By Natasha Cawston

Moving to Paradise? Got Your Bags Packed?

A Ounce of Planning will Save you a Pound or Should I Say A Kilo of Headache!

Seriously thinking of dropping everything and moving to a foreign land, this is a huge decision. Maybe you plan to stay only for a few months, or maybe for years. Where do you start?

The process will take months before you actually end up in Mexico, but researching is the best place to begin. I will begin to answer some of the basic information on visas in the following article. When I say begin, I really do mean begin.

But where should I begin? That is the true question.

The first thing you need to worry about is surviving in Mexico. Just like home, you do need to eat, sleep and buy simple necessities. Of course, how else can you do this without a source of income? But it is not as simple as, “okay, I’ll get a job then. Problem solved.” When living in a foreign country, different visas and permits are needed to live there for different periods of time, to work, drive, as well as many other aspects. Deciding which visa is best for you is where you should start. Below I will explain the different visas available.

There are three basic types of visas, The FMT, a tourist visa, the FM3, a working visa and the FM2, a residency visa. A tourist visa, (FMT), is granted to a person who will be visiting Mexico for a period less than six months. If you plan to move longer than six months, this is definitely not for you. You are not permitted to work if you hold only an FMT. Acquiring an FMT can be done on the plane to Mexico, provided by the airline.

The working visa, (FM3), allows a person to stay in Mexico for up to a year. However, this visa can be renewed annually. After the fifth year you may want to upgrade to a FM2 and eventually apply for permanent residency, or stay at an FM3. Holding an FM3 classifies you as a non-immigrant. You will not be granted residency rights, but you are able to leave and enter the country as you wish. With an FM3 you will be able to work if you meet specific requirements, such as being sponsored by a company. Contact your local Mexican Consulate for more details. It is important to note that you can hold an FM3 and not have the right to work if you do not meet the specific requirements. To apply for an FM3 and to find out if you are able to acquire an FM3, you need to go to your local Mexican Consulate. Every situation is different, making it difficult to explain all the parts of the different visas. The best source of information, is your local Mexican Consulate.

With the residency visa, (FM2), you are considered an immigrant. You are not considered a permanent resident, however, but you are able to apply for this after time. Like the FM3, this visa is also renewed annually. As an immigrant, you are restricted in travelling out of the country, if you live for more than two years outside of Mexico, your immigration status is taken away. With an FM2, you have virtually the same rights as an FM3 holder. With an FM2, though, you can apply to be a permanent resident after you have renewed your FM2 visa for five years. The fastest way to be granted permanent residency is with an FM2. If you leave Mexico for longer than eighteen months in a five-year period, you will not be able to apply for permanent residency. If you do gain permanent residency, your rights will change and you will be granted the same rights as a Mexican citizen, excluding the right to vote. If you leave the country for more than eighteen months all together in a five-year period, you will not be permitted to apply for permanent residency. The FM2 is very much like the FM3. Both are renewed annually and both allow a person to perform basically the same lawful activities. Again, in order to decide what you need, go to your local Mexican Consulate.

Deciding which visa is right for you will depend very much on your own personal situation. A Mexican Consulate will be able to tell you exactly what visa you will need, but to get your own idea, look at the function of each visa: The FMT, tourist visa, is for people who want to vacation in Mexico for a period of time less than six months. If you plan on staying in Mexico longer than six months, you need to look at an FM3 or an FM2.

I hope this basic information will help make things a bit more clear about the different visas. Mexico is an amazing country. Many who come here from other lands fall in love with the palm trees, the ocean, the people and the culture. It just takes some research to make the appropriate arrangements to stay in this magnificent country for a few months, or a lifetime.

Natasha Cawston is a resident of Canada and enjoys the sunshine of Playa del Carmen

She can be reached via email at: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

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