Every guide, by topic
Every Settle Mexico guide in one place, grouped by what you're dealing with: visiting, choosing a city, renting and buying, money and taxes, healthcare, and bringing your car, pets and belongings.
Each guide answers its question in the first lines, is checked against the law or the agency that sets the rule, and shows when it was last checked. If you're new to all of this, Start here walks through the order most people meet these things in.
Visiting and long stays
Tourist daysHow long you can really stay as a touristUp to 180 days, but the officer decides. What to have ready at the counter.
Just arrivedWhat to set up in your first two weeksPhone registration, internet, water, gas, bills, apps and doctors.
PhoneYour plan from home, or a Mexican number?Roaming limits, prepaid prices, passport registration.
WintersThe snowbird's guide to splitting the yearDays, your car, health cover and seasonal rentals.
FlightsWhere in Mexico you can fly home nonstopLook up your home airport in the US or Canada.
Choosing a city
Renting, buying and the bills
RentingRenting in Mexico as a foreignerFinding a place, leases, deposits, and the scams to avoid.
RentingThe póliza jurídicaThe rental guarantee for people without a Mexican guarantor.
BuyingBuying property as a foreignerThe restricted zone, the fideicomiso, the notary and closing costs.
Property taxPredialThe yearly property tax, and the January discounts.
ElectricityThe CFE bill and DACWhy some bills suddenly triple, and how to stay off DAC.
Money and taxes
MoneyGetting pesos without losing moneyATMs, cards without foreign fees, and moving larger sums.
TaxesTaxes for Americans living in MexicoWhat still goes to the IRS, and when Mexico counts you.
SATThe constancia de situación fiscalThe SAT document everyone asks for, and when they can't.
Healthcare
US retireesMedicare stops at the borderAlmost never covers you in Mexico. What retirees use instead.
Bringing your car, pets and belongings
DrivingDriving in MexicoInsurance, licenses, toll roads and topes.
PetsBringing your dog or catWhat SENASICA checks on arrival, and what the airline asks for.
MovingMenaje de casaShipping your household goods tax-free, once, as a new resident.
Residency
Settle Mexico covers life before and after the paperwork. For the residency visa itself, requirements, consulates and the canje, see ResidencyMexico, which I also run.