Anyone who has spent time in Mexico knows that things change quickly, and government laws are “interpreted ” differently depending on the convenience or knowledge of the person applying them. One of the big ones for cruisers lately is the issuance and maintenance of TIPs, or Temporary Import Permits. You need one to bring a boat, an RV, or a car into Mexico. It’s not an open-door situation, and they are trying to control who brings what goods into the country. That’s understandable, but the rules often change for reasons that don’t always make sense.
When we took our boat there in 2014, we arrived in Cabo, hired a broker who got us a TIP that allowed us to leave the boat in Mexico for up to 10 years. That year we were somewhat concerned when cruising south because we heard that many boats had been seized for TIP infractions while going down. They had exceeded their 10-year period and didn’t apply for a new TIP. Someone in government had decided that the problem of staying too long and not paying for a new TIP must be stopped.
It turned out to be exaggerated when we got there, but some boats were chained to the dock. As always happens in Mexico, the people who decided to make an example of the overdue TIP boaters were opposed by those who worried about declining tourism if Mexico seemed unfriendly to cruisers. The fuss quickly died out, and things returned to normal unless your boat was chained to some dock and you couldn’t determine whom to talk to about it.
Since then, the situation has been going well, but with a recent change in who controls marine issues, there have been some changes, or there might be, or who knows for sure, which is normal in Mexico.
Buying a Boat in Mexico
If you plan to forego the cruise down the coast and purchase a boat in Mexico, there are things you must know about TIPs. Unless a Mexican has imported the boat you are interested in, it must have a TIP. You need to make sure it is still valid, which means it is not more than 10 years old and thus expired.
I hope the seller still has his TIP and hasn’t lost it. He needs to cancel his TIP by going to a Banjercito, (military bank) and proving with a Zarpe that he has taken the boat out of Mexico. If a Broker is selling the boat, the owner may not even be in Mexico.
If the boat has left Mexico for another country and they have their Zarpe, you can buy it and come back to Mexico and get a new TIP, but if the old TIP wasn’t appropriately cancelled, they won’t let you get a new TIP or even bring the boat into the country. If you come in without a TIP you are subject to fines or a boat seizure.
This is the Zarpe you get when you cancel your TIP
Even more alarming is that the new administration for marina affairs has decided to crack down on the TIP situation this year . They have agreed that many cruisers have kept boats in Mexico for too long and use them as cheap lodging. The new rule is that a boat can get only two TIPs; after that, the boat needs to be removed from Mexico and never brought back. This means that if things don’t change and you buy a boat that has been in Mexico for 17 years, it’s getting very close to the time when it must be removed or seized by the Mexican Government.
If the old owner hasn’t saved their old TIPs, you can have a problem.
Buying a Boat to Take to Mexico
If you want to buy a boat in San Diego and the seller doesn’t tell you that it had a TIP before or doesn’t keep it to give to you, it can be a problem if you want to take it to Mexico. It gets worse if he just sailed home and didn’t get a Zarpe, or if he has lost it. Similarly, if you are buying a boat that has returned to the US or Canada from Mexico, ensure the previous owner cancelled the TIP.
TIP Information for Owners of Boats
Owners of boats in Mexico who have been there for over 10 years and are aging out of the cruising lifestyle, or who are considering selling their boat, will need to do some planning. That might involve applying for a Zarpe and sailing to another country before selling.
If you are cruising from Canada to Mexico, you can obtain a TIP online [1], or you can get one when you enter the country by water. The online method must be done between 7 and 60 days before entering the country, and they will email you a copy, or you can pick it up at a Banjercito office.
When you leave Mexico without planning to return before the TIP’s expiration date, you must cancel the TIP. There can only be one TIP per boat, which must be in the boat owner’s name. If you sell your boat after leaving Mexico without cancelling the TIP, it will be challenging, if not impossible, for a new owner who wants to take the boat back to Mexico.
If you are returning to your boat in Mexico for another year of cruising and bringing some boat items because they are easier to get at home, you will need to pay duty if you don’t produce your TIP and show that they are parts for your boat in Mexico. They must be for the boat’s repair and maintenance and can’t be consumables like oil, tape, varnish, or cleaners. You will need your TIP, a Banjercito importation form, and invoices for the parts showing prices and details.
Conclusion
What does all this mean to you as a cruiser? Well, it’s Mexico, and things are never straightforward. Rules change without notice, they are interpreted in various ways, and there is often someone who can get things done in somewhat mysterious ways. Just roll with the times and enjoy this beautiful country’s great sailing experiences.