The pedimento is Mexico’s official customs entry: the declaration filed with the Mexican customs authority for every import, stating what the goods are, where they come from, their value, their tariff classification and the duties paid. Think of it as your cargo’s fiscal birth certificate in Mexico.
What it contains and who files it
The pedimento is prepared and transmitted by a licensed customs broker, based on the commercial invoice, the transport document and the rest of the shipment file. It carries the tariff classification of each product, the customs value, the import regime and every tax paid.
Why it matters if you import into Mexico
No definitive import clears without one, and goods without a valid pedimento cannot prove legal entry into the country. It is also a tax document: the authorities can request it years after the operation, and in an audit, the difference between clean pedimentos and missing ones is the difference between paperwork and a serious problem. If you are moving production or sourcing into Mexico, this document is the backbone of your import compliance.
The common mistake
Treating it as routine paperwork. The pedimento must match the invoice, the transport document and what physically arrived: a mismatch found during customs inspection can mean fines or seizure of the cargo. And once the goods are released, pedimentos are kept for the periods the law requires, not filed and forgotten.
Our logistics from China includes customs clearance as part of one integrated operation. Talk to us before your first shipment into Mexico.
