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What You May Bring Into Mexico
Customs Regulations. Tourists should enter Mexico with
only the items needed for their trip. Entering with large quantities
of an item a tourist might not normally be expected to have, particularly
expensive appliances, such as televisions, stereos or other items,
may lead to suspicion of smuggling and possible confiscation of
the items and arrest of the individual.
Mexican regulations limit the value of goods brought into Mexico
by U.S. citizens arriving by air or sea to $300 U.S. per person
and by land to $50 U.S. per person. Other travel-related items
may also be brought in duty-free. Amounts exceeding the duty-free
limit are subject to a 32.8 percent tax.
Unless you prepare ahead, you may have difficulty bringing computers
or other expensive electronic equipment into Mexico for your personal
use. To prevent being charged an import tax, write a statement
about your intention to use the equipment for personal use and
to remove it from Mexico when you leave. Have this statement signed
and certified at a Mexican consulate in the United States and
present it to Mexican customs as you enter Mexico.
Land travelers should verify from Mexican customs at the border
that all items in their possession may be legally brought into
Mexico. You will be subject to a second immigration and customs
inspection south of the Mexican border where unlawful items may
be seized and you could be prosecuted regardless of whether or
not the items passed through the initial customs inspection. Guns
and ammunition cannot be brought into Mexico without a permit
from a Mexican Consulate in the United States.
Currency. The Mexican government permits tourists to
exchange dollars for pesos at the fluctuating free market rate.
There are no restrictions on the import or export of bank notes
and none on the export of reasonable quantities of ordinary Mexican
coins. However, gold or silver Mexican coins may not be exported.
Take travelers checks with you because personal U.S. checks
are rarely accepted by Mexican hotels or banks. Major credit cards
are accepted in many hotels, shops and restaurants. An exchange
office (casa de cambios) usually gives a better rate of exchange
than do stores, hotels or restaurants.
Pets. U.S. visitors to Mexico may bring a dog, cat or
up to four canaries by presenting the following certificates at
the border:
(1) a pet health certificate signed by a registered veterinarin
in the United States and issued not more than 72 hours before
the animal enters Mexico; and
(2) a pet vaccination certificate showing that the animal has
been treated for rabies, hepatitis, pip and leptospirosis.
Certification by Mexican consular authorities is not required
for the health or vaccination certificate. A permit fee is charged
at the time of entry into Mexico.
Shopping - Some Things To Beware of Buying
Wildlife and Wildlife Products. Beware of purchasing
souvenirs made from endangered wildlife. Mexican markets and stores
abound with wildlife, most of it prohibited from international
traffic. You risk confiscation and a possible fine by U.S. Customs
if you attempt to import virtually any wildlife from Mexico. In
particular, watch out for and avoid:
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All products made from sea turtles, including such items
as turtle leather boots, tortoise-shell jewelry, and sea turtle
oil cosmetics
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Fur from spotted cats
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Mexican birds, stuffed or alive, such as parrots, parakeets,
or birds of prey
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Crocodile and caiman leather
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Black coral jewelry
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Wildlife curios, such as stuffed iguanas
When driving across state lines within Mexico, you can expect
to be stopped at agricultural livestock inspection stations.
Antiques. Mexico considers all pre-Colombian objects
to be the "inalienable property of the Nation" and that the unauthorized
export of such objects is theft and is punishable by arrest, detention
and judicial prosecution. Under U.S. law, to import pre-Colombian
monumental and architectural sculpture and murals, you must present
proof that they were legally exported from the country of origin.
U.S. law does not prohibit the import of nonmonumental or nonarchitectural
artifacts from Mexico.
Glazed Ceramics. According to the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, it is possible to suffer lead poisoning if you
consume food or beverages that have been stored or served in improperly
glazed ceramic ware. Analysis of many ceramic pieces from Mexico
has shown them to contain dangerous levels of lead. Unless you
have proof of their safety, use glazed ceramics purchased in Mexico
for decorative purposes only.
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