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Settling in

Settling in Mexico City

Mexico City is tamed step by step: the residence visa obtained in France, the residence card to collect at the INM within a month of arrival, then the CURP that opens every door, the consular register, housing near the school and finally the car or ride-hailing apps. Here is what we would have liked to know before arriving, checked against official sources.

Verified on 31 October 2026

Arrival and first steps

French citizens enter Mexico without a visa for a tourist stay, but a family moving in needs a temporary resident visa for each member, applied for at the Mexican embassy in Paris before departure, then converted into a residence card once there.

Good to know

  • For a tourist stay, the passport is enough: the migration form (FMM) is generated electronically on arrival and the entry stamp cannot exceed 180 days. Any paid activity, however, requires a visa, applied for at the consular section of the Mexican embassy in France. Source
  • The temporary resident visa is applied for in Paris (4 rue Notre-Dame-des-Victoires), by online appointment only, with an in-person interview; the categories useful to families are work (job offer approved by the INM), family reunification for spouse and children, and students. A complete file is processed in at most 10 working days. Source
  • The visa is only an entry document: within 30 days of arrival, each family member goes to the INM (Instituto Nacional de Migración) to exchange the visa for the tarjeta de residente temporal, the residence card, valid for up to four years and renewable. Minor children are attached through family reunification. Source
  • With the residence card comes the CURP (Clave Única de Registro de Población), the 18-character identifier everyone will ask you for: school, bank, IMSS, phone operator, tax office. It can be looked up and printed online. Source
  • Registration with the French consular register is free, valid 5 years and done online on service-public.fr: French ID, proof of residence in Mexico and a recent photo; the consulate validates within a few days. It is required for school grants and voting from abroad. Source
  • Week 1, in order: INM appointment for the residence card, CURP, consular register, bank account as soon as the card is in hand, RFC (tax number) for whoever is working, then SIM card and school enrolment for the children.
  • A minor travelling without both parents needs a notarised parental authorisation, apostilled and translated into Spanish if issued in France; to leave Mexico, the SAM form (Formato de Salida de Menores) is completed online. Source

Addresses

  • Consulat général de France à Mexico

    Consulate

    Lafontaine 32, Colonia Polanco, 11560 Ciudad de México

    In the heart of Polanco, a few streets from the Lycée franco-mexicain. Passports, civil status and certificates by appointment only, Monday to Friday mornings; routine questions go through the France Consulaire phone service. Mexico Accueil holds its drop-in there.

    Website Source

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Housing: neighbourhoods and renting

In a city this size, you choose the school run first: Polanco and the Lomas around the Polanco campus of the Lycée franco-mexicain, Coyoacán and San Ángel around the Coyoacán campus, San Miguel Chapultepec around the EFAD, Santa Fe and Interlomas for those working in the business district.

Good to know

  • Polanco gathers the great majority of French families: the Lycée franco-mexicain, the embassy and the Alliance française are there, with parks, museums and shops, for a very pleasant quality of life that is a little pricier than elsewhere. Source
  • Condesa and Roma, close to Polanco and well served, charm with their terraces and parks, Condesa being the calmer of the two; Coyoacán, half an hour from the centre, offers a colonial village feel, less Europeanised. Given the city's size, settle near the school or the workplace. Source
  • The standard lease runs twelve months, with one month's deposit. Landlords often ask for a guarantor who owns property in Mexico City (aval); failing that, a póliza jurídica, an unpaid-rent insurance taken out by the tenant, replaces it. Have your residence card, work contract and bank statements ready.
  • 'Sin muebles' often means no appliances at all: check for a fridge, cooker and water heater (boiler), and test the water pressure. Buildings store water in tanks (tinaco) and gas comes in cylinders or a tank: ask how they are refilled.
  • Seismic activity is constant in the capital: ask about the building's construction year and how it fared in the 1985 and 2017 earthquakes, locate the evacuation instructions and the seismic alert siren, and avoid ground floors in neighbourhoods that flood during the rainy season. Source
  • The Lycée franco-mexicain offers school transport and the EFAD a bus service by zone (Condesa, Polanco, Roma, Lomas, Juárez): this is what lets many families live twenty minutes from school without driving twice a day. Source

Addresses

  • Polanco

    Neighbourhood

    The historic French quarter: Polanco campus of the Lycée franco-mexicain, consulate, Alliance française, Chapultepec museums on foot. Among the highest rents in town.

    Source

  • Lomas de Chapultepec et Bosques de las Lomas

    Neighbourhood

    Residential hills west of Polanco: houses with gardens, quiet streets, embassies, ten minutes by car from the Polanco campus. A car is essential.

    Source

  • Condesa et Roma

    Neighbourhood

    The neighbourhoods of terraces and parks (Parque México, Parque España), very popular with young families and couples; Condesa is the calmer, Roma the livelier. Well served, close to the EFAD and Polanco.

    Source

  • San Miguel Chapultepec et Escandón

    Neighbourhood

    Between Condesa and the Chapultepec forest: the École d'Alembert et Diderot, quiet streets and low houses, the Papalote and the CCI France Mexique nearby.

    Source

  • Coyoacán et San Ángel

    Neighbourhood

    The colonial south: Coyoacán campus of the Lycée franco-mexicain, Viveros, Frida Kahlo museum, leafy squares and markets. Calmer and more Mexican than Polanco, half an hour from the centre.

    Source

  • Santa Fe et Interlomas

    Neighbourhood

    The western business district and its residential towers: ABC Santa Fe hospital, Interlomas Alliance française, La Mexicana park. Handy for those who work there, far from the lycée campuses at rush hour.

    Source

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Phone and insurance

A prepaid SIM is enough for the first weeks; a contract plan comes with an address and a bank account. On insurance, health comes first.

Good to know

  • For the phone, a prepaid SIM (Telcel, AT&T, Movistar, Bait) can be bought with a passport in any convenience store and topped up online; a contract plan requires an address, a local bank account and often the RFC.
  • No health insurance is compulsory to live in Mexico, but hospitals systematically refuse patients without a financial guarantee and require costs to be paid upfront: 'gastos médicos mayores' or international cover for the whole family, including hospitalisation and repatriation, is the first insurance to take out. Source
  • If you buy a car, insure it at least third party before driving: liability cover is required on federal roads and, in an accident, an uninsured vehicle is impounded. Comprehensive cover (cobertura amplia) with roadside assistance is the norm among families.
  • Tenant's home insurance is not compulsory but useful in a seismic city: check that earthquake damage and family liability are included. The landlord insures the building.

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Banking and money

The Mexican account opens once you hold the residence card and the CURP. In the meantime, your French bank card and some cash will do: cash is still very present in daily life, and SPEI transfers settle rent, school and bills.

Good to know

  • To open an account as a foreigner, banks ask for valid ID (the passport), your immigration document (the residence card), the CURP, a Mexican mobile number and a recent proof of address. Plan to open the account after collecting the card at the INM, ideally in a branch. Source
  • Until the local account is open, your French card works in most shops, but ATM withdrawals are charged by the Mexican bank and often by yours. Not every online multi-currency card is available: Wise, for instance, says it does not yet offer its card in Mexico. Source
  • Day to day, cash is still the most common way to pay for small purchases (markets, tianguis, small shops, tips), even though cards and app transfers have grown markedly since 2021. Always keep some notes and coins. Source
  • Rent, school, the housekeeper or the plumber are most often paid by SPEI transfer, instant between Mexican banks, to a CLABE, a debit card or a mobile number. The official receipt of a transfer (CEP) can be downloaded from the Bank of Mexico's website. Source
  • With DiMo, the Bank of Mexico's service, you link your mobile number to your account from your bank's app to receive transfers without sharing a CLABE; linking is free, any transfer fees depend on the bank. Source
  • Keep your French account for taxes, a loan or rent in France, and to fund the Mexican account by international transfer. Tell your bank you are leaving: a 'resident' account must be converted into a 'non-resident' one, and not every bank keeps clients in every country. Source

Addresses

  • BBVA México

    Bank

    Large branch and ATM network; its website lists the documents asked of foreigners.

    Website Source

  • Banorte

    Bank

    Large Mexican bank, branches across the city.

    Website Source

  • Santander México

    Bank

    Mexican subsidiary of the Spanish group, branches across the city.

    Website Source

  • Banamex

    Bank

    Formerly Citibanamex, separated from Citi since December 2024; account numbers and CLABE unchanged for customers.

    Website Source

  • HSBC México

    Bank

    International network, handy if you already bank with HSBC in another country.

    Website Source

  • Mercado Pago

    Bank

    Mercado Libre's online account and payments: QR payment at many merchants, SPEI transfers.

    Website Source

  • Nu México

    Bank

    Fully online institution, authorised to become a bank in April 2025; everything happens in the app.

    Website Source

  • DiMo (Banco de México)

    No app to download: the service is activated in your bank's app.

    Website Source

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Getting set up

There is a single IKEA in Mexico City, at Oceanía, on the east side near the airport; otherwise the Liverpool department stores, Coppel and The Home Depot cover furniture and appliances, with delivery, and Mercado Libre and Facebook Marketplace listings help you start on a budget.

Addresses

  • IKEA Oceanía

    Furniture and home

    Encuentro Oceanía, Av. del Peñón 355, Moctezuma 2.a Sección, Venustiano Carranza, 15530 Ciudad de México

    The city's only IKEA store, in the Encuentro Oceanía mall; shopping and delivery also through the IKEA Shopping app.

    Website Source

  • Liverpool

    Furniture and home

    Department store found in many malls: furniture, bedding, appliances, home linen.

    Website Source

  • Coppel

    Appliances

    Popular chain for appliances, furniture and clothing, stores across the city and online shopping.

    Website Source

  • The Home Depot México

    Appliances

    DIY, appliances, storage and garden; delivery tracking in the app.

    Website Source

  • Walmart

    Supermarket

    Walmart hypermarkets and Walmart Express supermarkets, online grocery and delivery.

    Website Source

  • City Market

    Supermarket

    La Comer group supermarkets; home delivery or in-store pickup from the app.

    Website Source

  • Costco México

    Supermarket

    Membership warehouses, bulk sizes for setting up (linen, appliances, groceries).

    Website Source

  • Antara Fashion Hall

    Shopping mall

    Av. Ejército Nacional 843-B, Col. Granada, Miguel Hidalgo, 11520 Ciudad de México

    Mall in the Polanco area, where many French families live.

    Website Source

  • Centro Santa Fe

    Shopping mall

    Av. Vasco de Quiroga 3800, Santa Fe, Cuajimalpa de Morelos, 05348 Ciudad de México

    Large mall with El Palacio de Hierro, Liverpool and Sears, handy from Santa Fe and Interlomas.

    Website Source

  • Parque Delta

    Shopping mall

    Av. Cuauhtémoc 462, Narvarte, Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México

    Central mall at the corner of Viaducto Miguel Alemán, between Roma, Condesa and Narvarte.

    Website Source

  • Mercado Libre

    Second-hand

    The country's main online marketplace, new and used, home delivery.

    Website Source

  • Facebook Marketplace

    Second-hand

    Person-to-person listings, useful for second-hand furniture and children's things.

    Website Source

Getting around with children

Metro, Metrobús, trolleybus, Cablebús: the network is huge and very cheap, but packed at peak times and hard to manage with a pushchair. Families alternate ride-hailing, the school bus and, often, a car for weekends.

Good to know

  • A single rechargeable card (Movilidad Integrada) works on the Metro, Metrobús, trolleybus and Cablebús; it is bought at ticket windows and topped up at machines. At peak times, the Metro and Metrobús reserve the first cars for women and children: a real relief with little ones.
  • Pushchair: most Metro stations have no lift or escalator, pavements are uneven and pedestrian crossings scarce on the big avenues; a baby carrier helps in the first months. The Metrobús, with high platforms, is level boarding.
  • Never hail a taxi in the street: prefer taxi ranks (sitio) and ride-hailing apps with the safety options on (shared location, authentication code, online payment). Apps offer child seats in some ride categories. Source
  • Your French licence lets you drive in Mexico for 6 months as a visitor, but it cannot be exchanged: once resident, you must obtain a Mexican licence from your state's authorities. The international permit, requested from the ANTS before leaving, eases the first months. Source
  • Car or not? Many families end up with one for shopping, activities and getaways, but traffic is dense and the Hoy No Circula programme bans each car one day a week according to its plate and emissions sticker (verificación). Fill up in daytime and avoid leaving the main roads. Source
  • For the school run, the lycée's school transport and the EFAD's zone bus save two hours at the wheel every day; many Polanco families walk or use shared bikes (Ecobici) to the campus. Source

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Admin: CURP, RFC, IMSS and the consulate

Three identifiers run your admin life: the CURP for everyone, the RFC for whoever works or invoices, the IMSS social security number (NSS) for employees. The consulate remains your town hall and prefecture.

Good to know

  • The CURP is assigned to foreign residents with their residence card; it is required to enrol a child at school, open an account, join the IMSS or obtain the RFC. Check the spelling of your names on receipt: a mistake is hard to fix later. Source
  • The RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) is the tax number issued by the SAT, by appointment, with residence card, CURP and proof of address. The employer needs it for payroll, and it is used to issue or receive invoices (facturas), including to deduct school fees. Source
  • Income tax (ISR) is withheld at source by the employer; tax residents declare worldwide income and an annual return is due in April in several cases (several employers, non-salary income, deductions to claim). A tax treaty links France and Mexico to avoid double taxation. Source
  • Every employee is enrolled by the employer with the IMSS, the Mexican social security: they receive a number (NSS), are attached to a local clinic (UMF) by address and can register spouse and children as beneficiaries. The IMSS also runs the nurseries for working parents and paid maternity leave. Source
  • What the consulate does: passports and ID cards, registration of births and marriages, consular register, means-tested school grants for AEFE-accredited schools (campaigns from January to February and July to September), elections, exceptional social assistance. Source
  • What it does not do: Mexican visas and residence cards (that is the INM), legal advice (it publishes a list of lawyers and translators), and it never covers your health, hospital or repatriation costs. Source

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Budget: what costs more, what costs less

Mexico City can be very affordable or very expensive depending on how you live: the French school, health insurance and a Polanco flat weigh heavily; on the other hand, daily life, home help and outings cost markedly less than in France. No precise figures, but here are the orders of magnitude.

Good to know

  • Housing: comparable to a big French city in Polanco, the Lomas or Santa Fe for a secure family flat, markedly cheaper in Condesa, Roma or Coyoacán, and far cheaper still once you leave the expat neighbourhoods. Source
  • School: the heaviest line for a family choosing French schooling. The Lycée franco-mexicain charges ten monthly payments from September to June, plus annual re-enrolment fees and a one-off admission fee, with discounts from the second child; see our school fees page. Source
  • Health: markedly more expensive than in France if you use private care, as almost all expat families do. Insurance is the key; consultations are paid at each visit and hospitals ask for a guarantee before admitting. Source
  • Home help, nanny, cleaning, restaurants and ride-hailing: far cheaper than in France, which changes life for working parents. Since the domestic work reform, a declared household employee must be enrolled with the IMSS by her employer. Source
  • Groceries: fruit, vegetables, tortillas and local produce at the market cost a fraction of French prices; cheese, wine, brand-name nappies, books in French and anything imported cost more than in France. New cars and petrol are average, appliances a little dearer.
  • Culture and transport: public transport costs a fraction of Paris prices, the Soumaya museums are free, national museums offer a resident rate, and parks are free. Most of the outings budget goes on private clubs and theme parks. Source

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A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Mexico City will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Consulat général de France à Mexico
  2. 2 Entrée et séjour au Mexique (consulat)
  3. 3 Ambassade du Mexique en France, services aux étrangers et visas
  4. 4 Instituto Nacional de Migración, démarches migratoires
  5. 5 lepetitjournal.com Mexico, dans quel quartier emménager
  6. 6 Bourses scolaires AEFE au Mexique (consulat)
  7. 7 BBVA México, ouvrir un compte quand on est étranger
  8. 8 IKEA Oceanía, page du magasin

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