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Moving to Mexico From Canada

All about Visa Requirements, Costs, and Checklist

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Mexico is famous for its rich culture and lifestyle and is popular among expats. If you are planning to move to Mexico from Canada, there are some things you need to know first, but don’t worry—we’ve got everything covered for you. From visa requirements to best places to visit, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to make your journey easier!

Cost of Moving From Canada to Mexico

The cost of moving from Canada to Mexico varies depending on the volume of your move. Below you will find a table with estimated costs:

Property Size Toronto, Canada → Mexico Vancouver, Canada → Mexico
1-Bedroom $4,000 – $7,000 $3,500 – $6,500
2-Bedroom $6,500 – $9,500 $5,500 – $8,500
3-Bedroom $8,500 – $12,500 $7,500 – $11,500
4-Bedroom $11,000 – $16,000 $10,000 – $15,000
5-Bedroom $13,500 – $19,500 $12,000 – $18,500

Note: These costs are mere estimates.

Moving Your Household Goods From Canada to Mexico

Your actual costs depend on the exact size of your move, therefore the bigger the volume, the higher the costs. When moving furniture from Canada to Mexico, we recommend checking out our volume calculator for a more accurate estimate of your belongings. 

We strongly advise you to check our moving volume calculator to get more insights into the whole size of your relocation.

 

International Removals to Mexico

Finding a moving company you can trust can be difficult. Fortunately for you, we have prepared a list of our best partner moving companies in Canada, and we truly advise you to take a look!

  1. Centennial Moving  

 

  1. Brytor  

 

  1. Ethic Move  

 

What’s even more useful is that you can check honest reviews from people who already experienced collaborating with these companies.

Ready to Move Abroad?
Receive personalized removal quotes by choosing the size of your move
 

Cost of Living in Mexico vs Canada

Living in Mexico is around 32% cheaper than in Canada.

The average cost of living in Mexico per month varies by:

  • For a single person, the average costs are around C$1,400.
  • For a family of 4, the expenses are around C$3,500

We’ve created a table with the general price difference in Mexico vs Canada:

Product Mexico (C$) Canada (C$)
Cappuccino (regular) C$4.38 C$5.19
Chicken Fillets (1kg) C$10.11 C$16.77
Eggs (12 regular) C$3.24 C$4.83
Apples (1kg) C$3.68 C$5.76
Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) C$14.18 C$25.00
Local Cheese (1kg) C$11.33 C$15.55
Milk (1 liter) C$2.00 C$3.08

Source: Numbeo

Note: These are just estimates.

Mexico Visa for Canadian Citizens – Requirements and How to Apply

How Long Can I Stay in Mexico as a Canadian?

As a Canadian citizen, you do not require a visa to enter Mexico for tourism or business purposes. However, you are only allowed entry for up to 180 days. What you need in this case is a valid Canadian passport.

What Types of Visas Are There for Mexico?

If you want to stay in Mexico for longer than 180 days, you will need a visa. The type of Mexico visa for Canadian expats differs based on your needs:

  • Temporary Resident Visa: For people who want to stay longer than 180 days but not longer than 4 years. Suitable for work, study or joining family members in Mexico.
  • Permanent Resident Visa: For people who want Mexico permanent residency. With this visa you are allowed to work without the necessity of additional authorization and can fully integrate in the Mexican society.
  • Student Visa: For people who want to study for longer than 180 days.

Mexico Entry Requirements From Canada

For a smoother process, we advise you to prepare and store the necessary documents in a safe space before the moving process.

Documents Required

  • Valid Passport
  • Photograph (3.9 cm x 3.1 cm size; must be recent)
  • Proof of Financial Means: You must demonstrate you are able to sustain yourself after relocating to Mexico

 Application Process

After gathering all the documents necessary, you have to schedule an appointment with the Consulate General of Mexico in Toronto. You will then have an interview and probably pay a fee of around CAD$55.

How to Get Mexican Citizenship

In order to gain Mexican citizenship, you must receive permanent residency and live for 5 consecutive years in Mexico.

If these conditions are in order, you will have to renounce your Canadian citizenship and swear an oath of full allegiance to Mexico.

Visit the official website of Gobierno de Mexico for more details on the visa application process and the Mexico entry requirements from Canada.

Are You Moving to Mexico With Pets?

Then you should know this:

  • You are required to obtain an international veterinary certificate from a licensed vet.
  • You must get your pets vaccinated against rabies.
  • Your pets must be treated for internal and external parasites 6 months before your move.
  • Your pets will undergo a physical inspection upon arrival.

Check out Moving with Pets to Mexico for a more detailed explanation of this process.

Are You Moving to Mexico With Family?

This process is the same as for yourself. Your family must obtain a Temporary Stay Visa or a Permanent Residency Visa to be able to move to Mexico.

If you are bringing your children with you, Mexico offers education up until 18 years old. Having both private and public education systems, it is up to your needs and wants on what you think is best for your child. Most public schools have lessons mainly in Spanish, whereas private schools might offer bilingual opportunities.

Canadians Living in Mexico

It can be an amazing experience living in Mexico as a Canadian. Many Canadians move to Mexico for retirement or because of the low cost of living and beautiful weather all year-round. If these aspects resonate with you, then Mexico is the right choice for you!

What is The Best Place to Live in Mexico as a Canadian?

Here are some of the most popular locations for Canadian expats:

  • Playa del Carmen: Has an amazing infrastructure and offers a beach paradise.
  • Puerto Vallarta: Has good healthcare and is located on a beautiful coast.
  • Lake Chapala (Ajijic): Very popular among retirees with a good climate.

Benefits and Disadvantages of Living in Mexico

Pros

 Low cost of living
 Warm climate
 Friendly people
 Delicious food
 Proximity to Canada
 Good healthcare

Cons

 Safety concerns
 Long Visa process
 Language barrier
 Cultural differences
 Bad infrastructure
 Extreme weather

Canadians Living in Mexico – Taxes and Healthcare

Taxes in Mexico

The maximum tax rate in Mexico is 35%.

In Mexico, your tax obligations depend on your residence status. Therefore, if you spend more than 183 days in Mexico, you will be required to contribute to the taxes. 

Below you will find a table stating the usual tax rates based on income:

Taxable Income (CAD) Fixed Fee (CAD) Marginal Tax Rate (%)
$0.00 – $637.79 $0.00 1.92%
$637.80 – $5,413.78 $12.24 6.40%
$5,413.79 – $9,510.47 $317.83 10.88%
$9,510.48 – $11,058.01 $763.94 16.00%
$11,058.02 – $13,238.06 $1,011.09 17.92%
$13,238.07 – $26,678.24 $1,403.11 21.36%
$26,678.25 – $42,104.89 $4,281.53 23.52%
$321,428.58 and above $100,897.64 35.00%

Source: Gobierno de Mexico 

Healthcare in Mexico

Mexico is known for its high-quality healthcare. As a Canadian, you might need private insurance when living in Mexico or have to pay an enrolment fee annually.

There are different sectors in the healthcare in Mexico:

  • Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE): Offers healthcare for people working for Mexican businesses and are paying taxes regularly.
  • Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS): Works similarly to the ISSSTE, only this one focuses more on the private sector. To be able to benefit from IMSS, you must pay an annual fee ranging anywhere from CAD$600 to CAD$1500.

To benefit from healthcare in Mexico, Canadians must have a legal residency status. The most beneficial and commonly approached option for Canadians would be enrolling in the IMSS program.

Take a look at the Gobierno de Mexico website for detailed information about healthcare in Mexico.

Canadian Jobs in Mexico

Finding a job in a foreign country can be overwhelming and exhausting. That is why we gathered some platforms that could help make your journey easier if you are going to be a Canadian working in Mexico:

How to Move to Mexico From Canada

To make it even easier for you, we’ve created a Moving to Mexico Checklist that you can use whenever you’d like:

  1. Check out our volume calculator to find out the size of your move.
  2. Look at our international moving companies, request quotes, and choose your one.
  3. Get your documents ready as early as possible and store them safely.
  4. As a pro tip from us, you should start packing as soon as possible.

 Are You Ready to Start Your Move?

We hope our article helped you start this new journey in your life. We wish you the best of luck with your move and smooth transition!

Frequently asked questions

Does a Canadian need visa for Mexico when moving there?

How to apply for a work visa in Mexico?

How safe is living in Mexico?

How much is the cost of living in Mexico?

Can a Canadian work in Mexico?