Are you planning a trip to Cancun? Then take a pause before you pack your suitcase!
You can bring as many swimsuits, garish Hawaiian shirts, and pairs of flip-flops as you like.
But don’t pack more than one laptop!
Travelers to Cancun are now being warned about arriving at the destination with too many electronics.
Here’s why and what you need to know.
How Many Electronics Can I Travel With?
There are no restrictions on the amounts of laptops (or other electronics) you can carry when you leave the U.S.
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) American travelers can pack any number of electronics in either their carry-on or their checked-in baggage.
This is also true for Canadian travelers, who also don’t have any limitations on the amount of electronics they can travel with.
But departure rules are one thing, and arrival rules are a whole different kettle of fish!
Mexico has very strict electronics limits that you need to be aware of if you’re visiting the country, especially if you’re landing in Cancun.
For example, you can only arrive in Mexico with one laptop without being taxed, according to Mexico’s SAT (Servicio de Administracion Tributaria).
And there are other limits you need to be aware of too!
On the subject of electronics, you’ll be taxed if you arrive in Mexico with more than:
- 2 cameras and camcorders
- 3 cellphones or other wireless devices
- 1 GPS
- 1 laptop, notebook, or other portable computer
- 5 laser discs, 10 DVDs, 30 CDs, 3 software packs and 5 storage units for any electronic device.
- 1 portable audio recorder, audio player, or audio recorder and player, or 1 portable DVD player.
What Happens If You Have More Than These Amounts?
Modern travel is an electronic-heavy experience.
When I travel I’m inevitably carrying my iPhone, camera, laptop, and my kindle. My husband carries the same.
Even our kids carry their own kindles and gaming devices!
So what happens if you want to carry your everyday electronics with you when you arrive in Cancun?
The short answer is you’ll need to open your wallet!
Some tourists have reported being charged nearly $200 to ‘import’ their own electronic devices into Mexico with them, even for a short vacation.
The tax you’ll pay is based on the value of the additional item or items that are above the duty-free amount you can bring in, which is why there is no exact figure for this available.
You’ll pay a 19% duty on the estimated value over the duty-free amount: if you’re carrying a brand new MacBook Pro, then this could cost you as much as $400!
Can you just say no? If you refuse to pay the tax, any electronic devices considered over the import limit can be confiscated.
The problem is that this policy isn’t universally enforced: some people are reporting that they are being fined considerable sums for carrying their own devices, while others are entering Cancun with more than one laptop with no problem at all.
And the interpretation of each customs officer can be different too: some see a laptop and an iPad as 2 laptops or portable computer devices and will tax you accordingly, for example.
What’s The Solution?
When I flew into Cancun in May I decided not to take any chances: I just left my laptop at home!
I often carry my youngest son’s bags (containing his electronics) through the airport as well as my own, and having to explain the abundance of electronic devices this would usually mean I was carrying just seemed like far too much hassle.
If you don’t really need your laptop while you relax on the beach, then this might be the safest stance to take.
But for digital nomads, workcation travelers, content creators, and anyone else who travels with electronics and is dependent on them for their livelihood, tread lightly!
Some digital nomads consider this to be a stealth tax on digital nomads in Mexico, and you’ll need to consider whether you can live without your extra devices (or whether you can afford the fee to import them) before you travel.
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