In Mexico, at Cancúna International Airport, control over the payment of the Visitax travel tax has been noticeably strengthened. What was recently perceived by many as a formality is now increasingly checked before departure. We are talking about the fee established by the authorities of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo for foreign tourists.
Control is carried out in front of the security control area, usually at the escalators leading to control points on the second floor, next to the elevators before entering the “clean zone”, near the final passages to the gates. Passengers are stopped from the mines wearing brown or burgundy vests and asked to show their Visitax proof of payment with a QR code, printed or on their phone.
The inspections are carried out by representatives of the state authorities — representatives acting on behalf of the Quintana Roo tax administration. These are not airline companies or private intermediaries. Airlines are not directly involved in the collection process, since Visitax — not federal, but regional tax. Visitax is also not included in the airfare. It is for this reason that control has been inconsistent for a long time. And even though the inspections became more frequent, it remains the same now. The government never followed through on its promise to install Visitax payment machines at airports.
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Visitax payments are not checked for everyone at the airport to avoid creating congestion. Selective checkpoint tactics are used. However, according to travelers, the number of such checks has increased significantly since the beginning of 2026.
If there is no confirmation of payment, the passenger is taken out of the airport and asked to pay the tax on the spot through the official website. This does not lead to fines or detention, but it can cause stress and the risk of missing your boarding. Since many passengers do not react to treatment from airport employees, and they, in turn, do not use force, we can assume that there are no consequences for non-payment; from boarding the flight, in addition, from has no right to say.
Visitax applies only to foreign tourists and is applied when departing on international flights (from Mexico) through the airports of the state of Quintana Roo: Cancún, Cozumel, Tulum. Children are also required to pay this tax.
Visitax has been around since 2021, but due to weak administration, many have not even heard of it. In travel forums, the fee is often called a «voluntary donation» or even fraud. In 2026, state authorities will decide to end the «system of trust» and began to more actively remind guest states of the need to pay before departure on international flights.
The Visitax rate for 2026 is MXN 293. Payment can only be made online through the official portal of the state. After payment, a receipt with a QR code — This is exactly what they are asked to present during inspection.
How to pay for Visitax, we described in this publications.