Can you bring your household goods to Mexico duty-free?

Some laws let people who return or move to Mexico bring their household goods without paying import duties and taxes. Whether you qualify depends on who you are and your situation. This check tells you what we found in the official texts, what is missing, and what to prepare.

• Mexicans returning — menaje de casa (Ley Aduanera art. 61-VII)The used household goods you used while living abroad enter free of the import duty and IVA, with no value limit, if you lived abroad at least six months and move back to Mexico for good. The list is certified by the Mexican consulate and the goods enter through a customs entry (pedimento A1). Only the fixed customs fee remains. Vehicles are not included.
• Mexicans returning from the United States — simplified menaje doméstico (DOF 17-07-2025, RGCE 3.2.11)A free, one-time route for Mexicans repatriated or returning from the United States: besides your baggage, a USD 1,000 franchise, one unit of each of 22 listed used appliances and the tools of your trade up to USD 5,000, with no customs broker. The goods are checked at a northern-border customs office. It is for what you carry in and small shipments; a container of furniture needs the full menaje route above.
• Mexican students and researchers returning — SAT authorisation (ficha 65/LA, RGCE 3.3.4)Mexican students and researchers who lived abroad at least one year can import their used household goods free of the import duty and IVA with a prior SAT authorisation, without the consulate-certified declaration. Apply up to three months before arrival or within six months after.
• Foreigners with permanent residence — menaje de casa (Ley Aduanera art. 61-VII, Ley de Migración art. 54)Permanent residents can import the used household goods they used abroad free of the import duty and IVA, with no value limit, through the consulate-certified list and a customs entry. A foreign retiree who holds a pension that qualifies for permanent residence gets this franchise; temporary residents and temporary students only get temporary import.
• Diplomats, consular officers and international-organisation staff — Ley Aduanera 61-I, Reglamento arts. 90-91, RGCE 3.2.8Ambassadors, ministers, chargés, counsellors, secretaries, attachés, consuls and accredited officials of international organisations, with their spouses, parents and children living in the same house, import their household goods free of duties and IVA through a customs entry (fraction 9804.00.01), after a diplomatic note to the Foreign Ministry's Protocol office.

1. Say who is moving.
2. Answer only the questions that apply to you: the result updates after every answer.
3. Get the documents and deadlines, and send or save the summary.