• Many retired Americans move to Mexico for its natural beauty and history.Mexico Ruins image by KTep from Fotolia.com
  
  Many Americans dream of moving to a tropical paradise. Some people with freelance or independent incomes want to do so in the prime of their lives, while others wait until retirement and their golden years. Mexico is a very viable option for people, as some locations offer cheaper cost-of-living rates than many U.S. cities. If you are planning to move to Mexico, you should be aware of the many requirements and documents necessary to live there.
  
  

Passport

• Even though you may be planning to go to Mexico and live there indefinitely, you must have a valid U.S. passport that will not expire while you are down there. Your passport must have at least one year before it expires in order to receive the proper visas you’ll need to live in Mexico legally.
  
  

FM-T (Tourist) Visa

• If you are planning to rent a house or apartment in Mexico, rather than buying property there, consider having an FM-T. This is a tourist visa and will allow you to live in Mexico for up to six months. This is a more cost-efficient option than the FM3 or FM2, and may be ideal for people who want to “try out” living in Mexico before making a major purchase.
  
  

FM3 Visa

• There are more than a dozen different types of FM3s, according to International Living. The FM3 nonimmigrant visa is the most common type of visa for retired Americans, and it is good for one year before its required renewal. This type of visa is ideal for people who want to live in Mexico part-time, such as in the winter months. In order to qualify for an FM3, you must show proof of income. The required proof of income changes regularly, but generally you must prove that you have around $1,000 USD per month in income, such as from savings or pension plans. If you own and reside in a home in Mexico, the income requirement is typically reduced by 50 percent. Each year, you must go to the local Mexican consulate office to renew this visa.
  
  

FM2 Visa

• If you are planning to live in Mexico full time and on a permanent basis, you may want to get an FM2 Immigrant Visa. This visa is similar to a resident alien visa, and will give you the right to work in Mexico. In fact, you will have many of the same rights as Mexicans except for the right to vote. After you have FM2 status for five years, you may seek permanent residence status. The qualifications for this type of visa are similar to the FM3 requirements, but you must show a slightly higher level of monthly income, such as $1,200 a month.
  
  

Pets

• People who don’t want to leave their fluffy friends behind can bring their pets to Mexico with them. According to Mexperience, cats and dogs are the easiest types of pets to bring to Mexico; many birds and snakes will require special permits. In order to bring your cat or dog, you must contact the local Mexican Consulate office to receive permission to bring them, as well as provide a health certificate from state official or licensed veterinarian. You must show proof of rabies and distemper vaccines that were given at least 15 days before the pet arrives in Mexico.