Posted by Donna Meyer on March 11th, 2010 |
0 commentsAs the giant demographic swell called the “Baby Boomers” approaches retirement age, many of its members are turning their eyes south. Retirement in Mexico is a hot topic these days. Places like San Miguel de Allende, Ajijic, Lake Chapala, and Cuernavaca are booming with American and Canadian retirees, and other less-known parts of Mexico are picking up speed in the expatriate race to retirement.
Why is the idea of a Mexican retirement so appealing to so many? There may be as many personal reasons as there are retirees. They encompass the desire to experience another culture, a need to reinvent ourselves, a search for greater freedom, culture, meaning. Weather is often a factor too.
And money, of course, is often at the top of the list. Even though Mexico is quickly catching up in the cost-of-living sweepstakes–and a few budget items will take a larger chunk of your monthly check in Mexico than they do back home–it can still cost significantly less overall to live in most of Mexico than in many areas of the United States.
One Mexican government program in particular can help people over 60 years old stretch their budget. INAPAM is a federal program designed to enhance the quality of life for senior citizens in Mexico, and make it cheaper as well. And since October 2007, it’s available to foreigners who live in Mexico as permanent residents on an FM-2 or FM-3 visa. Getting this handy little card can really make a difference in what it costs to retire in Mexico.
INAPAM stands for Instituto Nacionál de las Personas Adultas Mayores. And the little ID card they issue can sometimes be an “Open Sesame” to real savings. What kind of discounts are we talking about? How about half off long-distance buses, half off local buses, free museum admissions, deep discounts of symphony and theater tickets? What about savings on your water bill, lab tests, eyeglasses, discounts in dozens of shops and restaurants? Traveling in Mexico? Use your card to get reduced rates at many hotels–even some of the best resorts in Puerto Vallarta and Cancun.
The INAPAM program is administered locally by DIF (Desarrollo Integrál de la Familia). Even though the program was expanded last year to include foreigners with an FM-3 resident visa, some local offices haven’t got the message yet. They may try to turn you away, saying you need an FM-2 document. Don’t accept it. Politely ask them to please call the federal office for clarification of the law. Several Americans have done just that recently and walked out of the office with their cards in hand after first being denied.
What Do You Need to Apply?
First, find the DIF office in part of Mexico. If there isn’t one, ask at the local government office where you should go to apply. Some offices issue cards only one day a week, and they may not have enough physical cards to meet that week’s demand. Show up early and prepare to wait a bit.
The regulations my vary a bit from one office to the next, but basically this is what you should bring with you:
* Your passport
* Your birth certificate
* Your valid FM-2 or FM-3 residence visa
* A photo ID such as your passport or driver’s license
* Proof of current residence in Mexico: i.e. a utility bill in your name, deed to your home, or rental lease
* Three photos in “infantile” size (smaller than passport size, but any while-you-wait passport photographer will know the correct dimensions).
* Contact information for someone to be contacted in case of emergency
*At least two photocopies of everything on this list
With all these documents, you’ll soon walk out of the office with the magic card in your hand. Make a copy or two and have one of them laminated to stand up to constant use. You’ll find yourself whipping it out regularly and pocketing significant savings, making your retirement in Mexico even richer than you’d hoped.
For a more detailed look at the INAPAM program, visit Experience San Miguel de Allende-INAPAM
Donna Meyer is a freelance writer and editor. As a long time resident of San Miguel de Allende, and enchanting colonial town in Mexico’s heartland, she is also founder and webmaster of The Definitive Inside Guide to San Miguel de Allende.
(c) copyright Donna Meyer, 2008
Author: Donna Meyer
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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