02/09/2024
When selling a destination, it is really important that we know basic, and also more advanced facts about it. Things like knowing if you need a visa, passport if you have to fill out any paperwork and where the closest swim up bar is are crucial, but so is knowing what you are allowed to bring into the country you are traveling to.
‼️Mexico has customs rules that have been in existence for some time, and over the last few years, they have started enforcing these rules more than in the past. Some of the customs rules will not be relevant to our clients, but a few are REALLY important, and our clients MUST know about them or risk issues at the airport and paying taxes.
💻You are only allowed to bring 1 (one) computing device into Mexico, tax free, whether you are on vacation or living here. I have translated it from Spanish, but it reads “a portable computer of the so-called laptop, notebook, omni book or similar”.
💸This means, if you bring a laptop AND an iPad, you will have to pay tax/duty on one of them, depending on the value of the device. I do not work for Mexican customs, so I cannot provide more details on this, but I don’t believe a Kindle falls into this category as the only thing you can do on it is read, not compute.
🤷♀️In 99% of cases, the person bringing a laptop and an iPad is doing so for work purposes, but customs agents have to assume that anyone doing so could be trying to sell one of the devices, hence the taxing.
❌It is not up to us to question the customs laws of another country, so please don’t do that in the comments, it’s a waste of time. Don’t want to come to/sell Mexico because of this? That’s a shame, but it’s your choice.
🚫Please don’t write-I always bring both and have never had a problem. That is irrelevant. You probably didn’t have a problem because you didn’t get searched. If they don’t search you, they simply do not know what is inside your bag. If you did get searched and had no problem, you were lucky, but that is not the norm. they ARE charging people, and it’s up to us to let our clients know the facts, not random one-off stories.
🚬On this same topic, you are ONLY allowed to bring in 10 packs of ci******es to Mexico. If they find you with more, you will have to pay large fines, depending on how much you have. There is no option to simply throw them out. My friend’s mom had to pay over $1100. This is REAL. Please warn your clients. There is a duty-free store before the customs area so some travellers will pick up a carton (10 packs) there, but are also coming with whatever they have at home, and then they get dinged at customs. If clients need ci******es, they should either come with ZERO or purchase them after leaving the airport.
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