Step-by-Step Guide
On May 18, the mechanism within the Mexican Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCEM) for submitting the Automatic Import Notice for Aluminum Products (AAIPA) was officially enabled. This new requirement was officially announced on April 2, 2016, but its implementation was pending until VUCEM published a digital mechanism for submitting the information. Now that the digital process is available, the government has given all aluminum importers until May 25 to include the AAIPA in their processes.
At Desteia, we wrote the most comprehensive guide on the AAIPA and how to complete this new requirement—in addition to including relevant information for aluminum importers in the country.
What is the AAIPA?
The AAIPA is the Automatic Import Notice for Aluminum Products, a new requirement from the Mexican government for individuals or legal entities importing aluminum products into the country. It is an electronic form that all importers of aluminum or aluminum products must complete through the Mexican Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCEM).
The AAIPA’s purpose is to demonstrate the origin of aluminum imported into Mexico. This form ensures that Mexican importers are not used as a mechanism to evade tariffs by presenting products as originating from other countries.
When will it be mandatory to submit the AAIPA?
The requirement to submit the Automatic Notice of Importation of Aluminum Products (AAIPA) will take effect on May 25, 2026. However, the Mexican Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCEM) has been enabled for its submission since May 18, 2026, although submission is not mandatory until May 25.
What information do I need to complete the AAIPA?
Before completing the AAIPA form, please note that it will request the following information:
Document Code
Annex 22 Regime
Description of Goods
Tariff Classification
NICO Code
Tariff Unit of Measure (UMT)
Quantity
Value in USD
Unit Price in USD
Primary Country of Smelting
Secondary Country of Smelting (optional)
Country of Casting
Country of Origin of Goods
Exporting Country
Supplier Name
Observations (optional)
How to submit the AAIPA form automatically?
At Desteia, we have built an automated tool capable of extracting information directly from your emails and databases. Our system uses artificial intelligence to find all the data you need to complete the AAIPA form and do so automatically. Desteia is also directly connected to VUCEM (Single Window for Foreign Trade) to process your request immediately.
If you’re interested in seeing how it works, you can watch a demo below:
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How to submit the AAIPA manually?
To submit the AAIPA manually, you must use the VUCEM portal and manually complete a digital application. Below, we include a step-by-step guide to the process.
- Access VUCEM
The first step to submitting the AAIPA is to access VUCEM, the official Mexican government website for customs processes. The link to access VUCEM directly is:
Certificate (cer)
Private Key (key)
Private Key Password
It is important to note that both the Certificate (cer) and the Private Key (key) are digital documents issued by the Mexican government that certify the authenticity of a legal entity or individual before the tax system.
- Create a new AAIPA application
Once inside VUCEM, you can generate a new application to complete the AAIPA. To do this, click the “Procedures” button in the VUCEM top bar. In the drop-down menu, then click “New Applications.”
On the next screen, select the button with the logo of the Ministry of Economy, as the AAIPA is a procedure of this agency.
The following section lists all the procedures you can complete through VUCEM with the Ministry of Economy (SE). Select the “Import and Export Permits” menu. Then, select the “Import” menu to view all the available procedures for importing into Mexico.
Within the Import menu, select the “Automatic Import Notice for Aluminum” option to create an AAIPA (Automatic Import Notice for Aluminum).
- Complete the AAIPA
Once you select the AAIPA form, VUCEM will automatically redirect you to the page where you can enter all the relevant information for the aluminum import process.
On the first screen, VUCEM will display a series of general data that are pre-loaded on the platform. Review this data before proceeding and, if necessary, edit your VUCEM account information to reflect the current situation.