Menaje de casa, explained plainly.

Two ways to bring your household goods

Who qualifies

• —Mexican nationals returning to live in Mexico who can prove at least six months of residence abroad (Reglamento, art. 101-III). Some consulate pages mention other periods; the regulation says six months.
• —Foreigners with permanent residency (tarjeta or visa de residente permanente) get the same definitive, duty-free import.
• —Foreigners with temporary residency (including students) can bring household goods only as a temporary import for as long as their status lasts, and must commit to taking the goods back out (Ley Aduanera art. 106-IV-b). If you later become a permanent resident, you can convert it within six months of getting the card (RGCE 2026, rule 3.3.3).
• —Mexican students and researchers returning after at least one year abroad apply for authorization directly with customs instead of using the consulate list (RGCE 2026, rule 3.3.4).

Documents and the inventory

For the traditional route, consulates typically ask for:

• —The application form and proof of nationality (Mexicans) or passport plus Mexican resident visa or card (foreigners).
• —Photo ID and proof of at least six months living abroad — for example monthly bills or pay stubs, a lease, or a work or school letter.
• —Your inventory in Spanish, typed, item by item (no totals, even for repeated items), with brand, model and serial number for electronics and appliances. Usually 4 signed copies.
• —Some consulates add a sworn line that you are returning to live in Mexico permanently and won't request another menaje.

2026 fees

Timing: the 3-months-before / 6-months-after window

Your goods can cross with you, up to three months before you arrive, or up to six months after (Reglamento, art. 104). Foreigners' consulates phrase it as no later than six months after your first entry with residency. Under menaje doméstico you can apply up to three months before leaving your U.S. home or within six months after entering Mexico.

Under menaje doméstico everything must come in a single transport and trip; several vehicles are allowed only if they cross together on the same day. For the traditional route, we found no official text that clearly allows or forbids split shipments — ask your consulate and broker.

What counts — and what doesn't

• —Counts: used furniture and household furnishings, clothes, books, art, and the instruments or tools you need for your profession or trade — as long as they aren't a complete set-up for a lab, medical office or workshop (Reglamento, art. 100).
• —Must be used: goods count as used if you can show you acquired them at least six months before the import (RGCE 2026, rule 3.3.5). Brand-new purchases don't qualify.
• —Not included: vehicles of any kind (cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, RVs), and anything you used abroad for commercial or industrial activity (Ley Aduanera art. 61-VII).
• —Don't pack: consulates exclude plants, fruit, vegetables, food, alcohol, cleaning products, medicines, weapons or ammunition, and chemicals from the inventory.

What you pay — and what if you don't qualify

A qualifying menaje is exempt from import duty and from IVA (Ley del IVA, art. 25-II). You still pay the broker and customs processing fees on the traditional route, plus your mover.

• —Everyone can bring personal baggage plus a duty-free allowance of goods worth up to USD 500 per person, whether arriving by land, air or sea (RGCE 2026, rule 3.2.3). The older “USD 300 by land” figure is out of date.
• —Beyond that, travellers can clear goods worth up to USD 3,000 (USD 4,000 with computer equipment) at a 19% global rate without a broker (rule 3.2.2).
• —Anything larger goes through a formal import with a broker, paying duty by tariff line plus 16% IVA.