175-peso DNR hike for Mexico's visiting nomads advances to Senate

A proposed 175-peso increase (about $9) would raise Mexico's visitor entry fee for fee-paying foreign travelers, including visitor-status nomads, from 983 to 1,158 pesos in 2027. The revised increase is 17.8%, down from the 35.8% originally proposed.

This isn't a new 175-peso tax already payable at the border. It's a smaller proposed increase to the existing Derecho de No Residente (DNR) and the legislative process hasn't finished.

Deputies approved the smaller increase

The Chamber of Deputies approved the Federal Fees Law reform and sent it to the Senate, Mexico's congressional news service reported Oct. 14. The bill would set the visitor fee at 1,158 pesos.

The original proposal would have raised it to 1,334.80 pesos. The reduced amount was incorporated into the committee text approved Oct. 12, Proceso reported. The Senate stage remains outstanding in the latest reporting reviewed.

Visitor-status nomads face the cost, residents don't

The DNR applies to foreigners admitted as visitors without permission to perform paid activities. It covers air, land and sea arrivals, subject to exemptions. For air passengers, the fee is collected through the airline ticket, Mexico's National Customs Agency says.

For a visitor-status nomad making one fee-paying entry in a year, the proposal would add 175 pesos to that year's travel budget. That's an entry-related cost, not a monthly charge for living in Mexico.

Foreigners with valid Mexican temporary or permanent residence are exempt from the DNR. Qualifying short land visits are exempt too, so the increase wouldn't apply to every foreign arrival.

Extra revenue would support immigration equipment

The revised bill would allocate 57% of DNR revenue to the Defense Ministry, 15% to the National Immigration Institute and 28% to the federal treasury. Of the additional 175 pesos, 173.70 pesos would go to the immigration institute for technology, border security and immigration controls, the Tourism Ministry said.