International movers to Mexico and the menaje de casa

Moving to Mexico is usually done by road. A mover packs your goods in the US, clears them through Mexican customs with a broker, and delivers them to your new home.

Decide how much to bring

Furniture and appliances are easy to buy in Mexico, and shipping is priced by volume. Many people bring only what is hard to replace. Decide this first, because it changes the quote more than anything else.

The household goods exemption

New residents can usually import used household goods once without paying duty, using a menaje de casa: an itemised inventory in Spanish, certified by a Mexican consulate. It has conditions:

• You need your resident visa before the consulate will certify the list.
• Goods must be used, and the list must include serial numbers for electronics.
• The shipment generally has to enter within a set period after you become a resident.
• Some things can’t be included, such as vehicles, and some need extra permits.

A mover experienced with Mexico prepares the inventory in the format customs expects.

When to book

Ask for quotes three to four months before you move. The mover needs to survey your home, and you need your resident visa in hand before the consulate certifies the inventory.

What to ask before booking

• Is the quote door to door, including the customs broker and Mexican delivery?
• Who is your partner in Mexico, and who do I call if the shipment is held at the border?
• What is insured, for how much, and who handles a claim?
• What is the delivery window, and what happens if my resident card isn’t ready when the goods arrive?

Common questions

What is a menaje de casa?

It is an itemised list of your used household goods, in Spanish, certified by a Mexican consulate. It lets a new resident import those goods once without paying import duty.

Can I bring my furniture to Mexico without paying duty?

Usually yes, once, if you hold a resident visa and the goods are used and listed on a certified menaje de casa. Vehicles and some other items are excluded.