What's the chance of being charged a camera tax at Los Cabos Airport

[PamelaH]

Some are saying they are just looking for professional stuff, etc. I got the red light in Cabo once and they guy was very amused that a little old lady was SCUBA diving so he didn't care about my camera (GoPro with housing and macro lens). However, the guy next to me was getting shafted. The lady doing his inspection was going to tax him on a cheap solar power charger and a flashlight or something. It truly depend on who you get if you have the misfortune to get the red light. Anything can happen.

 

[rudylgza]

I specifically made the point about the gopro housing and they said they didn't care about those. Basically the argument was that they tax the housings because they are not available in Mexico. I told her I found that hard to believe with the number of dive locations.

 

[TheRocket100]

Hello All, I am a pretty seasoned dive traveller but will be doing my first Socorro trip on Rocio in November. What about drones? Will Customs have anything to say or to fine regarding drones? Also, camera count. I'll have an old GH4 in a Nauticam housing, video lights, maybe 3 GoPros and a couple of 360 X5s. Is that too much? I am told they don't care about action cams, just the larger housings.

 

[js1221]

Hello All, I am a pretty seasoned dive traveller but will be doing my first Socorro trip on Rocio in November. What about drones? Will Customs have anything to say or to fine regarding drones? Also, camera count. I'll have an old GH4 in a Nauticam housing, video lights, maybe 3 GoPros and a couple of 360 X5s. Is that too much? I am told they don't care about action cams, just the larger housings.

By law, you are only permitted to bring 2 cameras into Mexico. Yes, some people have been told that the Customs people didn’t care about action cams but those people were only bringing in one or two. Anything more than two and you risk them being seized.

Drones are only allowed to be flown in Mexico by Mexican citizens. You must have a license in order to fly one. If Customs finds it, like the cameras, you risk it being seized.

All this is dependent on whether you get the red light or not. The Customs people look for divers, so try to look like a tourist. Don’t wear anything that identifies you as a diver, or have anything on your bags that might. Avoid using a Pelican or Pelican like case for your camera gear. Try to limit the number of bags you bring with you; if you’re there for a week and roll up two big suitcases, and a carry-on, it will attract attention.

 

[TheRocket100]

By law, you are only permitted to bring 2 cameras into Mexico. Yes, some people have been told that the Customs people didn’t care about action cams but those people were only bringing in one or two. Anything more than two and you risk them being seized.

Drones are only allowed to be flown in Mexico by Mexican citizens. You must have a license in order to fly one. If Customs finds it, like the cameras, you risk it being seized.

All this is dependent on whether you get the red light or not. The Customs people look for divers, so try to look like a tourist. Don’t wear anything that identifies you as a diver, or have anything on your bags that might. Avoid using a Pelican or Pelican like case for your camera gear. Try to limit the number of bags you bring with you; if you’re there for a week and roll up two big suitcases, and a carry-on, it will attract attention.

Now I see why everyone is complaining. What's the use of paying $5000 for a ship and flights and you can't bring much more than a camera and backup? OK, thank you. Let's see if anyone has any other tips.

 

[js1221]

The complaints aren’t usually about how much you can’t bring, it’s about how much they tax you on what you do bring. For instance, if you were stopped and they saw you have your Nauticam GH4 housing, they will look for a price for it on the internet and tax you 19% on that price. Doesn’t matter how old it is, or what you might have paid for it. Then, they may tax you on strobes, video lights, flashlights etc. It’s a scam that Customs pulls and there is little recourse that you have.

 

[TheRocket100]

By law, you are only permitted to bring 2 cameras into Mexico. Yes, some people have been told that the Customs people didn’t care about action cams but those people were only bringing in one or two. Anything more than two and you risk them being seized.

Drones are only allowed to be flown in Mexico by Mexican citizens. You must have a license in order to fly one. If Customs finds it, like the cameras, you risk it being seized.

All this is dependent on whether you get the red light or not. The Customs people look for divers, so try to look like a tourist. Don’t wear anything that identifies you as a diver, or have anything on your bags that might. Avoid using a Pelican or Pelican like case for your camera gear. Try to limit the number of bags you bring with you; if you’re there for a week and roll up two big suitcases, and a carry-on, it will attract attention.

Looks like you can bring a Mini (under 250g) and not need a license and follow the same rules as the FAA. I am not sure what to say if I declare a housing and my place to stay is a ship. I can not look like a diver but I can't declare like a non-diver. Thank you for the advice.

 

[TheRocket100]

The complaints aren’t usually about how much you can’t bring, it’s about how much they tax you on what you do bring. For instance, if you were stopped and they saw you have your Nauticam GH4 housing, they will look for a price for it on the internet and tax you 19% on that price. Doesn’t matter how old it is, or what you might have paid for it. Then, they may tax you on strobes, video lights, flashlights etc. It’s a scam that Customs pulls and there is little recourse that you have.

Yes, I am just hoping to be needlessly taxed. This used to happen in Bali a lot and they finally got it policed so regular tourists don't get needlessly hassled.

 

[Living4Experiences]

If you're unlucky to get the red light AND you get a dick of an agent, your only hope to avoid the tax is to bring your original receipts for your gear. If you don't have them, make one from a Word document. It's not a guarantee of not getting scammed (taxed), but at least it's a little hope. As I posted earlier, I despise Mexico and will never dive there again.

 

[Pipehorse]

Be polite, smile a lot, try to know a few words in spanish.

FWIW I just went through Cabo customs three days ago. I have a Nauticam housing for an LX10 and of course the LX10, no strobes just video lights. I also have Sealife Sportdiver for the iphone. BTW last year I went right through. This year I had to put the stuff on the xray machine. They xrayed, the agent asks do you have a housing for camera. I replied yes 2 of them. Lets see he says. I unpack the Sealife Sportdiver, he says ok. Any drones. No. Okay senor, we are done. That was it. Never looked at the Nauticam housing, I didn't pay anything.

However I was prepared for them for nonetheless. I bought the Nauticam housing and LX10 used for $800, I had a receipt saying so. I also do many fish surveys for REEF.org. I had letter from them (REEF.org) stating I was specifically doing volunteer work, and not a professional. Lastly I had a printed statement that says at least $500 is duty free according to Mexican Government.

I would also add, check your trip insurance. This nonsense of charging people for camera equipmnet is nothing more than an illegal shakedown. Just like trip insurance should cover theft and loss. It should cover illegal shakedowns. If you have to pay, make sure to file a claim with your insurance company, immediately. If you have to pay see if you can do it with a credit card. On the way out of the airport be on the phone with the credit card company disputing the charge immediately as an illegal shakedown. Let the Mexican Government prove to the credit card company it is not an illegal shakedown.

Be polite, smile a lot, try to know a few words in spanish.