The governor of the Mexican
state of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, has stated in a Facebook video that Cancun International Airport
(the
busiest airport in Mexico and the country’s number one leisure destination
) will no longer charge visitors for bringing multiple laptops. The airport is eliminating (effective immediately) the longstanding duty on foreign arrivals bringing more than one laptop or similar device.
Mexico’s Cancun lifts 19% fee on second computer
Previously, tourists could only bring a single laptop without paying a hefty tax (including other similar computer equipment like notebooks and Omnibooks). The tax was 19% of the deemed value up to $4,000 of the second device, meaning that unwitting passengers could easily be hit with an unexpected tax bill upon arrival that could be in the hundreds of dollars. Those who refused to pay the duty were not permitted to enter Mexico with the devise.
“we have decided to eliminate the criteria that imposed a fee to incoming passengers bringing a computer and a tablet to Cancun International Airport.” – Mara Lezama, Governor of Quintana Roo
As Cancun is a favored leisure destination where many travelers are now working remotely. Many travelers and holidaymakers don’t think twice about bringing a second laptop.
The duty has been applied inconsistently in Mexico, but when unsuspecting tourists have been forced to pay it at Cancun, they have been shocked and often thought it was a scam. It was also a very poor first impression for the country welcoming tourists to its beaches. As Governor Mara Lezama stated, it has been a “process that has affected the image of the destination, and has generated discomfort and inconveniences of our visitors...”
Photo: Alexander Canas Arango/Shutterstock
The second computer duty was in accordance with Mexico’s General Rules for Foreign Trade. It is unclear which (if any) other airports and land border crossings into Mexico continue to enforce the duty on personal electronic devices. At any rate, when flying with a
laptop, it is best (sometimes required) to take it as carry-on luggage)
.

Related
Inside Cancun Airport’s Record International Growth
Cancun has grown hugely, and international service has particularly benefited.
Many countries have strict customs rules on electronic equipment
Some countries have strict rules on bringing foreign electronic devices into their countries – apparently in efforts to stop smuggling and avoid paying customs duties on a commercial level. Basically, all countries allow tourists to bring their personal electronic devices into the country, but allowances are sometimes set at the bare minimum (as in the case of Mexico, where one computer per person is (theoretically) permitted).
Photo: TAP Portugal
Turkey is an example of a country where a tourist’s mobile phone will only connect to the country’s network for as long as their visa lasts (normally three to six months). After that, tourist phones are kicked off the network, and people need to pay a tax to register the phone to the network or buy a new one in Turkey. Plenty of other countries do this as well (e.g. Indonesia and Iran).