Customs & Immigration
Prohibited & Restricted Goods
To protect health and the environment in Mexico, various items and goods are prohibited or completely banned from being brought into the country, whilst some others are simply restricted. Below, we have listed some examples, but be aware that these are only a small selection of goods prohibited and restricted in Mexico. If in doubt, you should visit the Servicio de Administración Tributaria website.
Prohibited goods
In accordance with the Law of the General Taxes of Import and Export, the following products are prohibited for the import and/or export:
- Alive predator fish, in their states of young fish, youthful and adult
- Fresh or cooled or frozen fish
- Turtle eggs or any class
- Poppy seeds or flour of poppy seeds (Narcotic)
- Seeds and spores of marijuana (Cannabis), even though when they are mixed with other seeds
- Marijuana in any form (Cannabis)
- Juice and extracts of opium, prepared to smoke
- Stamps or printed transfers in colors or in black and white, displayed for their sale in envelopes or packages, even when they include chewing gum, candies or any other type of articles, containing drawings, figures or illustrations that represent childhood in a degrading or ridiculous way, on attitudes of incitement to violence, to self-destruction or in any other form of antisocial behavior, known like Garbage Pail Kids, for example, printed by any company or commercial denomination.
- Thallium sulfate
- Insecticide (Isodrin or Aldrin)
- Insecticide (Heptaclor or Drinox)
- Insecticide (Endrin or Mendrin or Nendrin or Hexadrin)
- Insecticide (Leptophos)
- Heroin, base or hydrochloride of diacetylmorphine
- Medication prepared with marijuana (Cannabis)
- Medication prepared with acetyl morphine or of its salts or derivatives
- Skins of turtle or doggerhead turtle
- Goods that have been declared as archaeological monuments by the Secretariat of Public Education
For effects of the Customs Law, the import or export of prohibited merchandises is causal so that the customs authorities come to a precautionary distraint from said merchandises and the means of transport. Likewise, it constitutes an infraction related to the import or exports of this type of merchandise and is sanctioned with a fine: Therefore, these merchandises happen to be property of the Federal State, regardless of the penal sanctions establishes by the Penal Code.
Restricted goods
Firearms and ammunition. In order to import firearms and cartridges you must secure an import permit from the Ministry of Economy and from the Ministry of National Defence.
Items prohibited for hand luggage (airports)
In light of recent international security threats, allow extra time when you are at the airport for the increased security checks, and ensure you do not carry any of the following in your hand luggage:
- Scissors
- Razor blades
- Knives with blades of any length
- Household cutlery
- Tweezers
- Hypodermic needles (unless required for medical reasons)
- Tools or toy/replica guns (metal or plastic)
- Catapults
- Knitting needles
- Sporting bats
- Billiard, snooker or pool cues
- Darts
