In Latin America, Mexico is the leading telecommunications market. This is due to the rapid development of 5G and the expanding coverage of fiber-optic internet.
This is certainly an attractive market for manufacturers, importers, or distributors to market their products. Before doing so, however, you need to understand RF certification in Mexico. This certification is mandatory for every telecommunications product to demonstrate safety and compliance with applicable regulations.
Applying for RF certification in Mexico is not that easy. The country is known for its rather complicated process. Mexico has two certifications you need to be aware of: NOM and CRT. You need to understand the complete guidelines for both to make it easier to market telecommunications products in this country.
What is RF Certification in Mexico?
RF certification in Mexico is managed by two different agencies: NOM and CRT. In short, NOM oversees certification for telecommunications products without radio frequency (RF) capabilities, while CRT oversees certification for telecommunications products with RF capabilities.
Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (NOM) is the agency responsible for regulating certification for all telecommunications products marketed and used in the country. To issue certifications, NOM designates accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) that are authorized to do so.
The Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT) is an agency under the Official Federal Gazette (DOF). Before October 2025, this agency was better known as the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT).
Who Can Apply for Certification?
Local companies play a crucial role as applicants for RF certification in Mexico, since foreign companies cannot apply directly.
Foreign companies must appoint a local manufacturer or importer as their representative. We recommend appointing an importer as your local representative to avoid difficulties during the import process.
If you choose a local representative who is not an importer, the certificate will only be valid for marketing purposes. For customs matters, you will still need an actual importer.
CRT Certification Process
The RF certification process in Mexico is quite lengthy. For telecommunications products without RF features, the NOM certification process is sufficient. However, for products with RF features, NOM certification must be completed first before proceeding with the CRT certification process.
For both NOM and CRT certifications, there is no option to submit paperwork alone. Both require mandatory local testing.
Local Testing
Local testing in Mexico covers both safety and radio-frequency performance. At least two samples are required for testing. However, additional samples will be needed for products with more complex features.
In addition to the samples, other documents must be submitted as part of the certification application process. Here are some of the required documents:
- The Mexican HS Code
- A Spanish-language user manual with the required interference legend
- A power of attorney for your local representative
- A signed contract between your rep, the lab, and the certification body
- Electrical ratings
- Internal and external product photos
- Antenna details
- A block diagram
- Labeling artwork
- A product data sheet
Document Submission and Evaluation
These documents must first be submitted to NOM for testing and subsequent evaluation of your application. Once approved, the NOM certificate will be issued immediately.
For telecommunications devices with RF features, these documents must be resubmitted to CRT along with the issued NOM certificate. Next, the documents will be tested and evaluated. Once approved, the CRT certificate will be issued immediately.
Please note: You cannot submit a CRT application until the NOM process is complete. If either of these steps is skipped, your product cannot legally enter Mexico.
Lead Time and Certificate Validity
The lead time for RF certification in Mexico is quite long. This is especially true for those who need both NOM and CRT certificates. For the NOM certificate alone, it takes about four to five weeks.
If your product also requires a CRT, it will take an additional 20 business days after the NOM is issued. Overall, both certificates take about 45 business days.
The validity periods for RF certification in Mexico differ between NOM and CRT. The NOM certificate is valid for one year and can be renewed six to nine months after issuance. The CRT certificate, on the other hand, has no expiration date.
Label Requirements
Labeling requirements for RF certification in Mexico are mandatory. Once a product has obtained NOM and CRT certificates, the manufacturer must affix labels to the device and its packaging before marketing it.
The NOM label consists of several components. The label must include:
- Manufacturer information
- Brand
- Model name
- Product description in Spanish
- Electrical rating
- Country of origin
- NOM mark
For CRT labeling, there are currently no official guidelines. This is because the transition from IFT to CRT is still underway. However, based on the previous IFT format, the label consists of two elements: the IFT or CRT symbol and your certificate number.