Mexico
Key advice
When traveling to Cozumel, Cancun, or Playa del Carmen, you can bring in 2 cameras/photo devices (including one GoPro) as personal effects without a value limit; the underwater housing, strobes, and LED lights are considered accessories to these cameras. If the total value of other equipment exceeds $500 USD, declare it and pay 19% on the excess – or obtain an ATA Carnet from CANACO before departure to temporarily import without any taxes.
- Customs authority
- Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM)
- Personal duty-free allowance
- 500 USD (en sus des effets personnels, qui incluent les 2 caméras sans plafond de valeur propre)
- ATA Carnet
- Accepted
- Official website
- anam.gob.mx ↗
Practical scenarios
Equipment: GoPro Hero 12 + manufacturer's housing, total value ~€600. Procedure: Mexico allows 2 cameras as personal effects with no value limit. Your GoPro and its housing will be considered one unit. Go through the 'Nothing to Declare' lane. Risks: Very low. The value is modest, and the equipment is clearly a personal effect. No tax should be applied.
Equipment: Sony A6700 + Ikelite housing, total value ~€3,500. Procedure: Declare your equipment. The camera body and housing are considered the 2 authorized cameras for personal effects. However, if you have other accessories (arms, tray) whose value exceeds the $500 USD allowance, you will need to pay 19% on the excess. Risks: If you don't declare, there's a risk of confiscation and a fine. By declaring, the cost will be minimal if only the accessories exceed the allowance.
Equipment: Nikon Z8 + Nauticam housing, macro/fish-eye lenses, total value ~€12,000. Procedure: It is absolutely essential to obtain an ATA Carnet via CANACO before your departure. This will cover all your professional equipment without tax payments or complex formalities upon arrival. Present the ATA Carnet to customs. Risks: Without an ATA Carnet, you would be forced into a costly and complex formal import, potentially with a customs agent, or have to pay prohibitive taxes on the value exceeding the allowance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my high-value underwater photography equipment into Mexico without paying taxes?
Yes, if you obtain an ATA Carnet before your departure. This is the safest and most economical solution for professional or high-value equipment, as it allows for temporary import without taxes or bonds.
Is my underwater housing considered a camera by Mexican customs?
No, the housing is considered an accessory to the camera. Mexican regulations allow 2 cameras (bodies) duty-free. Housings, flashes, and other accessories are linked to these cameras, but their cumulative value can exceed the $500 USD allowance for 'other goods'.
What happens if the value of my photo accessories exceeds the $500 USD allowance?
You will need to declare the excess value and pay a flat rate of 19% on that amount. For example, if your accessories are worth $700 USD, you will pay 19% on $200 USD ($700-$500). It is crucial to declare to avoid penalties.