Stress-Free Ordering and Shipping from Abroad

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Everyone wants to have a stress-free ordering and shipping process when buying products abroad. This article will help you with that stress problem!

Today, the term “abroad” means that something or someone originates, arrives, or is sourced from a foreign country rather than one’s own home nation. It implies crossing international borders. It is used to replace the larger word “International” or the phrase “from other countries” in many instances. Because who want to wade through entering or reading, “sourced from a foreign country rather than one’s own home nation”?

Any one in Mexico can receive packages shipped from abroad. However, importing goods through Mexican Customs (Aduana) requires specific documentation, and failing to provide these details can result in severe delays, storage fees, or returned packages. It is in that phrase, “requires specific documentation” that creates the problem. And as anyone who has spent any time in Mexico has learned, it always depends on who is providing the answer to your questions. And, often you have to climb up the proverbial “Escalera de Jefes” to get the right answer. Yes, there really is a specific Spanish phrase this ladder!

Critical Requirements for Receiving Packages from Abroad

If you are a Mexican National

In Mexico, the requirement for a recipient to have an RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) number is outlined in the Federal Fiscal Code (Código Fiscal de la Federación or CFF).

Specifically, Article 29-A of the CFF establishes the legal requirements for issuing a valid electronic tax invoice (CFDI). Under these provisions, the tax authority (Servicio de Administración Tributaria, or SAT) mandates that the invoice must include:

The recipient’s exact RFC
The recipient’s tax name or legal business name
The recipient’s registered postal code

Additionally, with the implementation of the CFDI 4.0 system, the SAT introduced a mandatory validation process. This requires the recipient’s provided RFC to perfectly match their name and registered address (zip code) exactly as it appears on their official tax registration certificate (Constancia de Situación Fiscal). So. yes, a specific, official RFC is legally required to claim an expense for tax deductions or to validate an invoice.

Most people stop reading right here as they do not have an RFC. For example, if you are attempting to order something online, chances are the the company has a payment provider like PayPal to perform the collection of funds and they are charged a small percentage of the total.

Unfortunately, most payment providers never get past this point either, as they mistakenly believe that eveyone in Mexico has an RFC, which is not the case. Holders of an RFC will be those who are registered tax payers through the Servicio de Administración Tributaria, or SAT.

If you are a Temporary or Permanent Resident

Temporary and Permanent Residents who work in or earn income in Mexico must have a work permit and be registered with the Servicio de Administración Tributaria, or SAT and will receive an RFC number.

Temporary and Permanent Residents who do not work or earn income in Mexico will have a CURP — Clave Única de Registro de Población (Unique Population Registry Code). It is a unique 18-character alphanumeric identity code assigned to all Mexican citizens and legal foreign residents in Mexico. Think of it as Mexico’s equivalent to a U.S. Social Security Number or Canadian SIN.

What the CURP is used for

You will need your CURP for nearly all official, legal, and financial processes in Mexico, including:

Opening a Mexican bank account
Registering for taxes (RFC)
Signing up for private health insurance
Buying property or setting up a business
Enrolling in school or applying for jobs

You will typically need to provide a Mexican tax ID (RFC) or your population registry number (CURP) to clear shipments through Mexican Customs.

Online Payment Provider Does Not Accept CURP

If you are attempting to order something online and have it shipped to you in Mexico and the online form will not accept your CURP Number or if you are a foreigner visiting in Mexico and need something shipped to you from abroad there is a work-around.

The Servicio de Administración Tributaria, or SAT does provide specific generic RFCs for special cases, such as the general public or foreign residents (e.g., XAXX010101000 for Mexican Nationals, and XEXX010101000 for Foreigners). These are outlined in Rule 2.7.1.23 of the RMF (Resolución Miscelánea Fiscal).

Other Required Information

To ensure international shipments clear customs smoothly, the paperwork must also meet the following criteria:

Official IDs (RFC or CURP) or Generic RFCs: Mexican Customs heavily scrutinizes imported items. You will typically need to provide a Mexican tax ID (RFC), a Generic RFC, or your population registry number (CURP) to clear shipments.

Complete Recipient Details: The package must clearly state your full legal name (matching your residency card exactly), your full Mexican address, and a local Mexican phone number for the courier to contact you.

Specific Item Descriptions: The waybill must clearly define exactly what is in the package (e.g., “used personal clothing” rather than just “gift”).

Import Taxes (Duties): Brand-new items, electronics, or items exceeding a certain value will likely be subject to import duties, which you must pay before the courier releases the package.

Tips for Shipping and Receiving as a Resident

Use Major Couriers: It is highly recommended to use established private couriers like DHL, FedEx, or UPS rather than standard national mail (Correos de México), as private couriers have their own in-house customs brokers and offer reliable tracking. However, there is a caveat for using major couriers, see Major Couriers Rip-Off below

Avoid Sending Prohibited Items: Do not ship food (especially fresh/frozen meat, plants, or seeds), alcohol, weapons, or medication that requires a Mexican prescription.

Contact the Courier Early: If your package is flagged at customs, the courier will usually reach out to you via email. Act promptly to avoid high daily storage fees at the port of entry.

If you are shipping from Amazon from the United States or Canada, it may be easier to order items directly from the Amazon Mexico platform and ensure the items are shipped locally rather than imported, which sometimes circumvents the customs process entirely.

Major Couriers Rip-Off

Be aware that all major carriers will attempt to charge exorbitant processing fees on some items. They act as a broker for gathering custom fees and will attempt to charge the maximum allowed for all shipment.

Mexico generally does not charge a tariff or tax on shipments valued under $50 USD, provided the goods are arriving from the United States or Canada under the USMCA (T-MEC) agreement. But, the major carriers will attempt to charge for all items based on their supposed value, not the stated value, for instance a US$1 coffee cup could cost you US$20.64 in processing fees, even though the courier is not paying any of the US$19.64 they are charging you to the Mexican Government. Keep in mind that the shipper has already paid the shipping costs to the carrier.

See the Coffee Cup Tragedy for more information on the Rip-Off

This tax-exempt status is dictated by specific “de minimis” thresholds. However, there are critical rules and recent updates that dictate how these low-value shipments are processed.

The Low-Value Tier System for US/Canada Shipments

Under the USMCA rules, cross-border shipments via courier or postal services from the US or Canada into Mexico fall into three specific tiers based on their value:

Under $50 USD: The shipment is completely tax-free (exempt from both customs duties and Mexico’s 16% Value Added Tax/IVA).

$50.01 to $117 USD: The shipment is duty-free but is subject to Mexico’s standard 16% IVA.

Over $117 USD: The shipment is subject to both full customs duties and the 16% IVA.

Crucial Restrictions and Caveats

While the sub-$50 exemption is active for North American trade, Mexican customs enforces several restrictions to prevent the loophole from being abused:

Origin Requirements: The $50 exemption specifically applies to shipments coming out of the US or Canada. Mexico has abolished the $50 de minimis exemption for most non-FTA nations (such as China). Low-value packages from those origins face standard taxes or a flat 33.5% import tax.

No Commercial Resale: The exemption is strictly intended for items meant for personal use. If Mexican customs suspects a business is intentionally splitting a large commercial order into multiple packages under $50 to evade taxes, they can seize the goods, cancel the exemption, and demand a formal entry process.

Excluded Commodities: Certain goods never qualify for the $50 exemption regardless of their low value. Items subject to excise taxes—such as alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, and certain restricted chemicals—are heavily taxed starting from the very first dollar.