Quintana Roo, Mexico Visitor Tax: VISITAX: Enforcement company hired! TRAVELKORE - new for 2023
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- This video if for informational purposes only. These are our opinions based on our own research and experiences. Always do your own research.
The State of Quintana Roo have now hired a Canadian based Company Travelkore to enforce payment and this video is to let you know how it is being done.
July 10 of 2023 the State of QR told travel companies and airlines that the Visitax is Law and is mandatory and they have to collect and inform tourists.
Travelkore is a Canadian based tech company that was contracted by the State to create an easy and efficient way for travellers to pay the Visitax. Travelkore launched a web-based addition to their current platform where travellers can make their payment. TRAVELKORE is the only online payment option for the Visitax authorized by the collection agency of the State of Quintana Roo.
This new system is being integrated into the booking systems of airlines, tour operators, online travel agencies, and the global distribution system.
It is a 4 step process:
Step 1
Visitax is required by Law. Pay it with Via MC or Amex. No cash.
Step 2
Enter your details and receive your QR code instantly
You can enter up to 10 persons on one single transaction and all persons, even infants, are required to pay the tax.
Step 3
Receive your official Government Proof of Payment via your email with your QR code.
Step 4
Access your QR code when you are required to show it with via your email or you can access your QR code through Travelcore’s app with is is available for apple and android.
After you come home, Travelkore will send you a notice of expiry on your Visitax QR code.
There have been significant changes and I have some questions and concerns. I will update you on the answers I receive in the comments or in a new video.
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Returned from Cancun today, I paid the tax through is Govt web site. But no body asked me for any proof at the airport. After talking to couple of people at the gate i learned no body paid this tax, I felt stupid paying this. This is a scam. Never pay this tax, you do not need to.
Do whatever you want to do. Pay it or don't pay it. Call it a scam if you want. Makes no difference to me at all and I do understand why you think it is a scam. I certainly did at first, as well.
It is law. And in 2024 there will be penalties for not paying it.
same!
Seems like another shakedown, given it seems to be arbitrarily enforced.
Updated video coming up Sunday.
Great video !! My wife and I are coming to Cancun and staying at the Bahia Akumal resort in February 2024. I don't like paying this tax when i think the Mexican Government should pay for their own Sargasson clean up and road building and not the tourist coming for a weeks vacation. So this will be my last trip to this area. Whats the worst thing is trusting this web site with our card numbers and passport information online !!!
I totally agree with you on the tax. There is a ton of $ bring brought in by tourists. I can understand why you would choose to look elsewhere.
About the safety of your info, I would actually contact Travelkore directly. They may have some information to ease your mind. They are good about answering questions.
Enjoy your trip! I haven't tried the Bahia resorts yet but Akumal is beautiful! Hopefully, you will see some turtles. 😊
We just got back Feb. 15th, 2024 from Cancun. I paid the tax via Travelkore $37.50 for two a week later after arriving back home. The E gate at the Cancun airport was easy, placing the passport face down what it looks like an ATM machine, an electronic ticket receipt that you must keep at departure, then through a portal with a facial recognition, We survived.
Nice!! ☺️
I hope you had a fun vacation 😄
Thank you for the updates. Much appreciated 💜
My pleasure. Hope it is helpful. I'll keep updating as I find out anything new. 👍
We are heading to Cancun this week and we haven't paid the tax in the past I hate these kinds of charges With the cost of travelling going up all the time its just another pain in the neck I know its only 20 dollars but it feels like a cash grab The tourism industry sustains the whole area and we are always very generous with our tipping of the resort employees I imagine they are saying the tax is for infrastructure or envirobmental issues Pretty sure we already are paying 15 dollars every time for environmental concerns Anyway thanks for the update I think we will just pay this time to avoid any hassels but these things are adding up and making it less appealing to visit that area Also the whole getting a QR code is a pain Would be better to just add it on at your hotel or travel company and be done with it
I totally agree with you!!!! They have implemented it so poorly it absolutely does feel like a cash grab. It is the law but it is hard to take it seriously.
We pay it too because we don't want any complications.
Thanks for the great info :)
Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching😊
Thanks for trying to sort through it all
My pleasure. I'm happy to give it my best shot. ☺️
My wife and I traveled back from Cancun yesterday, 5-Jan-2024. We paid the visitax on the official website before our trip. Turns out, nobody even checked if we had paid the tax or not.
I'm not surprised no one checked but it IS the law.
I have heard they are going to be putting penalties in place this year for those who haven't paid and are caught but I haven't been told any details about how. For now, I hope it helps to know you did the right thing as a guest in another country.
I'm always surprised by others (not you) who say it is a scam because they weren't caught. Are all laws optional to follow unless you're caught? 🤔
I hope you had a great time. We will be back there in two weeks and I've already pulled out my suitcase. 😊
@@newtravelescapeswhere are you hearing this from? Can you please provide a source? At best, the tax seems pretty sketchy.
Great information!
Glad you think so!
Another great video Nancy! Great info.! Was that you at the beginning of the video putting down all those big bills? You must be a great tipper! Have a good weekend.
Ha ha ha! Thanks David!
Unfortunately, that was not me nor my money in the video.
You enjoy your weekend as well and don't work too hard! ☺️
Thank you for the information. We are traveling the Ventus Ha (Puerto Morelos) in December and interested in learning how this is integrated into the new E-Gates.
Nice! We just love Ventus and Marina el Cid! We have been there many times 🙂 I am not sure about the E-gates yet. I have got some questions sent to Travelkore about that. If it were me, I would pay the Visitax before arrival so that the QR ready present if they ask for it before entering the E-gates. It is currently still a bit confusing at the airport but it may be more streamlined going into the holidays. I'll let you know what I find out.
We were at Cancun airport first week of August 2023. There was an empty visitax booth pushed up against a wall. We also saw announcements to pay this tax to avoid delays on the airport screens at the gates. We did not pay any tax and were never asked about it by anyone.
In July, we were sent the link from our travel company to pay it. They didn't ask us for it but we showed them our QR at our departures check-in.
Hi, your decision to pay VISITAX is a decision for you to abide by the law or not to abide by the law. The law puts the onus on the traveler to pay the VISITAX. if you choose not to pay VISITAX you took a decision to break state law. Nancy explains this situation in her video.
I have agreed to be interviewed on this topic. This is not wise advise. This is a law not an option. Phase 2 enforcement will be announced quite shortly. Your decision to pay was a decision to be a law abiding person.
@@TheChicago70 Hi Alex. You can absolutely choose what you wish to do. The only thing I wish to point out to you, in the friendliest way, is that you are advising people on a public site to break state law. The analogy is the guy that posts a video of himself speeding and then gets surprised he gets caught later. You are a regular visitor to cancun, don’t get caught out is my advice. Tim.
@@TheChicago70 Alex it is mandatory! It became so
On December 23rd 2022. July 10th, 2023 it became mandatory for Travel providers to notify and collect. I am not sure what to say to you beyond that. As a regular visitor, which clearly you are, don’t get caught offside. The state is determined and highly motivated to collect this tax. Tim.
Hi Nancy, thanks for this informative video. We went to Cancun in Mat 2022 and were not asked at all about the tax. I just paid the tax online and printed the QR codes just in case. It's under $40 US so I just paid it. We are headed to Cancun on Wednesday. We did not get any information from United Airlines or USA Transfers.
Hi Michele,
We got a link sent to us from Expedia when we went in July 2023. It sent us to Travelkore's website. But no one asked at the airport on that trip. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.
I agree the fee is not too high in the grand scheme of the whole vacation cost and I'm not willing to risk the consequences of breaking the law as a guest in their country.
Have a great time on your vacation!! 😊
yep just used the travelcore site to do it was very easy
but like most stated .... nobody asked for it ...
but mexico being mexico i prefer to be safe .. than jammed at the aiport and try to pay it online
Me too. We are sitting in CUN right now waiting to go home and I agree. Better safe than sorry.
Apparently penalties are coming this year if you are caught and haven't paid. I don't know if it will be the traveller or the airline getting the fine. I hope to find out by the end of Feb. 🤞 Hope you had a good trip. 😊
I contacted Travelkore to confirm if travelers with Mexico Temporary (RT) or Permanent Resident (RP) status were required to pay this tax, and they confirmed RT/RP residents were not required to pay it.
Super! Thanks for sharing. 😊
weird, supposedly they started enforcing it July 10th, but absolutely nobody was enforcing it last week when I returned home to Canada
It is still chaotic. Our travel company sent us the link to pay ithe Visitax for our trip in July. Didn't ask us for it though. 🤔
Thanks Nancy will pay the tax specifically if it is tied to your passport!! Had some friends that just got back from Cancun & they didn't pay or where asked for QR codes.... but interesting they flew Sunwing & were given an FFM form at arrival? We didn't have to fill one in a year ago, did the pilot project to remove the forms stop?
It is weird that your friends got paper FFM forms. It would be strange to go backwards unless there was an issue at the terminal into which they were landing. 🤔 I have no idea at all. We will be back through there soon so I'll check to see if anything has changed.
I can't say I'm surprised by the visitax stuff. What a ridiculous operation that is. 🙄
Have a great time! 😊
Maybe people will stop
Visiting and go somewhere else. 🤷🏻♂️. What a way to turn Pell off from visiting
I agree it has been uber frustrating, for sure! 👍
Thanks, Nancy! We paid last time and will definitely pay this month before we go in September.
We always pay it too but it has definitely been confusing. 😊
Where did you pay the last time you went down ? Thanks
@@lance195 We paid on the www.visitax.qr website in May and the Travelkore.app website in July. It was the first time I had been sent an actual link to pay it from our booking company and when I first saw that Travelkore was contracted by Quintana Roo to facilitate this.
Great thanks. I did get an email reply from the visitaxqr people staying there are 2 official websites to pay. I did receive this email this morning. Then I saw your reply. Lol if you want to read their reply, and the question I posed. I can post it.
Thank you for the quick reply
Lance
@@lance195 hey Lance! It was only in July that Travelkore took over and installed the payment system for this crazy tax. Did your airline or your operator send you a link? We got a link from Expedia in July that led us to Travelkore's website and app.
When do you go? Soon?
Nancy
This tax may be real but its roll out and enforcement is such a mess. They need to make this tax unavoidable somehow if they expect compliance. Until then it’s optional in reality. I flew in and out of Cancun very recently and saw nothing about this tax. I’m sure I wasn’t looking hard enough but I had no idea it existed beyond CZcams.
Exactly! If it is "law" you would expect it to be in your face. Not some young, inexperienced sheepish individual who is afraid to approach you about this. And the fact it's being run by a third party, for profit company also screams beware. This tax will line the pockets of their very dirty government. Until a better method is implemented for collection and enforcement, I'll just keep walking by the little trolls at the airport.
I totally agree. Apparently penalties are coming but I haven't gotten concrete details yet. 😮💨
Airlines and airline employees are required to inform all passengers about it (new law). We just got back from Cancun the first week of February we got the link and info about paying it from our airline. I specifically asked the TSA agent about it while going through security and showed her my QR code and she said "we don't care".
Stupidest tax I have ever seen. 😵💫
You're absolutely correct that they will have to include it somewhere else as a mandatory fee or check the QR codes before you are allowed to check in for departure.
We traveled to Cancun last week and never heard a single thing about this from anyone...
Hmmmm....I'm surprised you didn't see signs about it at baggage claim. There are also people walking around departures in red shirts requiring proof of payment.
On our last trip, our travel provider emailed us the link with a reminder to pay it.
Just been there last week and nobody ever talked about this tax...I had an international flight between USA/Mexico.
Should have been sent a link sent from your tour operator or airline. Ours sent it to us in July.
Just returned home and there was no word of it, no one was concerned about it, and no one checked to see if we had paid for it.
It is really pathetic how badly the QR government has implemented this tax.
Why they take the time to make it Law and then not bother to enforce it is beyond me. 🤔 It is no wonder people think it is a scam.
good to know
Thanks 😊
These is a sign at baggage pick up with. QR code on sign saying use to go online and then it directs you to website to pay. The website doesn’t even pop up. Don’t pay this. You will be wasting money
Totally up to you
I'm wondering if you are required to pay if Cancun is just a layover from Atlanta to Tuxtla and a layover from Tuxtla back to ATL. And you are so right the answer to the question seems to be hidden in a rabbit hole I can't even find. Cheers Folk's
Hi! I doubt you would need to pay it if it is considered a layover. (Unless it is for several days.) I would imagine your airline would know.
If they tell you, you don't need to pay it then I would screen shot that answer and keep it handy. ☺️
Hi Nancy, I am the executive chairman of travelkore. My team inform me they have responded to your questions. I am always happy to clarify points, but will never talk on behalf of the state.
Hello Mr. Scurry,
I haven't seen any new emails but I'll have another look. Your team has been very helpful in answering what they could.
Personally, I am looking forward to Travelkore's involvement to streamline what has been up, until now, a lesson in 'chaos'.
I hope it works out to be a good partnership for both Travelkore and QR.
I'm sure I will have even more questions to ask you when things are CUN become more streamlined. 😊
Hi Nancy, I have just received the email sent from the team. Might be a spam issue and so I have sent this from my personal corporate email account. I hope that helps. Tim.
@@MrTimscurry I'll check it out. I really appreciate you reaching out. Thank you very much.
@@newtravelescapes you are most welcome Nancy.
Sounds like the state of Quintana Roo is having difficulties collecting taxes from its citizens and business’s , and trying to shoehorn monies from visitors
I have two questions easy one first, If you decide to pay tax at the Cancun airport is it before or after the passport station>
Now the hard one. I have been to cancun twice about 7 years ago and 13 years ago both times with the older passwport without the e gate option. How far back does the e passport check for felon reports? My record is 51 yera ols.....
Well that is a tough second question. 🤔
First one, if you decide to pay the tax there are people checking for the Visitax near the check-in counters for your flight home. Sometimes they are there, in their red shirts, and sometimes they are not.
As for the old felony charge I would assume the type of offense would factor in. If you have been before it is likely ok but I can't say for certain so I would recommend contacting the nearest Mexican Embassy and ask for their advice. If they say it is ok make sure you screen shot or take proof of their response just in case.
There are also lines for non E-Gates as children under 18 can't use them.
Sorry that is not overly helpful.
We are heading to Cancun in a few days. The Cancun airport page doesn't send us to Travelkore to pay this tax. Are there 2 ways to pay? We are planning to pay this tax on the possibility they start enforcing while we are there.
Hi! I know the CUN airport page is not updated as often as I would like it to be. This tax is confusing for sure and even where to pay it is not clear.
Personally, we now pay it through Travelkore. If you go to their website you can chat with them directly to ask any questions. I have found them to be very helpful.
I'm surprised your airline or tour operator didn't send you a link. Regardless, for us, the old page just 'spins and spins' when we went to pay it. Travelkore sends you a QR code and you can screen shot it, save it in the app, or even pull it up from your email. Simply show the QR to the Visitax agents, if they ask for it, and you're good to go.
Some other sites try to overcharge you so stay away from those ones.
Thanks for the update, I still think this is a scam...we already pay an eco tax at the hotel...I went to Cancun in septembre 2022 and paid it...nobody asked for it at the airport...I went back in May 2023...did not pay it and still nobody asked for it at the airport...
No problem. You can think it is a scam if you wish. With how it has been implemented l, I don't blame you at all. 😊
No problem. You can think it is a scam if you wish. With how it has been implemented l, I don't blame you at all. 😊
If this Visitax was implemented on April 1, 2021, that's 2 years 7 months ago & now it's being handled by a Canadian company & not a Mexican company?
On the Cancun airport website, I don't see this Visitax being mentioned.
Surely if this is the law now, there should be lots of booths/machines that one can pay at the CUN airport locally instead of online. I am very hesitant of this travelkore company OR the visitax website.
I am heading to Cancun early December & will see how it goes when I arrive at CUN.
Good idea! It is the Law (which you can look up for yourself) but they are still not enforcing things consistently so you can wait and see if you are asked to show proof of payment. It is just ridiculous how badly this tax is being handled. I am in and out of CUN a lot and I shake my head in disbelief more often than not about the Visitax.
Enjoy your trip!! ☺️
Do you put your departure date from your home or departure date from Cancun... if you make a mistake can you redo without a charge?
We put in our departure date from Cancun. If you have any questions about changes the Travelkore website has a chat box that I find very helpful.
I just arrived Jan 15th no one stopped me I saw the sign and tried to use QR code didn’t work in airport.
Sorry but I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "use the QR code". You only need to present it if you are asked for proof you paid it and this is when you leave CUN.
There are a bunch of changes coming up in February with respect to the Visitax including penalties for those caught not having paid it.
Keep your QR code handy until you are back home. If someone asks then you are all set. If they don't you are still set because it is the State law.
Hope you had a great trip!
@newtravelescapes there are signs in print and on monitors that direct you to a "broken" QR code. If they cant get their shit together why should I care about paying it. To many hands are tryng to handle this. And the fact they nor have a third party involved just shows they messed it up and couldn't manage their own program.
Over priced over crowded now and 20 more bucks no thanks they can payfor there own crap
It is ridiculous considering how much money is coming into the area already.
Can the QR code be down loaded to the phone?
For sure! They will send it to your email. Just save it from there. You can also download their app to your phone first and pull it up from the app .
the airport website says 19.90 and asks you about your info straight on their website... not a link to travelkore
Make sure you are on the official website and not the "unofficial" airport website. They are sneaky that way. ☺️
I didn’t enter the info they were asking for so not sure if it eventually connects you to travelkore but it doesn’t mention it on their website.
Is travelkore only for people who are traveling from Canada? I live in the US
@@KristinPost My brother and his family are from USA and the rest of us are from Canada. We all use Travelkore now that they have been hired by Quintana Roo to oversee Visitax payments. We used to use another site which is how we found out about all the sketchy sites out there. 🙄
They are based in Toronto and hired to streamline the payment and enforcement technology.
If you are concerned they (Travelkore) have a chat available to ask questions and if the chat can't answer them they will email you back with answers.
Hope that helps ☺️
@@newtravelescapes To be clear, Travelkore was NOT hired by the State. Tim Scurry is misrepresenting his company's position. The State has a contract with a Mexican company called Urquitem SA de CV. Urquitem in turn hired Travelkore as a mere payment processor.
@@johnwoodham3263 interesting
Travelkore does not have a contract with the State.
The state of QR appointed a contractor, (Urquitem SA de CV) to carry out the collection of the VISITAX. Urquitem, in turn, contracted Travelkore who is the “certified and authorized company to execute this action”.
@@newtravelescapes Travelkore is a mere subcontractor. That is my point. Your information incorrectly states QR hired Travelkore.
Or is it just Travelkore? TIA
So far, what I know is that Travelkore has been hired to facilitate payment and make it easier for travel operators, agents, and airlines to inform & "collect" it. All travel operators have been told it is Law. The State has not made clear how they are going to link all of this together to enforce payment. In other countries that we visit, the airlines check for proof of payment at check-in or before you are allowed to board the plane home. I expect the Visitax may follow along these same lines but no one is saying anything concrete yet.
How much is the tax?
$18.80 per person.
So it's Not Mandatory if you are not being asked,i guess it might also be illegal and more like a rule and not a law...I had No intentions of paying it,just to see what would happen and i was right..nothing did happen...
Unfortunately, it is the Law. Enforcement has been just ridiculous.
@@newtravelescapes I think enforcement has been great,since we are not forced to pay it.
It's a scam; pls do not pay in advance - If it's legit, govt will bring a more transparent process.
Absolutely your decision to make.
Good enough reason for me not to go.
That is totally your prerogative.
Total BS, another tax that no one seems to mind. Look at all the taxes included in your airfare, show me an industry that's taxed their way into prosperity!! Consumer is KING start acting like it.
I thought it was BS for a while too but after having done several deep dives into this tax I found that it is Law in the State of Quintana Roo. It is up to the traveler to abide by the law or not to abide by the law. Tim Scurry (Travelkore CEO) explained that "The law puts the onus on the traveler to pay the VisiTax". Makes no difference to me. Like any law the consequences are your own.
I came across a website asking for $39. US . Do you have a link for ACTUAL Visitax website?
Yes I do. travelkore.app/
Should only be $18.80 USD pp.
Thank you.
@@tiggerlou9252 happy to help. Enjoy your trip! 😊