Mexico VISITAX
Everything you need to apply for your Mexico VISITAX: the requirements, the documents, and the steps from start to approval.
Official Mexico government portalOverview
VISITAX is the visitor tax of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, the Caribbean state that includes Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel and the wider Riviera Maya. It is not a visa or an entry permit: it is a state tourism tax that every visitor to Quintana Roo is expected to pay once for their trip, and it is separate from the federal FMM entry permit that records your arrival in Mexico. Payment produces an official QR code receipt, which is your proof that the tax for your trip has been settled and which you may be asked to show, in some cases at the airport before you leave the state.
The tax applies however you arrive, by air, by cruise or by land, and to each traveller, including children. It was introduced by the Quintana Roo state government to support tourism and infrastructure in the region, and it is collected only for stays in that state; a visit elsewhere in Mexico, such as Mexico City or Los Cabos, does not require it. Because it is tied to your trip rather than to a fixed period, there is one payment per visit no matter how many days you stay.
It is charged per visit, so a separate trip later in the year is a separate payment, and the receipt you keep is specific to the trip you declare. The amount is set by the state and is the same whichever resort or town in Quintana Roo you visit. Many travellers settle it online before they fly, so it is one less thing to handle on arrival, although it can be paid at any time before you leave the state.
Keeping the QR code receipt to hand is what matters, because it is the proof the state asks to see. Your VISITAX is completed on the official state form on your behalf, your details are checked, and the QR code receipt is sent to you to carry for your trip.
Requirements in detail
VISITAX asks for very little, because it is a tax rather than an immigration permit, but the few details still need to match your travel documents. You provide the passport details for each traveller, the given names, family names and passport number as they appear on the document, together with a valid email address where the QR code receipt is sent. You also give the date you leave Quintana Roo, because the tax is tied to your trip rather than to a fixed period.
There is no photograph and no background questionnaire; the state form simply records who is travelling and confirms the tax is paid. A payment card covers one all-inclusive price that includes the state tax charged by Quintana Roo and our service for completing the official form and sending your receipt; the tax portion is itemised on your receipt. One payment covers the whole trip, however many nights you stay, and a single submission can include each member of your party, including each child, so a family stays together on one proof of payment.
Before you confirm, check the spelling of every name and passport number against the passports themselves, because the receipt should match the travellers it covers. The QR code receipt is then the document you keep, on your phone or printed, ready to show on departure.
What you'll need
Have these ready before you begin your application. Requirements can vary by nationality and trip purpose.
- Passport for each traveller
- Email address for your receipt
- The date you leave Mexico
- Payment method (one all-inclusive price)
How to apply
Paying VISITAX is done online, step by step. First, confirm it applies to you: it is expected of visitors to the state of Quintana Roo, where Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel and the wider Riviera Maya are located, and it is paid once for the trip, including for each child. Second, enter the traveller and trip details, the passport details for each person and the date you leave Quintana Roo.
Third, check the spelling of every name and passport number against the passports themselves, because the receipt should match the travellers it covers. Fourth, review the single all-inclusive price and pay; the state tax is itemised on your receipt and your form is checked for completeness before the official state portal records it. Finally, the official QR code receipt arrives by email.
Save it on your phone and, ideally, print a copy, and carry it for the whole trip, because travellers are sometimes asked to show it on departure, in some cases at the airport before leaving the state.
On arrival
There is nothing to stamp at immigration for VISITAX, because it is a tax rather than an entry permit; what matters is keeping the QR code receipt to hand. Save it on your phone and, ideally, print a copy, and have it ready for departure, as travellers are sometimes asked for proof that the Quintana Roo tax has been paid before leaving, in some cases at the airport. The receipt covers your whole trip in the state, so one payment is enough however many days you stay.
If you also need the federal FMM entry permit for Mexico, that is a separate document and is handled on its own. Unlike an entry permit, VISITAX is not tied to a number of days at immigration; it simply needs to be paid for your trip and shown if it is asked for. Keeping it on your phone, with a printed copy as a backup, is the simplest way to be ready, since a phone can run out of battery at the airport.
Government processing time
What the issuing authority typically takes once the application is submitted.
Government processing: most VISITAX receipts are issued within 1 to 3 business days. VisitPass review: Standard under 24h; Priority under 6h; Urgent under 30 min. The application is checked for completeness, submitted to the authority, and the QR code receipt issued.
When to apply: start in good time before your departure from Quintana Roo so the payment and the review both have room; the receipt reaches you by email once issued.
At a glance
- Validity
- Your trip
- Maximum stay
- No stay limit
- Entry type
- Single payment
Who can apply
VISITAX is a tourist tax charged by the state of Quintana Roo, home to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cozumel and the wider Riviera Maya. Visitors to the state pay it once for their trip and receive a QR code receipt that confirms payment. It is separate from any national entry permit and applies however you arrive.
Is this the official application?
VisitPass is an independent service, not a government website and not affiliated with the Quintana Roo authorities. The state tax is paid in full to Quintana Roo and itemised on your receipt; the service fee covers completing the official state form and sending your receipt, plus email support. You can always pay directly on the official state portal yourself; many travellers use a guided form to complete it in their own language and have it checked before it is sent.
The tax is set and collected by the state of Quintana Roo.
Mexico help desk
Have questions about your VISITAX? Email the Mexico desk and we reply within 24 hours.
visitax@visitpass-online.comVisitPass is an independent visa-application service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any government. Government fees go directly to the issuing authority and are listed separately in your receipt.