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If you are a foreigner and plan to visit Mexico for tourism, business, or unpaid activities, it is important to be aware of the Non-Resident Fee (DNR), an immigration charge that may be part of your travel costs. Although many people pay it without realizing it because it is included in their airline ticket, others may encounter unexpected charges when entering or leaving the country.
What is the DNR?
The DNR or Non-Resident Fee is the immigration fee that must be paid by foreigners entering Mexico under the status of Visitor without permission to perform remunerated activities. This category includes, among other cases, travel for tourism, business, recreational activities, or family visits.
This charge is provided for in Mexican legislation and is administered by the National Migration Institute (INM), an agency under the Ministry of the Interior.
Who must pay the DNR?
According to information from the National Migration Institute, foreigners entering Mexico as visitors without permission to perform remunerated activities, whether by air, sea, or land, must cover this fee.
Among the most common cases are:
- Turistas extranjeros.
- Personas que visitan México por negocios sin recibir remuneración en el país.
- Visitantes que ingresan por actividades recreativas o familiares.
- Viajeros que permanecen temporalmente en México sin adquirir una condición de residencia.
How much does the DNR cost?
The fee is updated annually in accordance with the Federal Rights Law and the current amounts published by federal authorities.
On most international commercial flights to Mexico, the DNR is usually collected within the final price of the plane ticket, so many travelers pay it automatically when purchasing their fare.
Who is exempt from paying the DNR?
Mexican authorities provide for several exceptions. Among those who may be exempt are:
- Personas que acrediten la nacionalidad mexicana.
- Residentes temporales o permanentes en México.
- Menores de dos años.
- Integrantes de tripulaciones aéreas o marítimas.
- Personas con visas oficiales o diplomáticas.
- Participantes en determinados programas de cooperación educativa, científica o cultural.
Likewise, visitors who enter by land under certain conditions and stay for less than seven days may access benefits or exemptions provided by current immigration regulations.
How to avoid unexpected charges?
The best way to avoid paying the DNR improperly is to ensure that the airline or immigration authority is aware of your actual immigration status before you travel.
If you have any of the following documents, present them during the check-in or entry process into the country:
- Pasaporte mexicano vigente.
- Tarjeta de residencia temporal.
- Tarjeta de residencia permanente.
- Documento que acredite tu nacionalidad mexicana conforme a la legislación aplicable.
This is especially important for people with dual nationality, as Mexican law establishes that Mexicans must identify themselves as such when entering or leaving national territory.
How is the DNR paid?
When the fee is not included in the transport used, payment can be made through mechanisms authorized by the National Migration Institute, such as electronic platforms and bank windows enabled for the payment of immigration fees.
The INM also points out that its personnel are not authorized to receive cash directly for these items, so payments must be made only through official procedures.
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