Bringing Multiple Devices to Mexico Could Cost You Hundreds of Dollars

CHICAGO, Ill. — Suppose you are considering a trip to Mexico to bask in Cancun’s unending stretches of sandy beaches or work remotely while on vacation. In that case, it is essential to be careful about how many electronics you bring.

According to the Mexican Consulate General in Montreal, tourists can bring only “one laptop, notebook, Omnibook, or other portable computing device” into the country without paying taxes. In short, you can only bring one laptop or tablet per person. Bringing both will result in a fine.

Before Traveling Doing Research Is Key

An article in Forbes states that customs officials may consider your laptop and iPad to be two separate portable computing devices and charge you tax on one of them.

The Forbes reporter mentioned that although Mexican officials don’t consistently enforce the rules, people face more frequent fines at Cancún International Airport. In her article, she recounted the story of a friend who had her bag searched and was given an ultimatum: either pay $190 (USD) for having an iPad and MacBook Pro in her luggage via a credit card or have her computer seized.

Again, this enforcement seems spotty, as I’ve been to Mexico and traveled with my iPad and MacBook and didn’t go through any additional security checks. However, conversations are brewing on travel blogs like Reddit, Flyertalk, where people say they’ve been through this.

Some questioned whether it is a scam to require passengers to pay a fine for bringing more than one electronic device to Mexico. According to Thrifty Traveler, one of my favorite travel websites, by the way, it’s all about the details in the fine print. They say, “It’s not about what you can bring into the country, period – it’s what you can bring into the country tax-free.”

My final thoughts:

I once wrote an article about doing research before traveling. This story today is a great example of that.

Remember, it’s crucial to prioritize safety first and protect your wallet by not paying unnecessary fines. Mexican officials may not strictly enforce this rule, but it’s clear that you could face penalties for carrying more than one device into Mexico. Consider leaving either the iPad or MacBook behind on your next trip across the border.