Expat Abroad · Mexico

Living in Mexico.

5 practical guides for Americans living in Mexico, grouped by topic. Each one lists the official sources it is based on.

Mexico

Arrival and immigration

Arrival and immigration · 6 min read

Entering Mexico on a US passport: visitor stays and overstays

How long Americans may stay in Mexico as visitors, how the digital FMM works by air and land, whether you can extend, and what an overstay leads to.

Mexico

Daily life

Daily life · 6 min read

Phone, internet and utilities in Mexico: setting up a household

How Americans in Mexico register a mobile line with a passport, contract CFE electricity, avoid the DAC high-use tariff and cancel internet contracts.

Mexico

Documents and ID

Documents and ID · 5 min read

Your first weeks in Mexico: the registrations to do after landing

The order of steps after you land in Mexico on a resident visa: the 30-day INM card exchange, CURP, RFC and reporting changes, with 2026 fees.

Mexico

Getting around

Getting around · 6 min read

Getting around Mexico without a car: buses, metro and ride-hailing

How Mexico City's Metro, Metrobus and the MI card work, what the Tren Maya requires, and how intercity buses and ride-hailing fit a car-free life in Mexico.

Mexico

Visas and residency

Visas and residency · 6 min read

Moving to Mexico from the US: which visa or residence route fits

Temporary residence, permanent residence for retirees and job-based residence in Mexico compared for US citizens, with 2026 consulate thresholds and fees.