Cancun Airport VISITAX - The Grace Period is Over and Here's Why You Should Be Paying This Tax.
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- čas přidán 13. 04. 2023
- EDIT:
New website change! www.visitaxqr.mx (Replaces the original visitax.gob.mx)
If you're arriving into the Cancun airport (CUN) you should know that the State of Quintana Roo passed a tax law in 2021 that visitors must pay a $241 Mx Peso (aprox $11 USD) called Visitax. You can pay this prior to arrival, during your stay, or prior to departure.
You pay this tax online on the official government website:
www.visitax.gob.mx
or you can pay with cash at the airport prior to your departure using the Visitax kiosks.
Always keep on top of the latest information as things are always changing.
It is different from the Airport Use Fee (TUA) that your airline may include in your flight costs. Neither is it the Mexico Tourism Tax that is attached to your airline ticket and it is also not the Environmental Tax collected at most all-inclusive resorts. It is in addition to these taxes.
We tell you what we know about the Visitax, what we are planning to do with regard to this tax and why but, as always, make these decisions for yourself.
This video is for informational purposes only! It is based on our experiences and the information we have at the time we make the video. Always do your own research.
Thanks for watching our videos! We really appreciate you!!
Big "Thank You" to Pexels.com for their help with the content.
I'll never understand how people can't just put into you're airline price or vacation package and no one would know or whine about it!! ... it's like going to hotel and them charging u you ten dollars a day for wifi.. add it to my room and say free wifi everyone is happy
You are absolutely totally right!!!! 🙂👍
OMG Nancy, you are just the best!! If I saw somebody at the airport asking for cash, I would think it's a scam too! Thanks for the info!
Thanks David, you are so welcome! Yes, it felt really sketchy to be asked for cash before entering the TSA line. After the timeshare sharks in Arrivals I was not handing out cash to some random person in Departures. 😃
Oh wow!! This is good info. I had no idea. Thank you.
Glad you found it helpful. 🙂
I just returned from Cancun a few days ago. I had intended to pay this tax online while in Mexico, forgot, but read that it could be paid at the airport in cash. At Cancun airport (terminal 4), I saw a desk identified as the place to pay the tax, but it was deserted. I then approached two uniformed individuals and asked them where I could pay the tax. They said it could only be paid online, not in cash at the airport. I explained to them that it should be possible to pay in cash at the airport and they simply shrugged! I proceeded with check-in, then security, thinking that if someone asked me for proof of payment, they would also tell me where I could pay at the airport, but nobody asked me for proof of payment. Most peculiar arrangement.
I totally agree. You're absolutely correct that it is peculiar (and ridiculously disorganized).
We just returned the first week of February ourselves and saw that now there is Visitax information outside the airport in the arrivals area where you catch your hotel transfers ???
It is only online now through either the Mexican government portal or through the government approved Travelkore App. ???
Our airline sent us a link but some other airlines do not ??? When I asked if the gate agent needed to see it he said 'no'. ??? When I asked the T S A officer if she needed to see proof of payment she told us "I don't care". ???
It is the Law but I only know it because of my research certainly not because anyone at the airport was enforcing it.
I have heard rumors that there will be penalties for not paying it but I'm trying to get actual confirmation of what their next steps will be. Peculiar is a very polite term for this tax.
Thank you for sharing your experience. 😊
I hope you had a great trip. 🙂
@@newtravelescapes My stepdaughter visited Playa del Carmen a few months before me and she didn't even know about the tax! It reminds me of a trip I made to India a year ago. I had to fill out this laborious form at Pearson Airport, but when I arrived in India it was not required but they were upset I hadn't filled out a different form! I had also read that they would perform a covid test and there was no mention of that either. 🤷♂ And yes, I had a great time in Playa del Carmen. I hope I won't be banned by the Mexican government. 🤞
@@DilipBanerjee I wouldn't worry about it. It is still so confusing and really dumb. Last year only 10% of visitors actually paid it. I was surprised the government was shocked by this number. 🙄 The government would be foolish to ban people for not having paid it. Who would be left to visit Cancun? lol! 😁 Apparently new penalties and a price increase will be coming into effect for 2024 but I am struggling to find any reliable confirmation. It's like posting a speed limit but having no traffic cops. 😉
Thanks for the info , Cheers 🌴
My pleasure! Hope it is helpful. 🙂
I just got back from Cancun(June 2-6 2024)and never saw this tax enforced or anything about it. Looked for a kiosk and never saw one at the airport and no one I talked to at the resort knew what I was talking about.
The signs are by baggage claim when you land.
Thanks for the info. Never had to pay it before, but like yourself, better safe than sorry, or being denied entry to MX :)
Glad to help 😊
Not paying anything. I pay enough taxes to go to Mexico already. Enjoy your videos however 😊. The cancun airport is a federal airport and quintana roo cannot enforce this at a federal establishment.
Thanks! 😊
You make a very good point about Federal and State and I, personally, have no idea about who is allowed to enforce what in Mexico.
I agree there are already taxes upon taxes added to trips to Mexico. 🙄
Travellers can make whatever decision they want for themselves, I just want the information out there so at least the decision is a somewhat informed one. 🙂
I am really surprised that the resorts in the State of Quintana Roo don't just add it to your booking like they do the Environmental tax. Oh well, I guess that's why I don't work in government. 😜
Great information!
Glad it was helpful!
I just came back from Cancun, Feb 4, 2024, and I paid $21 😢 Such a price jump just from 9 months ago when you made this video.
Yep, big changes began in February. Even penalties for those who haven't paid. I'm still waiting on more info to make an updated video. This whole system is ridiculous 😵💫
Hope you had a good trip! ☺️
We went there two years ago and we got scammed, omg, I’m glad you had this video uploaded! I will ignore them with an ugly face next time I’m there, which will be auguster this year. Lol
They have changed the website and replaced the original. It is now - www.visitaxqr.mx
Currently the only legit website to pay it that is not trying to scam you out of more money. We'll be back in July so I'll update if things have changed again.
@@newtravelescapes thank you please keep us posted!
Just came back from Cancun a couple days ago. I had no idea about this tax, and no one forced us to pay for it.
They already charge International Airport Departure Tax (TUA)- Mexico - about 5% of your ticket price + immigration fee $10.89 + Tourism Tax $42.00 + Airport Departure Tax Mexico $35.99 on your round trip fare. (according to my ticket price break down)
and they want us to pay more taxes top of all these tourist taxes?
No way I am going to go out of my way to pay for it.
I agree the taxation to vacation in Cancun is ridiculous. At least they are transparent about it and break it down. (So we know who to blame lol)
Unfortunately the Visitax is law and some big changes are set to hit this month, I'm told.
Way too much IMO.
Was in Cancun July 2023. Paid it online. Was easier using the computer at the hotel/resort. No one asked when leaving, but I think how it's linked is when you come back it will show the prior entries against previous payments. Would suck to get to an E gate and be red flagged.
I agree 💯% 😊
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Was in the Tulum area in June. Had no problem at all when departing. No signs, nobody asked about it, not even at check-in. I highly doubt it's linked to a passport, because the tax is STATE, whereas passports are FEDERAL. We're not returning to Quintana Roo because of the expense so we have nothing to be concerned about.
Funny! We were in Cancun at the Sam time, The Royal Cancun, too. Did the same and no one asked for the proof of payment. Oh well, it’s Mexico.
thank you for this latest video. my family and friends leave in July for our trip to Cancun. Question when you are paying this visit tax online before leaving is the date you put in the date you are arriving or the date you are leaving. Thanks for also making us aware it can be paid at the airport or resort.
Hi! Glad you found it helpful. ☺️
Good question! It says "departure date" so I take that to mean the date we are departing Quintana Roo but I can easily see how it could mean your departure date from home, as well.
We put in the departure of when we were leaving Quintana Roo' because the same form can be filled out while we are at the resort so we assumed that is what they are looking for.
Have a great trip! 🙂
@@newtravelescapes Thank you!
Just got back from Cancun. when I showed that I had already paid it when departing, I was told that I did not have to pay it, and that no one checks for it, by the passport control.
I was just there too and it depends on the terminal. They are currently installing Visitax kiosks into the departures areas. I doubt they would put that kind of money and investment into it if they weren't set to enforce it.
I have been back and forth twice recently and once they were checking for it an another time they weren't. 🤔 Definitely still one of the stupidest tax enforcement 'systems' I have ever seen.
It may or be passport control’s department. They just wanna see your legal, not that you’ve paid taxes as those are collected by your flight. This tax is outside of your flight ticket.
@@newtravelescapes We were in Tulum the 1st week of June/2023. We arrived in Terminal 4 at the Cancun Airport, & left in Terminal 4. There weren't any kiosks, no signs, nobody was talking about the visitax, & we were not asked if we had paid when we checked in with our airline. We boarded our plane & flew home. NOW the most recent news is that a Canadian Company has been contracted by the state of Quintana Roo to collect vistax. It is also being said that the tax will be enforced, & that it's mandatory. I don't think anyone who was there prior to all of this & didn't pay would have anything to worry about. I highly doubt they would backdate to see who paid & who didn't. It would certainly not be cost effective, nor time effective.
@@gailaspinall1688 Yes, I just got notice of that article as well about the new enforcement of Visitax and I'm working on an update but I'm waiting for more clarification. Really unfortunate that it is now almost $19 USD rather than the $11 is was.
I agree with you, with this new company involved it is likely they will not 'backdate' past fees for those who didn't pay when they try and visit again. What a cluster! 😒Thank for sharing your experience. 🙂
Just saw a video with Mexican government that said all must pay this tax, regardless of age.
Yes, that is right. We made an updated video with that info after this one. There are big changes to Visitax coming again in February '24 so I'll do another video about those changes as soon as I confirm my info. They are putting penalties in place for those who don't pay but at the moment I can't get anyone to actually tell me what they are.
We just left there never had to pay anyone anything
Hi! The implementation of this tax has been chaotic (and pretty ridiculous) since it's inception. Currently, it depends on which terminal you are departing from. They are working on installing Visitax pay kiosks into the terminals. They are only currently in one terminal with the others to follow. Once the machines are in, I have been told that you won't be able to get into the TSA security line without showing payment is linked to your passport. It is still a bit wonky and I am not telling anyone to pay it or not to pay it BUT I don't want anyone to end up having problems because they didn't know about it.
I was just there two days ago and in Terminal 4 there are brand new signs about "avoiding departure delays" in the arrivals baggage claim area.
I'll pay it, better to be safe than sorry.
Never heard of this tax, and I was just in Cancun 3 months ago. No one ever asked me for the tax or approached me. If they do at the airport, I guess that I will have to pay it to get out. But until then I will wait for some better system to operate.
New updates on this: czcams.com/video/lpt6h1OZwhs/video.htmlsi=SI8Vd5EVCJwBTUfB
Is anyone having an issue with the website as when you go to pay it just spools and never proceeds further ?
We just paid it three weeks ago and no problems.
Just been there last week and nobody ever talked about this tax.. I had an international flight between USA/Mexico.
Replied to your same comment on the other video. Things have changed a lot since this one and I expect them to change even more.
When it asks for departure does it mean when you leave your country or when you are departing Mexico?
When you are departing the Cancun area.
didn't pay it in January when leaving through Terminal 4, and have no intention of paying it when I return for another visit to Mexico next month.
You do you, my friend. 🙂
@@newtravelescapes I just visited Cancun in March..No one asked for a visitor tax but the hotel asked for an environmental tax of $35 usd.
@@ladrondecorazones8432 yes, they collect the environmental tax at the hotel. It should have said on your reservation that you are required to pay $/ per day upon check-in.
The Visitax will be an additional State tax 🙄 at the airport. The Visitax machines are not yet in every terminal, only two so far, but they tell me that they should be in the rest of the terminals by the end of the year.
The website doesn't work, looked online and says most people seem to have this issue. Hard to enforce something if they prevent you from paying for it...
Absolutely agree! We have someone from our team there now and since we left last month the website has changed.
It is now www.visitaxqr.mx
They are installing Visitax payment machines in some terminals (not all yet) at departures, as well as putting up digital info boards up at the baggage carousels upon arrival.
I can only assume this is part of their new "trying to enforce this tax" situation that they told me was coming.
Tell me it is a gov't operation without telling me it is a gov't operation. 🙄
It is still currently hit or miss on paying this thing but I imagine that they would not put this kind of investment into the machines at the airport if they weren't planning on enforcing it at some point and getting their money back.
@@newtravelescapes ahh good to know thanks!
Just flew out Saturday, no one asked, no one checked, the booth was unmanned to ask. The link errored out on me twice but my credit card got charged so...when I tried to pull the receipt off the website crashed and stayed down...
Sorry to hear about your experience. The old site has been down and there have been two new site changes since.
It is irrelevant to you now, but we put out a new video about all of these changes and new website. It has been changing a ridiculous amount. In July the state of QR hired Travelkore to sort all this out. The new website is travelkore.com
R those shops in the beginning of the vid before u go through immigration??
That is the duty free shop located just after customs and immigration right before the baggage claim carousel in T3.
After baggage claim there is a 'declaration' area if you buy or bring things in you are required to declare.
@@newtravelescapes TY for the information
do you know if this is required when flying within Mexico (we will be flying from Tijuana)?
I believe it is all visitors into the State of Quintana Roo, but I'm not positive.
@@newtravelescapes Yes, it's just for the state of Quintana Roo.
What is Mexican tourism tax then? A friend said that tourism tax is charged by airlines and can be refunded on request. It's weird why it's collected in the first place?
Mexican tourism tax is different.
Visitax is in addition to 😮💨
It is just ridiculous imo.
Hi, thank you for this wonderful informative video. I have question please. I went onto this government site and when paying for 3 travelers it said $778.00 and although I know this is pesos, I'm afraid that it will take $778.00 dollars out of my bank account account. Will it make the conversion to pesos?
Hi! Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful.
On the second screen called 'registry' it should have MXN after the amount owing. Then on the third screen it should give you the SATQ number and above that is the price with a dollar sign in front and MXN behind.
I know it says "pay $778" on the blue button to make the payment but that is in Mexican pesos.
If you are concerned take a screen shot of where it says MXN and keep it. If there is any problem just show it to your bank or to visa and they will correct it to Mexico pesos.
Have an awesome trip! ☺️
@@newtravelescapes Thank you again! It seems that it went through seamlessly! It came out to $14.42 per person and $43.25 for the 3 of us. I checked my bank account and was charged correctly! ☺ I will certainly be watching all your great videos!
Do you know if people who hold a Mexican Residente Permanente visa have to pay this tax?
As far as I know, you do NOT need to pay it.
For $11, in not going to risk being denied entry. Or if I get pulled over while there, I don’t want to give the police anything to hold over my head.
I agree! Just launched a new Visitax video yesterday with some updates.
New website is visitaxqr.mx
@@newtravelescapes you posted an unauthorized web page to collect this tax. This site will sell your personal information, and will charge you more than the two authorized sites. Nobody should pay via the this link.
I have the "Mexico International Airport Departure Tax" and "Mexico Tourism Tax" on my receipt of my round trip flight from the US to Cancun. Did I pay for the tax already? Or is there a third tax I would need to pay?
We just got back a few days ago and the Visitax was a separate tax for us. Our flight was from Canada to Cancun.
You will likely see new digital billboards up for it when you arrive at baggage claim, depending on what terminal you are in and out of.
@newtravelescapes question ..I'm also coming in from Canada when I went on the website the first question it asked was * departure date* are they asking when we leaving Mexico?
These taxes are tacked to your flight simply for flying into the country as a foreigner.
The price is up to $19.90. That's a 40% increase from just a few months ago. This is too much.
I agree. We made an updated video about what's going on and a new company that has been hired to sort out payment of this tax.
czcams.com/video/tSeaAjdQMa0/video.htmlsi=31VKSbgsLbFkaLys
We have been travelling a lot this fall and have seen a tax of this type in many countries that is new or will be new in 2024.
For example, Bali is implementing the same tourist tax for "cultural preservation and waste management" beginning in 2024. I'm not sure we will be able to avoid it anywhere.
The website is confusing. Just asks for departure date and now when arriving.
Hi! We updated our video with new information, it is unbelievable how frequently this has been changing. 😮💨 Here is the latest info.
czcams.com/video/OtX2iKCK998/video.htmlsi=BAmWEeMIJKwUTJ9j
The website is Travelkore.com it is legitimate, much more user friendly and they have on online chat for any questions.
We leave for Cancun in a week - if I pay online now, is it too early?
Nope. You should be just fine. 🙂 I usually pay it a couple of days before we leave just in case our trip gets cancelled for some unexpected reason but I don't believe a week in advance is a problem.
Just got back from Cancun in Terminal 3 and no one asked about the Visitax.
Awesome that non one hassled you about it! 😊I don't believe the kiosks are in T3 yet. This tax is disorganized chaos at the moment.
@@newtravelescapes We were there 1st week in June (Tulum) There were not kiosks in Terminal 4. When we were returning home, again no kiosks (still terminal 4), nobody was talking about it, and no signs about it.
@@gailaspinall1688 that is very interesting. The videos I showed in my newest Visitax updates video (after this one) were of the digital signs above each baggage claim at T4 arrivals. Maybe they were turned off? With how ridiculous this whole thing has been I wouldn't be surprised.
I'm glad no one bothered you about it. No one needs that on vacation. 😊
Our airline, when we were there in mid-July, sent out notification to passengers about paying it before departure.
isnt this included in airplane ticket? like other countries , i had been in cancun in 2022 and 2023 and nobody asked to pay anything!
No, It isn't.
Just came back from Cancun and did not pay anything. I asked one of the workers at the gate and he told me I did not have to pay it so I took the gamble and did not. No one ever asked me for it so it so I believe it is a scam.
If you're comfortable waiting to pay it at the airport only if you are asked then that was a good plan.☺️ I don't believe it is a scam but it's implementation is ridiculously bad.
Do you know if this tax applies to Mexican Citizens (US permanent residents) traveling from USA to Cancún?
I don't believe it does but double check with the Travelkore website (the new Visitax government site). Their chat function can tell you for sure.
We put out a new video updating this stuff if it helps. czcams.com/video/lpt6h1OZwhs/video.htmlsi=SI8Vd5EVCJwBTUfB
@@newtravelescapes thank you some much! We already came back from our trip, I paid the Visitax for everyone including Mexican citizens and they didn't even check at the airport, I paid it just in case.
@@adrianaantillonrealtor Sorry for my delay in response. We have been in South East Asia for the past month and I just got back yesterday.
Hope your trip was a good one. 😊
@@newtravelescapes it was AMAZING! Thank you and have fun over there!
Hey the website is currently down
Try the Travelkore website.
czcams.com/video/lpt6h1OZwhs/video.html
how much is this tax?
$241 Mexican Pesos. About $11 USD depending on your exchange rate, of course.
🗣AS OF 2023, Mexico tourism tax is added in the cost of airfare (look at your receipt). STOP PAYING SEPARATELY IF YOU HAVE 😊
She specifically states at 2:35 of the video, this is NOT the Mexico tourism tax. It is that state specific.
I don't have it on any of our airfare receipts.
This is false, there is currently no enforcement or penalty for this tax. The grace period is in full effect right now. Possibly in 2024.
A lot has changed since this video.
czcams.com/video/_dBgpataiyw/video.htmlsi=E55PzmcInbwFGU8s
The Quintana Roo state government hired an enforcement company to streamline the tax.
I think enforcement is still ridiculous and inept but that doesn't mean those who don't pay it aren't breaking the law.
Whether they catch you or don't catch you, it is still the law.
This video is BS. I let it freak me out. I paid it. No one else did. I was never asked about it at airport. No one knew what it was. DO NOT pay this tax! It’s a scam! I got my money back from my credit card!!
No sure why you were 'freaked out' and I'm sorry if anything in the video made you freak out. It was based on information we have on travelling through this airport every few months.
We were just there last month and we were asked for it. It is also linked to your biometric passport.
There are large digital signs up about the Visitax law in the baggage claim area upon arrival above each carousel.
They have not put the kiosks into every terminal departure area yet so it depends on which terminal you were at. I assume that if the Quintana Roo government are going to invest in that type of equipment they will start being more strict about it.
Pay it or don't pay it, makes no difference to us at all. I just don't want anyone to get in an argument with Cancun officers if they don't have to. It isn't different from most other countries but the implementation is one of the stupidest I have ever encountered. The resorts should be collecting it, imo, and it shouldn't have anything to do with the airport.
Nice that your cc gave your money back.
@@newtravelescapes I'm in touch with someone in the know. We were in Cancun airport (going to Tulum) the 1st week in June. We arrived in Terminal 4..there were no signs when we were there, & there certainly were no signs at the baggage carousel. When we went to Terminal 4 for the flight home...nothing. No signs, no kiosks, nobody talking about it...nadda. My "source" tells me that passports are NOT tagged. Passports are FEDERAL, whereas Quintana Roo is STATE. I fail to understand just how our passports could have been tagged/flagged when we were not asked if we paid or not. No worries, we're not returning to Quintana Roo. It's too expensive.
There is no evidence that any "grace period" is over. Get back to us when they are actively enforcing it.
I think they're going to be enforcing it sooner rather than later. It's for the state of Quintana Roo only. If someone didn't pay, but later on travelled to say, Puerto Vallarta, upon their entry at Puerto Vallarta, there wouldn't be a problem. Again, it's just for the state of Quintana Roo.
@@gailaspinall1688 well "sooner" is not now so as I said, get back when they are actively enforcing it. Until then it's just someone's speculation and I've been seeing such speculation for over a year. In Cozumel airport you don't even get a QR code.
And as you point out, it is a state rule not a federal rule so it is unlikely a federal immigration agent is going to deny entry.
New company, Travelkore, hired to enforce it and of course the price just went up.