Navigating Mexico’s Baggage and Allowance Rules: What You Need to Know Before You Fly

Traveling to Mexico is an exciting adventure, but understanding the baggage and allowance rules can make your trip smoother. While these are the official guidelines, it’s important to note that the rules are inconsistently enforced and may vary from city to city. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, here’s what you need to know about what you can bring into Mexico by air.

What Can You Pack in Your Luggage?

Mexico allows travelers to bring a variety of personal items and equipment without additional taxes. Here’s a breakdown:

Personal Items

Clothing, footwear, and toiletries suitable for your trip.
A bridal trousseau or baby items, such as a chair, portable crib, stroller, or walker.

Electronics

Up to 3 portable cellular devices, 2 cameras or video cameras, and 1 GPS device.
A laptop, portable printer, or electronic diary.
Devices for recording or reproducing sound and images, including a portable DVD player and speakers.
Up to 30 compact discs, 10 DVDs, 5 laser discs, and 5 software packages.

Sporting and Camping Equipment

Two personal sports equipment items and four fishing rods.
Three gliders (with or without sails).
A tent and camping supplies.

Books and Media

Books, magazines, and printed documents for personal use.

Hobbies and Recreation

Five toys or collectibles and one video game console with up to five games.
Two musical instruments and accessories.
A telescope or binoculars.

Medical Supplies

Medications for personal use, including a device to measure blood pressure or glucose (psychotropic substances require a prescription).

Medicines for personal use in Mexico
Passengers traveling with medications for personal use will be authorized to enter Mexican territory only if they have a medical prescription or a letter from their doctor that mentions the amount of substance necessary for the patient during their trip to Mexico, the amount that the patient will take to Mexico and the daily dose.
At the point of entry into Mexico, you may report to the customs authorities and present the medical prescription issued by the competent authority. The said document must bear the name of the doctor who authorized the prescription, his/her signature, contact details (telephone, address), and professional registration. The amount of medication you carry during the trip should not exceed the amount needed for your stay in Mexico. The medical prescription must be translated into Spanish.
Medications must be placed in hand luggage, with their respective boxes and in transparent bags. Before transporting medicines, we advise you to contact your airline.

Food Guidelines

You can bring certain foods into Mexico for personal consumption if they are correctly labeled and packaged and don’t pose a risk of disease or pests. You should check with customs regulations for specific restrictions.

Allowed foods

Dried fruits and vegetables: Dehydrated fruits and vegetables without seeds are allowed.

Spices: You can bring spices like vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, mace, cardamom, aniseed, coriander, fennel, ginger, saffron, turmeric, thyme, and bay leaves.

Nuts: You can bring shelled almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, and walnuts without skin.

Coffee: You can bring roasted coffee.

Cereal: You can bring pelletized cereals, dry cereal, and flour.

Herbs: You can bring dried medicinal herbs. (This does not include marijuana.)

Tobacco: You can bring dehydrated tobacco.

Meat: You can bring dried and processed meats that are properly labeled and packaged.

Fish: You can bring properly packaged fish for personal consumption.

Dairy: You can bring refrigerated, frozen, or vacuum-packed milk and properly labeled cheese.

Things to consider

Homemade or unpackaged food items may face more scrutiny and could be prohibited. (Original packaging is what “properly” indicates.)

You should declare all agricultural items, even if listed as admissible.

You may need to return or destroy seeds if they are found to have insect holes or evidence of living pests.

Alcohol and Tobacco

Travelers aged 18 and over can bring:

10 packs of cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 200 grams of tobacco.
Up to 3 liters of alcoholic beverages and 6 liters of wine.

Tools and Equipment

A set of hand tools, including drills, pliers, wrenches, and screwdrivers.

Duty-Free Allowance (Franchise)

During specific periods under the Héroes Paisanos Program, travelers can bring goods worth up to $500 USD without paying taxes. Outside these periods, the allowance drops to $300 USD when traveling by road. Families traveling together can combine their allowances.

Prohibited Items Under the Franchise

Additional alcoholic beverages or processed tobacco.
Automotive fuel, except what is in your vehicle’s tank.

Key Dates for the Héroes Paisanos Program 2025:

Winter: November 28 to January 12, 2025

Note: We will update when they add more dates for 2025.

Prohibited Items: What You Cannot Bring Into Mexico

To ensure a smooth customs experience, avoid packing these prohibited or regulated items:

Narcotics: Illegal drugs and controlled substances.

Predatory Live Fish: Live fish of predator species, regardless of size.

Denigrating or Violent Images: Images representing children in a denigrating or ridiculous way, or promoting violence or destruction.

Used Clothing and Footwear: Items not considered part of personal luggage.

Weapons and Ammunition: Firearms, ammunition, and related accessories.

Electronic Smoking Devices: Electronic cigarettes, personal vaporization devices, electronic devices that use heated tobacco, electronic nicotine delivery systems (SEAN), Similar Nicotine-Free Systems (SSSN), and Alternative Nicotine Consumption Systems (SACN).

Medications: It is illegal to bring into Mexico some over-the-counter medicines commonly used in the United States, including inhalers or allergy and sinus medications. Expressly, products containing stimulants (medicines containing pseudoephedrine, such as Actifed, Sudafed, and Vicks inhalers) or codeine are prohibited.

Consult the following websites for lists of controlled substances in Mexico: https://www.gob.mx/tramites/ficha/permiso-sanitario-de-importacion-de-medicamentos-destinados-a-uso-personal/COFEPRIS693 (check the “Lista Amarilla,” “Lista Verde,” and “Lista Roja) and http://www.aduanas-mexico.com.mx/cgi-bin/ctarnet/notas_ex/listas_cap29.html .