I live in the US and I want to move to Cancun, Mexico. How difficult would it be to get a job there?

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Don J

I don't understand so much negativity in the answers, I have lived and worked here for 15 years. If you have Mexican contacts, good job skills (especially in the tourist industry), are fluent in English AND Spanish, you will be able to work fairly easily, that is NOT the problem.

Even in Cancun, the problem here will be earning anything like what you can earn in the US. The average Mexican earns between 20 - 25% of what an American earns for the SAME job! (and pays 50-60% of the living costs). Even if you have good contacts, are fluently bilingual, extremely competent and work in Cancun in the tourist industry, you will be extremely fortunate to make HALF of what you could earn in the US with similar skills (legally)!

If that isn't a problem for you, why then come on down, the weather is wonderful, the ocean is warm and life is truly SWEET..............

playasusie

I am a german and live since 1996 in Playa del Carmen. It's getting from year to year more difficult to get from the Migration the Permission to live and work here.
Just big Hotels are able to arrange the legal documents for foreigners. Since a few month you have to proove that you speak and write spanish.
Just be carefull and before you quit your live in the states, come here and check it out. I saw in all that years a lot of people who came with dreams and had to leave bankrupt.
The Migration in Cancun is not so bad like the one here in Playa, but anyway you should really get all the informations and the job and the FM3 before you move here.
I wish you good luck
Susie

mexico2uk

It's not so easy to find a job in Cancun as you can only do a job that a Mexican person cannot do. For example you cannot legally work in a bar or a restaurant. The types of job that you may be able to do would be something like time share, animation in a hotel, English teacher. However immigration are very hot at the moment and are asking for proof that you speak Spanish ie you have some kind of degree in the language and also a degree or diploma in the type of job you are doing ie travel and tourism or something like that.
The pay in most jobs is not very much so if you are willing to give up your current standard of living go for it. It's a good idea to come on vacation a couple of times and check out the real Cancun before making the move to live here. Also save like crazy so you can live for at least three months without working.

tkdsl101

Well I don't think it would be that hard because lots of tourist go there. But remember it is Mexico so you do have to speak some Spanish.

Charlie

I am an American living in Mexico. It is VERY difficuly for foreigners to be employed in Mexico. The law states that you can only be hired for a job for which no qualified Mexican can be found. Then you must obtain an FM3 with a work permit...not at all easy. If you want to teach English, you must have a college deree which you can have "certified" a lengthy process...then...the pay will be a fraction of what you would earn in the United States for a similar job. This is the REALITY of trying to work in Mexico. Some people obtain jobs "unofficially"...but the pay is very low and you are taking a big chance on being deported if caught.

cigarman_tx

Before you decide to move to Mexico, you had better check on the rights of immigrants. You will find that as an immigrant in Mexico you will have very few rights. The last I checked (and it's been a while so you might want to verify) immigrants to Mexico do not have the right to vote in elections and cannot own property.

GABY

Foriegners can only work in Mexico is certain areas in which the mexican government has determined they must have them to perform that business. Be careful, they are very strict and can mjail you. You do not have rights in Mexico like the US. In some types of businesses you can start a business and work in it. It is usually expensive and takes some time to accomplish. DO NOT TRY TO WORK WITHOUT PROPER PAPERS AND DOCUMENTS. THEY WILL GET YOU.

mar

If you are bilingual it should be pretty easy to get hired as they are always looking for people who speak English. Your employer can then give you a letter to take to "Relaciones Exteriores" to make your stay legal....I recommend you check with the Mexican authorities but it shouldn't be too hard. Good Luck.

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