Shipping from Europe to Mexico
Ship parcels and freight from Europe to Mexico — EU-Mexico Free Trade Agreement means 0% duty on most EU manufactured goods, with IVA at 16% and SAT customs processing.
Mexico is Latin America's second-largest economy and a major trading partner for the EU. The EU-Mexico Global Agreement (updated 2023, replacing the original TLCUEM) provides 0% import duty on the vast majority of EU-manufactured goods — a significant advantage for European exporters. Mexico's customs authority, SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria) manages imports through Aduana México. For B2C e-commerce, Mexico's simplified courier regime (Section 88) allows expedited clearance for low-value shipments, though every commercial shipment above USD 50 must be declared. IVA (Mexico's VAT) at 16% applies to all imports. NOM (Normas Oficiales Mexicanas) mandatory standards apply to many product categories and require prior certification — this is the compliance requirement most often overlooked by European exporters to Mexico.
Customs Process for Mexico
Required Shipping Documents
| Document | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Invoice | Mandatory | Full declared value in USD, HS code (10-digit Mexican tariff), goods description in Spanish preferred, country of origin, quantity, Incoterms, sender and recipient with RFC (Mexican tax ID for B2B). |
| Airway Bill / Tracking Number | Mandatory | Carrier tracking number links to the electronic SAT customs declaration via SAAI system. |
| EU Origin Statement | Conditional | Required to claim 0% EU-Mexico FTA preferential duty. Include on commercial invoice: 'Los bienes incluidos en este documento son de origen preferencial de la Unión Europea.' For shipments over EUR 6,000, REX number required. |
| NOM Certificate | Conditional | Mandatory for product categories covered by Normas Oficiales Mexicanas — electronics, appliances, toys, clothing, food. Obtain before first shipment. Required by law. |
| COFEPRIS Import Permit | Conditional | Required for food, beverages, supplements, medicines, cosmetics and medical devices. Register with COFEPRIS before exporting to Mexico. |
| Packing List | Conditional | Required for commercial shipments with multiple line items. List all items with HS codes and values. |
Import Duty & Tax Rates
| Category | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EU manufactured goods (FTA) | 0% | EU-Mexico Global Agreement (TLCUEM/GA) — 0% on most EU-made manufactured goods. Declare EU origin. |
| IVA (Mexican VAT) | 16% | Applied to all imports on CIF value. Always applies regardless of duty rate. |
| Electronics (HS 84–85) | 0% (FTA) | EU electronics: 0% duty under FTA. NOM mandatory for appliances, plugs, electrical goods. |
| Clothing & textiles (HS 61–62) | 0–15% | EU clothing: 0% under FTA if EU origin. NOM-020 (labelling) required for all textiles. |
| Wine (2204) | 0% (FTA) | EU wine: 0% duty under FTA. Alcoholic beverages require special import licence (IEPS excise applies on top of IVA). |
| Food (HS 01–24) | 0–20% | Varies by category. COFEPRIS registration required. Some processed foods 0% under FTA, fresh produce varies. |
| Cosmetics / pharmaceuticals | Varies | COFEPRIS import permit mandatory. Duty varies. IVA 16%. |
| Excise (IEPS) | 25–160% | IEPS (special tax) applies to alcohol, tobacco, fuel on top of duties and IVA. Alcohol from EU: IEPS on volume regardless of FTA. |
Best Carriers to Mexico
| Carrier | Service | Transit | Tracking | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | Worldwide Express | 3–4 days | ✓ | Best EU–Mexico carrier. Strong Mexico customs team. DHL Mexico City hub at NAICM. Best for documents, samples and high-value goods. |
| FedEx | International Priority | 3–4 days | ✓ | FedEx Memphis hub to Mexico. Excellent for USA-onward and Mexico City delivery. Strong Mexican domestic network. |
| UPS | Worldwide Express Saver | 3–5 days | ✓ | UPS strong for B2B Mexico. Good Mexican customs brokerage capabilities. Competitive for heavy commercial shipments. |
| DHL Economy Select | Economy | 6–9 days | ✓ | Economy option. Less time-definite than express, but lower cost for non-urgent shipments. |
| PostNL / La Poste + Correos | Tracked postal | 14–28 days | ✓ | Cheapest for small parcels under 2 kg. Uses Correos de México for final mile. Slow but significantly cheaper for low-value shipments. |
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Expert Tips for Shipping to Mexico
- ▸Include the recipient's RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes — Mexican tax ID) on the commercial invoice for all B2B shipments to Mexico. The RFC is the Mexican business tax registration number (format: 3-letter business prefix + 6-digit date + 3-digit check). Without the RFC, Mexican customs delays the commercial import entry. For B2C individual recipients, use the CURP (personal ID) instead — carriers will prompt for this on booking platforms.
- ▸Verify NOM compliance before shipping electronics, appliances or textiles to Mexico — this is the most common cause of Mexican customs detention for EU exporters. NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) standards are mandatory product safety/labelling requirements managed by bodies like ANCE (electronics), PROFECO (consumer goods) and SENASICA (food). Products must carry the NOM mark and be certified by an accredited testing laboratory before Mexican customs allows entry.
- ▸Claim 0% duty under the EU-Mexico FTA by including the EU origin declaration on your commercial invoice — 'Los bienes incluidos en este documento son de origen preferencial de la Unión Europea' or in English 'The products covered by this document are of EU preferential origin.' Without this declaration, Mexican customs may apply MFN (most-favoured-nation) tariff rates of 5–20%.
- ▸For food and beverage exports to Mexico: register with COFEPRIS before making your first shipment. COFEPRIS (Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios) manages sanitary registrations for food, beverages, dietary supplements, cosmetics and medicines. The registration process takes 1–3 months and requires ingredient lists, safety data and Spanish-language labelling. Without COFEPRIS registration, food shipments are detained at Mexican customs.
- ▸Mexico City (CDMX) postal codes and street naming conventions can be complex — apartment buildings have multiple units and exterior/interior numbering. Always validate Mexican addresses with Google Maps or Correos de México address lookup before booking. Incorrect or incomplete addresses cause 'por recolectar' (held for collection) status at the carrier depot and delays.
- ▸Be aware that Mexico's northern border region (franja fronteriza norte) — a 20 km strip along the US border including cities like Tijuana, Juárez, Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo — has lower IVA rates (8% vs 16%) and sometimes different NOM/customs procedures. If shipping to border addresses, verify which rate applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EU-Mexico trade agreement and how does it affect import duties?
The EU and Mexico have the EU-Mexico Global Agreement (updated 2023), which provides 0% import duty on the vast majority of EU-manufactured goods exported to Mexico. The original agreement (TLCUEM) entered into force in 2000; the modernised version expands coverage. To benefit from 0% duty, goods must be of EU preferential origin — manufactured or substantially transformed in the EU. Include the origin declaration on your commercial invoice ('products are of EU preferential origin'). For shipments over EUR 6,000, a REX (Registered Exporter) number is required. Without origin declaration, Mexican customs applies MFN rates (typically 5–20%).
What is NOM compliance and why does it matter for shipping to Mexico?
NOM (Norma Oficial Mexicana) are Mexico's mandatory national standards for products sold or imported commercially. Many product categories require NOM certification before they can enter Mexico: electrical equipment (NOM-001-SEDE), appliances (NOM-003-SCFI), textiles/clothing labelling (NOM-020-SCFI), food labelling (NOM-051-SCFI), toys (NOM-015-SCFI). Products without the required NOM certification are detained at Mexican customs until certified or returned. European CE marking is not equivalent to NOM. To export products to Mexico, verify NOM requirements for your product category and obtain certification from an accredited Mexican testing laboratory.
What is the IVA rate for imports to Mexico?
Mexico's IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado / Value Added Tax) standard rate is 16%. It applies to all imported goods on the CIF value (invoice value + international freight + insurance). The northern border region (franja fronteriza norte — 20 km strip along the US border) applies a reduced IVA rate of 8%. There is no de minimis for IVA — even small personal parcels may be assessed 16% IVA by SAT customs. B2C e-commerce: the international courier companies (DHL, FedEx) typically pay IVA and recover it from the recipient on delivery for commercial shipments above the Section 88 threshold.
How long does shipping from Europe to Mexico take?
Express carriers (DHL Express, FedEx International Priority, UPS Worldwide Express): 3–4 business days from major EU cities. Economy (DHL Economy): 6–9 days. Postal services (PostNL, CTT to Correos de México): 14–28 days depending on route. Mexican customs clearance adds 1–2 additional days for standard shipments, or longer if NOM/COFEPRIS documentation is required. Major Mexican cities (CDMX, Guadalajara, Monterrey) receive fastest domestic delivery post-clearance; regional and rural Mexico add 1–3 days after customs.
What is COFEPRIS and when do I need it for shipping to Mexico?
COFEPRIS (Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios) is Mexico's health regulatory authority — equivalent to the FDA in the USA or EMA in the EU. COFEPRIS import permits or sanitary registrations are required for: food and beverages, dietary supplements and nutraceuticals, medicines and pharmaceutical products, medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics, cosmetics and personal care products, veterinary medicines. Without COFEPRIS registration, these product categories cannot clear Mexican customs. Registration is done online via the COFEPRIS portal and takes 1–3 months. European food exporters must also comply with SADER/SENASICA requirements for fresh products.
What is the RFC and why does it matter for Mexico shipments?
The RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) is Mexico's tax registration system, issuing unique tax IDs to all Mexican businesses (12 digits) and individuals (13 digits). For B2B commercial shipments to Mexico: the recipient's RFC must be included on the commercial invoice. Without the RFC, Mexican customs cannot correctly assign the import to the correct taxpayer for SAT tracking, causing delays. The carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) booking platform will require the recipient RFC for commercial Mexico shipments. For B2C sales to Mexican consumers: the CURP (personal ID) or the generic 'XEXX010101000' RFC for foreign individuals may be used.
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