Filing paperwork for Mexican (XE) amateur radio permits

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Updated 20 August 2004
NOTE:  The SCT office in Tijuana, Baja California, has its own unique process for handling these applications.  Most other SCT offices around Mexico should follow the process as described below.  Once again, this information is subject to change without notice, and some SCT offices may refuse to accept the applications or enforce other requirements. 
At the SCT office...
At the SCT offices, there is usually a clerk or secretary who will take your paperwork and enter information in a computer.  This can take anywhere from 10 minutes to a couple of hours.  Be patient! 

Once all the information is put into the computer, a large multiple-copy form is printed.  This has an invoice along with a bank deposit slip.  Generally, the SCT offices will not take the fee payment, but will direct you to a nearby branch of the Banamex bank.  You may have to sign another form that says you will make the deposit and bring a receipt back to the SCT office within 2 or 3 days.  You may be asked to sign the bottom of the deposit slip as well, or the bank teller will probably ask you to do that at the bank. 

Off to the Banamex bank...
At the Banamex bank, you will probably have to take a number and wait to see a bank teller.  Once your number is called, you will take the deposit slip (all copies, including carbons) to the teller.  At this point, you will either need to have the fee payment in Mexican pesos, or you may ask to exchange foreign currency (or cash traveler's checks) to get the necessary amount of pesos for the fee payment.  The bank teller will stamp all 4 copies of the deposit slip, return one copy to you, and then you can return to the SCT office. 
Back at the SCT office...
When you return to the SCT office, you will give the stamped deposit slip to the clerk/secretary who originally took your paperwork.  You will receive a copy of the invoice, stamped PAGADO (PAID), and you may be asked to sign across the bottom of the invoice.  At this point, you now have authorization to operate amateur radio in Mexico. 

You may see a copy of my invoice from the Mexicali SCT office from one of my previous trips.  It will open in another browser window, with some fields obscured. 

WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Mexican (XE) ham-radio permits