Just returned from my trip to the Riviera Maya where I stayed at Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen, Secrets Tulum, and Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya.  As I mentioned in my last blog post, I purchased my VISITAX prior to leaving for my trip and made a print out to take along with my QR code verifying purchase.

While at the Cancun airport attempting to leave for home, I did notice a couple of items concerning VISITAX…one, there was a small booth labelled VISITAX–Info and Pay Here.  It was super small, hardly noticeable, and it was not manned so don’t count on that option as a way to pay your Mexico departure tax. Also, there were new digital signs up stating VISITAX was a new law and that you had to pay prior to leaving Mexico.

Second, there were new airport staff who were standing at certain airline gates with uniforms labelled “Interviewer”.  Being naturally curious, I approached one and asked if I needed to get my colored “sticker” for the back of my passport since I had not checked any bags (when you leave Cancun there are typically staff who stand in airline check-in lines asking questions like how long have you been in Cancun, what was the purpose of your visit, where did you stay, etc.  When they are done asking questions they apply a sticker to the back of your passport which means your passport has been officially “verified” by the Mexican government).  These new staff asked the same questions, and while I had my proof of VISITAX payment showing along with my passport, they NEVER ASKED TO SCAN THE QR CODE.

So, if you want to risk the outside possibility of not being able to board your plane because you haven’t paid your departure tax, you could technically get by with it, at least at this point.  I believe that at some point they will have this as a hard and fast rule, but at least at this point there is some potential leeway since Mexico doesn’t want to p o tourists, a lifeblood of their economy.

There you have it, the most recent info on VISITAX and its current enforcement…

If you have a different experience, please let us all know so we can plan accordingly.