Can I send alcohol or tobacco to Mexico?
No.
Couriers generally refuse alcohol and tobacco in personal boxes. Where accepted, courier flat rates run from 47% to 114% for drinks and 243% to 691% for tobacco. Travelers' allowances don't apply to shipments. Vapes, e-cigarettes, heated-tobacco devices, and their liquids are banned from import.
For every Onvoyo box: Onvoyo and most express couriers don't carry alcohol, tobacco or vaping products in personal boxes, whatever the destination allows.
More rules for Mexico
Not allowed
- E-cigarettes, vapes, and heated-tobacco devices (with or without nicotine), their parts, and the liquids, pods, or sticks used in them
- Dry grains such as corn, beans, rice, and wheat, plus green coffee and tobacco leaf
Allowed with conditions
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Special courier flat rates apply: 77% to 114% for drinks depending on strength, 691% for cigarettes, and 401% for cigars and other tobacco from countries without a trade agreement. Goods marked or certified as originating in a trade-agreement partner, and sent from there, pay less (for US or Canadian drinks, 47% to 77%).
- Mobile phones and a few other goods
- Phones, beer, tires, some sanitary ware, some valves, and lighters must meet Mexican product standards (NOMs) even when sent by courier.
Quantity limits
- Goods beyond baggage (travelers only)
- Up to USD 500 (about MXN 8,820) per traveler, arriving by air, land, or sea, excluding alcohol and tobacco. Does not apply to shipments.
- Alcohol (travelers only)
- Up to 3 liters of alcoholic drinks and 6 liters of wine per traveler aged 18 or over. Does not apply to shipments.
- Tobacco (travelers only)
- Up to 20 packs of cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 200 g of tobacco per traveler aged 18 or over. Does not apply to shipments.
Before you ship to Mexico
- Tax-free limit
- Only boxes sent from the US or Canada get a tax-free amount: a customs value up to USD 50 (about MXN 880) pays no duty or IVA, only the customs processing fee (DTA), as long as the goods need no permit. From every other country there is no tax-free amount, and the 33.5% flat courier rate applies from the first dollar. Gifts and used personal items get no separate allowance.
- Receiver ID
- RFC (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes), or CURP if the receiver has no RFC needed. Customs rules have the courier declare the receiver's RFC on the simplified courier entry. If none is given, the courier must enter its own RFC instead, but it may still ask the receiver for an RFC or CURP before delivery. Customs rules also allow a CURP for private individuals such as students and homemakers, and a generic RFC for foreigners, so a newcomer without either should ask the courier what it needs before shipping.
- Transit
- 2-4 business days from the US or Canada; 3-6 from Europe; 4-7 from Asia
Questions
Can I send alcohol or tobacco to Mexico?
No. Couriers generally refuse alcohol and tobacco in personal boxes. Where accepted, courier flat rates run from 47% to 114% for drinks and 243% to 691% for tobacco. Travelers' allowances don't apply to shipments. Vapes, e-cigarettes, heated-tobacco devices, and their liquids are banned from import.
Ask about a specific item
Official sources
- 1.
Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA)
Productos prohibidos (opens in a new tab) - 2.
Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (COFEPRIS)
Importación de medicamentos para consumo personal (opens in a new tab) - 3.
Servicio de Administración Tributaria (Diario Oficial de la Federación, December 27, 2025)
Reglas Generales de Comercio Exterior para 2026 y Anexo 13 (opens in a new tab) - 4.
Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM)
Mensajería y paquetería (opens in a new tab) - 5.
Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México (ANAM)
Menaje de casa (opens in a new tab) - 6.
Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión
Ley de los Impuestos Generales de Importación y de Exportación (opens in a new tab) - 7.
Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión
Ley del Impuesto al Valor Agregado (opens in a new tab) - 8.
Cámara de Diputados del H. Congreso de la Unión
Ley Aduanera (opens in a new tab)
General guidance, not legal advice. Customs in Mexico makes the final decision on every box.