ARIZONA NEWS

Arizonans aren’t just visiting Mexico — visa applications more than double since 2019

Mar 3, 2023, 4:35 AM
(Photo by Ann Summa/Getty Images)...
(Photo by Ann Summa/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ann Summa/Getty Images)

PHOENIX — Mexico is no longer just a top tourist destination for Arizonans – many are also now moving there citing rising inflation and the high cost of living in the United States.

The Mexican consulate in Phoenix reported a spike in the number of visa applications from Arizonans who want to live in Mexico temporarily or permanently.

“In 2019, the number of visas that were issued by this particular consulate was about 600 to 700 in a year,” Jorge Mendoza Yescas, consul general of Mexico in Phoenix, told KTAR News 92.3FM. “Now we have almost 2,000 in a year.”

Additional staff recently had to be hired to handle the influx of applications, which are mainly coming from retirees and young people who work remotely and are known as digital nomads.

“There are many factors that they take into consideration,” Mendoza Yescas said. “Of course, the inflation rate here in the U.S. Rents are cheaper in Mexico. There’s a lot of things that are cheaper in Mexico.”

Some of the top urban areas that visa holders say they’re moving to include Mexico City, Guanajuato and Yucatan. Popular beach destinations like Riviera Nayarit, which encompasses nearly two dozen coastal towns including Puerto Vallarta, are also drawing a lot of the visa holders.

“And, of course, there a lot of people from Arizona who want to have a home and pay less taxes in Rocky Point and San Carlos,” Mendoza Yescas said.

The increase in new residents in some areas is driving up rent prices for locals. Still, Mendoza Yescas said he believes the local economies benefit from having these new residents.

“This is also, from my perspective, proof that Mexico has safe places for anyone who wants to live there,” he added.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

(El Mirage Police Department Photo)...
KTAR.com

West Valley fugitive who faked death arrested in Indiana

A West Valley fugitive who attempted to fake his death was arrested last week in Indiana, authorities said.
21 hours ago
(Rebecca Sasnett/Arizona Daily Star via AP)...
Associated Press

Report finds UA campus safety gaps after fatal shooting

A report found there were missed opportunities to investigate an expelled University of Arizona student who killed a professor last year.
21 hours ago
(Facebook Photo/Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)...
KTAR.com

MCSO seeking information after multiple people shot at West Valley party

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is seeking information on a West Valley shooting at a party that left multiple people injured.
21 hours ago
(Pixabay Photo)...
Kevin Stone

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoes grocery tax ban, signs 9 bills into law

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed two bills Tuesday, including one to ban local grocery taxes, and signed nine others into law.
21 hours ago
(Facebook Photo/Surprise Police Department)...
KTAR.com

Suspect dead following shooting with police in Surprise

A suspect died after being shot by police in the back of a car in Surprise on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
21 hours ago
(Photo: OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center)...
Sponsored Content by OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center

Here's what you need to know about OCD and where to find help

It's fair to say that most people know what obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders generally are, but there's a lot more information than meets the eye about a mental health diagnosis that affects about one in every 100 adults in the United States.

Sponsored Articles

...
Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Company looking for oldest air conditioner and wants to reward homeowner with new one

Does your air conditioner make weird noises or a burning smell when it starts? If so, you may be due for an AC unit replacement.
...
Quantum Fiber

How high-speed fiber internet edges out cable for everyday use

In a world where technology drives so much of our daily lives, a lack of high-speed internet can be a major issue.
(Desert Institute for Spine Care photo)...
DESERT INSTITUTE FOR SPINE CARE

Why DISC is world renowned for back and neck pain treatments

Fifty percent of Americans and 90% of people at least 50 years old have some level of degenerative disc disease.
Arizonans aren’t just visiting Mexico — visa applications more than double since 2019