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Moving to Mexico from the US

Shipping personal belongings from the US to Mexico — with the Menaje de Casa paperwork sorted, customs cleared, and your boxes delivered to your door anywhere from Tijuana to Tulum.

Door-to-Door 25+ Years on This Route Flat-Rate Pricing

Step 1 of 3 · Shipment

Step 1 of 3: Shipment

Get a free quote

Tell us a bit about your shipment and we'll come back with a flat-rate quote — usually the same day.

10,000+ Shipments Delivered

Tens of thousands of successful international moves from the US to destinations worldwide — including Ireland, the UK, and Europe.

In Business Since 2004

20+ years moving households and freight from the US to destinations across Europe and beyond.

Door-to-Door Service

We collect from your US home and deliver to your new front door. You handle nothing in between.

Flat-Rate Packages

One price covers everything — pickup, ocean transit, customs clearance, and final delivery.

Moving to Mexico from the US is one of the most paperwork-heavy routes we handle — and one of the most rewarding when it is done right. City Post Express has been shipping personal belongings and household goods from the US to Mexico for over 20 years, and our founder Robert Swords has built the process around one simple idea: the family relocating should not have to wrestle with the Mexican customs system on their own. We organise the Menaje de Casa declaration through SAT and ANAM, pickup at your US address, ocean or air freight, and final delivery door-to-door — whether you are retiring to Lake Chapala, moving to Mexico City for work, buying a home in San Miguel de Allende, or returning to family in Guadalajara. Flat-rate pricing, weekly shipments, no hidden fees. From 5 boxes to a full container. One all-inclusive price covers pickup, ocean or air transit, Mexican customs clearance and door delivery — no per-box surprises.
Our route

How We Ship to Mexico

City Post Express ships to Mexico every week. We coordinate the full door-to-door move from your US address to any city, town or rural colonia in Mexico, including the Menaje de Casa household goods declaration that unlocks duty-free import for residents. Because Mexican customs requires consular certification of your inventory before your shipment crosses the border, we begin the paperwork the moment you book — not when your boxes arrive in Veracruz.

We offer both ocean and air freight. Ocean freight sails from US East Coast ports into Veracruz or Altamira on the Gulf, with onward trucking to your address. Air freight flies into Mexico City (MEX), Guadalajara (GDL) or Cancún (CUN) for clients who need essentials on arrival. Most clients split their shipment: air freight for the first few weeks of living, ocean freight for furniture and the bulk of their home. We recommend starting the process 6–8 weeks before your move to leave time for the consular appointment.

Mexico is a big country, and no two moves look alike. Our local delivery partners reach Mexico City apartments, Riviera Maya condos, Yucatán casitas and Baja fishing villages. We also provide origin packing at your US address if you would rather not pack yourself — useful given how strictly Mexican customs inspects inventory formatting.

Shipping to Mexico
Weekly shipments
to Mexico since 2004
Your options

Air Freight vs Ocean Freight to Mexico

Many clients use both — air for essentials they need on arrival, ocean for the bulk of their belongings.

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Air Freight

Transit time
3–5 days
Door-to-door
7–14 days (subject to customs clearance)
Best for
Essentials you need immediately — seasonal clothing, documents, electronics, medication, items of sentimental value

Air freight into Mexico City (MEX), Guadalajara (GDL) or Cancún (CUN) with consolidated and dedicated options depending on volume. Includes customs clearance with Menaje de Casa (where applicable) and onward delivery to your Mexican address.

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Ocean Freight

Transit time
2–4 weeks port-to-port
Door-to-door
5–8 weeks
Best for
Furniture, household goods, large or heavy items, the bulk of your belongings

Ports: Veracruz, Altamira (Gulf) — with onward delivery nationwide

Ocean freight from US East Coast ports to Veracruz or Altamira on the Gulf of Mexico. Includes pickup, export documentation, ocean transit, Mexican customs clearance with Menaje de Casa relief, and delivery to your door. Shared container (LCL) for smaller shipments, full container (FCL) for complete household moves.

What You Can Ship to Mexico

We handle the customs documentation. Here is a quick guide to what travels well on this route — and what doesn't.

Commonly shipped

  • Household furniture and furnishings
  • Personal clothing and shoes (used, not new-in-box)
  • Books, photos, and personal documents
  • Electronics — laptops, tablets, TVs (dual-voltage check recommended)
  • Kitchen items — cookware, small appliances, utensils
  • Bedding, linens, and towels
  • Children's belongings and toys
  • Sporting equipment — bicycles, golf clubs, fitness gear
  • Musical instruments
  • Art and personal collectibles
  • Tools and garden equipment
  • Hobby and craft supplies

Restricted or prohibited

  • New items still in original packaging or with tags (not covered by Menaje de Casa)
  • Firearms, ammunition, and lethal weapons
  • Vehicles, motorcycles and scooters (separate import process — cannot ship with household goods)
  • Alcohol, tobacco and prescription medication in bulk
  • Perishable food, meat, dairy and live plants or seeds
  • Hazardous materials — flammable liquids, aerosols, propane tanks, solvents
  • Taxidermy, ivory and protected-species products
  • Commercial or industrial equipment intended for resale
  • Counterfeit goods and pornographic material
Customs & duty

Customs Clearance for Mexico

Mexico applies strict controls on personal imports, but legal residents can bring their household goods in duty-free under the Menaje de Casa scheme, administered by SAT (Servicio de Administración Tributaria) and ANAM (Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México). The critical and often-missed step: your inventory must be certified by a Mexican consulate in the US <strong>before</strong> your shipment leaves — it is not something your broker can sort out after the container arrives.

Menaje de Casa Exemption

Menaje de Casa is a one-time, duty-free import allowance for personal effects and household goods belonging to someone who is taking up residence in Mexico. City Post Express prepares your Spanish-language inventory in the exact format Mexican customs requires and coordinates your consular certification appointment — the most common point of failure when people try to do this themselves.

Requirements

  • You must hold valid Mexican immigration status — Temporary Resident, Permanent Resident, or be a Mexican citizen returning home
  • Your inventory must be certified by a Mexican consulate in the US BEFORE your shipment departs (this is non-negotiable)
  • All items must be used and have been in your possession for at least 6 months before shipment — new goods do not qualify
  • The Menaje de Casa exemption can only be used once; plan your shipment to include everything you are bringing
  • Goods must arrive within 6 months of your formal entry into Mexico as a resident

Let us handle the customs

Customs paperwork for Mexico is included in every package — ToR relief, declarations, all of it.

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From the team

Shipping tips for Mexico

01

Book the consulate appointment first, not the shipment

The Mexican consulate is the pinch-point of the whole process. Some consulates book out 4–6 weeks ahead. We pick a shipping date that fits your certification, not the other way around.

02

Use your Menaje de Casa allowance once, properly

You get one duty-free import. Resist the temptation to 'ship what's ready now and the rest later'. We help clients build a complete, single inventory that captures everything — furniture, clothes, kitchen, garage, the lot.

03

Ship air freight for the first month of living

Sea freight into Veracruz takes 5–8 weeks door-to-door. Send a small air shipment with clothes, kitchen basics, chargers and medication so you are not living out of a suitcase while the container sails.

04

Measure Mexican doorways and stairwells

Colonial-era homes in places like San Miguel, Oaxaca and Mérida have narrow doors, tight spiral staircases and low ceilings. Oversized US sofas and king beds often will not fit. Measure before you ship.

05

Electronics: check voltage, leave the 220V stuff

Mexico runs on 127V with Type A/B plugs — the same as the US. Most US electronics work straight out of the box. If you have European 220V appliances from a previous move, leave them behind.

06

Ship used — ship obviously used

Mexican customs is sharp-eyed about anything that looks new. Remove tags, use older packing materials where possible, and pack items in a way that reads 'household in use', not 'online order'.

Mexico — Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

Further reading: shipping to Mexico

Guide ·15 min read

Customs Clearance for International Shipping: Complete Guide

Complete guide to customs clearance for international shipping from the US to Europe. Covers the customs clearance process step by step, Transfer of Residence duty-free rules, country-by-country requirements for Ireland, UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, required documents, timelines, duties and taxes, and prohibited items.

Guide ·15 min read

Moving to Ireland from the US — Shipping Guide

Everything you need to know about moving to Ireland from the US — shipping costs, transit times, Transfer of Residence duty relief, customs clearance, and practical tips from a company that has been shipping personal belongings to Ireland for over 25 years.

Blog ·7 min read

Flat-Rate International Shipping: How It Works and Why It Matters

Flat-rate international shipping means one transparent price that covers pickup, ocean freight, customs clearance, and delivery to your door. Learn how it works, why traditional movers charge hidden fees, and how City Post Express pioneered fixed-price shipping for personal belongings from the US to Ireland, the UK, and Europe.

Guide ·12 min read

Cheapest Way to Ship Overseas from the US

Compare the cheapest ways to ship overseas from the US — USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, and ocean freight — with real pricing for 2025–2026. Includes cost comparison tables, tips to reduce international shipping costs, and a decision framework for choosing the right method based on your shipment size.

Ready to ship to Mexico?

Tell us what you are moving, where you are moving to, and when you need to be there. We will handle the Menaje de Casa, the customs, and everything in between — flat rate, no surprises.

No obligation. No hidden fees. Just honest, flat-rate shipping.