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April 1 2021, a visa tax for Mexico needs to be paid

01/04/2021

April 1, 2021, a new visit tax (VISITAX) needs to be paid for all visitors to Quintana Roo that come from abroad.

You can either pay this tax when booking your trip, during your stay, or before departing from the airport, but you have to be able to show a payment receipt on departure.

Why is this foreign visitors tax?

To me personally, it is not clear why this tax is implemented. It just shows as another money grabs from the Quintana Roo state for visitors. Life in Quintana Roo is getting very expensive as it is with prices rising by the month.

But just count on your holiday to be more expensive than it was before, with 10 US$ up to your expensive hotel or Airbnb stay. You might say the visa or FMM is no longer free.

Count to this your obligated COVID test that is provided in certain points in the Hotel Zone, at your hotel, at bus stations, or at the airport, and you will spend a lot more on your Mexico vacation this year as you did before.

Lucky for you most hotels have a huge discount to encourage tourism. But still, expect a high demand for tips (table services, 10-25% given of free will does not seem to be enough anymore) that are automatically added to your bill, a lot of restaurants with a limited menu and limited seats, and limited opening hours (if open at all), all throughout the hotel zone and downtown Cancun.

Mexico Insurance car motorcycle

How do I pay and where can I pay VISITAX?

The payment of VISITAX can be done online. You either pay when booking your trip, during your stay, or before your departure at the airport.

At Cancun Airport there will be staff to help you pay for this new visit tax. The price, 224 MXN or 10 US$ per person can be paid for groups in a lump sum, but each individual needs his/her own payment receipt. You can print your receipt after online payment.

The tax is enforced by SATQ (system de Administracion Tributaria de Quintana Roo) and is local. The website to pay for your VISITAX is found here (opens in a new tab)

For what cities do I pay VISITAX?

For every visit in the state of Quintana Roo, that includes the popular holiday destinations like:

  • Cancun
  • Playa del Carmen
  • Tulum
  • Riviera Maya
  • Cozumel
  • Isla Mujeres
  • Isla Holbox

But also for smaller destination and less popular once like: Chetumal, Bacalar, Akumal, Puerto Aventuras, Puerto Morelos etc. Wherever you go in the state of Quintana Roo, you have to pay the VISITAX upon exit.