Mexico increases entry fees

Flag of Mexico

Almost one month into the New Year, Belizeans are now finding out that the Mexican government has increased entry fees for persons entering or in-transiting the country.  Effective January first, the new DNI or Derecho de No Immigrante fee is two hundred and ninety four pesos or approximately forty five Belize dollars.  That is an increase of five dollars from the previous two hundred and sixty two pesos. A statement from the Mexican embassy in Belize, states that the entry fee is payable to the Mexican government by all foreign nationals entering Mexico by air, road or sea. It covers tourists staying in Mexico for more than seven consecutive days and persons who may be traveling to Chetumal or Cancun to board flights to destinations beyond Mexico.  The statement explains that the fee is not only collected from persons heading north; but also for persons traveling to Belize through Mexico. It must be pointed out that the holders of the border cards who just visit Mexico for less than three days, do not pay this new entry fee; but once the stay in the country exceeds thirty six hours, then the DNI becomes payable.  According to the Mexican embassy, the DNI fee must be paid in Mexican pesos at any bank in Mexico. Previously, the fee might have gone unnoticed because it was bundled in with charges by travel agencies or airlines; but effective January first, these entities are not longer collecting the DNI which must now be paid directly to the government of Mexico through the banks.  And while the Mexican government has upped the entry fee for persons traveling to Mexico, there are more changes on the way.  The Ministry of transport in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo has informed the Belize Ministry of Transport of impending changes in the regulations for Belizean buses crossing the Mexican border.  The full details of the proposed new regulations have not been disclosed; but in a telephone interview with the Commissioner of Transport Crispin Jeffries this morning, we were told that the Mexican authorities are looking at requiring a road service permit for local busses entering Mexico.  Commissioner Jeffries told Love News that meetings have been going on locally with bus operators and other meetings are being set up with the assistance of the Mexican Embassy in Belize.  The next bi-national meeting involving transport officials is scheduled for next Wednesday morning in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico.  The Ministry of Transport says it will keep bus owners as well as the general public informed of the outcome of that meeting.