Mexico Move Checklist: Your First 90 Days as a New Resident

Why the Sequence Matters

Every task in Mexico's residency setup depends on the one before it. BBVA won't open an account without RFC. RFC won't process without CURP. IMSS enrollment won't start without the residency card. SAT won't issue an RFC without a CURP appointment first. The most common first-month mistake: doing things in the wrong order and having to restart. The second most common: not knowing the 30-day canje window starts immediately on entry. This guide is the sequence Paul gives new 90-Day Concierge clients from day one.

Days 1 to 5: The Canje Window Starts Now

The moment your flight lands in Mexico on your consulate-issued visa stamp, a 30-day clock starts. You have 30 calendar days to visit INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración) and exchange your visa stamp for a Temporary Residency card. This is called the canje. Day 1 priority: find the INM office in your city or nearest major city. Some cities require appointments; others accept walk-ins. Your next action after securing accommodation is securing an INM appointment. What you need for the canje: • Original passport with visa stamp • Photocopies of passport (photo page + visa stamp page) • FMM card from your flight (the copy immigration gave you) • Proof of Mexican address (rental contract or hotel letter) • INM fee payment receipt (pay at BBVA or Santander first, bring the ficha) Paul's specific advice: bring more copies than you think you need. Bring original + copy of everything. Mexican government offices consistently request more documentation than you expect.

Days 5 to 14: CURP and RFC

Once you have your Temporary Residency card (typically processed within a few weeks of your INM canje appointment), the sequence continues: Get CURP at the Registro Civil or a RENAPO module: Bring: residency card, passport, proof of address Process: free, typically 20 minutes Result: 18-character CURP number, write it down and photograph the document Get RFC at SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria): Requires: CURP, residency card, passport, proof of Mexican address Schedule: appointment required at sat.gob.mx(allow 5 to 10 business days wait time in major cities) Also request: e.FIRMA digital certificate (requires a USB drive), you'll need this for formal tax filing and government interactions Note: Some SAT offices are heavily backlogged. Paul's recommendation, schedule the SAT appointment before you land, based on your planned arrival city.

The full RFC walkthrough is how to get your RFC in Mexico.

The week by week version is your first 30 days in Mexico.

Days 14 to 30: Banking and Phone

Open BBVA Mexico checking account:

Requires: RFC document, CURP, residency card, proof of Mexican address, initial deposit

Note: not all BBVA branches process foreign nationals, ask in your local expat Facebook group which specific branch handles them in your city

Get your CLABE (18-digit interbank code) immediately, this is what you give for Wise transfers

Set up Mexican phone number:

Telcel (best rural coverage) or AT&T Mexico (works in major cities)

Amigo Max prepaid plan: approximately 250 to 350 MXN/month for 10 to 15GB data

You need a Mexican number for WhatsApp, the local communication standard

Set up Wise for USD→MXN transfers:set up international transfers with Wise

Transfer money to your new BBVA account. Verify the first transfer before transferring large amounts.

Read Mexico banking for expats and phone and SIM setup.

Days 30 to 60: IMSS and Healthcare

Enroll in IMSS Voluntario:

Requires: residency card, CURP, passport, passport photos, proof of address

Process: visit your local IMSS subdelegación with all documents

Pay annual premium (~$400 USD/year, adjusted annually each February)

Important: 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, maintain SafetyWing during this period

Get SafetyWing for the transition year:get a quote from SafetyWing

Find your local doctors:

Identify a local GP, dentist, and any specialists you need

Private clinic GP visits: $300 to 600 MXN ($15 to 30 USD), very affordable out of pocket for routine care

IMSS for major procedures (surgery, hospitalization, specialists) after the waiting period

Step by step: IMSS enrollment guide.

Days 60 to 90: Integration and Community

Language school enrollment: the fastest social integration tool in any Mexican city. Paul's consistent advice, enroll in formal Spanish classes your first month, regardless of your current Spanish level. The social network you build in class accelerates everything else.

Find the expat community: Facebook group search "[City name] Expats", join and introduce yourself. Most cities have monthly meetups within 2 weeks of joining. Lake Chapala and Mérida have the most organized programming.

Bill setup: CFE (electricity), water, and internet. Confirm your CFE account is in your name or listed as a tenant to avoid DAC issues. Track electricity usage with the CFE app from Day 1.

For the full 90-Day Concierge service. Paul walks you through every single one of these steps with daily WhatsApp access: book the First 90 Days Concierge

Frequently Asked Questions

In what order do I get my CURP, RFC and bank account in Mexico?

After the canje, get your CURP, then RFC, then open the bank account. Each step depends on the one before: banks want the RFC, the RFC needs the CURP, and IMSS needs the residency card. Confirm current requirements with each office.

How long do I have to exchange my visa for a residency card in Mexico?

You have 30 calendar days from landing on your consulate visa. Start the canje application at INM well inside that window, because appointments can be tight. Confirm the current rules with INM or your consulate.

How much does IMSS cost for a new resident in 2026?

Since March 2026, voluntary premiums run from MXN 9,300 a year for ages 0 to 19 to MXN 22,150 for ages 80 and over. Year one has waiting periods for some care, and some conditions are excluded, so confirm at IMSS.

What should I not do in my first 90 days in Mexico?

Do not buy a car in month one, since you may not need one and parking varies. Use Uber or rentals first. Do not sign a year lease before you have lived in the neighborhood and seen it at different times.

How much does a Mexican prepaid phone plan cost?

A Telcel Amigo Max plan runs about MXN 250 to 350 a month for 10 to 15GB, roughly $15 to $20. You need a Mexican number for WhatsApp, which is the local standard. Check current plans before buying.

Packing and Moving Essentials

🎒 Amazon, packing cubes, luggage scale, universal adapter, document folder: see recommended packing cubes luggage scale travel adapter on Amazon

🏨 Booking.com, scouting trip accommodation: compare hotel rates on Booking.com

This article may contain affiliate links. If you buy or book through them, MyMexicoMove.com may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We recommend only services that are relevant to your Mexico move.

What to Deliberately Postpone

A good 90-day plan is defined as much by what it excludes. Don't buy a car in month one, rent or use Uber until you know your neighborhood's parking reality and whether you even need one. Don't sign a year lease before living in the neighborhood through at least a few weekends. Don't buy furniture beyond the essentials until the long-term apartment is real. And don't start any process that requires documents you don't have yet, the sequence in this checklist exists because each item unlocks the next. Patience in month one buys freedom in month six.

This checklist is the exact framework I run with First 90 Days Concierge clients, the difference is that concierge clients run it with me on call for every snag. If you're doing it solo, the 180-Day Action System includes this sequence with every document checklist attached.

This is the same sequence I build out fully in the 180-Day Action System if you'd rather follow a structured plan than a checklist alone.

Before you act: Requirements, fees, eligibility rules, and local processes can change. Before making a financial, legal, medical, tax, insurance, immigration, or residency decision, confirm the current requirements with official sources and, when appropriate, a qualified professional.

Next step: This is the period where most new arrivals stall. The First 90 Days Mexico Concierge is a series of 30 minute calls, so you have a person to lean on. Book the First 90 Days Concierge.

Also see the Expat Life in Mexico: First 90 Days program and the membership plans.

Your CURP underpins most of these steps. My CURP guide for foreigners explains how to get it, fix errors, and what the biometric CURP means.