The Situation on TIPs Explained
After running our Monday story on the challenge of canceling Mexican TIPs (Temporary Import Permits), especially those issued prior to 2005, we heard from Neil Shroyer of Marina de La Paz and Fito Espinoza of Marina Coral, Ensenada. They offered some clarification. The essential message is don’t buy a used boat you intend to take to Mexico that has an uncanceled TIP. If you currently own an older boat with an uncanceled TIP issued prior to 2005 you can’t just take her to Mexico.
Neil Shroyer explains, “There was a time when the aduana permits were not in the Banjercito system. At some point, they were uploaded, and that is when the problem started; however the aduana offices in charge of canceling operated well (in Ensenada at least) and were canceling the old aduana permits when a vessel showed up from out of country or if an international port exit document was presented. However, about two years ago, the main aduana office sent a notice to the Ensenada office not to cancel the old aduana permits. (Don’t know why.) They were supposed to take on the work of canceling the aduana permits in Mexico City, but have clearly not set up the office in charge of doing this work.
“In cases where an old aduana permit exists, and someone was able to get a new permit, it either took place more than two years ago or the data on the aduana permit was different from the data on the vessel getting the permit (error in hull number, or registration number) that would not allow the Banjercito system to detect the old permit.
“I know of several cases [in which] all the documents have been sent to Mexico City´s aduana office to get the old aduana permit canceled and have been sitting on someone´s desk for months now.
“The Mexico Marina Association is pushing to get this resolved but has not had any luck so far. Now the federal government is in transition from one administration to the next, and it is probably unlikely that anything will get done about the problem until the new people take over on October 1, get settled in, learn about the problem, and decide to do something about it.”
Fito added, “Definitely, anyone thinking of purchasing any vessel 2004 or older will need to go to any of the Banjercito offices in the Mexico consulate in Los Angeles, San Bernadino or Sacramento, or the office at the land port of entry in Otay Mesa in Tijuana, to find out if the vessel has a TIP in the system (issued by aduana or Banjercito).
“Until the cancellations of aduana permits start flowing, it is too risky to buy a used vessel without checking first.”
It’s not as though bureaucratic snafus aren’t common in most countries. A trip to the DMV often confirms the notion that these problems are everywhere. We did recently read that that the US has now updated the passport renewal system so you can renew yours online. If you’re headed to Mexico you’ll need one of those in addition to your current TIP.
How would you sail to Mexico without a boat? Add your name to our crew list to find out.
After reading this, it’s amazing that the Agent in Ensenada got Adrenalin’s two outstanding TIPs canceled last year. It’s true that bureaucratic snafus happen everywhere, but it’s too bad that it can have such an outsized effect on a unique and beneficial event like the HaHa. People who can’t afford new-ish boats will be priced out. Hopefully the new government will step up.
What would happen if you were to anchor out only without a valid TIP?
When you arrive in a port, whether on anchor or go to a marina, you have to go to the port captain and check in. That includes bringing your TIP. If you don’t, you are an illegal.
The documents company in the Marina de La Paz complex was able to cancel the TIP on our boat only after talking to the previous owner several times on the phone and ONLY because he had all of the documents when he last checked out of Mexico several years earlier. He had to fax all the documents and a copy of his passport. Cost $300. That was 2015.
I sailed to Mexico from San Francisco in the 2011 HaHa, got the TIP with no problems. I’m still in Mexico when I need to renew the TIP (2022), so I go to the aduana office in Puerto de Pichilingue, B.C.S.
Mexico only to find out that there is a uncanceled TIP from 2004, many years before I purchased the boat, which could not be remedied by this office. Why, I asked, wasn’t this brought to my attention when I first applied for the TIP? The non-answer was that they recently computerized all the documents going back many years. I asked Neil Shroyer of Marina de La Paz, where I berthed my boat, for help and he revealed that I was not the only one caught in this unsavory net and he has been bringing the issue up when in Mexico City without much luck. I did get a new TIP from an “agent” recommended by Tom (La Paz Yachts) . The cost was approximately $400 to cancel the 2004 TIP and $400 for a new one. Now, at least, one can check to see if there is an uncanceled TIP for their boat before heading to Mexico. I’m not happy with the fact I had to pay $800 for something I had no control over.
Hi Jack – we are in a similar situation, we would love to talk about your experience and see if we might be able to use the same agent. If you’re willing to talk, e-mail me at [email protected]
Hi Jack,
I also have the same issue with old un-cancelled Aduana If you don’t mind talking about it please email me [email protected]
You can’t check into the country without a TIP.
How can one check if their boat has an outstanding, uncancelled TIP?
Hey Jan – if you go to our Heading South, https://www.latitude38.com/headingsouth, page you’ll find a link to the Latitude 38 ‘First Timer’s Guide’ which explains the options starting on page 24: https://www.latitude38.com/issues/first-timers-guide-mexico/#24 = hope that helps.
I was an unfortunate victim of this issue. Purchased the boat in Guaymas and went to Ensenada in June 2023 with plans to figure out the expired TIP issue with a seasoned agent. After many hours of doing the paperwork dance in the Ensenada Harbor Master’s office, they couldn’t figure out the issue with my previously cancelled TIP, (I even had the original in hand) and gave me 72 hours to leave the country or they would confiscate the boat. I felt fortunate just to have been given the 72 hours although my wallet was about $800 lighter after paying agent fees that went no where. I’m still trying to get this figured out!
We have a TIP (from when we did the 22 Ha-Ha) valid for 8 more years … sadly we are unlikely to take the boat to Mexico again. Not mentioned here is how to cancel a still-valid TIP?
Oh swell. I used the URL in the article to check my TIP status. It shows my old TIP which expired in 2023. It does NOT show my renewal done in San Bernardino and of which I have the document and receipt. However, it stops my plans to take the boat down to Baja Naval next year. Sigh.