Passengers arriving by land:

Versión en español

Aduana Mexico welcomes you.
Our commitment is to offer you a respectful and efficient service. Aduana Mexico is aware of the situation our users face when they arrive to our territory. With this in mind, we offer this brochure in order to inform you of the steps you have to take to pass through customs. In this brochure you will find helpful data and information about your rights and obligations. We are here to help you, always focusing in offering our services with transparency.

Select carefully the lane to enter the country:

Nothing to Declare Lane
It is used when your exemptions do not exceed the permitted limits

Self-declaration Lane
It is used when you bring goods worth more than the personal or family exemptions, or when the amounts of goods exceed those amounts allowed in your personal luggage

Upon crossing the border, your vehicle will activate the Automated Selection Mechanism (stop light). When crossing the border on foot you will be asked to activate the mechanism:

- The red light indicates that your luggage will be inspected
- The green light indicates that you can drive through the Customs facilities without inspection

If you or your vehicle have been selected for inspection, a Customs Inspector will conduct the examination. If the Customs Inspector finds goods that should have been declared and you did not do it, the Inspector will classify and appraise the goods and will impose the corresponding sanctions.

If you mistakenly choose the wrong lane, you may approach a Customs Inspector and ask for a classification and appraisal of your goods for the corresponding payment of duties and taxes.

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In some cases the customs Automated Selection System (stoplight) may determine, without human intervention, that your belongings and, if applicable, the vehicle on which you were carrying them, will be subject to customs inspection.

This is a simple procedure. We would appreciate your cooperation in order to make it an agile one too. Please follow the instructions of our customs personnel. They must treat you with courtesy and respect while they ask you to open your luggage and proceed with its inspection. Also, they must handle your belongings with care. Remember that all persons entering Mexico are obliged to comply with Mexico’s customs provisions.

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- The items allowed in your personal luggage, according to the length of your trip

- Up to US$50 per person in permitted goods, or its equivalent in other currencies. Passengers traveling with family members (spouse and children) may combine their personal exemptions only when arriving together on the same vehicle. In order to claim this additional exemption passengers must have the corresponding commercial invoices or receipts available

- Beer, alcoholic beverages, manufactured tobacco and motor vehicle fuel (except for the fuel contained in the vehicle’s fuel tank) may not be included in this additional exemption

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- Suitcases, trunks, and the necessary bags to carry your belongings

- New or used goods for personal use, such as clothing, footwear and personal hygienic products, in reasonable quantities, according to the length of your trip and that they may not be subject to commercialization

- Medications for personal use. In the case of psychotropic substances you must present the corresponding medical prescription

- A photographic camera, a video camera and, if it is the case, its power charger; up to 12 rolls or reels of unused film or videocassettes; photographic printed or filmed material; a cellular telephone; a pager; a pair of binoculars; a typewriter; a new or used portable computer: laptop, notebook, omnibook or another of similar kind; a new or used portable photocopier or printer; a portable radio set to record or play sound, or both

- Two personal used sport articles that can be normally transported by one person; a camping tent and camping gear; a wind surf with or without sail; four fishing rods with their respective accessories

- Five laser discs, five DVD discs, 20 compact discs (CDs) or magnetic tapes (audiocassettes); books and magazines in reasonable quantities and that they may not be subject to commercialization

- Five toys that can be normally transported by one person

- A musical instrument, that can be carried by one person

- Persons with disabilities may include those items for personal use that due to their characteristics may replace or reduce their disability

- Adult passengers may bring, in addition to the above-mentioned items, up to 20 packages of cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco, and up to three liters of wine, beer or liquor. Passengers must fulfill all the applicable non-tariff regulations and restrictions when importing additional amounts of cigars

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- Remember that you are entitled to bring up to US$50 worth of goods in addition to the goods included in your personal luggage, and that you are allowed to combine this amount with family members

- If you exceed this exemption, or if your family’s combined amount exceeds the combined exemption, you must pay duties and taxes. There is a flat 15% rate of duties and taxes, which is applied only to the amount exceeding the exemption (individual or combined). You must fill out a payment form, which is available at the Customs counter

- If the value of the goods surpasses one thousand dollars (per family member) after subtracting the US$50 exemption, or if any of the goods is subject to non-tariff regulations or restrictions, you must hire the services of a customs broker

- From November 21st, 2005 until January 10th, 2006 you will be able to import goods in the mentioned procedure, as long as its value does not exceed 3,000 dollars

- If you bring a desktop computer, you may pay duties and taxes by filling out a payment form as long as the value of the computer and its peripherals and accessories do not exceed US$4,000. If the total value of the computer and its peripherals and accessories exceeds US$4,000 you must hire the services of a customs broker

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- Animals, agricultural products and medications

- If you are carrying more than US$10,000, or its equivalent in other currencies, in cash, checks, money orders or any other monetary instrument, or a combination of them, you must declare the amount exceeding US$10,000. You will not have to pay duties or taxes, but you must declare it on the Customs Declaration form. Failing to declare it is a violation of Mexican Law and such violation is sanctioned with administrative and even criminal penalties

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Which goods are restricted?

• Firearms and ammunition. In order to import firearms and cartridges you must secure an import permit from the Ministry of Economy and from the Ministry of National Defense. For further information please visit the following websites: www.economia.gob.mx and www.sedena.gob.mx.

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Which goods are prohibited?

- Narcotics, insecticides and live predator fish of any size. Stamps, stickers, drawings, illustrations or printed materials representing children in a denigrated or ridiculous way, or inciting violence. For further information please visit the Mexico Customs website www.aduanas.gob.mx
- The Ministry of Agriculture prohibits the following goods since they represent a great risk for the introduction of plagues and diseases: earth, straw, padded containers of hay, straw decorations without processing; homemade foods; flours of animal origin; fresh, dry, canned or frozen meat and meat products, such as smoky, salted and mature sausages that have been elaborated in countries under absolute quarantine (Europe, Africa, Asia and South America). For additional information please visit the website www.sagarpa.gob.mx
We are all obliged to comply with these Customs provisions. If you feel that you are being subject of a corruption act please denounce it immediately. You may report it at the desk of the Secretaría de la Función Pública or by calling toll free to (01-800) 112 05 84

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Temporary vehicle importation

If you live in the United States or in Canada, you can request a temporary vehicle importation permit via Internet. Visit the following websites: www.aduanas.gob.mx www.banjercito.com.mx and www.serviciosdecalidad.gob.mx

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Who can temporarily import a vehicle?

- Foreigners with immigrant financiers’ migratory status or non-immigrants, except refugees and political refugees

- Mexican nationals with legal residence abroad or that prove to be working, for more than one year, by means of official documentation

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Where can the permit be acquired?

- At the Mexican Consulates in Albuquerque, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Dallas Ftw., Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Francisco and St Paul. This step can be carried out at these Mexican Consulates six months in advance

- Via Internet, www.aduanas.gob.mx or www.banjercito.com.mx

- At Banjército offices (CIITEV Modules) located at the Mexican border

- You can do this at the internet: www.banjercito.com.mx, and within the next 20 working days you will receive the permit and the sticker at your home. This is an easier and faster way of obtaining your permit

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How much does it cost and how do I pay?

• At the border, US$27 plus tax, with international credit or debit cards issued abroad and in the importers name

• If you don’t have credit or debit cards, a cash deposit of US$200 to US$400, depending on the year and model of the vehicle. The deposit will be returned when the vehicle is presented, before the expiration date, in any of the Banjéricito modules at the Mexican northern border

Important: The procedure in Mexican Consulates costs US$36 plus tax. The payment should be made with international credit or debit cards in the importers name.

The procedure via internet costs US$45 plus tax, shipping included.

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How long does the permit lasts?

- Foreigners: The duration of the permit will be the same as the tourist visa length

- Mexican residents abroad: In a period of one year (12 months) you are authorized to keep the car in Mexico for 180 days, with multiple entrances

When leaving Mexico, you must visit the CIITEV module at the north border in order to obtain your cancellation or to register your return to have a record of the days used. This will make your next visit easier. If your left a deposit don’t forget to ask for a refund with your original receipt.

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Who is allowed to drive the vehicle?

- Mexicans: the importer, his spouse, ascendants, descendants or siblings, only if they have legal residence abroad; a foreigner with the appropriate migratory status, and any other person, as long as the importer travels on the vehicle

- Foreigners: the importer, his spouse, ascendants, descendants or siblings, even if they are not foreigners; foreigners that hold migratory status authorizing them to do so or a national, as long as any of the authorized persons travels on the vehicle

Only this persons are allowed to drive the vehicle, if not, the vehicle will be seized and a sanction will be applied.

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Which documents do I need?

- Foreigners: official identification in force and copies of the migratory documents issued by the Mexican Migration Institute showing their current migratory status, it will be delivered at the Migration offices at the border

- Mexicans: a document proving legal residence abroad or an official document to prove the migratory status authorizing them to work abroad for up to one year

In both cases:

- Documents proving the migratory status (Mexican legal residents: definitive or temporary resident card, working permit or double citizenship naturalization certificate; tourists: passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate or registration to vote)

- Vehicle property title, registration, invoice or lease contract in the importers name

- Service payment to Banjército

- Proof of return of the imported vehicle in the past, if it applies

Visit the websites:

www.aduanas.gob.mx (What can I import?)
www.banjercito.com.mx (Preregistration)
www.inm.gob.mx (Migratory Status)
www.paisano.gob.mx (Assistance)

READ CAREFULLY YOUR VEHICLES TEMPORARY IMPORTATION PERMIT!

Remember that we are all obliged to comply with these Customs provisions. If you feel that you are being subject of a corruption act please denounce it immediately. You may report it at the Secretaría de la Función Pública desk or by calling toll free to (01 800) 112 0584 or in the United States to 01-800-475-23-93

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How much should I pay for those additional goods that are not part of my luggage or the $50 exemption??

If you exceed the $50 exemption for less than US$3,000, you must pay duties and taxes. There is a flat 15% rate of duties and taxes and you must fill out the payment form intended for it, which is available at the Customs counter.

If the amount of the goods is over the US$3,000, then you must hire the services of a customs broker, who will present the legal forms to pay the duties and taxes (you can ask where to reach one at the Customs Office).

It completes made update the 29 of December of 2005

We are all obliged to comply with these Customs provisions. If you feel that you are being subject of a corruption act please denounce it immediately. You may report it at the Secretaría de la Función Pública desk located at this airport or by calling toll free to (01 -800) 112 05 84

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