Travelers Must Pay Cancun Visitax Separately: Hotels Won’t Collect It Confirm Authorities

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If you have been holding your breath hoping the confusing Cancun “Visitax” would just be added to your hotel bill and disappear into the background, we have bad news.

After months of rumors and high-level negotiations, the verdict is finally in: Hotels will NOT collect the tax.

For the foreseeable future, specifically heading into 2026, the responsibility to pay this fee falls 100% on you, the traveler. And unlike in previous years, authorities are now actively checking for it at the airport.

First Off: Let’s End The Debate On If Visitax Is Mandatory

It Is 100% Mandatory. For years, online forums have circulated the dangerous myth that this fee is a “voluntary contribution” or a “donation.” The government’s official stance leaves absolutely zero room for interpretation. As stated explicitly on the official government portal under their FAQ: “This tax is mandatory and must be paid by all foreign tourists.” It is legally codified under Article 51-octies of the Law of Rights of the State of Quintana Roo. This isn’t a tip jar; it is state law, and treating it as optional is now a guaranteed way to get flagged at the airport.

Here is everything you need to know about the new ruling and how to pay without getting scammed.

The Official Decision

Earlier this year, a proposal was floated to simplify the Visitax process by making hotels “tax retention agents.” The idea was simple: add the ~$15 USD fee to your room bill at check-in (just like the Environmental Sanitation Tax), and travelers wouldn’t have to worry about QR codes or websites.

However, in a definitive meeting this week between Governor Mara Lezama and the Riviera Maya Hotel Association, that plan was officially scrapped.

According to Toni Chaves Palomo, president of the Hotel Association, the sector successfully argued that they are already burdened with collecting multiple fees and that forcing them to collect Visitax would be very difficult and confusing.

What This Means For You:

• No Hotel Help: Your resort front desk cannot pay this for you.
• No “Bundling”: It will not appear on your Expedia or Booking.com receipt.
• Total Responsibility: You must manually go to the government website, pay the fee, and save the proof yourself.

The “Honor System” Is Going Away

For years, the internet has been full of travelers claiming, “I’ve been ten times and never been checked.” That era is ending.

While the payment method remains digital and separate, enforcement has shifted aggressively. Travel Off Path reporters on the ground at Cancun International Airport (CUN) this week confirmed the increased enforcement:

• The Checkpoint: Authorities have set up more spot checks before the security screening area.
• We Were Asked For Proof: We were checked right after checking our bags before we entered security.
• The Process: Agents are actively stopping passengers to scan their Visitax QR codes.
• The Bottleneck: Travelers who had their codes ready were waved through in seconds. Those who didn’t were pulled out of line and directed to pay on the spot, creating significant stress right before their flight.

This aligns with earlier reports of Visitax enforcement teams deploying iPads and card readers to terminals 2, 3, and 4 to catch non-compliant travelers.

How To Pay (And Avoid The Scams)

Since you cannot pay at your hotel, you must pay online. Unfortunately, this has birthed a cottage industry of “scam” websites that look official but charge double the price.

If you Google “Pay Visitax,” the first five results are often third-party brokers charging $30 or $40 USD—adding a massive “service fee” for something that is legally set at roughly $15 USD (approx. 271 MXN).

The Golden Rule: There is only ONE official government site.

• Official URL: https://www.visitax.gob.mx/
• The Cost: Approx. $15 USD / 271 MXN per person.
• Who Pays: All international visitors over the age of 4.

The Process:

1. Go to the official site.
2. Enter the names and passport numbers of everyone in your group.
3. Pay via credit card.
4. Crucial Step: Take a screenshot of the QR code immediately. Do not rely on the email arriving instantly, as it frequently goes to spam.

Where Does The Money Go?

Skepticism is healthy, but the state government has been transparent about where these specific funds are earmarked. The revenue is 100% legally bound to fund three key areas:

• Sargassum Management: Keeping the beaches swimmable requires millions in machinery and cleanup crews.
• Security: Funding the increased presence of the National Guard and tourist police to keep the resort zones safe.
• Infrastructure: Projects like the new Nichupté Bridge to relieve Hotel Zone traffic.

The Bottom Line: Yes, Skipping It Is Technically Breaking The Law

The dream of an “invisible tax” handled by your hotel is dead.

For your 2026 trips, the protocol is simple: Don’t ignore it. Don’t listen to the forum warriors who say “it’s a scam.” Spend the $15, get the QR code, and walk through the airport with the confidence of a trusted insider. For travelers who have spent thousands on a perfect Cancun vacation, this tax is to directly improve your experience and is not worth the stress or problems that could arise from not paying it.

Technically speaking, if you refuse to pay, you are violating state tax law. While they aren’t arresting or fining tourists at the departure gate, they are stopping them, delaying them, and forcing payment on the spot. Why risk the legal gray area (and a missed flight) over $15?

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