G/LIC/N/3/MEX/6  
24 September  2019 
(19-6135) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
REPLIES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES1 
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 7.3 OF THE AGREEMENT ON  
IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES (2019)  
MEXICO 
The following communication, dated 20 September 2 019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Mexico.  
 
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Outline of systems  
1. The import licensing system (prior permit and/or automatic noti ce) in Mexico rests on the premise 
that imports into the country are exempt from this requirement except for those products which are 
subject to prior import licensing (prior permit and/or automatic noti ce) by decision of the Ministry of 
the Economy  (SE). In Mexico, the import licensing procedure (prior permit and/or automatic noti ce) 
is based on the Foreign Trade Law and its Implementing Regulation s as well as the SE's decision 
issuing general rules and criteria in respect of foreign trade.  
 
The products subject to Mexico's import licensing system, identified by tariff heading, are published 
in the ministerial decisions issued by the SE and published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación  
(DOF), the national O fficial Journal of the Government of Mexico.  
 
The import licensing system , administered by the SE , is subject to the opinions and 
recommendations of  the Foreig n Trade Commission (COCEX), which acts as a consultative body to 
all entities of the Federal Public Administration in matters concerning trade policy formulation  and 
may hold consultations with the interested parties.  
 
In order to ensure that the regulation containing the import licensing requirement properly  identifie s 
the regulatory impact,  and the social benefits and costs that its implementation would generate, all  
import licence s are subject to the regulatory improvement process in the Nationa l Commission on 
Regulatory Improvement (CO NAMER). CONAMER conducts  an ex ante  analysis of the regulation  that 
is to be issued  with a view to ensuring the quality thereof , and the process is backed up by  a public 
consultation , which gives it  considerable va lue added.  
 
Import licensing procedures are applied in an impartial, transparent and expedit ious manner, and 
are administered fairly.  
 
                                                
1 See document G/LIC/3, Annex, for the questionnaire.  G/LIC/N/3/MEX/6  
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  Purpose s and coverage of licensing  
2. Non-automatic import licensing (prior pe rmit)2 and automatic import not ice.3 
 
3. The import licensing system  is applied to products from all countries on a most -favoured -nation 
basis, except where licences are administered in accordance with preferential agreements.  
 
4. The non -automatic licensing (prior permit) regime is used by the Mexican Government to regulate 
trade in specific products , to protect consumers, public health and the environment , and to regulate 
trade in products in accordance with the provisions of the international treaties and agre ements to 
which Mexico is a party.  
 
According to  Article 21 of the Regulations to the Foreign Trade Law, the automatic import notice  
should be seen as an automatic licensing requirement to which the SE may subject imports of goods 
for the purposes of maint aining a register of foreign trade operations , provided there is no alternative  
administrative procedure that would enable  such operations to be monitored and controlled  in a 
more flexible manner.  
 
5. The Government of Mexico's import licensing system rests on the following legal basis:  
 
i. The Foreign Trade Law (Title IV, Chapter II, Section I, Article 20 and Section  II, 
Articles  21 and 22) . 
ii. The Implementing Regulations to the Foreign Trade Law (Title III,  Chapter II) . 
iii. Decision of  the Ministry of the Economy (SE) on general rules and criteria in respect of 
foreign trade, containing provisions applicable in Mexico to prior permits and automatic 
notices. The tariff headings subject to licens ing are published in the DOF in conformity 
with the Foreign Trade Law, thereby ensuring the system 's transparency . 
 
In the light  of the above, prior import permits and automatic import  notices , as part of the 
Mexican  Government's legal system governing foreign trade, can be required by law.  
 
Since the Federal Executive is under obligation to ensure that the different economic entities involved 
in foreign trade conduct their activities in a climate of legal certainty and to clearly define the status 
of the different rules e stablishing the various foreign trade instruments and programmes, the 
SE issues ministerial decisions regulating the licensing regime applicable  in Mexico.  
 
Procedures  
6. Information regarding the import licensing system  (prior permit and/or automatic noti ce), 
time-periods  for application, administrative procedures and the formalities for filing applications 
applicable to each procedure , are published by the SE in the DOF. 
 
I. To ensure that the information is made available for consultation nationwide by  any interested 
party, both in printed and electronic form, it is posted on the DOF web site 
(http://dof.gob.mx/index.php ). 
 
This allows  the governments of other countries and their trade representatives (chambers of 
commerce) to access publications on the import licensing system  in Mexico immediately.  
  
                                                
2 A list of the products subject to non -automatic import licensing is provided in Annex I of this 
document.  
3 A list of the products subject to automatic import licensing is provided in Annex II of this document.  G/LIC/N/3/MEX/6  
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  II. Not applicable.  
 
III. Import licences (p rior permit s and/or automatic notic es) approved  by the SE are allocat ed to 
all natural or legal persons that need to carry out foreign trade operations . It should be noted 
that the SE approves all import licences for natural or legal persons that fulfil the 
administrative requirements for engaging in foreign trade operations.  
 
The elements  used to ensure that a pproved  import licences are effectively used for the 
importation of the products indicated  in the SE's resolution  are: 
 
• import or export customs procedures;  
• description of the goods;  
• condition of the goods (new or used);  
• tariff heading;  
• quantity to be imported or exported;  
• unit of measurement ; 
• value of the invoice in dollars;  
• country or countries of provenance  or destination.  
The authorized quantities for each of the import licences that have not been utilized under  the 
authorization that was granted  cannot be cumulated for future licence applications.  
 
Publicly available information on import ers to which an import licence has been granted by 
the Mexican Government can be consulted by the general  public  or by other governments and 
export promotion bodies in the exporting countries through the transparency portal 
(https://www.snice.gob.mx/cs/avi/snice/transparenciacuposportada.html ). 
 
IV. The due date is established a s of the time of publication in the DOF of a ministerial decision 
providing for the allocation  of an import licence . It is important to note that licence applications 
may be filed immediately upon entry into force of the corresponding provision . 
 
V. Generally  speaking , the time it takes to grant licences varies according to the ty pe of licence , 
and ranges from 1 to 15 working days.  
 
VI. Recipients  of import licences may use them immediately upon issuance  by the SE. 
 
VII. All import licences administered by the SE are granted by a single administrative body, in this 
case the SE itself, so that the applicant only has to deal with a single focal point to obtain the 
licence in  question.  
 
VIII. Applications are examined in the chronological order in which they are submitted . They are 
analysed, and approved  in accordance with the criteria established in the regulations 
applicable to each product for which an  import licen ce is required . It is impor tant to note  that 
there is no maximum limit on the amount to be allocated per applicant.  
 
IX. Not applicable.  
 
X. Not applicable.  
 
XI. Not applicable.  
 
7. The Government has not set any time-limit for the submission of applications for a licence . It is 
up to the persons in question to submit their applications at such time as their schedule  of foreign  
trade operations requires them to do so . 
 
According to the time -frame set forth  in the decision on regulations for each licence, the interested 
parties receiv e their approved licences once they have met the corresponding requirements, 
regardless of whether  or not  the goods have arrived at the port without a licence.  
 
It is up to the interested parties to familiarize themselves with  the tariff and non -tariff reg ulations 
applicable to the goods they are importing or exporting before they carry out their foreign trade  
operations.  G/LIC/N/3/MEX/6  
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  The import licence that has been approved for a certain good may be extended at the request of the 
interested party, provided that the cr iteria on which the original approval was based are still valid, 
that part of the quantity originally a pproved  is still outstanding, and that the licence has not expired . 
The request for extension must be submitted to the Single Window for foreign trade, a nd the 
time-limit for reply ing is 13 working days.  
 
8. Applications for import licences must meet all of the criteria and requirements for submission . If 
an import  licence application is not duly substantiated or is incomplete, it will be refused . The 
interested party may resubmit the application once the causes of the refusal  have been rectified . It 
is accepted once all of  the inconsistencies – of which the applica nt is informed in advance in a 
resolution issued by the SE via the Single Window  – have been remedied.  
 
Under Articles 85 and 86 of the Federal Law on Administrative Procedures, applicants may submit 
an appeal  for review to the SE within a period of 15 day s from the day following the entry into effect 
of the notification of the resolution in question . The document of appeal must be submitted to the 
SE, and the appeal will be heard by the supervisory authority.  
 
In their document of appeal, the applicants mu st provide  the following  information : 
 
• the administrative body to which  it is addressed;  
• the name of the appellant and of the injured third party where applicable, and an 
address for notifications;  
• the measure being appealed and the date on which the appellant was notified or learned 
of the measure;  
• the grievances ; 
• where applicable, a copy of the challenged decision or measure and of the corresponding 
notification . In the case of measures for which  there has been no decision within the 
time-limit and w hich are  therefore deemed to have been refused , either the written 
request for initiation of the procedure or the document on which there was no decision 
must be attached ; and 
• the evidence they are supplying that has an immediate and direct bearing on the 
challenge d decision or measure , by attaching the documents available, including those 
certifying their standing if they are acting on behalf of another party or of legal person s. 
Eligibility of importers to apply for licence  
9. Any natural  or legal person established in Mexico may apply for an import licence (prior permit 
and/or automatic notice) provided they meet the relevant requirements.  
 
Documentation al and other requirements for application for licence  
10. Applicants for import licences (prior permit and/or automatic notice ) must include  the foll owing 
information in their application:  
 
• general data concerning the applicant (for natural persons, the Single Population 
Registration Code (CURP) and complete name, and for legal persons, the business name 
and federal taxpayers' registration), telephone,  email, and domicile of the applicant;  
• information concerning the product (new or used), the regime (definitive or temporary  
import or export), general data on the goods to be imported or exported ( e.g. tariff 
heading, quantity, value in dollars, country o f provenance ); 
• data concerning the legal representative or the person authorized to submit the 
application, domicile, date, place, name and signature of the applicant;  
• the form includes a section in which any prior procedure may be mentioned if 
appropriate , as well as an annex in which the applicant may enter a list of headings, 
descriptions, values, quantities and codes . 
The following documents must be attached:  
 
- for legal persons : articles of association and amendments thereto, and the relevant powers of 
attorney;  
- natural persons : original and simple and legible copy of valid official identification, proof of 
domicile;  G/LIC/N/3/MEX/6  
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  - for both of the above : legible copy of the federal taxpayers' registration  (RFC) and RFC  code, 
and specific documents for each on e of the products subject to the regulations.  
 
11. Once the import licence has been approved, the SE automatically sends all of the information 
regarding the approved import licence to Customs, and the applicant may use the licence 
immediately, without bei ng required to submit further information.  
 
12. Import licensing procedures are free : there is no administrative charge or licensing  fee. 
 
13. There are no deposit or advance payment requirements associated with a licence approval.  
 
Conditions of licensing  
14. All import licences (prior permit and/or automatic notice ) approved by the SE through a  
resolution carry a period  of validity, which takes full effect as from the time of their approval . The 
validity of import licences may be extended provide d that the criteria on which the approval of the 
original import licence  was based are still  valid, that part of the quantity originally approved is still 
outstanding , and that the import licence has not expired.  
 
The m aximum period of validity for non -automatic import licences (prior permit s) is one  year. 
 
Automatic import notices have a maximum period of validity of four months from the date on which 
the SE issued the corresponding authorization code.  
 
15. The interested parties may utilize an import l icence  in full or in part without any penalty for the 
non-utilization of the licence  or a portion of the licence . 
 
16. The SE approves import licences for applicants that fulfil the stipulated  requirements and criteria . 
Consequently , they are personal and non-transferable between  importers, since they can be 
requested by any natural or legal person without restriction.  
 
17. The issue of import licences is not subject to any quantitative condition or restriction.  
 
Other procedural requirements  
18. The import ation of goods subject to an import licence (prior permit and/or automatic noti ce) is 
not subject to any administrative procedures other than the import licensing procedures described  
above.  
 
19. There is no relationship between the import licensing system  and the foreign exchange  system.  G/LIC/N/3/MEX/6  
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  ANNEX I: NON -AUTOMATIC IMPORT LICENSING  
General description 
of the restriction  Codes of tariff lines 
affected, based on 
HS 2012  Detailed product description  
Prior import permit 
issued by the SE  Products under the following 
codes:  
4012.20.01  
4012.20.99  
6309.00.01  
7102.10.01  
7102.21.01  
7102.31.01  Used pneumatic tyres ; worn 
clothing and other worn articles ; 
diamonds, unsorted ; diamonds, 
industrial, unworked ; diamonds, 
non-industrial, unworked.  
Prior import permit 
for used vehicles 
issued by the SE  
 Used products under the 
following codes:  
8701.20  
87.02  
87.03  
87.04  
8705.40  
87.06  Road tractors for semi -trailers ; 
motor vehicles for the transport of 
ten or more persons ; motor 
vehicles principally designed for 
the transport of persons ; motor 
vehicles for the transport of 
goods ; concrete -mixer lorries ; 
chassis for motor vehicles . 
Prior import permit 
for hydrocarbons and 
petroleum products 
issued by the SE  Products under the following 
codes:  
2709.00  
2710.12  
2710.19  
2711.19  Gasoline, diesel oils, other 
hydrocarbons and petroleum 
products . 
 G/LIC/N/3/MEX/6  
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  ANNEX II: AUTOMATIC IMPORT LICENSING  
General description 
of the restriction  Codes of tariff lines 
affected, based on 
HS 2012  Detailed product description  
Automatic import 
notice issued by the 
SE 
 Various products under the 
following chapters:  
72 
73  
Products of the steel sector  
 
Automatic import 
notice issued by the 
SE Products under the following 
code:  
9504.30  Electrical, electronic and/or 
mechanical gaming machines that 
perform random draws with numbers 
or symbols  
Automatic import 
notice issued by the 
SE Various products under the 
following codes:  
64.01  
64.02  
64.03  
64.04  
64.05  Products of the footwear sector  
 
Automatic import 
notice issued by the 
SE Various products under the 
following chapters:  
51 
52 
54 
55 
60 
61 
62 
63 Products of the textiles and clothing 
sectors  
 
 
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