🇲🇽 Moving from the US to Mexico: Logistics, Customs & Relocation Guide.
Mexico moves by road, not by sea. Household goods cross on a bonded trailer in days, but duty-free entry depends entirely on a Menaje de Casa certified by a Mexican consulate before you leave the US.
Average shipping cost
from $1,200
Door-to-door, 20ft FCL entry point
Transit timeline
1–3 weeks
Bonded truck 1–5 days via Laredo, El Paso or Otay Mesa
Major ports of entry
Laredo (land)
Laredo (land) · El Paso (land) · Otay Mesa (land) · Veracruz (ocean)
Mexico customs & Transfer of Residence: step by step
Required registration: Menaje de Casa consular certification
- 1
Certify your Menaje de Casa at a Mexican consulate
File a full itemised inventory in Spanish with the consulate covering your US state. The consulate stamps it and confirms every item is used and owned for at least six months.
- 2
Hold a residency card before the shipment moves
Duty-free treatment requires a valid Residente Temporal or Permanente card. Tourist status does not qualify.
- 3
Choose FTL over LTL when timing matters
A full trailer clears the border on its own paperwork. Consolidated LTL loads wait for co-loaded cargo and add days at the crossing.
- 4
One shipment, one exemption
The Menaje de Casa exemption is granted once per residency. Follow-up shipments are assessed duty plus 16% IVA.
Import VAT avoided with relief
16%
Filed with Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT / Aduanas) via Menaje de Casa — certified by a Mexican consulate in the US before departure.
Primary visa pathways
- • Temporary Resident Visa
- • Permanent Resident Visa
- • Retirement (economic solvency)
- • Family Unity Visa
Lowest-cost lane out of the US, land border access, largest American expat community in the world.
Importing a vehicle into Mexico
US-plated cars enter on a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) from Banjercito, tied to your residency card. Permanent import requires NOM compliance and is restricted by model year.
Calculate landed vehicle taxesPopular expat destinations in Mexico
| City | Profile | Cost index |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | Corporate and creative hub, narrow colonia streets need shuttle vans | $$$ |
| Guadalajara | Tech corridor, strong value on space and services | $$ |
| San Miguel de Allende | Established retiree community, historic centre access limits | $$$ |
| Puerto Vallarta | Coastal lifestyle moves, humidity-rated packing recommended | $$ |