Menaje de Casa: Moving Household Goods to Mexico Duty-Free
Who qualifies, what the consulate certifies, the time limits, why cars are excluded and how a customs broker clears the shipment.
A household goods shipment (menaje de casa) lets new permanent residents and returning Mexicans bring used furniture, clothes and appliances into Mexico without import duties, under Article 61, fraction VII of the Customs Law (Ley Aduanera). Temporary residents can bring the same goods as a temporary import. Both need a list certified by a Mexican consulate, and vehicles are excluded.
Who can bring a menaje de casa?
The Customs Law exempts household goods that belong to permanent residents and to repatriated or deported Mexicans and that they used while living abroad. Consulates also process temporary imports for temporary residents. The two routes differ:
| Status | Type of import | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent resident | Definitive, duty-free | Resident visa or card issued no more than six months earlier, according to several consulates |
| Temporary resident or student | Temporary, for the length of the residency and its renewals | Written promise to take the goods out when leaving and to report address changes to customs |
| Returning Mexican | Definitive, duty-free | Proof of residence abroad; consulates apply their own document lists |
Consulates in Rio de Janeiro and Brownsville describe the temporary route; the Rio consulate adds that temporary residents can use it only once, while their immigration document is valid. If you are still applying for a visa, our guides to temporary residency and permanent residency requirements explain which one you will hold.
What does the consulate certify?
The consulate certifies your list of goods (lista de menaje) so customs in Mexico can recognize it. Typical requirements published by US consulates for 2026:
- Valid passport and your Mexican resident visa or card, originals and copies.
- A letter to the consulate, under oath, stating you have not imported a duty-free menaje before, with your foreign address and your future address in Mexico.
- An inventory in Spanish, with each box numbered and its contents described. Electronics and appliances need brand, model and serial number.
- Your signature on every page of the list, in four sets.
- Payment of the consular fee.
Fees and formats differ between consulates. For 2026, the consulate in Kansas City lists USD 195 and the one in Brownsville lists USD 190, as of November 2026. Kansas City also requires that you have lived abroad for more than six months. Check your own consulate’s page and book early, because some handle the request by email before giving an appointment.
What are the time limits?
The certificate is tied to your move, so timing matters:
- Brownsville says the certificate must be used to bring the goods in no later than six months after your first entry as a resident, and that it expires six months after it is issued.
- Rio de Janeiro says goods may arrive from three months before your entry up to six months after it.
- Several consulates require that a permanent resident card or visa be no more than six months old.
The practical rule: get the certificate shortly before the move, ship soon after your first entry as a resident, and do not let the six months pass. Temporary residents who later become permanent should ask the consulate or customs how their temporary import is treated.
What cannot be included?
The law excludes vehicles and goods you used abroad for commercial or industrial activities. The Brownsville consulate states plainly that cars cannot be imported as part of a menaje de casa. Our guide to bringing a foreign-plated car to Mexico City covers the separate car rules.
The exemption covers goods that were used during your residence abroad. Brand-new items in original packaging, large quantities of one product and anything that looks like stock for sale can draw duties or questions at customs. Medicines, weapons, plants and food follow their own rules regardless of the menaje.
How do the goods clear customs?
A customs broker (agente aduanal) usually files the import at the border, port or airport, presenting the consulate’s certificate and the list. The Rio consulate notes that the duty exemption is requested through a broker at the port of entry. Mexico’s customs agency (ANAM) and the broker check the goods against the list.
- Get your resident visa and enter Mexico as a resident.
- Request the consulate’s certificate with the inventory, before or right after your first entry as your consulate allows.
- Hire a mover and a customs broker experienced with menaje shipments.
- Send the broker the certificate, list, passport and resident documents.
- Pay the broker’s fees and any duties on items the exemption does not cover.
Moving companies often bundle the broker. Ask for a written quote that separates freight, brokerage and estimated taxes. If you will finish your card in Mexico, see our guide to the INM canje in Mexico City for that step.
This article summarizes general rules and is not legal or customs advice; the consulate, ANAM and a licensed customs broker decide individual cases.
Bottom line
Start the inventory as you pack, with serial numbers for electronics, and request your consulate’s certificate shortly before moving. Ship within six months of entering Mexico as a resident, leave the car out of the shipment, and get the broker’s fees in writing.
FAQ
Can I use a menaje de casa twice?
The consular letter declares that you have not imported a duty-free menaje before, and temporary residents can use the temporary route once. Plan on a single shipment.
Do I need a customs broker?
For a full household shipment, in practice yes. Consulates point applicants to an agente aduanal at the port of entry to request the exemption.
Can I bring goods in my own luggage instead?
Travelers have a separate personal allowance for luggage. A full move is handled as a menaje through customs, not as baggage.
Can a tourist bring a menaje de casa?
No. The duty-free import is for permanent residents and returning Mexicans, and the temporary route is for temporary residents.
