Mexico Tourist Tax 2027: What It Costs to Visit Puerto Vallarta

Mexico’s tourist tax is going up in 2027, but probably not the way the headlines make it sound. On October 27, 2026, Mexico’s Senate approved the 2027 Federal Duties Law (Ley Federal de Derechos), which raises the federal tourist fee from 983 to 1,158 pesos. For most gay travelers flying into Puerto Vallarta from the U.S. or Canada, that works out to about US$9 more, already built into the price of your plane ticket. Here’s what’s changing, what isn’t, and what you actually pay.

What Changed: Mexico’s Tourist Tax Rises to 1,158 Pesos in 2027

The fee most people call the “Mexico tourist tax” is officially the Derecho de No Residente (DNR), a federal fee paid by foreign visitors. Under the 2027 law, it rises by 175 pesos, from 983 to 1,158 pesos, an increase of 17.8%. That’s well below the 35.8% increase first proposed; Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat (Sectur) says the final number was negotiated down.

The Senate approved the law 79–34 on October 27, 2026, without changes to the version passed by the Chamber of Deputies, and sent it to the President. It takes effect January 1, 2027, once it is published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación, Mexico’s official gazette. The annual revenue laws are routinely published in early November.

Do You Pay the Mexico Tourist Tax at the Airport?

No, not if you fly in. For air travelers, the DNR is collected by the airline and included in the taxes and fees on your ticket. You won’t see a separate charge at Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR), and nobody at immigration will ask you to pay it.

Whether a ticket you’ve already bought is charged the 2026 or 2027 amount depends on how and when the airline issues it. If you’re flying in early 2027, check the taxes line on your booking or ask your airline.

Do Americans and Canadians Need a Visa for Mexico?

No. U.S. and Canadian citizens don’t need a visa to visit Mexico as tourists. You need a valid passport, and you’ll receive your entry permit (the digital FMM) when you arrive.

You may see headlines about Mexican visa fees rising “up to 153%.” Those increases apply to travelers from countries that do need a visa for Mexico, where the ordinary visa fee is being standardized at about 1,640 pesos. They don’t apply to U.S. or Canadian tourists.

Is There a Separate Puerto Vallarta Tourist Tax?

Yes, on paper. Puerto Vallarta’s city tax on foreign visitors has had a bumpy history:

• 2025: the city approved a 141-peso visitor fee. In late 2025, Mexico’s Supreme Court struck it down as unconstitutional.
• 2026: the city reissued it at 160 pesos (about US$9), charged once per calendar year, with revised wording to meet the Court’s objections. City officials described payment as voluntary, and visitors who don’t pay are not turned away.

In practice, we haven’t heard of visitors being asked to pay it, or of anyone being stopped for not paying. For 2027, Puerto Vallarta’s city council has approved a revenue bill with no tax increases, which is now before the Jalisco Congress. We’ll update this story when the city confirms whether the visitor fee continues. For the background, see Puerto Vallarta’s 2026 tourism tax.

The key point: the federal tourist fee and Puerto Vallarta’s city fee are two different things. The federal fee is in your plane ticket; the city fee, if collected, would be paid separately in Puerto Vallarta.

Visitax Is Cancún Only, Not Puerto Vallarta

If you’ve been to Cancún, Tulum or Playa del Carmen, you may have paid Visitax. That’s a separate tax charged by the state of Quintana Roo. It applies only there. You do not pay Visitax to visit Puerto Vallarta.

Cruise Passengers: The Fee Rises to US$15 in July 2027

Arriving on a cruise ship? Mexico’s federal cruise passenger fee is currently US$10 per person. It rises to US$15 on July 1, 2027, and to US$21 on August 1, 2028. It’s usually included in your cruise fare. Details are in our guide to Mexico’s cruise fee and what it means for Puerto Vallarta.

What Else Is Changing for 2027?

• Airline fees: the fees airlines pay to use Mexican airspace rise 10% in 2027. That doesn’t automatically mean higher fares.
• Customs rules: limits on electronics, cash, alcohol and vapes are covered in our guide to customs and immigration changes for Puerto Vallarta travelers.

Mexico Tourist Tax 2027: FAQ

How much is the Mexico tourist tax in 2027?

The federal tourist fee (DNR) will be 1,158 pesos, about US$62, starting January 1, 2027. In 2026 it is 983 pesos.

Do I have to pay the Mexico tourist tax at the airport?

No. If you fly into Mexico, the fee is included in the taxes on your airline ticket. There’s nothing to pay on arrival.

Do I need a visa to visit Puerto Vallarta?

Not if you’re a U.S. or Canadian citizen visiting as a tourist. You need a valid passport. The visa fee increases in the news apply only to nationalities that require a visa for Mexico.

Is the Mexico tourist tax the same as Visitax?

No. Visitax is a separate state tax charged only in Quintana Roo (Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen). It does not apply in Puerto Vallarta.

Is there a Puerto Vallarta tourist tax?

Puerto Vallarta reissued a city visitor fee for 2026 at 160 pesos, once per year, after the Supreme Court struck down the 2025 version. City officials say payment is voluntary, and we haven’t seen reports of it being actively collected. Its status for 2027 hasn’t been confirmed.

Is the new tourist tax law final?

Mexico’s Senate approved it on October 27, 2026. It becomes final once it’s published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación, and it takes effect January 1, 2027.

How much is the Mexico cruise passenger fee?

US$10 per person now, rising to US$15 on July 1, 2027, and US$21 on August 1, 2028.