Guides
Everything you need to know about the DODA, Mexican customs clearance and the SAT's traffic light, explained clearly and without fluff. 12 guides written for people who work in customs.
Basics
The documents and concepts every operation starts with.
What is a DODA?
Mexico's customs operation document explained: what it's for, who generates it, what the integration number is, and how it relates to the pedimento.
Updated August 25, 2026
Pedimento vs DODA: what the difference is
The most common confusion in Mexican foreign trade, resolved: what each document declares, who generates them, when they appear, and why one DODA can cover several pedimentos.
Updated August 25, 2026
What the integration number is and where to find it
The single value that tracks the whole operation: how it is structured, where it appears on the receipt, and what to do when the SAT does not recognize it.
Updated August 25, 2026
How to read a DODA PDF receipt
A field-by-field walkthrough of the PDF the SAT issues: integration number, patente, containers, seals, customs section, original chain and digital signatures.
Updated August 25, 2026
Operations
What happens on clearance day and how to react.
How to check your DODA status with the SAT
Step by step to check a DODA's status on the SAT portal, what you need on hand, and how to automate the checks so you're not living on refresh.
Updated August 25, 2026
How to track multiple DODAs at once without losing your mind
From manual monitoring to automatic tracking: how to handle dozens of DODAs at the same time, what breaks when you do it by hand, and what a good DODA tracker needs.
Updated August 26, 2026
Mexico's customs traffic light explained
What the green and red lights of the automated selection mechanism mean, what happens when your cargo gets inspected, and every possible DODA status.
Updated August 25, 2026
You got red: what to do in a customs inspection
A practical checklist for when cargo goes to inspection: who to notify, which documents to have ready, realistic timelines, and how the inspection closes.
Updated August 25, 2026
How long customs clearance takes in Mexico
Realistic timelines by operation type and transport mode, what stretches them (red light, previo, non-tariff regulations) and how to plan with slack.
Updated August 25, 2026
What a previo is and what it is for
The prior inspection of goods: what it involves, who can request it, what it costs in time, and why it prevents misclassification.
Updated August 25, 2026
Reference
Reference material to keep at hand.
Mexican customs and foreign trade glossary
Over 40 terms of Mexican customs clearance defined plainly: MSA, previo, patente, importers registry, incoterms, VUCEM, PITA, regularization and more.
Updated August 25, 2026
Mexico's main customs offices and what makes each different
Nuevo Laredo, Manzanillo, Veracruz, Tijuana and AICM: what each one moves, what their timelines look like, and what to expect when clearing through them.
Updated August 25, 2026