The Moving to Mexico Checklist: Everything to Do 6 Months Out, 3 Months Out, and 30 Days Before You Land

The difference between a smooth relocation and a chaotic one is almost always timing. The people who struggle are not the ones who made the wrong decisions — they are the ones who made the right decisions too late.

6 months before you move

Choose your city. Make the call at 6 months so everything else can organize around it.

Visit for 2–4 weeks if you have not already. Rent a furnished apartment on Airbnb in the exact neighborhood you are considering and live like a resident for two weeks.

Start your consulate research. Find the Mexican consulate nearest to you in the US, check their specific documentation requirements, and book your appointment. In busy cities like Houston, Dallas, LA, or Chicago appointments book out 6–8 weeks.

Get your financial documents in order. 12 months of bank statements, income verification letters, Social Security award letters, pension statements. You need to show $4,400 per month in consistent income or $74,000 in consistent savings. Start gathering these now because some take weeks to arrive.

Begin decluttering. You will not bring everything. Start making decisions now rather than in a panic the week before you leave.

3 months before you move

Attend your consulate appointment. Bring every document, bring extras, bring patience. The consulate issues a visa sticker valid for 180 days and charges a $56 application fee.

Decide what moves with you. Most Americans do a hybrid: ship a small number of meaningful items, sell or store the rest, and buy locally. Mexican furniture and household goods are excellent quality and significantly cheaper than in the US.

Sort your US logistics. Notify your bank of your move. Set up mail forwarding or a US virtual mailbox service. Notify Social Security, pension providers, and any income sources of your new address. Consider opening a Charles Schwab brokerage account which reimburses international ATM fees.

Research healthcare options. Will you enroll in IMSS, carry SafetyWing or Cigna Global, or self-pay? Make this decision and start the enrollment process.

Find your housing. Short-term furnished rental for the first 1–3 months is the right move for most people. Do not sign a long-term lease before you arrive.

30 days before you land

Book your INM appointment online before you leave the US. Within 30 days of entry you must visit your local INM office to start your residency card process. Budget $560 for the one-year card. In cities like CDMX and Guadalajara these appointments book quickly.

Arrange your arrival logistics. Where are you staying your first week? Do you have airport transportation arranged? Do you have local pesos in cash?

Set up a Mexican SIM. Telcel and AT&T Mexico have the best coverage nationally. You can get a SIM at the airport upon arrival.

Tell your US bank you are moving or your card will be frozen on your first transaction in Mexico.

After you land

Day 1–7: get oriented. Find your grocery store, your coffee shop, your pharmacy. Do not try to solve everything in week one.

Day 7–14: open a Mexican bank account. BBVA, Citibanamex, and Hey are the three most expat-friendly options. You will need your passport and your INM receipt.

Day 14–30: attend your INM appointment and get your residency card process started.

Month 2: find your people. The expat community in your city is your infrastructure. Mundalo's community connects you with Americans already living in your destination before you arrive.

Your personalized checklist lives inside Mundalo. Your Blueprint includes a 30-day action checklist built specifically for your city, your visa pathway, and your move timeline. Get your Blueprint at mundalo.com.