What is Visitax? A full guide to Visitax in Quintana Roo

Do you have a magical trip booked to Cancun, Playa del Carmen or any other destination in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico?

If so, you should know all about the new tourist tax known about VISITAX. This helpful guide has all of the information you need and answers the most important questions.

Table of Contents

VISITAX – Quintana Roo Tourist Tax

Let’s start at the beginning. VISITAX is a new tax on foreign tourists who visit locations around the Yucatan Peninsula. In this region, the state of Quintana Roo covers some of the most popular tourist traps and stunning locations including

Cancun
Puerto Morelos
Holbox
Isla Mujeres
Riviera Maya
Playa del Carmen
all tourist destinations within the state

This tax was created by the state government and officially started on April 1 2021, applying to all foreign tourists (with some exceptions listed below).

The tax is relatively inexpensive but it is important to build this into your budget for your holiday. Visit our website to find out more about the current amount based on the exchange rate at the time.

Who must pay VISITAX

Any international travelers to Quintana Roo state that are over 15 years of age must pay this tourist tax.

However, those international visitors who cross from Belize by land along the southern border, or any with a permanent residence are exempt from this tax. If you’re uncertain, visit our website for more information.

It is important to be aware of who is liable for paying the tax so make sure you do your research before traveling so you don’t get caught out. For large families traveling together, make sure you put every member eligible onto the system in one go.

This way, you can do it all in one go but still get individual receipts for any number of people traveling together, who can then show their receipts to the authorities at the airport on the departure date.

In other words, the online application system allows a single payment for all travelers in your party.

Paying the VISITAX

Now that you know what the tax is and who must pay it, you should make sure you understand when to pay, how to pay and what information you must have with you to make the process go smoothly.

When to pay

This is one of the more positive aspects of having to pay this tax. It can be paid before you arrive or during your stay, as long as you pay it before you leave.

In general, when a tourist leaves the state then they will be expected to show proof of their payment prior to boarding the flight.

If you use the official website, it will create a QR code for you to show at the specific boarding gate or checkpoint at the airport.

This means in theory it should be a quick and efficient contactless process that requires minimal effort on the part of each visitor.

There is plenty of support online, on the official website and at the airport, so if you have any difficulty then there will be chances to speak to the authorities.

How to pay the tax

The quickest and easiest way to pay the tax is to use an expert service like ours on our website. It is an efficient process that allows you to organise everything before you travel.

You need the basic information about each traveller:

First and Last name
Date when leaving Quintana Roo State
An email address where to receive the VisitTax Barcode receipt
Card details or a Paypal account for the payment

It only takes a few minutes and you’re ready to go! There are obvious benefits to paying on our website, including getting on with your stay and enjoying the incredible experiences that Mexico offers.

However, if you forget to do this before you go then don’t panic as you will be able to make a payment by cash at the airport you arrive at or depart from.

If you want to save the worry of finding the right place to pay, avoiding lines at your arrival or worse when you need to board your flight out, and simply enjoy your holiday, then use an expert service like ours.

What information is needed

It is a relatively short form that must be filled out when paying your VISITAX fee. This does mean you will need to have the following information to hand when making the payment:

Details about each of the people traveling: name, age and passport number
The number of people who are travelling together
The departure date from the state by your party
Payment information in the form of card details

Whether travelling alone or as a group, you can complete this transaction in one go.

Each individual traveler will receive their own receipt with a barcode which can then be scanned prior to boarding your flight.

Summary

There will be many who are unhappy about this new tourism tax that came in last April. Tourism is a massive industry for the Quintana Roo state with millions visiting every year.

It is a relatively inexpensive fee to add to your holiday expenses but an important payment to remember so you don’t fall foul of their border checks on departure.

Take the time to plan ahead for your journey, get all of your documentation ready, pay the relevant fees and pack everything you need.

Once this is done, you can focus on the amazing holiday you’re about to embark on, discovering the magic of the Mexican Caribbean including Cancun and Riviera Maya.

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