The Ultimate Guide to Moving to Los Cabos
From Mexican residency visas and duty-free container shipping (Menaje de Casa) to bringing your pets through SJD airport and driving without a TIP in the Baja Free Zone.
1. Mexican Residency Visas
Choosing the right legal pathway for living in Los Cabos
Tourist Card (FMM)
Up to 180 Days
Ideal for seasonal visitors and winter snowbirds. Automatically issued upon arrival at SJD airport. You cannot work locally or register a Mexican vehicle under an FMM.
Temporary Resident (Residente Temporal)
1 to 4 Years Renewable
Most popular for expats and homeowners. Requires showing proof of monthly income or bank investments at a Mexican Consulate abroad. Grants rights to bring a foreign-plated car and open Mexican bank accounts.
Permanent Resident (Residente Permanente)
Indefinite / Perpetual
Granted after 4 years of Temporary Residency or directly for retirees meeting higher financial thresholds. Never expires and carries full rights to work in Mexico without visa renewal.
2. Shipping Household Goods (Menaje de Casa)
Duty-free importation of your furniture and personal belongings
Mexican law allows foreign citizens who acquire Temporary or Permanent Residency a one-time exemption from import duties on used personal household effects, furniture, clothing, and kitchen appliances.
Before shipping, submit an itemized inventory with serial numbers to the Mexican Consulate in your home country to obtain the stamped Certificado de Menaje de Casa.
Contract a certified international moving service and Mexican customs broker to clear the container at the Tijuana, Otay Mesa, or Pichilingue (La Paz) port.
3. Driving & Bringing Vehicles (The Baja Free Zone)
Why Baja California Sur is exempt from mainland TIP rules
Unlike mainland Mexico where driving a US or Canadian car requires a Banjercito permit and cash deposit, the entire Baja California peninsula is designated a Free Trade Zone (Zona Libre). You can drive your foreign-plated car down Highway 1 from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas with only:
- Valid US/Canadian driver\'s license and current vehicle registration.
- Mexican Tourist Card (FMM) or Residency Card.
- Mexican auto liability insurance (mandatory; standard US policies do not cover Mexico).
4. Bringing Pets to Los Cabos (Dogs & Cats)
Mexico is a pet-friendly nation with straightforward animal entry requirements. When landing at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), visit the SENASICA / SAGARPA inspection booth near baggage claim:
For flights from the US or Canada, an international health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within 15 days of travel confirming rabies vaccination.
The inspection takes about 10 minutes. The SENASICA officer checks for external parasites and stamps your free import certificate.
5. Private Hospitals & Healthcare
Los Cabos boasts modern private hospitals with bilingual, US-board-certified doctors, cutting-edge surgical facilities, and direct insurance billing:
Corredor / San José del Cabo
Full-service trauma center, state-of-the-art ICU, MRI, and English-speaking staff.
Cabo San Lucas
Comprehensive emergency room, orthopedic surgery, and specialty clinics.
Cabo San Lucas & Corredor
Certified for international patient care with on-site pharmacy and diagnostic imaging.
6. High-Speed Internet & Utilities
Remote work from Cabo has surged thanks to reliable fiber optic infrastructure and satellite connectivity:
Available across San José, CSL, and El Tezal offering up to 500 Mbps symmetrical speeds.
Widely deployed in East Cape, Todos Santos, and Pescadero with 150–250 Mbps low-latency speeds.