CUSTOMS REGULATIONS 
- 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
- Note: Mexican Customs is controlled by the Mexican Army.
Menage de Casa: Mexican citizens and permanent Mexican resident visa holders need to obtain the Menaje de Casa at the Mexican consulate closest to their origin residence, after their goods are packed, once they have the final packing list, they will ask them for the list of items included in their shipment (typed in Spanish and some consulates have specific formats) and, if Mexican, proof that he has been living outside of Mexico for at least the last 6 consecutive months (they normally ask that the proof of residence is under the owner of the goods who is requesting the Menaje, what they accept as proof varies by consulate), this document cannot be obtained in Mexico. Every consulate is different and has different requirements and processes, customer will need to contact the consulate directly with anticipation to ask them for the requirements, cost, if they have a specific format in which they need the list, if they needs a previous appointment and how long it takes for them to issue the Menaje, so they can take it into account when making his travel plans.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR DIPLOMATS
- Diplomatic Franchise addressed to the Customs Authorities at the port of entry obtained through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City. This will be issued by the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores in Mexico (Foreign Affairs Office in Mexico).
- Inventory list in Spanish and typed.
- If foreigner: Color Copy of valid Visa for your Diplomatic Mission in Mexico
- If Mexican: 2 ORIGINAL sets of the Menaje de Casa obtained at the Mexican Consulate closest to your origin residence. (the consulate will give you 3 original sets)
- Copy of utility bill (gas, water, power, etc), no more than 2 months old, of your origin residence.
- Copy of utility bill (gas, water, power, etc), no more than 2 months old, of your destination residence in Mexico.
- Current address in Mexico with a working telephone number.
- Signed affidavit declaring shipment value and that no prohibited items are included and that all imported household goods will be brought out of Mexico when your visa expires or you depart definitely (we provide this form for shipper to fill and sign)
- Applicable to shipments coming from the USA: Power of Attorney for US customs (we provide this form for shipper to fill and sign)
- Power of Attorney for Mexican customs (we provide this form for shipper to fill and sign)
Send original documents by courier service only. Do not use regular mail.
MOTOR VEHICLES
- Diplomatic Franchise. This will be issued by the Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores in Mexico = Foreign Affairs Office in Mexico.
- Color Copy of main pages of valid Diplomatic Passport
- If foreigner: Color Copy of valid Visa for your Diplomatic Mission in Mexico
- Copy of utility bill (gas, water, power, etc), no more than 2 months old, of your origin residence.
- Copy of utility bill (gas, water, power, etc), no more than 2 months old, of your destination residence in Mexico.
- Copy of Circulation Card / Valid vehicle registration (Vehicle must be plated)
- Copy of Owner’s identification
- Copy of Vehicle Title / Ownership
- Insurance document, in case car is insured.
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
- See below list for prohibited items.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
- New items (Purchased in the last 6 months).
- New or Used Items packed in their original package or crate.
- Food in any kind of Presentation (Spices, Canned Goods, Dry Food, Pets Food, Baby Food, Candies, Dehydrated Food, powder food, etc.).
- Plants, Seeds, Fertilizer, Tobacco/ tobacco products, cigarettes/ cigars, natural items, vegetation, untreated wood, raw wood, firewood, dried plants, etc.
- Items in general repeated several times not consistent with a normal household (ex. 3 refrigerators, 4 ovens, 2 washing machines, etc)
- E-Cigarettes / Hookahs / Pipes, etc.
- Safe / security boxes locked and/or with contents, any item with a lock locked and/or with contents (these may be included empty and open)
- Any kind of Beverages, Liquors, Wines, Booze, Juices, Water, powder beverages, coffee/ coffee pods, etc.
- Valuables such as money, jewelry (not even fake or costume jewelry/ bijoux), watches, check books, credit and debit cards, Passports, visas, cell phones, etc.
- Pantry Items (paper napkins, disposable plates/cups/utensils/straws, toothpicks, wipes, etc), Toilet Paper, Diapers, Feminine hygiene supplies, replacement parts/ items in general, light bulbs, etc.
- Sprays, Liquids or creamy items such as body lotions, shampoos, liquid soap, perfume, liquid makeup, hair spray, deodorant, etc.
- Chemical substances, gas/oxygen/oil tanks, gas, oxygen, oil, washing and cleaning supplies (bleach, floor wax, floor / carpet cleaners, oven cleaners, drain cleaners, detergents, fabric softeners, stain removers, acetone, air fresheners, etc.)
- Firearms, Guns, Pellet Guns, Ammunition, Explosives, Carbines, Rifles, Bullets, Swords, Bows, Arrows, Hunting Knives, Box/office cutters, razors, Decorative /toy weaponry, and any item that may be considered or looks like a weapon (Kitchen knives are OK).
- Drugs, Medicine, Alimentary Supplements, Homeopathic remedies, vitamins, protein supplements, medical equipment / supplies, etc.
- Flammable items.
- Construction material (tiles, doors, windows, concrete, etc). Specialized equipment for work/ business.
- Pornographic Material, Illegal copies of copyright items (cd's, dvd's).
- Cars, Motorcycles, Boats, Golf Caddies (with motor), Car Parts, tires, spare parts in general, riding motorized mowers, motor vehicles in general, etc.
- Trophies of Animals, Fish or Birds (Stuffed Animals, Rugs/Coats made of Animal Skin and other Similar Collectibles, Pelts, Fur, animal parts, furniture made with animal parts, etc.), human/animal remains, etc.
- Textile Raw material in big amounts (fabrics, threads, wool balls, filling, etc.), maximum one small box can be included, the textile industry is highly protected in Mexico.