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

I flew into Mexico City from Canada and I assume that the entry fee was included in the ticket, as I wasn't asked to pay anything extra upon arrival.

Do you have proof that the fee was paid?
I don't think anyone is asked to pay upon arrival. If the fee hasn't been collected by the airline, then it is paid at a bank and a receipt issued as proof of payment.

I assume from the above that I have nothing extra to pay when I leave Mexico (although the lady at the Cubana office today told me differently).

That depends on if the fee has already been paid. If you don't have proof...?

MisterBee: you write that there is no departure tax.

I'm only repeating what I've been told by the Embassy and the Honorary Consul.
I don't make this stuff up.

So, what fee is the man in the uniform collecting from those who pay him?

Maybe for his mortgage or for his next holiday or maybe a car. Whatever money that guy gets goes into his pocket, and that's according to a statement from the Honorary Consul!

If a visitor reaches the border and has proof of payment, no problem.
If a visitor reaches the border and knows the fee has not been paid, then it might be easier to pay the man than find a bank. The visitor thinks the fee is being paid, but it isn't.
If a visitor reaches the border and doesn't know, I'd try arguing for a while, but you might end up paying someone, somewhere.

Do you mean that some people are paying that DNI when leaving Mexico?

Maybe they think they are paying the DNI, but I'd say most people don't know for certain what they're paying. An official looking man in a uniform has asked for money, so the tourists just hand it over. The border officials are not authorized to collect any money.

I thought it had to be paid when one entered Mexico.

No. It has to paid before leaving Mexico, and the border officials (at entry or exit points) are not authorized to collect any money.

Up until 1/1/2012, airlines and travel agents were collecting the fee. Some still are collecting the fee, but according to the Embassy & Consul, they are no longer authorized to collect the fee.

On the FMM/DNI/tourist card I was given whilst on the plane, and had an entry stamp stamped onto it when I arrived at Mexico City airport, there is no record of my payment. I'm under the impression that that payment was included in the ticket price. Is possession of an FMM/DNI7tourist card sufficient proof that payment was made?

Before 1/1/2012, if the FMM was issued on a plane, then it was safe to assume the fee had been paid. After 1/1/2012, you better have proof from the airline or travel agent because the border officials are probably going to assume that the fee has not been collected by the airline.

When visitors enter Mexico, the FMM is stamped with the date and a small image of a plane. It is not stamped with anything specifically proving that the fee has been paid.

Edit to add...

Something else to consider...

Whenever I've left Mexico by bus at the Chetumal border, I've always been asked for money (except once when there were only a few other Belizeans on the bus and no other tourists). I've always refused and have only received a sour look from the official.

Whenever I've reached the border by taxi from Chetumal, I've never been asked to pay any money.

Edited by: misterbee

1stly, thanks misterbee for your time and information.

Yesterday, I made a nuisance of myself and went to a Mexican Government building. A lady there was very gracious to me, and after several phone calls, she explained the following.

There is no departure tax if leaving by land.

There is no departure tax if leaving by boat, but there may be a port tax and perhaps some local taxes.

There may or may not be a departure tax payable at the airport if departing by air. It depends on which airline. Many airlines have an agreement with the Mexican Government in which the departure tax is included in the ticket price. However, some airlines, including Cubana, do not have such an agreement and therefore, the departure tax should be payable at the airport upon departure. She said that there is a code on airline tickets labelled "uz" (I can't read her writing properly, so maybe I've got that wrong). That code tells the airlines check-in personnel if the departure tax has been included in the ticket price.

She is reasonably certian that she told me the correct information. However, you know how that goes!!!!!

I still don't think there is such a thing as a Mexico "departure" tax (impuesto de salida). There is a tourist tax paid on arrival (by land) unless you're just staying in a border area for a short time, or in some cases included in the airline ticket if arriving by air. If not paid on arrival, it may be due on departure, but it is not a departure tax.

There is a Tourist Card which costs I guess 300 pesos now. It is good for six months. One note is that if you are not in Mexico longer than 7 days you don't have to pay anything. I just went last week and asked the immigrations guy. I stayed 3 days and paid nothing when I left.

That was covered in post #6, chefh...

"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."

Misterbee, your patience is amazing.

I guess what I was saying is that they gave us the cards and it says to pay at the bank before leaving and if one didn't know better, they could be paying when they didn't have too. They didn't use to bother giving us the card.

I just did this crossing (April 30 2012) on an overnight bus from Playa del Carmen to Belize
City. Best advice: if you need the exit stamp for whatever reason and don't want to pay the bribe, do not do the crossing by night. There's no one to go to and the official knows it. We had about 15 of us foreigners who opposed, but even showing three flight receipts did nothing. He refused to do anything without US$25 each. We held our ground and he finally shut off the lights and walked out. We went back to the bus, sans exit stamps, and entered Belize just fine. The immigration official there never looked or asked about exit stamps.

He refused to give identification or a badge number. Anything that can be done to report this? I'm going to give the Mexican immigration office a call but I doubt much will transpire. Just be aware that this situation is unavoidable very late/early in the morning.

I wonder if I should contact the Mexican embassy to make sure my papers are in order. I don't plan on returning to Mexico soon, but might one day.

Went through the Chetchumal border today. It was a nightmare. They sit there and wait for the night bus from Cancun to Belize, rubbing their hands with glee, and pocketing everything they can get. Many of the tourists knew about the "scam". I was transiting straight thru from Cancun AIrport to Belize. In the past, if you left within 48 hours, you didnt have to pay the "departure tax." This guys stood his ground, he was rude, basically if you didnt pay him, he wasnt going to stamp your passport. He handed out "rough" fako, 294 white sheets for us to fill in, anyone who asked for a receipt (he had 6 of them) for a bus full of passengers, was told to go to the bank (which would not have been open for another 5 hours). Knowing we had a bus to catch. (Its a great little game of his) He handed out information in spanish, which told us nothing. There are no list of rules and regulations at the border anywhere. I was under the impression we needed that exit stamp? who knows. It just reeked of people lining their pockets. I asked for his badge information, and he shoved it in my face. He had it out for me from that point on. Such a shame for Mexico. The bus driver says this happens every night, it holds the bus up, its very confusing. Half the bus had no money to pay. Left a bad taste in all our mouths.

Great information in this thread on a not-so-great situation. Seems to put a damper on a great service to connect Belize and Mexico, and could affect ADO's service as these online forums spread the word.

gillian - Thanks for the recent update on your experience. I will more seriously consider options for crossing vs the overnight bus. I realise bribery is rampant but will try to go the extra mile to avoid it if it's doable.