Moving to Mazatlan Checklist

Moving to another country feels overwhelming until you break it into steps. I put this checklist together based on what I wish I'd had when I was helping friends and family make the move. It covers what to do 6 months out, the month before you leave, the week of the move, and your first weeks on the ground in Mazatlan.

Nothing here is meant to be exhaustive - the goal is a clear sequence so you're not scrambling.

6 Months Before: The Big Decisions

Visa & legal

• Decide on your visa path: tourist (FMM, up to 180 days) or Temporary Residency (required for long-term living)
• If doing Temporary Residency: book a consulate appointment in your home country (wait times can be 4–8 weeks in major cities)
• Gather required documents: bank statements showing $2,500+/month income or $43,000+ in savings, passport, photos, application form
• Read the complete visa guide before your appointment

Housing

• Define your priorities: beachfront vs. walkable, Centro vs. Golden Zone vs. Cerritos, buying vs. renting
• Book a 1–2 week scouting trip to Mazatlan before committing
• Connect with a local real estate agent who works with expats - they'll save you weeks of confusion and protect you from common foreigner mistakes

Finances

• Open a Wise or Charles Schwab account for fee-free international ATM withdrawals and transfers (these save you hundreds per year)
• Notify your existing bank of an international move to prevent card freezes
• Research international health insurance - SafetyWing, Cigna Global, and IMG Global are popular with Mazatlan expats

Logistics

• Decide what to ship vs. sell vs. store - most expats ship less than expected and buy locally
• If bringing a vehicle: research the Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit (TIP) process through Banjercito
• Contact your current employer or clients about remote work setup if applicable

3 Months Before: Getting Concrete

Visa

• Attend your consulate appointment and receive your Temporary Residency visa (entry visa - single use, valid 6 months)
• Note: you must enter Mexico and register with INAMI within 30 days of arrival to receive your actual residency card (Tarjeta de Residente)

Housing

• Do your scouting trip if you haven't already - walk the neighborhoods, eat the food, feel the city
• Work with your local agent to identify 3–5 specific properties to look at
• If renting: understand what a typical Mazatlan lease includes (utilities, furnished vs. unfurnished, maintenance)

Logistics

• Get quotes from international moving companies (if shipping anything)
• Start selling, donating, or storing furniture and large items
• Gather all important documents and make digital copies: passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, medical records, prescription history

Mexico-specific prep

• Download offline maps of Mazatlan (Google Maps offline or Maps.me)
• Install WhatsApp - it's how most people in Mexico communicate (landlords, agents, doctors, everyone)
• Start basic Spanish study - even 50 phrases helps enormously in daily life

1 Month Before: Final Logistics

• Book your first 2-4 weeks in Mazatlan as short-term furnished rental (Airbnb, VRBO) while you secure long-term housing - don't sign a year lease before you've spent time in the city
• Notify: USPS (mail forwarding), banks, insurance companies, IRS (if US citizen, Form 8822 for address change), any subscriptions
• Get an international data SIM for arrival - Airalo is good for a temporary eSIM until you get a local Telcel or AT&T Mexico plan
• Download: Uber (works well in Mazatlan), Didi (local alternative), Google Translate, XE Currency
• Stock a small medication kit for the first weeks: stomach meds, pain reliever, antihistamines - available in Mazatlan but good to have immediately
• Arrange pet logistics if bringing animals - read the pets guide well in advance, Mexico requires specific health certificates

Moving Day / Week Of

• Carry originals of key documents in your carry-on, not checked luggage: passport, residency visa, vehicle permit (if driving), pet health certificates
• Have $300–$500 USD in cash for the first few days before you can get to a Banamex or HSBC ATM
• Note your rental address in Spanish for cabs and rideshare drivers
• Take photos of your rental on move-in for the condition record

If driving across the border:

• Get your TIP at Banjercito at the border (you'll need title, registration, valid license, and credit card for the deposit hold)
• Aduana (customs) sticker goes on the windshield - keep it there for your entire stay

First Week in Mazatlan

Registration (time-sensitive)

• Book your INAMI appointment to register and receive your Tarjeta de Residente - must happen within 30 days of entry
• The Mazatlan INAMI office is at Av. del Mar 1200 - appointments are required, booked online at gob.mx/inami

Banking

• Open a Mexican bank account if staying long-term - HSBC and BBVA Bancomer are expat-friendly; you'll need your Tarjeta de Residente once you have it
• Use your Wise/Schwab card for ATM withdrawals in the meantime

SIM card

• Get a local Telcel SIM at Walmart Mazatlan or any Telcel store - Telcel has the best coverage, plans start around $15-$20 USD/month for a solid data plan

Orientation

• Walk Centro Historico for half a day - get your bearings, find a coffee shop you like
• Find your nearest Walmart or Ley supermarket for grocery runs
• Locate the nearest private hospital (Sharp Hospital is in the Golden Zone: Av. Rafael Buelna 990)

First Month: Getting Settled

Housing

• If renting long-term: sign your lease, do a full condition walkthrough with your landlord documented in photos and WhatsApp messages
• Set up utilities: CFE (electricity), TotalPlay or Megacable (internet), and confirm water is included or set up your garrafón delivery for drinking water

Healthcare

• Register with IMSS if eligible (requires Temporary Residency) - costs ~$500-$700/year for public healthcare coverage
• Find an English-speaking primary care doctor: Hospital Angeles and Sharp Hospital both have bilingual physicians
• Transfer any prescriptions to local equivalents - most common medications are available in Mexico, often far cheaper

Community

• Join the Mazatlan Expats Facebook group - 20,000+ members, actually useful
• Walk Plazuela Machado on a Sunday - markets, live music, and natural expat meetups happen there weekly
• Explore the malecon at sunrise or sunset - it becomes a ritual

Ongoing: The First Year

• File US/Canadian taxes - as a citizen abroad, you still have obligations (FBAR if accounts exceed $10K, FATCA Form 8938 if applicable); consult an expat tax specialist
• Renew your Temporary Residency annually at INAMI before it expires
• Apply for Permanent Residency after 4 years of Temporary Residency (or sooner if you qualify via income thresholds)
• Build your local network: language classes, yoga studios, local restaurants that become regulars - Mazatlan rewards people who engage with it

One Thing Most People Don't Do (But Should)

Connect with a local agent before your scouting trip, not after you arrive confused. A good agent who works with expats will orient you to neighborhoods in a single afternoon, show you what rental prices actually look like vs. what gets listed online, and save you from common foreigner mistakes - lease clauses that don't protect you, properties with undisclosed issues, and neighborhoods that look good in photos but don't fit your lifestyle.

Get a free introduction to a local Mazatlan agent →