIANS in Mexico, there are over 125 million Mexicans. They have a different heritage and environment compared to Canadians. Over 80% of Mexicans identify as Catholic, in an economy where the per capita average income is less than half of Canada's and rule of law depends on the common sense and public awareness.
The climate varies from tropical monsoon in the south to cold desert in the north near Nuevo Laredo (TAM) and across the Rio Grande Larodo (TX). The temperate zone of Mexico along the line from Guadalajara through Mexico City and over to Mérida on the Yucatan tends to be the most comfortable year round so also most populated. With average temperatures in the 17 to 21 °C range they tend to be more livable than desert areas that spike in the 40 °C range.
Tourism is a major contributor to the Mexican economy. Areas more dependant on it have a more English spoken and workers there tend to have higher average incomes. Lake Chapala by Guadalajara also has a higher than normal density of USADIAN expats were foreign incomes provide some of the highest per capita incomes for Mexicans. Even in the more foreign environments there is a politic of envy that fuels resentment, crime and double standards. Studies show that over 50 million Mexicans are classed as living in poverty. Payments from Mexicans working the USA represent over a $25 billion dollar contribution to the Mexican economy.
Laws and justice is administered by all three levels of government, where each has priorities and acknowledged abuses of power. "Justice is overburdened and riddled with problems. In spite of determined efforts by some authorities to fight theft, fraud, and violent crime, few Mexicans have strong confidence in the police or the judicial system, and therefore a large percentage of crimes go unreported." (per Encyclopædia Britannica)
