Moving to Mexico: customs & SENASICA checklist
Mexican customs (ANAM) decides whether your container clears duty-free as menaje de casa; SENASICA decides what plants, food, pets and animal products get in. Answer five questions to see whether your shipment qualifies for the duty-free household-goods treatment under tariff fraction 9804.00.01, then check every item against the official ANAM and SENASICA rules before you pack.
1. Do my goods clear duty-free? (Menaje de casa — duty-free import of used household goods (Ley Aduanera art. 61 fr. VII and VIII, Reglamento arts. 100, 101 and 104, tariff fraction 9804.00.01))
Which of these describes you?
Are the goods your own personal and household property, not for sale or business use?
Have you owned AND used the goods for 6 months or more?
Does your shipment fit the time limits (your arrival and the shipment close together)?
Does the shipment include any of these?
Documents to clear your shipment
- Lista de menaje de casa — itemised inventory of every household item in Spanish, in the required format, certified and stamped at the Mexican consulate in your country of departure before the goods ship. Do it at the same consulate that handles your resident visa; ANAM requires a description and quantity of every item
- Passport and proof of your immigration status — the residente temporal or residente permanente visa sticker and, after the canje at INM within 30 days of entry, the resident card; returning Mexicans use their passport or other proof of nationality
- Proof that the goods were acquired at least six months before import — ANAM requires you to document the acquisition date (purchase receipts, insurance schedules, dated photographs); commercial invoices are not required for the pedimento itself
- Written statement to the customs authority — full name, address abroad, and the description and quantity of the goods; temporary residents also state where they will live in Mexico and undertake to return the goods and to notify any change of address
- Pedimento A1 declaring tariff fraction 9804.00.01 of the TIGIE — prepared and filed electronically by your licensed agente aduanal; this is the customs declaration for the household shipment
- Carta de encomienda (mandate) appointing the agente aduanal — the broker will ask you to sign it, together with copies of your identity and immigration documents, before the pedimento can be filed
- Bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air) issued in your own name, matching the number of packages on the consular list
- Import authorisation from the Administración Desconcentrada Jurídica (Mexican students and researchers settling permanently) or the SAT authorisation for a second menaje de casa import, where applicable
- For pets travelling with you: SENASICA's Certificado Zoosanitario para Importación (CZI), issued at the port of entry on presentation of a veterinary health certificate no more than 15 days old confirming rabies vaccination (animals under 3 months exempt); wild species also need PROFEPA's Registro de Verificación
What is taxed and what is not
- Qualifying menaje de casa — used household furnishings and utensils, clothing, books and bookcases, works of art (not complete collections), indispensable professional instruments and tools, all acquired at least six months before import and entering within the time window: free of foreign-trade taxes under fraction 9804.00.01.
- Goods that do not qualify — items under six months old, new goods, goods held for commercial or industrial use, or a shipment arriving outside the three-months-before / six-months-after window: declared by your agente aduanal as an ordinary import and charged the import contributions at the tariff classification of each item (general import duty plus the other contributions assessed on the pedimento).
- Accompanied baggage: personal luggage is duty-free, plus a franquicia of USD 500 of other goods per person (family allowances can be combined when arriving together). Goods above that and up to USD 3,000 (USD 4,000 including computer equipment) may be imported without a broker at a flat 19 % global rate; alcohol, tobacco and fuel can never use the franquicia.
- Fees: the agente aduanal's fee, port handling and storage of the container are yours. SENASICA's Certificado Zoosanitario para Importación for up to three pets is issued without charge; treatment, return or destruction of refused agricultural goods is at your cost.
2. Can I ship it? — SENASICA item checker
SENASICA, the agri-food safety agency under SADER, inspects anything in a household shipment that is, or came from, a plant, animal or soil, and issues the import certificates for pets. PROFEPA controls wildlife products, and the customs broker checks whether electronics, drugs and weapons are subject to a permit before the pedimento is filed. Search an item or filter by category. Statuses follow ANAM's menaje de casa and passenger rules and the SENASICA traveller information linked below.
Don't ship — Prohibited or assessed separately — leave it outDeclare + clean — Declare, clean/dry it, expect inspection or treatmentDeclare — Declare and list it clearlyNo concern — No specific concern
No match — if it is made of wood, plant or animal material, is food, or has been outdoors, declare it and check with the authority before packing.
Don't ship
Fresh fruit, vegetables, salad, fresh herbsPerishable plant products are subject to SENASICA sanitary control and need an import certificate the mover cannot obtain for you — leave all fresh produce out of the container.
Food
Don't ship
Raw, home-made or cured meat, sausages, ham, fresh fishAnimal-origin food is subject to SENASICA zoosanitary control; uncertified meat and fish products in a household shipment are refused. Leave them behind.
Food
Declare
Sealed, labelled tinned and shelf-stable food (tins, jars, dry goods)List it on the consular inventory in small, clearly personal quantities and keep the original labels visible so SENASICA can identify the contents; quantities that look commercial are excluded from menaje de casa.
Food
Declare + clean
Cheese, butter, milk powder and other dairyDairy is an animal product under SENASICA control — declare it and expect inspection; home-made or unlabelled dairy is refused.
Food
Declare + clean
Rice, pulses, whole grains, seeds and nuts for eatingUnprocessed grains and seeds are plant-health goods under SENASICA — declare them; anything that could be planted is treated like seed and may be refused.
Food
Declare
Dried spices, tea, roasted coffee, pasta, flour, biscuits (sealed, labelled)Industrially processed, sealed and labelled plant foods in personal quantities are the least problematic — declare them on the list so the inspector can find them.
Food
Don't ship
Eggs, home-made cakes and preserves, open or unlabelled foodHome-made and unlabelled food cannot be identified at the SENASICA inspection and is refused — eat it or give it away before packing.
Food
Declare
Alcohol — wine, spirits, beerNot menaje de casa and excluded from the USD 500 franquicia. Adults may carry 3 litres of spirits and 6 litres of wine duty-free in accompanied baggage; bottles in the container are declared by the broker as an ordinary import and taxed.
Food
Declare
Tobacco, cigarettes, cigarsExcluded from the franquicia; the personal allowance for travellers over 18 is 20 packets of cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200 g of tobacco carried with you. Container quantities are taxed as an ordinary import.
Food
Declare
Dogs and catsTravel with you, never in the container. Up to three pets enter duty-free with the SENASICA Certificado Zoosanitario para Importación issued at the port of entry on presentation of a vet health certificate no more than 15 days old confirming rabies vaccination (under 3 months exempt). No quarantine when compliant.
Pets & animals
Declare
Hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, canaries, budgies, cockatiels, parrots, turtlesOn ANAM's list of companion animals that may accompany a passenger duty-free (up to three animals in total) with the SENASICA zoosanitary import certificate, plus the accessories needed for their transport and care.
Pets & animals
Declare + clean
Small wild birds, reptiles, exotic or wild animalsSmall wild birds (never raptors) are admitted only with the SENASICA certificate and PROFEPA's Registro de Verificación proving compliance with wildlife regulations; other wild fauna is outside the passenger allowance.
Pets & animals
Declare + clean
Pet food, treats, chews (sealed, labelled)Animal-origin products are subject to SENASICA control — declare sealed, labelled industrial pet food and expect inspection; open bags and home-made treats are refused.
Pets & animals
Don't ship
Used pet bedding, litter, hay, straw, cages with droppingsForage and animal waste are sanitary risks that SENASICA refuses — ship cages and carriers spotless and buy new bedding in Mexico.
Pets & animals
Declare + clean
Hunting trophies, taxidermy, antlers, raw hides, feathers, skullsAnimal-origin articles are subject to SENASICA inspection and, for wild species, to PROFEPA wildlife controls — declare them with any CITES or origin documents; untreated or infested items are refused.
Decor & ornaments
Declare
Solid-wood furniture, antiques, carvings, wooden chestsUsed furniture is the core of menaje de casa — describe each piece on the consular list. Expect SENASICA to look at raw or untreated wood for bark and pests; finished, painted or varnished furniture is routine.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Don't ship
Raw timber, logs, firewood, bark, untreated planksRaw wood is a plant-health good under SENASICA control and is not household furnishing — leave it out.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare + clean
Wicker, rattan, bamboo and cane baskets and furniturePlant-fibre items are checked by SENASICA for insects and untreated material — declare them, make sure they are clean and free of borer holes or frass.
Wood, cane & bamboo
No concern
Plywood, MDF, chipboard, laminate and flat-pack furnitureReconstituted and finished wood raises no plant-health concern — list it as used household furniture.
Wood, cane & bamboo
No concern
Musical instruments — piano, guitar, violin, drumsUsed instruments are menaje de casa; two instruments with accessories are also within the duty-free personal baggage if you carry them. Describe make and model on the list.
Wood, cane & bamboo
Declare
Artworks, paintings, sculptures (your own collection)Works of art or science qualify as menaje de casa provided they do not constitute complete collections for setting up exhibitions or galleries — list each piece with a description.
Decor & ornaments
Declare + clean
Dried flowers, potpourri, wreaths, pine cones, dried branchesDried plant material is a plant-health good under SENASICA control — declare it and expect inspection or refusal; as décor it is rarely worth the risk.
Decor & ornaments
Declare + clean
Ornaments of bone, horn, shell, coral, ivory or reptile skinAnimal-origin crafts are inspected by SENASICA; items of protected species need PROFEPA wildlife clearance and ivory or protected reptile skins should stay behind.
Decor & ornaments
No concern
Bicycles, gym equipment, skis, surfboards, camping gear, fishing rodsUsed sports and camping equipment is menaje de casa; ANAM also allows two personal sports items, four fishing rods, three boards and a tent duty-free in accompanied baggage. Clean off mud and sand.
Outdoor, sport & camping
Declare + clean
Garden furniture, BBQ, parasolRemove ash, soil and plant debris; wooden garden furniture follows the raw-wood rule. Gas cylinders and fuel may not travel in the container.
Outdoor, sport & camping
Don't ship
Live plants, seeds, bulbs, cuttings, tubersPlant propagation material needs a SENASICA phytosanitary import certificate obtained in advance — in a household move, leave plants and seeds behind.
Garden & plants
Don't ship
Soil, compost, potting mix, plant pots with earthSoil and growing media are SENASICA-controlled agricultural goods — empty and scrub every pot before packing.
Garden & plants
Declare + clean
Garden tools, lawnmower, strimmer, wheelbarrowUsed tools are menaje de casa, but soil and plant debris are not — clean them, and drain all fuel and oil from machines.
Garden & plants
Don't ship
Pesticides, herbicides, fertiliser, plant foodAgrochemicals are regulated goods that need permits you will not have — leave them out of the shipment.
Garden & plants
No concern
Pots, pans, crockery, cutlery, small kitchen appliancesHousehold utensils for ordinary family use are the definition of menaje de casa — list them by box.
Kitchen
No concern
Fridge, freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, cookerUsed appliances are menaje de casa. Empty, defrost and dry them, and remove all food — any residue invites a SENASICA inspection of the whole container.
Kitchen
Declare
Medicines, supplements, medical devicesPersonal-use medicines are allowed; psychotropic or controlled medicines must be backed by the medical prescription. Carry them with you rather than in the container and keep original packaging.
Household
No concern
Laptops, phones, TVs, cameras, used electronicsUsed electronics acquired more than six months ago are menaje de casa. Record make, model and serial on the list; new boxed devices are not menaje and are taxed.
Household
Declare
Drones, radio transmitters, walkie-talkies, satellite equipmentDeclare and list each device by model — your agente aduanal checks whether it is subject to a non-tariff regulation or permit before the pedimento is filed; goods needing a permit that arrive without one are seized.
Household
Don't ship
Firearms, ammunition, gun parts, replica and air gunsWeapons never travel in a household shipment. They are controlled goods requiring a prior permit from the Mexican Army (SEDENA); importing them undeclared or without the permit is a customs offence with seizure and referral to the federal prosecutor.
Household
Don't ship
Narcotics, counterfeit goods, pirated mediaProhibited goods — importing them is an infraction under the Ley Aduanera leading to seizure, fines and criminal referral.
Household
No concern
Clothing, shoes, books, bookcases, bedding, towelsClothing, books and bookcases are expressly listed by ANAM as menaje de casa — list them box by box.
Household
Declare
Professional instruments and tradesperson's toolsScientific instruments of professionals and tools of workers and artisans qualify when indispensable to your profession — but not complete equipment for a laboratory, surgery or workshop. Describe their professional use on the list.
Household
Declare
Furniture or appliances bought in the last six months, still boxedNot menaje de casa: ANAM requires goods to have been acquired at least six months before import. The broker declares them separately and they pay import contributions at the tariff rate.
Household
Don't ship
Stock, samples, goods used for a business, commercial quantitiesGoods held abroad for commercial or industrial activities are excluded from menaje de casa and need an ordinary commercial import with registration in the padrón de importadores.
Household
Don't ship
Cars, motorcycles, scooters and vehicle partsVehicles are expressly excluded from menaje de casa. A foreign-plated car needs a Banjercito temporary import permit tied to your immigration status; it cannot share the 9804.00.01 pedimento.
Vehicles & machines
Declare + clean
Boxes marked "misc" or not itemised; goods belonging to friends or relativesThe consular list must give a description and quantity of every item, in Spanish, and only your own household's goods — unlisted boxes delay clearance and other people's goods fall outside your menaje.
Packing
Don't ship
Straw, hay or wood shavings used as packing filler; second-hand fruit cartonsForage and plant residue are agricultural goods — use paper, bubble wrap and new cartons so SENASICA has nothing to find.
Packing
Don't ship
Fuel, gas cylinders, aerosols and paintFuel is excluded from passenger imports and dangerous goods may not travel in a household container — drain machines and leave cylinders and paint behind.
Packing
How to pack so you clear inspection first time
- Build the lista de menaje de casa before you pack: every box numbered, every item described with quantity, in Spanish and in the consulate's format — then have it certified and stamped at the Mexican consulate that issues your resident visa, before the container ships.
- Only pack what has been yours for six months or more; set aside anything newer and tell your broker so it is declared separately rather than jeopardising the whole shipment.
- Time the sailing so the goods arrive within the three months before or the six months after your entry into Mexico, and complete the canje at INM within 30 days of arriving so your resident card exists when the pedimento is filed.
- Strip out agricultural goods: no fresh food, meat, honey, seeds, plants, soil or used pet bedding; sealed and labelled industrial food only in personal quantities, listed on the inventory.
- Clean everything that touched soil — garden tools, boots, bikes, BBQ — and drain all fuel; empty and dry fridges and freezers.
- Leave vehicles, alcohol, tobacco, weapons and anything bought for resale out of the container; they each need their own regime or are not menaje de casa at all.
Penalties and costs
- Importing goods without declaring them or without paying the taxes due, or goods subject to non-tariff regulations without the required permits, or prohibited or restricted goods, is an infraction under the Ley Aduanera (ANAM): the customs authority opens a Procedimiento Administrativo en Materia Aduanera (PAMA) and may place a precautionary seizure (embargo precautorio) on the goods and the means of transport.
- Fines can be 80 % to 120 % of the commercial value of the goods, and the goods — and the vehicle carrying them — may pass into the ownership of the Fisco Federal, without prejudice to other sanctions.
- Introducing goods concealed or by means that make them pass unnoticed can lead, depending on gravity, to referral to the Ministerio Público de la Federación — ANAM's own warning is that non-compliance can cost you money, your property or your liberty.
- Cash and negotiable instruments of USD 10,000 or more that are not declared on arrival attract a fine of 20–40 % of the amount above the threshold; a shipment that misses the three-months-before / six-months-after window simply loses the menaje de casa treatment and pays ordinary import contributions.
Fees and penalty amounts are revised regularly — confirm current figures on the official pages below before you ship.
FAQ
Do my goods really have to be six months old?
Yes. ANAM defines menaje de casa as the used furnishings and utensils of a home, and requires you to prove the goods were acquired at least six months before the date they are to enter Mexico. Newer items are declared separately by your customs broker and pay ordinary import contributions.
Can I ship before my resident visa is approved?
You can ship up to three months before you enter Mexico, but the exemption depends on your immigration status and on a consular-certified list, so Flyto's guidance is: secure the residente temporal or permanente visa first, certify the inventory at the same consulate, then ship. A container in transit before the visa exists risks losing the duty-free treatment entirely.
What is the difference between permanent and temporary residents?
Permanent residents (and returning Mexican nationals) import definitively and free of foreign-trade taxes. Temporary residents, students and researchers import under the temporary-import mechanism for as long as their immigration status lasts, also without paying the taxes, but they state their Mexican address and undertake in writing to return the goods and to notify any change of address.
Can I clear the container myself without a customs broker?
No. ANAM requires the import to be made through a licensed agente aduanal, who files a pedimento A1 declaring tariff fraction 9804.00.01. You do not need commercial invoices or registration in the padrón de importadores, but the broker's involvement is mandatory.
What about my car, my wine and the dog?
Vehicles are expressly excluded from menaje de casa and need a Banjercito temporary import permit. Wine is not household furnishing — carry up to 6 litres of wine and 3 litres of spirits duty-free with you; anything in the container is taxed. The dog flies with you: SENASICA issues the Certificado Zoosanitario para Importación on arrival against a vet health certificate no more than 15 days old showing rabies vaccination, free of charge for up to three pets, with no quarantine.
Will Flyto handle the consular list and the pedimento?
Yes. Our door-to-door service to Mexico includes the box-by-box lista de menaje de casa in Spanish ready for consular certification, a sailing timed to your three-month / six-month window and clearance through our licensed agente aduanal partner on the 9804.00.01 pedimento, with the inventory pre-screened against SENASICA's rules before packing.
Read next
- Moving to Mexico City from Abroad (2026): Complete Relocation Guide
- Moving from the UK to Mexico (2026): Complete Guide
- Moving from Germany to Mexico (2026): Complete Guide
- Moving Guides — Mexico
- Moving volume calculator — how many m³ is your move?
- Keep, sell or ship? — is it worth moving your furniture abroad?
- Moving inventory list template (PDF, Word, Excel)
Official sources
- ANAM — Menaje de casa (definition, six-month rule, time window, exclusions, eligible persons)
- ANAM — Trámites menaje de casa (legal basis: Ley Aduanera arts. 61 fr. VII–VIII and 142; Reglamento arts. 100, 101, 104; RGCE 3.3.3)
- ANAM — Menaje permanente (returning students and researchers: one year abroad, authorisation, pedimento A1, fraction 9804.00.01)
- ANAM — Menaje temporal de estudiantes o investigadores extranjeros (temporary import for the duration of immigration status)
- ANAM — Equipaje y franquicia (personal baggage list, USD 500 franquicia, alcohol and tobacco allowances, pets with SADER certificate, PROFEPA)
- ANAM — Pago de contribuciones por excedente de franquicia (19 % global rate up to USD 3,000 / 4,000)
- ANAM — Declaración de mercancía (passenger customs declaration, semáforo fiscal)
- ANAM — Declaración de dinero (USD 10,000 cash declaration)
- ANAM — Infracciones y sanciones (PAMA, embargo precautorio, fines of 80–120 %, forfeiture, criminal referral)
- SENASICA — Información para viajeros (agricultural goods and pets; linked from ANAM's passenger pages)
This checker summarises public rules as at the review date for planning purposes. Customs and biosecurity decisions are made by the officers on arrival; your Flyto coordinator confirms the current conditions for your visa and shipment.
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