You know those Reddit experts who publicly encourage you not to pay the Cancun tourist tax as ‘nobody checks for it, anyway’? We’ve been warning you against them dodging the rule for quite some time now, and finally, now you know why:
Due to non-compliance, there have been reports of travelers being held up at Cancun Airport for failing to pay the so-called VISITAX, and prevented from boarding, or leaving Mexico at all, until doing so.
There is still a lot of confusion online, including people who insist the VISITAX isn’t worth bothering with, or even downplay it, so it’s time we settle this once and for all: what’s the real story behind what’s going on in Cancun with this infamous $16 fee?


The VISITAX Is Officially Mandatory. Ask The Agents.
As reported by The Cancun Sun, this is no longer a hypothetical scenario, but a real-life occurrence:
Imagine you’re at the airport, ready to take your flight back home after a most beautiful week of relaxing and doing nothing, and everything is going smoothly until a group of men in high-visibility jackets pull you aside to request that you pay the VISITAX on the spot.
That’s what happened to a traveler who shared their experience on Reddit this week, showcasing what we have been suspecting for weeks: the once-ignored policy, that authorities were lenient enough not to enforce, is now mandatory.
In fact, many countries now have fees that must be paid before arrival or departure. To check the latest for Cancun and every other destination you may be thinking about use our new Global Traveler Fee Finder here. We created it just for situations like this!
The whole being-pulled-aside thing is embarrassing enough as it is, but if you’ve ever engaged with the police or other law enforcers in Mexico, you know how intimidating they can be.


Careful About Treating It As A Scam
Due to the years of the VISITAX being ignored, it has sort of turned into an urban myth some tourists don’t actually believe in, or worse even, treat as a ‘scam’. Let’s make one thing clear once and for all: this fee is official, and it’s not some way scammers have found to extort you further.
That’s because tourists were rarely checked, leading to claims online that the fee was ‘optional’ or ‘wasted money’ without any basis, as authorities never verify it.
Be that as it may, it was implemented a while back by the Quintana Roo Government, which governs Cancun, to gather funds to develop the state’s tourism infrastructure. In short, if you get stopped by an officer asking for proof you’ve paid the fee, definitely do not walk away or ignore them.
It’s not a fake.


You Don’t Want To Put On The Spot Here
The reality on the ground right now involves random spot checks by airport police.
Usually they take place after the airline check-in, and before the final security check ahead of reaching your gate. In the words of the Reddit user, ‘they weren’t stopping anyone else… Just a load of guys in high vis jackets and wouldn’t let us leave.’
Their goal is to put travelers in a ‘high-pressure situation‘, as reported by The Cancun Sun: the fear of being detained, or even arrested, can lead non-compliant travelers to pay the fee immediately, especially amidst all the stress and confusion.
If you’re still worried you might be approached by a scammer, and you don’t want to get on a police officer’s wrong side for assuming so, here’s how to avoid getting slapped with fines:


How To Pay The VISITAX Safely
Whenever someone approaches you at the airport demanding to show proof of the VISITAX payment, the most important thing is that you never have to pay them directly, and most definitely not in cash.
The simple, official, and safe way to do it is online, via the official website here, that’s been built exactly for this purpose. We know scamming in Cancun can be widespread at times outside the upscale Hotel Zone, so we get your reservations about complying at first.
Now that scammers are probably aware VISITAX anxiety is on the rise, they might act.
Just know that, once you’ve paid $16 into the online system, a QR code will be issued so it can be flashed by actual law enforcers. That’s the only way to confirm whether someone has paid the fee, and they will usually only request to see that, not give you a shakedown for your dollar bills.


In the (so far rare) case that you get asked to pay cash, we would advise you to inform them you will be paying via the website, and showing them the QR code once finished to prove the payment went through. This is the standard procedure.
The VISITAX can be paid before, or during your trip, but our advice is that you do it in advance, in order to avoid any delays when landing or departing, and those uncomfortable situations.
It takes literally five minutes, and it’s only slightly more expensive than a Starbucks breakfast combo. No need to panic, nor dodge it.
Oh, and let’s not forget, those who do manage to get around for some reason could have annotations added to their passport by border agents—and having your passport marked like that is the last thing you want right now when some countries are making it harder for Americans to enter.
If you’re going to Cancun soon, there are lots of other factors that should be taken into consideration to ensure you have a stress-free journey. Thanks to Travel Off Path’s revolutionary travel tools, now you can both check entry requirements at your destination, and up-to-date safety advice.
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