IMMEX 4.0: Goals, Timeline and What Changes

IMMEX 4.0 is Mexico’s initiative to modernize how the IMMEX program is administered. The existing program allows authorized companies to import qualifying goods temporarily for export manufacturing and services, subject to its requirements. The initiative aims to make procedures simpler, connect government information and improve how program holders are assessed.

So for a manufacturer, the practical questions are how approvals could change and what closer compliance review would mean for an operation. Its measures are at different stages, so no single launch date makes all of them available.

Who is developing IMMEX 4.0, and who does it affect?

Mexico’s Economy Ministry is developing the initiative as part of the government’s Plan México agenda. Other federal authorities have roles in particular measures, including the tax authority, SAT, the customs agency, ANAM, and the agency that runs government digital systems. Industry groups have also put forward proposals of their own.

It concerns the federal IMMEX framework across Mexico, so it is relevant both to companies applying for a program and to those already operating under one. Which changes matter to a particular manufacturer depends on its activities, its authorizations and how it operates.

Why Mexico is changing IMMEX

The stated aim is to strengthen the competitiveness of export manufacturing and support investment in Mexico. The approach pairs simpler administration with clearer compliance assessment: less duplication of documents, clearer criteria and better identification of companies that need closer review.

That framing comes from a presentation attributed to Mexico’s Economy Ministry, dated September 30, 2026 and made available by INCOMEX, which outlines the initiative’s main measures.

What would change under IMMEX 4.0

Application processing. The presentation reports a 140-day average for new IMMEX applications and announces a 15-day processing figure. It does not specify business or calendar days, or show results demonstrating that the shorter figure has been achieved. It is an announced average, so it does not commit to a date for any particular application or production start.

Government information. The plan includes an IMMEX information portal and a shared company file so that authorities can work from connected records. The shared-file framework already has a published legal basis, while the presentation describes its implementation as work in process.

Review of program holders. The “IMMEX Seguro” workstream focuses on existing requirements, including applicable statistical reporting, export requirements and whether a company’s registered activity matches what it actually does. The presentation describes a case-by-case assessment, and being reviewed is not the same as being cancelled.

Proposed company levels. A risk model would assess compliance, operating performance and risk indicators, and place companies in three levels:

But while the presentation names the factors the model would weigh, it does not give the detailed calculation or weighting. So the bands alone do not tell a company which level it would reach or which benefits it would qualify for. A public list of company levels is proposed; publication of numerical scores or real-time updates is not specified.

Where IMMEX 4.0 stands in 2026, and when it applies

The initiative appeared in the government’s Plan México agenda in 2025. A decree published on May 4, 2026 established the legal framework for the foreign-trade single window and the shared electronic file.

Still, other measures have separate paths. The presentation lists some work as in process and some as pending, with time estimates that do not say when the clock starts. Those estimates do not add up to a firm rollout calendar for the whole initiative, and some changes may come through administrative steps while others need new rules.

So for an operating or investment decision, the useful question is narrower: does a particular requirement, procedure or benefit apply to this company and this transaction yet? A policy plan on its own does not settle that.

What manufacturers should do now

If you are planning an operation, work from current authorization requirements and a realistic schedule for the steps to start manufacturing in Mexico. Faster processing could help when approval is holding up the project, but premises, equipment, staffing and other approvals also affect readiness. Some of that work can run in parallel.

If you already operate under IMMEX, maintain the records and reporting your program requires. Confirm applicable deadlines and exceptions, especially for a newly authorized program. The modernization initiative does not remove existing duties.

Continue to distinguish IMMEX from separate authorizations such as IVA/IEPS certification and OEA. The proposed company levels do not merge those systems.