Customs Information

Mexico - Diplomat

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS Mexico

  • Updated COVID-19 Information: https://www.sirva.com/company/covid-19
  • According to Mexican Laws, in order to be able to import household goods free of import duties, the following rules must be followed:
  • The goods must be used at least six months old.
  • That all articles must be included in the Inventory consularized by the Mexican Consulate. Any item not included in the inventory, can be expropriated by Mexican Government.
  • The following items are not considered household goods; firearms, ammunition, liquors wine , motorcycles, boats, cars, medicine, and some pantry may require an import license, please contact us for specific information.
  • Due to our port; Mexican Customs Warehouses are saturated with merchandise, the shipments in lift vans or steel containers are placed in the open, therefore it is recommended that:
  • All containers either coming by air, by land, or by sea must be perfectly well protected against rain. The roofs covered with plate and the furniture with waterproof paper.
  • It is recommended not to ship household goods until all documentation is completed and in order. The airports allow only 30 days to release or return shipment from the time of it's arrival. All other ports hold the shipment for 60 calendar days. If the documentation is not presented by that time the shipment is declared as "ABANDONED" and is confiscated by Mexican Government.
  • Send original documents by courier service only. Do not use regular mail.
  • New items can be imported into Mexico with payment of corresponding duties/taxes. Original invoices must be presented together with the proper documents for customs clearance, of course, also new items should be included in Legalized Inventory List. 
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: The above is only for shipments coming through Nvo. Laredo, Tamps., but not other ports of entry. Please contact your destination agent if information for importing new items by other ports is required. 
  • Please do not include wine, spirits, or any alcoholic beverages as it is prohibited at all ports of entry. Please note that if wines and liquors are found in household goods, the customs negotiations may be delayed and extra handling fees will be assessed for taking out the wine and keeping it in Customs dominium until the customer gets the corresponding import permit and then pays the duties/taxes.
  • There are 60 days starting from the date the vessel arrives to the port of entry for releasing the wine. After those 60 days wine is confiscated by the Mexican Government. 
  • An airfreight shipment can be sent containing personal effects such as clothing, books, shoes, personal toilette articles, and a portable TV. The shipment should not exceed 50 kilograms per each family's member and customer has to provide:
  • Photocopies of passports for the whole family
  • A list of items in Spanish
  • Photocopies of airline tickets for the whole family

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

DIPLOMAT FORMS

MEXICAN DIPLOMATS

  • Diplomatic Franchise addressed to the Customs Authorities at the port of entry obtained through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City. 
  • Inventory list in Spanish and typed.
  • Copy of Diplomatic Carnet
  • Copy of Diplomatic Passport
  • Declaratory Letter addressed to the Mexican Customs at the port of entry declaring that all goods are used and that prohibited articles such as firearms, ammunition, wines, drugs, etc, are not included. 
  • Household Certificate / Certificado de Menage de Casa - a document that is needed in order to perform the import process of the personal goods of an arriving person in Mexico.

FOREIGN DIPLOMATS

  • Diplomatic Franchise addressed to the Customs Authorities at the port of entry obtained through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City. 
  • Inventory list in Spanish and typed.
  • Copy of Diplomatic Carnet
  • Copy of Diplomatic Passport
  • Declaratory Letter addressed to the Mexican Customs at the port of entry declaring that all goods are used and that prohibited articles such as firearms, ammunition, wines, drugs, etc, are not included.

MOTOR VEHICLES

  • Diplomatic Franchise for Vehicles must be provided by client and or his organization in Mexico.  

PETS

  • Pets (dogs and cats) require the following:
  • Vaccination Carnet
  • Health Certificate issued with 5 days before date of arrival to Mexico
  • Copy of owner's passport
  • We recommend not to send pets on the weekend and advance copies of documents by e-mail or fax before sending pets.

DUTIABLE/RESTRICTED ITEMS

  • New items pay duties and taxes and must be declared and valued before lclearing customs. New items can be imported only through Laredo, Texas.  

PROHIBITED ITEMS

  • Cars
  • Boats
  • Motorcycles
  • Firearms
  • Ammunition
  • Liquors
  • Wine
  • Plants
  • Drugs
  • Food
  • Medicine
  • Only Diplomats can import into Mexico the mentioned articles with a Diplomatic Franchise or special permit.