Mexico • Import customs guide (household goods & personal effects)

Mexico customs clearance: client checklist & rules (2024/2025)

A complete, practical guide for clearing household goods in Mexico: who can import duty-free, which documents are mandatory,
how consulate-stamped inventories work, strict port rules, and what items cause delays or confiscation.

Source note
Compiled from a FIDI Import Customs Guide (Mexico).
Last updated: 19 Aug 2024.
We confirm the latest formats per port of entry before shipping.

1) At a glance

Duty-free eligibility
“Used ≥ 6 months”
To import household goods duty-free, items must be used at least 6 months and not intended for resale.

Consulate inventory
Mandatory
All articles must be included in a Mexican Consulate visaed/stamped inventory.

Time limits
Airport 30d / Port 60d
If documents aren’t presented in time, shipments can be confiscated.

Critical: Do not ship household goods to Mexico until your destination agent confirms you have complete paperwork (“green light”).
Shipments must arrive prepaid (no COD). Missing or wrong documents cause delays, extra costs, and in worst cases confiscation.

2) Duty-free import rules (household goods)

Core conditions

  • Goods must be used at least 6 months and not intended for resale.
  • All items must be listed in the inventory visaed/stamped by the Mexican Consulate.
  • Any article not included in the visaed inventory may be treated as subject to seizure/expropriation.

New items (major risk area)

  • Items used less than 6 months are considered new and are dutiable.
  • There are restrictions on paying duties for new items — notify the Mexico agent before packing.
  • For duty calculation, invoices/tickets are required.
  • Do not pack used items in original packaging — customs may treat them as new, causing delays/problems.

Important port constraint: The guide notes that items arriving by Air or Ocean cannot pay duties.
In practice, if new items are involved, the routing/POE must be checked and approved in advance by the destination agent.
For returning Mexican citizens / Permanent Residents: To import household goods free of duty,
you must have lived outside Mexico for over 6 months. Visaed inventories are valid for 6 months from issue date.

3) Documents required (by customer category)

A) Temporary Residents

  • Clear copy of Passport
  • Clear copy of Temporary Resident Card (both sides)
  • Port-specific Letters for Mexican Customs (formats vary by POE)
  • Authorization letter to the Customs Broker
  • Value form for customs
  • Prohibited items declaration/form as required by the agent
  • Customs form for new articles (if applicable)
Special POE note: For shipments arriving via Lázaro Cárdenas port,
additional copies may be required (e.g., “IFE credential” and proof of residence) — confirm with your destination agent before shipping.

B) Returning Mexican citizens & Permanent Residents (Residente Permanente)

  • Clear copy of Passport
  • Clear copy of Permanent Resident Card (both sides)
  • Copy of CURP (Unique Code for Personal Registration)
  • Original inventory stamped by the Mexican Consulate
  • For electrical appliances: brand, model, and serial number must appear on the legalised inventory
  • Port-specific Letters for Mexican Customs
  • Authorization letter to the Customs Broker
  • Value form for customs
  • Prohibited items declaration/form
  • Customs form for new articles (if applicable)

C) Diplomatic removals

Diplomatic Franchise: Must be obtained via the corresponding Embassy/International Organization from
SRE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in Mexico City.
  • Inventory list in Spanish
  • Copy of Diplomatic Passport
  • Copy of the diplomatic carnet
  • Origin and destination addresses
  • Port-specific broker documents (e.g., Authorization letter / Power of attorney style)
Wines / liquors / canned food / tobacco: require a separate diplomatic franchise.
They must be listed and loaded in a separate crate/lift-van; both franchises are required to clear customs.

D) Motor vehicles (important restrictions)

Key rule: Only Temporary Residents may temporarily import cars. Mexican citizens / Permanent Residents
cannot import autos into Mexico (per the guide).
  • Original Temporary Resident visa
  • Invoice / proof of title property
  • Vehicle license + driver’s license
  • International credit card
  • Personal identification
  • Authorization letter to the agent to transport the car from POE to final destination
Temporary permit fee is about US$ 500 (payable by international credit card).
The shipper must be at the POE to clear customs and obtain the temporary import permit.
Permit duration matches Temporary Resident validity and must be renewed before expiration.
Diplomats: can import cars using a franchise arranged by their Embassy; the agent can handle car transmission with the diplomatic franchise.

4) Sea / port rules that often cause delays

Tax ID (RFC) on ocean Bills of Lading

For shipments arriving into Mexican ports (official gazette rule cited in the guide), all overseas shipments must show a Tax ID for:
Shipper, Consignee, and Notify parties on the carrier Bill of Lading.

  • Mexican nationals must provide their RFC.
  • Generic RFCs (only where applicable):
    • Diplomatic/consulate goods: EMB930401KH4
    • International organizations: OIN930413N0
    • Foreigners: EXTR920301TS4
  • If a country has no Tax ID register, it is not declared.
  • Tax ID info must be submitted ≥ 24 hours before vessel departure or cargo may be refused for loading.

Operational port notes

  • Mexico City terminal shipments may be handled by the steamship line’s own transport system; coordinate with your agent to avoid demurrage.
  • Steamship lines in Mexico may require a US$ 1,000 deposit for container inbound shipments.
  • Ports/customs houses can be saturated; containers/liftvans may be stored outside — pack for rain protection.
  • Do not ship until documentation is complete: airports hold 30 days, ports 60 days; if documents aren’t presented in time, shipment can be confiscated.
  • Local agent does not accept COD; shipments must arrive prepaid (destination charges only can be COD basis).

Practical rule: Your destination agent must be informed in time about arrival at the customs house of the port of entry to proceed with import negotiations.
Always ship only after you receive the agent’s “green light”.

5) Special goods & common problem items

New furniture & new household goods

  • If included with removal goods: must be on the legalised inventory and original invoices must be presented.
  • Subject to duties/taxes (reasonable quantity).
  • The guide notes this is only possible through specific routing/POE (check with agent before packing).

Appliances, electrical items

  • Allowed only if part of household goods, declared on the legalised list, and in reasonable quantity.
  • Electrical appliances must show brand, model, serial number on the consulate-sealed inventory.
  • Otherwise importation may be prohibited.

Gifts, souvenirs, carpets

  • Gifts/souvenirs: allowed if declared on the legalised list; may be subject to tax payment (case-by-case).
  • Carpets: allowed only if part of household goods and in small quantity; otherwise prohibited.

Works of art, antiques, precious metals

  • Works of art / antiques: listed as prohibited in the guide (contact agent for special cases).
  • Precious metal objects: importation prohibited (not considered part of household effects).

Inheritance & wedding trousseaux

  • Inheritance: prohibited (per guide).
  • Wedding trousseaux: allowed only if included as part of household goods and declared in the legalised list; otherwise prohibited.

Pets (cats, dogs, other animals)

  • Copy of AWB
  • Sanitary BL
  • General certificate of health
  • Vaccination certificate
  • Copy of professional registration card of veterinary
Send documents and AWB in advance to avoid delays. Plan arrival early in the week to avoid pets being held over weekends.

6) Prohibited items (do not pack)

If prohibited items are found inside your household goods shipment, overall clearance can be delayed, extra handling may apply to remove items,
and the items can be confiscated. Severe penalties may apply.

  • Firearms, ammunition & weapons
  • Liquors, wine
  • Food
  • Drugs and medications
  • Art collections (paintings & sculptures)
  • Money
  • Fabrics
  • Corrosives & cleaning items
  • Tires
  • Automobile’s spare parts
  • Pornography material
  • Motor vehicles (motorcycles, boats, cars) — require specific treatment/permits (do not ship without approval)
  • Profession-related articles (only small quantities; advise agent before shipping)
Do not “hide” items to avoid checks. It almost always backfires: delays, extra fees, confiscation, and penalties.

7) Wooden crates & packaging (ISPM-15 compliance)

Mexico applies ISPM-15 rules for wood packaging materials in international trade. If you ship items in wooden crates or wood packaging,
the packaging must carry the required treatment mark.

Approved treatments

  • HT (Heat Treatment): minimum wood core temperature 56°C for 30 minutes.
  • Methyl Bromide treatment: minimum temperature ≥ 10°C and exposure time ≥ 16 hours.

Marking rules

  • Mark must be in a visible location on each article, on at least two opposite sides.
  • Mark must be legible and permanent in black ink.
  • Labels/adhesives are not allowed.
  • Mark format includes country code, producer number, treatment type, and inspection agency logo.

Risk: If a shipment arrives without the ISPM-15 seal/mark, it may be returned to origin at the shipper/origin agent’s expense.
ISPM-15 exemptions (as noted): does not apply to wood packing materials made of raw wood ≤ 6mm, processed wood (glue/heat/pressure),
plywood sheets, agglomerated sawdust sheets, oriented wood fibre sheets, sawdust/wood fibre materials.

8) Official sources (Mexico)

Customs / Tax / Ports

Foreign Affairs / Pets / ISPM-15

Want a pre-check before packing?

Send your passport + resident card/CURP (if applicable), your draft inventory (English + Spanish if possible), and your planned port of entry.
We’ll confirm the correct document set and port-specific letters with our destination partner before shipment departure.