While what household items you decide to bring is ultimately a personal choice, here are a few tips to assist you in the decision making process.
What Can You Ship?
Article 90 of the Mexican Customs Law states that the items you bring must be used personal items and furniture of a house, e.g. clothes, books, furniture, appliances, and electronics. Tools and implements are also allowed if they are required for your profession or if they are used for a hobby. Medical equipment, such as a wheelchair, blood pressure or sugar monitors, and oxygen generators are allowed duty-free. New (unused) items and those in unopened packaging may be allowed into Mexico but will likely be subject to duty and other requirements.
What Can’t You Ship?
You may not bring in guns or ammunition of any caliber, as well as most other weapons. Also, no fresh or frozen food, plants, spices, or seeds are allowed. While personal medication, supplements, and perfumes and other cosmetics are allowed when carried with your luggage, it is not recommended to ship these items with your household goods. Vehicles, including cars, boats, recreational vehicles, and trailers are not considered household goods and must be declared and approved separately.
Electronics
Up until very recently, we would have recommended bringing all of your electronic devices with you, but times are changing and most items including Apple products are priced comparably to the U.S. (although not less expensive). There may not be the same selection of devices (Apple advertises four different iPad memory storage capacities on their U.S. site, but only two are available on the Mexican site.) Because electronics prices here are basically U.S. prices or more, if you are retiring you may want to consider updating all of your technology prior to retirement, so that you can go a longer time without replacing them. Just make sure you bring them in as ‘used’ goods, i.e. removed from packaging and in use. There are a wide variety of televisions available in Mexico at very comparable prices, making it largely unnecessary to bring televisions unless you have the latest and greatest most expensive brand.
Furniture
Again, this is an individual choice, but keep in mind that many U.S. styles of furniture do not fit well in Mexican homes and beautiful and custom made furniture is readily available here. The selection of mattresses available, for example, is comparable to the U.S. or Canada. IKEA is also opening a store in Guadalajara in 2019.
Lakeside consignment stores are full of things that expats have left behind for one reason or another. Shipping is expensive and not straightforward, so it would be a shame to spend all the time and trouble only to discover that you no longer treasure something you brought at great expense.
Memorabilia/Fine Jewelry
Only you can decide if it’s wise to bring treasured heirlooms or expensive jewelry, but if you do, be sure to invest in a safe and have it bolted down. (Costco Mexico has a great selection of safes in varying sizes from a small one for passports, etc. to a large closet safe.) Even this is not insurance against a determined thief, but it is a deterrent. And if you really can’t live without grandfather’s WWII medal and your heart would be broken if it is lost or stolen, you may want to consider leaving it with a relative. Robbery is not unheard of here and you should carefully consider what you feel comfortable doing with absolutely irreplaceable items, depending on your risk tolerance.
When it comes to photos, consider digitizing them and leaving the originals in your home country.
Household Items
Today in Mexico, you can get most household items available in the U.S. although prices of imported household items are usually either equal to or more expensive than in the U.S. Here are a few current household item price comparisons all in U.S. dollar equivalents:
| Amazon U.S. | Amazon MX | Costco MX | City Market MX | |
| Cuisinart Grind & Brew Coffeemaker |
$229 |
$160.34 |
X |
$210.57 |
| Vitamix |
$299.95 |
$601.53 |
$466.66 |
X |
| KitchenAid Mixer |
$136.99 |
$401.04 |
$461.55 |
$564.62 |
As you can see from the chart, prices vary widely. Many items are now available with reliable free shipping to your door from sites like Amazon Prime Mexico and Costco Mexico, just like home. Neither of these has everything that is on their U.S. site, but they do have a large selection of items.
Tools/Arms
High quality tools are still largely imported into Mexico and are quite expensive, so you may want to bring those if you have special tools for a hobby, etc. Guns of any sort are not permitted to enter Mexico.
Legal Requirements
A list of your household effects must be certified by the Mexican Consulate for Customs in Mexico. You must present the following:
- Residente Temporal or Residente Permanente issued in the applicant’s name plus a notarized copy
- Sorry ladies, in Mexico the man is the head of the household. If there is no man, then you do get to bring your “stuff” in your own name, but if there is a man, the application must be in his name unless you apply separately.
- A typed list of household effects (inventory), in Spanish, accompanied by four additional photocopies, listing all items to be imported. Brand, model and serial numbers must be stated when listing electrical appliances.
- Proof of domicilo (address) in Mexico
- Consular fees
It is important to make your list by box, that is,
- Box 1 Inventory List
- Box 2 Inventory List, etc.
and label the boxes accordingly.
Once the household effects list has been submitted, all furniture and appliances must enter the country within six months from date of the issue of the Residente Temporal or Permanente visa. Household effects can be brought into Mexico duty free only once in a lifetime, so plan carefully.
Let’s Wrap This Up
Our expert presenters at the Focus on Mexico program will provide you with all of the information you’ll need to navigate moving your household goods and assist you through the process.
By Bette Brazel, Focus on Mexico Content Manager
Focus On Mexico offers 6-Day Educational Programs to Ajijic and Lake Chapala, Mexico. Also Focus now runs online programs covering the same info – go to Focus On Mexico Online Programs Join us and learn why thousands of Americans and Canadians chose to retire in Lake Chapala. Our programs offer the perfect balance; a wonderful vacation and an insightful, educational experience. Our expert speakers cover all topics: Health Care, Real Estate, Legal System, Safety, Immigration, Assisted Living/Care Options, Bringing Pets, Cost of Living, US Taxes for Americans, Non-Residency for Canadians, Living on the Lakeside, Investing in Mexico, Mexican Economy and much more…
I have a question. If both Permanebte and Temporal must be initiated in the home country (USA) and completed in Mexico (might take months) how can I get my Menaja de Casa approved ? I plan on moving to Mexico in the spring and hoped to arrive at my new home just before the moving truck. Must I live in Mexico for (possibly) months with none of my household items until my visa is approved and then return to the USA to have my Menaja de Casa stamped?
Hi Lezlie,
Immigration process is not that long; often get your Visa on a same-day visit to Consulate, and the remaining process upon crossing the border under 6 weeks – often faster. Re the “manaje de casa”, as I understand it, Permanent Resident visa (the stamp in your passport) gives you 6 months after getting the visa to move stuff to Mexico using the manaje de casa AND you have to return to the Consulate with your resident card (once received in Mexico) to process the manaje de casa. Temporary Residents do the bulk move anytime up to 4 years (assuming you renew card each year). Some people even if they could apply for PR, decide to go with TR to provide more time to plan the move AND to be able to drive a foreign plated car in Mexico under TP (can’t do with PR). Always good to work with an immigration lawyer (or a good moving company) so you can get the help of someone who has helped dozens move vs trying to get it exactly right on your own, IMO.
I have a question. Can one ship goods without residency status and simply pay duty on the shipment?
You are not allowed to import household goods into Mexico without a temporary or permanent resident visa.
can you recommend some moving companies in mexico. One’s that can
handle the process of moving from the US to Mexico.
Hello Rolando,
Am sending you a private email with some info.
I live in the United states and are building a house in mexico, could i buy new kitchen cabinets in the States and sent them to mexico through a freight company?
There would likely be duty, but may be a creative way to do depending on your immigration status. Suggest you ask a moving company (who does regular US to Mexico moves.
Highly unlikely this is a good or economic idea.
Best to buy or have made locally.
Michael
Can you recommend some reliable moving companies that can
handle the process of moving from the US to Mexico.
Hi Marvin.
THere are several in the area.
Can you send me an email describing the kind of move you are thinking of, (a few boxes, whole household, etc) and where in Mexico and I can email you some names.
Email; michael@focusonmexico.com
Strom White Movers, and Best Mexico Movers are two of the best.
Michael
Hello, my ex moved to Mexico (he is a resident there) and wants me to ship him all of his stuff (his bed, two TVs, dresser, clothes, etc.). I live near the Bay Area in California and he lives in La Paz, BCS. Do you know of any good shipping companies?
Kimberly,
You might try contacting Best Mexico Movers and ask their advice.
https://bestmexicomovers.com/contact-best-mexico-movers/
Keep in mind, when someone moves to Mexico, they only have 6 months in which to move their personal belongings – so there could be an issue of duties if we are talking about more than 6 months after your ex officially moved to Mexico.
Michael
Planning on going back moving to Mexico, I’m a computer geek, I would like to take many of my desktop computers, and electronics, and maybe some furniture, is there a known limit in the amount of electronics you can take? like maybe only one laptop and one desktop computer allowed?
Hi Daniel,
My understanding of the rules say that when you move to Mexico with a Temporary or Permanent Resident visa, you have 6 months where you can bring your personal belongings that have been used by you for over 6 months. If you bring in something in a quantity that appears you could be in business i.e. to sell them, it may become a problem and attract duties.
You may want to speak to the Mexican Consulate about your specifics, or a professional moving company to see what they say.
Michael
Hi, I have my Permanente, but I am past the 6 month window of issuance and have finally decided to bring my goods down here. 1. Is that going to be a problem? What kind of fees/duties should I expect? Also, I am sort of stumped as to what to do 1st. 2. Should I contact a Mexican Consulate in US to get required forms? Or will one of the moving companies mentioned here do that for me? 3. How detailed does the inventory have to be? ( My stuff has been in storage x 2.5 years. Other than being labeled ‘book’s, ‘dishes’, etc, not a lot of detail on the boxes.) 4. Do I need to be present when my goods cross the border? Or enter via port? Any information you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Hi Joan,
Moving companies will be able to guide you with all of your questions – they are doing this everyday. There may be ways to minimize paying duties, but it depends on how much stuff and the type of stuff you have. Many people will drive in with van full of personal belongings and pay little or no customs…but it depends on many factors.
If I were you, I would hire a local immigration/customs lawyer and get their advice on the process you should follow.
Hi Joan, I am in the same predicament, past the 6 month window. We’re you able to get your stuff moved to Mexico? Was it difficult?
Hi, also in the same predicament. How did it go for you? We’re you able to move your household items down without out a Menaje de Casas?
Hello, I am traveling to mexico by air. We recently built a home in michoacan. My husband is a Mexican citizen I am not. I have purchased small it’s utensils towels bowels knife set. I had also bought toaster etc. but have been reading about appliances not being allowed. I wasn’t aware of such strict customs. Would it be OK to take the small items I purchased in my checked luggage?
Yes, but best if they are not new i.e. over 6 months old, so you can avoid paying duty.
m
I have my Temporary Resident Card for Mexico and I want to bring a few household items with me. Can I pack these items in Suitcases and bring them with me the same time I travel there or do I need to ship them separately? This will be my first entry into Mexico as a Temporary Resident.
You are able to bring suitcases down anytime – as long as you are not importing things that attract duties like new appliances, or tech. Household items no program. If the total value is over $3,000USD, you may want to do a formal casa de manaje to ensure you avoid duties- read about that here; https://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/boston/index.php/consular-services/64-household-goods
I am moving to San Miguel de Allende and I’m hoping that you can provide me with the names of reputable household moving companies from that area? Thank you.
We focus mostly in the Lake Chapala area. I would ask your question on a SMA facebook group or just google for it.