Mexico is Canada\u2019s third-largest trading partner, but it is also the North American market that Canadian small and medium-sized businesses are least familiar with. The result: packages held up at customs, customers who refuse to pay unexpected taxes, and brokerage fees that eat into profit margins.<\/p>\n
Good news: thanks to ACEUM, Ship to Mexico from Canada<\/strong> It remains one of the most advantageous international trade corridors in the world. However, it is still necessary to be familiar with the thresholds, the required documents, and the new Mexican customs regulations that took effect in 2026.<\/p>\n This guide covers everything you need to know before printing your next shipping label: duty-free thresholds, taxes, required documentation, choosing a carrier, and costly mistakes.<\/p>\n Mexico applies two separate thresholds to courier shipments from Canada and the United States, as established by the USMCA:<\/p>\n These thresholds apply specifically to goods originating in Canada or the United States. This is a real competitive advantage: in 2026, Mexico raised the overall rate applicable to low-value courier shipments from elsewhere (from 19 % to approximately 33.5 % for goods valued at up to 2,500 $ USD), but this increase does not aim to<\/strong> Canadian and U.S. shipments covered by the USMCA.<\/p>\n In other words, an Asian competitor shipping the same product to Mexico City currently pays nearly double in customs duties. Your Canadian shipments, on the other hand, continue to benefit from preferential treatment\u2014provided you can prove it.<\/p>\n This is the point that has tripped up the most shippers this year. Previously, it was possible to provide the certificate of origin upon request, after the fact. That is no longer the case.<\/strong> Since the amendments to Mexican customs law in 2026, the certificate of origin must be uploaded in digital format before shipment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n A shipment that arrives without a valid certificate of origin is not simply delayed\u2014it is subject to the full tariff rate applicable to third countries, as if it were not covered by the USMCA. For a shipment of 800 $, the difference can amount to several hundred dollars.<\/p>\n The ACEUM certificate of origin does not require an official form. Nine data elements are sufficient (importer, exporter, producer, description, HS classification, rule of origin, applicable period, signature, and date). You can include them directly on your commercial invoice.<\/p>\n For any business shipment to a Mexican company, the RFC<\/strong> The recipient's Federal Taxpayer Registry (Registro Federal de Contribuyentes) number is essential. Without this tax ID number, customs clearance will be delayed, regardless of the quality of your documents.<\/p>\n For shipments to individuals, a CURP or a form of identification may be required, depending on the value. Please resolve this issue. before<\/em> to ship it\u2014not when the package is already sitting in a customs warehouse in Mexico City.<\/p>\n Another new development for 2026: Carriers now bear greater liability in the event of false declarations. They must verify the identity of shippers and are subject to fines in the event of repeated errors. In practice, they are much stricter than before about the quality of the data you provide them.<\/p>\n The four common options available from Canada, along with their respective strengths:<\/p>\nDe minimis thresholds: What Mexico Allows to Enter Duty-Free<\/h2>\n
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The ACEUM Certificate of Origin: The Rule That Changed in 2026<\/h2>\n
What the commercial invoice must include<\/h3>\n
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The RFC: The Tax ID Number We Always Forget<\/h2>\n
Which airline should you choose for a trip to Mexico?<\/h2>\n