New Customs Rules in Mexico

The Mexican Customs Office has issued a policy change concerning checked baggage, which will now include the baggage belonging to in-transit and connecting passengers landing in any international airport in Mexico.

Published in the Official Daily Gazette, the measure specifies that “International passengers who arrive in the country by air on a flight that will connect to their final destination within Mexico or abroad, must have their luggage checked by the customs authorities in the first airport where they land.” It goes on to explain that the decision also applies to “in-transit” passengers, those who continue their trip on the same airplane.

Travellers may still check their baggage to their final destination, but airlines must now deliver all luggage to the owners so they may go through the customs check at their first port of entry. To expedite the process, it is important for all passengers to have already filled out the Customs Declaration Form. Once the customs check has been completed, passengers will leave their luggage in the connecting-flight conveyor belt area (in Mexico City) or at the check-in counter.

This decision went into effect this past November for passengers arriving from the Caribbean, Central and South America. It will go into effect this coming Feb. 1st for flights arrving from Canada, Europe and Asia and on Sept. 1, 2009 for flights from the USA.