Moving to Mexico? 5 reasons Baja California is easier than anywhere else (plus 1 challenge)

When I archetypal started reasoning astir moving to Mexico, my caput was spinning with each the advice, warnings astir bureaucratic reddish tape, and conflicting “must-do” lists I received from radical who had already relocated southbound of the border. Then I discovered thing that made it each a full batch easier: the authorities of Baja California, aka “Northern Baja.”

This under-appreciated portion of Mexico isn’t conscionable gorgeous — deliberation rugged godforsaken landscapes that tumble into turquoise seas — it’s besides 1 of the astir convenient places for Americans to dip their toes into expat life. So with that successful mind, present are 5 reasons Baja California tin marque your Mexico determination simpler, positive 1 imaginable situation you’ll request to program around.

#1 No Vehicle Temporary Importation Permit (TIP) headaches

(Unsplash/Barbara Zandoval)

If you’ve been researching mainland Mexico, you’ve astir apt heard astir the dreaded Temporary Importation Permit (TIP) for your vehicle. In Baja California? Forget it. You tin thrust your car down, enactment arsenic agelong arsenic you like, and not person to messiness with TIP paperwork oregon fees. The full Baja California peninsula, North and South, is exempt from this requirement, arsenic are immoderate “border zones,” meaning areas wrong 25 kilometers (16 miles) of the border.  

Be alert that this regularisation lone covers you successful the Mexican states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, and the borderline zones. If you privation to thrust successful mainland Mexico and you don’t privation to alteration your U.S. registration, you volition person to motion a voucher stating the conveyance volition not stay determination for longer than six months, and bounds your clip to that.

#2 Easier to trial thrust the lifestyle

(Unsplash/Josue Michel)

Baja California is practically adjacent doorway to overmuch of the Western U.S., which means you tin research earlier committing. A time travel to Rosarito? A play getaway to Ensenada? These are wholly doable without hopping connected a plane. You tin scope retired neighborhoods, chat with locals, and spot however the manner feels, past caput backmost location and program your adjacent visit. Auditioning for Mexico surviving is thing I highly recommend. As fantastic arsenic astir of america expats deliberation it is, moving to Mexico is not for everyone, truthful it is ever champion to effort earlier you buy.

#3 Less region equals little stress

(Chris and Lindsay Harvey)

Let’s beryllium real: Moving anyplace is simply a immense chore, fto unsocial moving to different country. But relocating to Baja California usually means less miles to screen compared to Central oregon Southern Mexico. That translates into little moving costs, less logistical nightmares and a smoother way for getting your possessions crossed the border.

#4 Pet-friendly and accessible by car

(Andrew Pons/Unsplash)

For those of america whose “kids” person 4 legs, moving to Baja California is truthful overmuch easier than different countries. You tin thrust down with your pets, frankincense avoiding cargo holds, agelong flights and sedatives. The borderline process for pets is comparatively straightforward and usually seamless. Once you’re there, you’ll find plentifulness of vets, favored stores and adjacent dog-friendly beaches.

#5 Close capable to support a ft successful some worlds

(U.S. Green Building Council)

Need to sojourn your U.S. bank? Have a doctor’s assignment with a specialist? Want to drawback a formation from a large planetary airport? Living successful Baja California means the U.S. is conscionable a speedy thrust away. You get each the perks of Mexico, similar a lower outgo of living, beauteous scenery and affluent culture, portion besides maintaining casual entree to services backmost home.  

Many expats take to ne'er unfastened a Mexican slope account, and those connected the West Coast of Baja California tin support their large wellness attraction options successful adjacent San Diego. For tiny issues, they cognize that if they request aesculapian care, it’s highly affordable to wage retired of pouch to spot a doc successful Baja California. Others ne'er fuss to adjacent get a Mexican telephone number, either, though I bash counsel going that way arsenic it volition marque section dealings easier.

The constituent is, relocating to Baja California gives you the champion of some worlds: meaning, Mexico and the United States.

The 1 happening that’s trickier successful Baja California

This situation volition lone use to those who privation to bargain their homes arsenic opposed to rent. Because Baja California’s coastline is successful Mexico’s “restricted zone,” foreigners can’t ain onshore outright wrong 50 kilometers of the coast, and wrong 25 kilometers (16 miles) of the border. This restricted portion covers overmuch of the Baja California peninsula.

Instead, those wanting to bargain onshore volition request to usage a fideicomiso (bank trust) oregon signifier a Mexican corp if the onshore volition besides beryllium utilized for a business. It’s wholly doable — thousands of expats bash it — but it’s thing you request to recognize earlier you commencement location hunting. I screen much details connected each of the scenarios successful my book, “Moving to Mexico the Easy Way: A No-Nonsense Guide to Northern Baja for Expats, Digital Nomads, and Retirees.”  Besides existent estate, it covers everything from visas and lodging to navigating civilization shifts, and more, truthful you tin absorption connected the adventure, not the headaches.