Mexican "Exit Tax" now MEX 300 ($25)

That's been going on, in essence, since the beginning of recorded history at that particular border crossing.

I took the water taxi from Chetumal to San Pedro 1 month ago and was charged $25 US from the mexican border guy who stamped my passport as an exit fee. So I think wherever you go they will get you!

misterbee, youre a big expert in this area. what's your advice on beating this? have a printout of the law and/or documentation of FMM payment?

Did you receive a Mexican tourist card form on the plane or from the airline (FMM)? Did you have a copy of your airline ticket?

The Mexican authorities (and some Belize bus drivers) are not innocents, but they are within the law if they require payment for the Mexico entrance fee if you do not have documentation that it has been paid -- either a bank receipt if you originally entered by land or sea or documentation from the airline.

For example, one time I came in by sea to Cozumel, did not get a tourist card and legitimately had to pay the fee at the Chetumal border crossing.

Last year crossing from Belize to Chetumal and back, staying in Chetumal only a couple of days, I wasn't required to pay the fee and wasn't hassled for it.

--Lan Sluder

It seems as if exit fees and entrance fees are very "hit and miss" in the area. I was told on my bus ride down to Chetumal to not pay any "exit fee" by a fellow passenger and sure enough I had to pay an exit fee.

On my way to leaving Belize into Guatemala I was told that I would have to pay a Belize exit fee which I did but I was also told that I would have to pay a Guatemala entrance fee which I was told would be around 30Q but I never had to pay that.

Edited by: murreybn

This scam has been going on for years, so a few years ago I sought answers from the Mexican Embassy in Belize and from a Mexican Honorary Consul in Belize (there weren't any answers on the Mexican Department of Immigration website).

Both stated that there is no exit fee when departing Mexico, but there is a fee for the FMM (increased to 294 pesos on 1/1/2012) known as DNI (Derecho de No Inmigrante) which must be paid in certain circumstances.

DNI is an entry fee that must be paid to the Mexican Government by all foreign nationals, including Belizeans who enter Mexico by air, road or sea, in the following cases:

1. Tourists staying in Mexico more than 7 (seven) consecutive days.

2. Transit travelers with destination to a third country regardless the time need for their transit. This includes those who enter Subteniente Lopez, Chetumal, by road and whose purpose is to board a flight in Cancun to travel to another country, as well as those arriving to Cancun towards Belize.

3. Holders of the border card FMVL (Forma Migratoria de Visitante Local) that remain more that 3 (three) consecutive days in Mexico. This fee is payable in addition of a sanction for violating the permitted period allowed under the FMVL status. FMVL holders are reminded that they can only stay in Quintana Roo for no more than 3 (three) consecutive days.

Visitors who are exempt from paying the fee include:
1. Visitors who enter Mexico, stay for seven days or less, and return to the country of origin.
2. FMVL border card holders who stay less than 3 days.
3. FM3 and FM2 holders.

The DNI must be paid in pesos at any bank in Mexico. It can also be paid at the Cancun airport. At the Subteniente López border (Mexico-Belize), the fee can be paid during working hours at the bank Banjercito located at the Mexican Customs compound.

One media report (quoting a press release from the Mexican Embassy in Belize) also states that since 1/1/2012, travel agencies and airlines no longer collect the fee, therefore the fee will have to be paid by all airline passengers before they depart Mexico. Previously, the fee was included in the airline ticket price, so airline passengers did not have to be concerned about paying the fee. I don't have any confirmation about this. I have heard reports of visitors still receiving the FMM while on board the plane and NOT paying any fee when departing Mexico.

The question I could not get an answer for was, "Where is the proof of payment when the FMM is received on a plane?". If arriving on a plane, the FMM is stamped with the arrival date and a small image of an airplane and I guess that it had always been assumed that the fee was collected by the airlines/travel agents. In those days, I refused to pay at the border and just got a dirty look from the scammer. Now, I would suggest travellers to get a breakdown of all fees & taxes when buying an airline ticket.

In another media report, an official from the Embassy said no money should be paid to immigration officials at the border, and to report any instances where an official asks for money.

When it comes to Mexican bureaucracy, there are the rules and then there's what really happens -- two different things. I've heard all kinds of stories -- do a search on this forum. Eighteen months ago, a friend coming to Belize from Cancun didn't know anything about the border, and simply walked past that small immigration booth without getting stamped or handing in his FMM. When he left Belize a few months later, he simply walked past immigration, went through Customs and proceeded to Cancun airport and flew out -- no problems, never questioned, no fees. Another traveller stayed and argued with the Mexican immigration scammer and the bus drove off without him.

I recall another story where a traveller had refused to pay and the immigration scammer kept the traveller's passport. He said he would report this to the immigration officials in the bigger immigration building across the road and started walking over. He was quickly called back, given his passport and allowed to proceed -- no fee.

For more information, contact the Mexican Embassy’s Consular Section at 501-223-0193 or 501-223-0194, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm or write to consular@embamex.bz.

You can also visit the Mexican Immigration website: http://www.inm.gob.mx/index.php/page/pagina_principal/en.html

Mexican Embassy’s website: www.sre.gob.mx/belice or Facebook: www.facebook.com/EmbassyofMexicoinBelize

The Mexican Tourist Card is valid for six months so you can exit Mexico (no charge) go wherever and come back into Mexico within the six month period. IE, to enter Guatemala you get stamped out of Mexico (no charge) but your Tourist Card is still good. You can spend a month or so in Guat and then return to Mexico with the same Tourist Card.
This is a scam. But sometimes you just get caught up in one and right or wrong, it is easier to pey.

Misterbee does it again! Hope you dont get expunged by the moderadores for this. What we need now is for travellers to obtain and present unequivocal documentation of payment at the border, and report on what and where to get it, as well as how it goes down at the border.

I think I'm safe eddy. I carefully worded my reply to avoid adding links to travel information containing bus schedules.

As for chefhagan's comments, I also asked about this because with the former FMT, it was exactly as you have written -- get a doble entrada stamp and re-enter Mexico -- no fees.

However, with the introduction of the FMM, I was told by the Embassy and the Honorary Consul that the visitor's part of the FMM must always be handed in when leaving Mexico. If the visitor returns to Mexico, a new FMM must be obtained and the fee for that one must be paid.

Another however...
I still hear of travellers who have paid money (usually 200 pesos or US$20) to the the immigration scammer, received a doble entrada stamp on their FMM and re-entered Mexico with no problems and no further payment of fees.