CANCUN VISITAX EXPLAINED 2024. How to pay & what you need to know to avoid problems at the airport.

This video is for informational purposes only. Our opinions are our own. We pay for all of our own trips and we are not compensated.
*Sources:*
- [Visitax Official Website](visitaxgob.mx/en/tourist-fee-...)
- [Travelkore](www.travelkore.com)
- [Open Jaw](openjaw.com/what-is-visitax/)
- [TravelPress](www.travelpress.com)
- {Open Jaw}(openjaw.com/newsroom/tourism/...
Today, we’re diving into everything you need to know about the Visitax - the tourism tax in Quintana Roo, Mexico, that’s been around for a few years now. We have kept you informed with videos about this tax since its inception but there have been some changes and updates for 2024 that you definitely need to be aware of.
When it first came into law they didn’t make it clearly understood at all. They didn’t specify someone to enforce it with any credibility. They allowed scam websites to overcharge people for it. The government website was glitchy. And everyone “passed the buck” so to speak on who was actually checking to see if visitors paid this tax.
After they realized that they have only been collecting around 10% of what's is owed they are starting to pay attention to this revenue stream.
Your travel agent can pay this tax for you on your behalf for a fee but if you want to pay this tax for yourself there are only 2 reliable ways to pay the Visitax.
The first is the official government website. It is www.visitax.gob.mx.
You input the date you are departing Quintana Roo. The number of people in your party. You can add up to 10 people. First and Last name of each person in your group. Birthday of each person. Passport number for each person and a valid email address. Once you have filled out the form you will be redirected to a secure online payment page where you can make your visitax payment using debit or credit cards. Currently they include MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express. It is pretty straightforward. Once your payment is completed you will be provided with a QR code. Make sure you save and then screenshot this code as it will serve as your proof of payment. If you lose your QR code your info will be stored on the government servers for up to one year.
Alternatively you can pay it through the Toronto based company, Travelkore. It is www.travelkore.com. This is an online company that has been contracted and authorized by the state of Quintana Roo as the ONLY third-party payment company. Don’t be fooled by other sites.
The info you input to Travelkore is pretty much the same except when you use Travelkore you have the options to pay in US dollars, Canadian Dollars, or Mexican Pesos. This may help some people avoid currency exchange fees from their credit card company. Travelkore has a great live chat feature that you can use if you have any questions or if you have any difficulty making your payment.
Travelkore also generates a government QR code for you that proves you have paid the Visitax. If you set up a CareKore account your QR code will be automatically added to your CareKore wallet so you can access it when you need it. However, I would still keep a copy of your receipt and your QR code stored in multiple places. Even print a copy just in case you need to prove that you have paid it and you don’t have access to wifi. FYI the wifi in the Cancun airport it sketchy to say the least.
The Travelkore Visitax QR looks very similar to the government QR receipt.
Immigration and security checkpoints have the right to ask you for proof of payment before you can proceed further. They don't have to though because proof of payment is linked to your passport number, name birthday etc.
www.Paxeditions.com posted an article in April of 2024 stating that “Travellers who skip Quintana Roo tourist tax will face “digital tracking,” passport observations: SATQ” (Sujeto a la Tasa Quintana Roo)
Openjaw.com quotes Tim Scurry from Travelkore saying that the State has the legal right to make sure you pay the missed taxes before you enter the State and the State has not waived its right to collect taxes due from the date the law changed in 2022.
All of this basically means that the State has the right to deny you entry until all of your back taxes are paid. They also have the right to add fines to this for non-compliance.
The Visitax isn’t part of all of the already listed extra fees from your airline and resort. It is separate. If you haven’t got a QR code receipt then you haven’t paid it. It is really that simple.
There are no longer visitax kiosks at the airport and those people collecting cash at the bottom of the escalator are also gone.
Thank you for watching. We hope this has helped you. Knowing the different travel requirements and fees as well as how to navigate the airport is important and I want your vacation to be as stress-free as possible.

[@davidng407]

Hi Nancy, thanks for the update. You have a good speaking voice for NPR or CBC radio! Have a great Canada Day!

[@newtravelescapes]

Thank you David! I appreciate that. 🙂 Enjoy your weekend!

[@raymondcaylor6292]

Well presented. I often use the Cancun Airport as entry & exit point to and from Mexico ( 4 times last year, 2 times so far this year) because I always can find low fares from US and all the low fare domestic airlines have service through Cancun. Travel between terminals is sometimes expensive if you don't have the layover time to use the public transportation buses. In those 6 trips last year I never spent over $310 dollar's for Atlanta to Tuxtla in airline round trip fares but only from packing very light. Very very light. I'd like to mention if you don't leave the airport property you aren't required to pay VISITAX but if you go off property for any amount of time it's payment is required. Pleasant Travels.

[@newtravelescapes]

You are absolutely correct!! Thanks for sharing 😊

[@michaelchase1911]

Technically and officially, payment is asked for "before you leave the state", how ever way that may be.

[@raymondcaylor6292]

@@michaelchase1911 I've read your 6 other posts on this and other VISITAX videos on this channel and just like this channel creator I don't care what anyone else decides to do. That's their choice. I simply added information I got in a response email from the official administration @ sata. groo . gob . mx ( written this way not to be algorithmically deleted as spam) that told me foreigners are not required to pay this fee if they don't leave the airport property. That's "technically and officially" the response I got about layovers from the Quintana Roo Mexico Tributaria Government website when I clicked on " for any clarification ". I just printed out the email and added it to my travel documents.

[@EclypseMelusine]

Thank you for the update, really appreciate it. Safe travels 💜🫶🏻

[@newtravelescapes]

Thank you! Have a great weekend. ☺️

[@glennfugler9011]

Thanks for the update on VISITAX. It just doesn't make any sense to us to NOT pay the tax! We're spending thousands of dollars for a fantastic vacation, I'm not going to risk ruining it for $45.00 CDN!

[@newtravelescapes]

I totally agree. 🙂

[@michaelchase1911]

Because a family of 4 from Canada already pays over $2100 JUST IN TAX to visit the state, when is enough enough? Obviously there is a colossal waste of tax money going on all over, I wouldn't be so keen to contribute, it's literally a general ledger tax...

[@newtravelescapes]

@@michaelchase1911 I agree we pay way too much tax already with how wasteful our governments seem to be with it. But, for myself, even though I am unhappy with everything to do with the Visitax, I'm not risking not paying it.

[@TraciRene]

Thanks for the video. I'm about to take my first trip to Cancun and didnt know ahout this tax. After some other videos, I assumed I didnt need to pay it. Your video popped up in the recommended feed and I'm glad I checked it out. I'll definitely just pay the tax and follow their law.

[@newtravelescapes]

My pleasure. I totally understand why you assumed you didn't need to pay it. When it first came out I thought it was a scam too until I did a dive into the State Laws of QRoo. Tons of misinformation out there and I don't want to see anyone's vacay ruined because they get caught unaware. Have a great trip!!! Hopefully, it doesn't rain too much for you. We just got back Monday and it rained all week with a tropical storm. Still a lot of fun but we didn't get much of a tan Lol! 🤪

[@TraciRene]

@@newtravelescapes thanks! I am nervous about the rain but hopefully it will be a good time nonetheless!

[@newtravelescapes]

@@TraciRene which resort did you choose?

[@TraciRene]

@@newtravelescapes Grand Park Royal

[@newtravelescapes]

@@TraciRene I haven't stayed there before. Have a great trip! 😊

[@frankpriolo7735]

I just started the application for myself, my wife and my son to travel in July. It was $39 US each. $117!

[@valdez5597]

I need to do our families taxes, we are traveling in a group of 6 , which site did you pay your tax on? So it’s $39 each person ?

[@newtravelescapes]

I just paid it last week at $17 USD pp. What site were you using? If you look at the Travelkore QR in the video and see the date. That was my most recent one.

[@seriouslyflawed]

My wife and I traveled to Cancun this year with Flair and on the itemized bill it stated we paid an immigration/visitor tax. Is that the same? Immigration asked us who we flew with so I wondered if they were monitoring the tax. We didn't get any grief when we were at the airport.

[@newtravelescapes]

As far as I know, you needed to have a visitax QR code to prove you have paid it. I'm glad you had no issue. 🙂The many names for all of the different taxes makes it very confusing. How was Flair? I have never flown them.

[@michaelchase1911]

There no state employees of any kind to show proof of. The misinformation about this tax is off the charts... due to Travelkore.

[@michaelchase1911]

To be clear, tho a real tax, there is ZERO enforcements or penalties by state law article 51 for non payment of Visitax, so enforcement is moot, if the did stop and ask you you you to pay (there is no state employees working at the airport to do this however), there is nothing stated in Mexican law regarding consequences for refusal to pay. No fines, no boarding denial, no nothing. Also, the "digital tracking" was completely fabricated by Travelkore, is not true in any way. They made this up to scare people into paying as they have a vested financial interest in travellers paying, Travelkore is well known for posting a plethora of false information, disinformation, and even more misleading misinformation. I suggest taking anything Travelkore says with a grain of salt, and only follow government announcements. Remember; "TRAVELKORE is an official VISITAX payment system that has been contracted and authorized by the VISITAX 'collection agency' appointed by Quintana Roo State". ... NOT The state itself .... .. Unlike parking tickets or any other silly examples, they all have enforcement and penalties, Visitax does not.

[@newtravelescapes]

At least you acknowledge it is the law. After that pay it or don't. That is your choice.