Visitax is Quintana Roo's mandatory state tourist tax — ~MXN 283 (about $15) per person — for every foreign visitor to Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, including children. Pay once per trip, any time before departure, at the only official site visitax.gob.mx — and keep the QR code on your phone: Cancun Airport now checks it before security, and unpaid travelers get pulled aside to pay on the spot.
Visitax essentials
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Cost | ~MXN 283 per person (~$15-18) — same rate adults & kids |
| Who pays | Every foreign visitor to Quintana Roo — air, land or sea |
| When | Any time before you leave Mexico — pay early from your hotel |
| Where | visitax.gob.mx only — the .gob.mx ending means government |
| Proof | QR code emailed — screenshot it for offline access |
| Checked where | Cancun Airport Terminals 3-4, before security |
How to pay in 5 minutes
- Go to visitax.gob.mx (switch EN/ES top right if needed)
- Enter departure date + number of travelers — up to 10 per payment
- Add each traveler's name, age and passport number exactly as printed
- Pay by credit/debit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)
- Download the QR receipt — screenshot it; recoverable for 1 year via passport number
The $40 scam draining tourists
Google 'pay visitax' and the top results include copycat sites charging $30-100 for a $15 tax — visitax.us, visitaxmexico.com and similar professional-looking pages collecting 2-4x markups. Some deliver a valid QR eventually; some deliver nothing. The tell: the real tax is ~MXN 283, and the official domain ends in .gob.mx. If checkout shows $30+ per person, you're overpaying a middleman.
Apply online — skip the paperwork
iVisa handles visa and travel authorization applications online — document review, government submission, and delivery to your inbox.
What's NOT Visitax — the fee alphabet soup
- TUA (airport tax) — already inside your airline ticket
- FMM federal entry fee — also bundled in airfare for air arrivals
- Visitax — the separate Quintana Roo STATE tax, NOT in your ticket — this is the one you pay yourself
- Cruise passengers — pay a separate state cruise fee, not standard Visitax
- Exempt — Mexican nationals, residents, diplomats, airline crew
Apply online — skip the paperwork
iVisa handles visa and travel authorization applications online — document review, government submission, and delivery to your inbox.
Visitax: Cancun's Mandatory Tourist Tax (2026 Payment Guide) — FAQ
Is Visitax mandatory for U.S. citizens in Cancun?
What happens if I don't pay Visitax?
Can I pay Visitax at the airport instead of online?
I lost my Visitax QR code — what now?
Country entry requirements
Related guides
Entry rules change without notice. Always verify with official government sources (travel.state.gov, embassy websites) before booking. Last reviewed November 2026. This page may contain partner links — see our affiliate disclosure.