Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Tourists arriving at the Cancun International Airport have been nailed by Customs for having too many electronics. Some tourists have been charged nearly $200 USD to ‘import’ their electronic devices while they vacation in the country.
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.
“Since Covid, it has become a global trend for people to choose to work remotely which opens up a niche for longer-term tourism, but surprisingly, tourists are charged if they bring in more than one electronic item,” he said.
Tourists have reported being charged an average of $190 USD for arriving at the airport over the electronics-allowed limit, which is one laptop. If they refuse to pay the tax, the over limit devices are confiscated. Tourists are, however, permitted to enter the country with three cellphones or other wireless devices.
Passengers departing the U.S. are not limited by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the amount of electronic devices (laptops) they can pack in their carry-on or checked-in baggage.
The TSA does not limit the number of laptops passengers can pack, even for international travel. The same goes for traveling Canadians who, according to the Transportation Security Administration, are not limited to the number of laptops allowed.
However, Mexico’s SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria) limits the number of laptops travelers can arrive with without being taxed, which is one.
“We will have to review this situation and the law to avoid this type of impact. There are already all kinds of comments on social media,” he reported.
“If we want to be a tourist powerhouse, let us be consistent. This practice of traveling with more than one electronic device is not usual and, yes, it hurts our image,” Otriz Mena added.
According to SAT, Mexico’s Tax Administrative Service, merchandise that you can bring into Mexico via personal baggage without paying taxes consists of the following:
- Baby gear, such as strollers, car seats, cribs, walkers and their accessories.
- Two cameras or camcorders and camera gear; three cellphones or other wireless devices; one GPS; one electronic organizer; one laptop, notebook, omnibook or other portable computing device; one portable copier or printer; one CD burner and one portable overhead projector and its accessories.
- One tent and other camping articles.
- Two sets of personal sport gear; four fishing rods; three gliders with or without sails and their accessories; trophies and awards, as long as you can carry them without any difficulty.
- Two musical instruments and their accessories.
- One hand tool set, including its case, a drill, pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, power cords, etc.
- One pair of binoculars and one telescope.
- Five laser disks, ten DVDs, thirty CDs, three software packs and five storing units for any electronic device.
- Five toys, including collectables, one videogame console and five videogames.
- One blood pressure monitor and one blood glucose monitor (or one monitor for both purposes), reagents included; drugs and other psychotropic substances, including cannabis, in which case you must present the prescription, have the medical identification number or any other contact detail of your physician and exclusively bring the amount needed for your trip.
- Valises, trunks, suitcases or any other item needed to carry your personal belongings.
- If you are over eighteen, ten packs of cigarettes, twenty-five cigars or two hundred grams of tobacco; three litres of alcoholic beverages and six litres of wine.
- Wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches or any other assistive device for the elderly or disabled people.
- One portable audio recorder, audio player or audio recorder and player (or two digital sound and image recorders or players instead), one portable DVD player and one set of portable speakers and its accessories.
