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GOODS ACROSS BORDERS

DUTY-FREE ALLOWANCES

🇲🇽 Mexico

REGIONAMERICAS
CUSTOMS AUTHORITYServicio de Administración Tributaria — SAT (Tax Administration Service, Customs Division)
VAT RATE16%

Duty-Free Allowances

CategoryAllowance
Alcohol3L
Cigarettes200
Personal goods valueUS$500
For air travelers: USD $500 duty-free in personal goods (excluding alcohol and tobacco). Alcohol: 3L per adult. Tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200g tobacco. For land border crossings: USD $75 duty-free. Goods above the limit are taxed at a simplified 16% rate plus VAT.

For air travelers: USD $500 duty-free in personal goods (excluding alcohol and tobacco). Alcohol: 3L per adult. Tobacco: 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200g tobacco. For land border crossings: USD $75 duty-free. Goods above the limit are taxed at a simplified 16% rate plus VAT.

Cash Declaration Threshold

US$10,000DECLARATION REQUIRED ABOVE THIS AMOUNT

Local currency equivalent: MXN

Travelers carrying cash, traveler's cheques, or negotiable instruments above this threshold must declare them at customs on arrival.

Special Notes

  • 01Mexico-US-Canada Agreement (USMCA/T-MEC) provides zero tariffs on qualifying goods between the three countries.
  • 02IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado) is 16% standard. Border zone rate is also 16% (formerly 11% was abolished).
  • 03Mexico is part of numerous FTAs including with the EU (TLCUEM), Japan, Chile, and many others.
  • 04The Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior Mexicana (VUCEM) is the single window for trade declarations.
  • 05Maquiladora (IMMEX) program allows duty-free import of materials for manufacturing/export.
  • 06COFEPRIS (Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks) oversees food, drug, and cosmetic imports.
  • 07Used clothing and shoes have specific import restrictions.
RULES5,339COUNTRIES85ITEMS111CARRIERS28GUIDES37UNIQUE SOURCES614LATEST VERIFICATION2026-05-13MethodologyChangelog