Visitors to the Mexican state of Quintana Roo who don’t pay the required VISITAX fee will be tracked as a way to enforce payments.
SATQ, the authority that oversees the VISITAX, says there’s a new digital tracking and enforcement system and that failing to pay the fee will lead to “observations” registered against a visitor’s passport for any future visits to the state.
Authorities say that, as per state law in Quintana Roo, “it's mandatory for every international visitor to secure a QR code for their stay, and before they leave the state.”
Emails about the policy are being sent to users of Travelkore, the official payment system for VISITAX payments. The emails say that anyone wishing more information should send a note to the following email address: contact.us@satq.qroo.gob.mx.
Travelkore’s Tim Scurry said he’s reached out for clarification on the policy.
“It implies that entry will be refused on a next visit or that you will be asked to make up any missed payments. There is no penalty announced. We have sought to get clarification, but we have had no response as of yet,” Scurry told Open Jaw.
“We do know that the state has not waived its right to collect taxes due from the date the law changed (December 23rd 2022).
This leaves travellers – and us - guessing as to whether they will be presented with a bill for all unpaid taxes right back to this date.”
Scurry said he’s heard that travellers who’ve asked if they need to make up missed payments have been told that is the case.
We cannot advise on the SATQ policy as far as making up for missed payments as they have not responded to our requests for clarification. Our opinion is that they will not bar people from entering, but they will make sure you pay the missed taxes before you do as is their legal right to do.
The tax is currently $18.80 USD, or $25 CAD. It can be paid in either currency on the Travelkore.com website.
