Importing into Mexico is straightforward once you know the sequence, and expensive when you learn it by trial and error. As a freight forwarder that clears Mexican customs daily, here is the exact process we run for every foreign shipper, from first classification to final delivery.
1. Classify your goods (fracción arancelaria)
Every product entering Mexico needs a tariff classification under the TIGIE (Mexico's Harmonized System). The fracción arancelaria determines your duty rate, whether you need sectorial permits, and which Mexican standards (NOMs) apply.
Misclassification is the single most common cause of customs holds. A wrong code can mean paying the wrong duty, or having your freight seized for missing a permit you didn't know you needed. Get this validated by a licensed customs broker before you ship, not after your container is already in Manzanillo.
2. Register as an importer
To import into Mexico you need a Mexican tax ID (RFC) and enrollment in the Padrón de Importadores (importer registry). Foreign companies without a Mexican entity typically import through a shelter provider, a trading company, or their forwarder's importer-of-record service.
Sectorial registries apply to sensitive goods: textiles, footwear, electronics, steel and others require additional enrollment before a single unit can clear.
- RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes)
- Padrón de Importadores: general registry
- Padrón Sectorial: for regulated product categories
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3. Appoint your customs broker (agente aduanal)
Mexican law requires a licensed agente aduanal to file your customs declaration. This is not optional and not a formality: your broker is legally co-responsible for the accuracy of your declaration.
Choose a broker with daily volume at your port or border crossing, bilingual operations, and pre-filing discipline. The best brokers validate your documents days before arrival: the worst ones discover problems while your container accrues demurrage.
4. Prepare the documentation
Mexican customs runs on documents. Have these ready before departure, in Spanish or with certified translation where required:
- Commercial invoice with full product descriptions and values
- Packing list matching the invoice line by line
- Bill of lading (ocean) or air waybill
- Certificate of origin (USMCA/T-MEC for preferential duties)
- NOM compliance certificates where applicable
- Sectorial permits for regulated goods
5. File the pedimento and clear customs
Your broker files the pedimento (Mexico's customs declaration) electronically with SAT. The system assigns green (automatic release) or red (physical inspection) light. Red light means reconocimiento aduanero: officials verify goods against documents.
Duties and taxes are paid at clearance: IGI (general import tax, varies by fracción), 16% IVA on the customs value plus duties, and DTA (customs processing fee). Under IMMEX or with proper structuring, significant deferrals apply: ask your forwarder before you pay full rate.
6. Take delivery and keep records
Once released, freight moves to your warehouse, plant or fulfillment center. Mexican law requires you to keep import documentation for five years. SAT audits are real, and clean records are your best defense.
The entire sequence (classification to delivery) typically takes 3 to 10 days after arrival for straightforward goods, assuming documents were pre-filed. The shippers who suffer are the ones who start paperwork when the vessel docks.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign company import into Mexico without a Mexican entity?
Yes. Foreign shippers commonly import through an importer-of-record service, a shelter provider, or a Mexican trading company. Your freight forwarder can structure this: you don't need to incorporate in Mexico to start shipping.
How long does Mexican customs clearance take?
With pre-filed documents, most shipments clear in 1–3 days after arrival. Red-light inspections add 2–5 days. Shipments with missing or inconsistent documents can sit for weeks accruing storage and demurrage.
What is a pedimento?
The pedimento is Mexico's official customs declaration, filed electronically by your licensed customs broker. It declares classification, value, origin and applicable duties: it's the single most important document in your import.
What taxes do I pay when importing into Mexico?
Typically: IGI import duty (varies by product, 0–35%+), 16% IVA on customs value plus duties, and the DTA processing fee. USMCA-qualifying goods from the US/Canada often enter duty-free with a valid certificate of origin.
Do I need a customs broker, or can I file myself?
Mexican law requires a licensed agente aduanal to file the pedimento. There is no self-filing option for commercial imports: choose your broker carefully, because they share legal responsibility for your declaration.
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