Shipping to Mexico
Considering unfolding the deckchairs and setting up a new life in the Mexican sun? Perhaps you are already in the process of planning a move to Mexico but are not sure how to go about shipping your personal belongings?
Moving to a new city is never easy, let alone a new country where there are linguistic and cultural hurdles to overcome. With visas to obtain and arrangements to be made, you’ll want to have peace of mind that your personal belongings are being safely packaged and that their delivery is carefully and precisely planned out.
White & Company have been relocating people to Mexico and destinations worldwide for over 80 years. With bespoke storage and packing services available to meet your needs our extensive door-to-door shipping and freight services are hard to beat. So whether you are moving from Glasgow to Guadalajara, or Cardiff to Cozumel, White & Company can ensure that your personal effects are handled with the utmost care, from collection in the UK right through to delivery at your new home.
Survey
Our experienced surveyor will visit your home to conduct a pre-move survey to ascertain the volume of effects being shipped. This involves a surveyor walking through the property room by room noting what items are to be exported and recording it on their electronic tablet. A written quotation will follow within 48 hours.
Storage
White & Company has storage facilities at 19 storage locations throughout the UK all providing secure containerised storage in personal dedicated storage containers. Our trusted partners in Morocco are also able to offer storage should you require it.
Packing
When our quotation has been accepted and a move date has been secured, the vehicle and removal team will arrive at your home. The removal team will proceed to export pack and wrap all items being shipped and load them onto a suitable vehicle for delivery to our closest depot, or for full loads to your home in Mexico.
Shipping
Upon arrival at your local depot all effects are transferred to the export warehouse to await loading into a 20ft or 40ft container. The container is booked with the shipping line onto the first available vessel destined to the closest port of entry to your final destination in Mexico.
Moving to Mexico? Get a Quick Quote
Why Move to Mexico?
Mexico conjures up wild images of piñata smashing, sizzling Spanish fiestas and knocking back shots of tequila to toast some of the finest and fiery cuisine in the world. It is these national symbols which play into the party stereotype that sees flocks of tourists descend upon the shores of the popular beach resorts of Cancun and Playa del Carmen each year. Yet while it is certainly true that Mexicans know how to host a good party, this perhaps overlooks some of the most interesting aspects of expat life in Mexico.
Identified as one of the six cradles of civilisation, Mexico is home to many Mesoamerican cultures which is reflected in its diverse and awe-inspiring architecture, including ancient Aztec ruins and its thriving music and arts scene. A predominately Catholic society, Mexicans still practice many historic traditions, the most notable of which include Día de Muertos, or the ‘Day of the Dead’ where families dress up and host festivals of music and food to celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed.
In addition to strong notions of family, the relaxed ‘hará mañana’ (will do tomorrow) attitude towards life attracts thousands of expats each year looking to retire on their pension funds and see out their days in the glorious Mexican sunshine. Concentrated communities continue to form in various Mexican towns, including expats from the US and Canada. One things for sure, you will never be short of things to see and do. From the stunning crystal blue waters of the Baja California coastline to the tropical rainforests of Lacandon, via the thriving Mexican metropolises of Mexico City and Guadalajara, the Mexican landscape is diverse and encapsulating in equal measure.
Mexico is also emerging as a newly industrialised country and is projected to be the world’s fifth largest economy by 2050. Many North American businesses and employees are now transcending borders to trade with Mexico as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement. As with other developing economies, crime and violence can be an issue, especially in the large cities, but media depictions can be misleading with crime much less of an issue in the beach side retirement settlements and holiday resorts that expats are drawn to.
Working in Mexico
While the coastal communities are home to large amounts of expats settling down to retire, the inland Mexican Metropolises of Monterrey and Guadalajara provide ample breeding ground for expat opportunities in a range of industries. Key industries on the look out for foreign workers include the oil, finance, telecoms and retail sectors.
Most employment will however be found in the country’s capital, Mexico city where many large multinationals have relocated to take advantage of the developing Mexican economy and the cheaper labour costs. Mexico has a thriving manufacturing and industrial centre with some very large corporates in Mexico City such as BP, Barclays, HSBP and Unilever which attract many expats looking for employment.
Outside of the major cities there is always demand for English teachers with TEFL qualifications, who make up a large proportion of the expat workforce. There are also some opportunities in Mexico’s rising tourism and hospitality sectors. Whatever environment you choose to work in, being able to speak some Spanish will certainly give you an edge.
Visas
You will need to apply for a work permit or visa from the Mexican Embassy in London before you travel. You’ll also need to already have a job offer in place from a company registered in Mexico to apply for the visa. There are two types with the first being a Temporary Resident Visa which allows expats to stay in Mexico for one year and continually re-apply for one-year extensions. The second is a Permanent Resident Visa. This visa needs no extensions and is for expats who plan to live in the country permanently.
Below are some useful websites to visit when job searching:
targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice
jobs.goabroad.com/search/mexico
www.reed.co.uk/jobs/jobs-in-mexico
Property
Due to the political situation in the USA and the President’s stance regarding Mexico, the demand for real estate has increased considerably. For example, in the border city of Tijuana, near California, property has risen by 35% over the last year. Experts stated in 2017 that Tijuana has the best foreign real estate market in the world and demand is outstripping supply in the housing market.
Considering the faltering Mexican Peso and the volatility of US-Mexico relations at present, buyers have an incredible opportunity in the housing market.
Purchasing a property is also very easy with a minimum of bureaucracy and red tape. However, it is advisable to enlist the services of a real estate lawyer to oversee the transaction, especially for anyone who does not speak Spanish.
As a guide the average cost of buying an apartment (per square metre) in the city is currently MXN 20,789 (£784). A similar apartment outside the city would cost MXN 14,490 (£546). Should you choose to rent a home you will find renting is very affordable. A one bedroomed apartment in the city would cost
approximately MXN 5415 (£204) per month and outside the city the cost drops to MXN 3633 (£137).
The following sites have a selection of properties for sale or rent:
www.point2homes.com
www.century21global.com/mexico
General Information
Moving to Mexico is a thrilling opportunity, but also one that requires dedication, plenty of organisation and time to research. For some helpful tips and information on settling into life in Mexico, visit some of the many expat forums online:
www.expatexchange.com/mexico/mexicoblogs.htm
mexiconewsdaily.com/news/new-website-launches-for-expats
www.expatsinmexico.com
Travel
Getting around Mexico by road today is easier and safer than has ever been. Mexico has developed and extensive transportation network to meet the needs of a growing economy. Public transport is affordable and very efficient and the bus network has received sizeable investment over the last few years. Its railway system is equally as good and covers over 19,000 miles.
A new high-speed rail link has been proposed by the Secretary of Communications and Transport, although this is in its infancy. There are also many domestic airports in Mexico and since the country is large, this is often the best way to travel long distances.
If you are going to be driving you will find the driving etiquette to be significantly different from that of the UK. Most of the road signs are in Spanish. If you haven’t driven in Mexico before, and especially if you are not very fluent in Spanish, stick to the toll roads, however, you need to make sure you have plenty of cash with you because many toll booths do not accept cards.
Healthcare
The standard of healthcare in Mexico is good, reasonably priced and is improving steadily. Its medical infrastructure is highly rated for the most part and is usually excellent in major cities. Most expat residents in Mexico, including those with pre-existing conditions, don’t feel the need for private health insurance, as lower costs in the private sector make it unnecessary.
For some expats, private health insurance is still a popular option to offset delays and to guarantee treatment. You will need to ensure that your package covers the cost of emergency evacuation and repatriation to your home country. Do your research thoroughly before you arrive to find out which healthcare option and provider has the best combination of benefits and premiums for you. Some of the major companies offering plans in the country are GNP Mexico, Monterrey, Royal and Sun Alliance, MetLife and DVK.
Shipping My Effects to Mexico
The whole moving experience can be incredibly stressful, especially so when relocating abroad. White & Company, with its 145 years of experience in the removal industry, can help make the process a lot less traumatic.
White & Company move thousands of families around the globe each year and have branches all over the UK. We can arrange a free no obligation home survey and quotation. This will be carried out by one of our qualified surveyors, who is able to answer any of the questions and concerns you may have and offer advice where necessary.
The purpose of the survey is to determine the volume of effects you will be shipping. The cost of shipment is based on the space your effects will take up in our vehicle if transportation is by road and in a container if being shipped by sea. Following the visit, you will receive a written quotation.
White & Company
Providing International Removals since 1871
We recommend a visit from one of our Surveyors for all International moves, so that we can assess your requirements, and the volume of goods to be moved.
Below is a guide to the largest cities in Mexico:
Ecatepec
Guadalajara
Juarez
Leon
Mexico City
Monterrey
Puebla
Tijuana
What Others Say…
Wayne Middleton and Brian Witherford were professional and extremely helpful. Did a brilliant job. Would recommend Whites to anyone. Thanks very much.
Have used this company regularly for 5 years including my time in the armed forces. They are professional and efficient. Will use them again on our next move.
The move went very smoothly and they were very polite.
A very smooth move by White and Co. The team worked very hard and were polite, professional and helpful.
