ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- Mexican customs regulations limit travelers to one portable computer – including laptops and tablets – per foreign arrival. Bringing more than one device can result in fines of up to 19% of the device’s deemed value.
- One traveler was fined approximately $200 for carrying both a laptop and an iPad through Cancun International Airport, despite traveling to Mexico multiple times without issue in the past.
- It is incumbent upon travelers to be aware of local customs rules before entering Mexico, especially with electronics. These regulations are being enforced and can lead to unexpected fines.
In a story reported by USA Today, they write that Mexican customs regulations only allows one portable computer per foreign arrival, including laptops and tablets. The article says: “Florida-based Tammy Levent never imagined that bringing both her laptop and iPad through customs at Cancun International Airport for a work trip in June would result in an approximately $200 fine.”
Levent has visited Cancun two to three times a year for work for the last decade. However, “when Levent arrived at the airport this time, she had two check-in suitcases and a carry-on with her. Passing through customs, she was flagged to one of the tables where her luggage was examined by an agent. The agent pulled out her iPad and laptop, telling her, “You can’t have both,” she recounted to USA TODAY. She said she’s always brought these devices with her before, and this was the first time it was an issue.”
I know many people, including my wife, who packs both her laptop and her iPad in her carry-on bag every time she travels, regardless of whether she’s traveling for business or leisure. I have never heard of this kind of restriction on electronic devices before and apparently, Mexico’s customs officials are catching some travelers off guard in what seems, to me, to be a money grab.
As USA Today points out, in the United States “there’s no limit on how many laptops you can fly with, many of these passengers may not know that Mexican customs regulations only allows one portable computer per foreign arrival, including laptops and tablets. Otherwise, travelers face taxes of up to 19% of the deemed value of up to $4,000 of the device, according to the country’s General Rules for Foreign Trade, under Baggage and Passenger Allowance.”
According to Rule 3.2.3: Passenger Franchise, “For the purposes of articles 61, section VI (LA: Art. 61) of the Law, 98 (RLA: Art. 98) and 194 (RLA: Art. 194) of the Regulation, new or used merchandise that make up the luggage of passengers on international trips, whether they are residents in the country or abroad, as well as passengers from the border region or fringe bound to the rest of the national territory are the following:
1. Goods for personal use, such as clothing, footwear and hygiene and beauty products, provided they are consistent with the duration of the trip, including a trousseau; babies items, such as chair, portable crib, stroller, walker, among others, including accessories.
2. Two cameras or video recording cameras; photographic material; three portable equipment for cell phones or other wireless networks; a global positioning equipment (GPS); an electronic agenda; a portable computer equipment known as laptop, notebook, omnibook or similar; a portable copier or printer; a burner and a portable projector, with its accessories.”
These rules and restrictions appear to be old and outdated but they’re still in effect and it’s incumbent upon all travelers to know the laws of any foreign country they are entering. You may recall that earlier this year, five Americans faced a minimum sentence of 12 years in prison in Turks & Caicos, after entering the island nation with stray ammunition in their bags.
According to Statista, last year, the number of United States citizens traveling to Mexico amounted to 36.71 million. Given that Mexico is such a popular destination for American travelers, this rule could be a deterrent to tourism.
According to Riviera Maya News, “David Ortiz Mena, President of the Tulum Hotel Association, called it ‘incredible’ that while local authorities make efforts to attract more tourists, Customs are nailing tourists arriving with more than one electronic device. He acknowledged complaints from tourists being charged around 3,600 pesos for arriving at the Cancun airport with more than one laptop or tablet.”
So, if you plan to travel to Mexico, especially Cancun, anytime soon, make sure you know the local rules and customs before you go and don’t try to enter with more than one of the permitted electronic devices unless you’re willing to pay a hefty fine.
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And reason #55 Not to go to Mexico
Just an FYI – we came into Cancun airport on Saturday, and did get pulled for random customs check – but they didn’t care about electronics. Two laptops, two tablets plus two phones. They didn’t even blink. Didn’t see anyone on the inspection getting angry or being confronted. Hopefully the issue has been corrected as Mexico tourism doesn’t need the hit.