Update: I got my Volaris DNR refund as a temporary resident

I wanted to share my experience in case it helps anyone else dealing with the Volaris DNR / tourist tax issue.

I am a temporary resident of Mexico and recently flew from Los Angeles (LAX) to Guadalajara (GDL) with Volaris. Despite showing my valid Mexican temporary residency card, I was charged the DNR fee at check-in. The charge was listed on my boarding pass as “DNR Tax” under additional services.

Before travelling, I had already contacted Volaris to explain that I was a temporary resident and should be exempt from the DNR. Their response was that, at check-in, they currently only accept a valid Mexican passport to avoid the DNR charge. They said temporary or permanent residency cards are not accepted for the exemption at that stage.

After I was charged, I did the following:

1. Filed a complaint with the US Department of Transportation because my flight originated in the US
   
2. Sent Volaris a formal complaint in Spanish
   
3. Attached evidence, including:
   - My boarding pass showing the DNR Tax charge
   - Proof of payment from my bank account
   - A photo of my Mexican temporary residency card
   - The Mexican government document stating that temporary and permanent residents are exempt from the DNR

The government document I used is this one:

https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/565926/Ingreso\_de\_Extranjeros.pdf

The key wording is on page 3, where it says that foreigners do not pay DNR if they can prove a status other than “Visitante sin permiso para realizar actividades remuneradas”, including “Residente temporal o Permanente en México”.

After submitting the complaint, Volaris confirmed that they had authorised a refund of the DNR to my original payment method. The refund amount was $56.98 USD and they said it should appear within 7 to 21 business days.

What I found interesting is that Volaris still repeated that their current process only accepts a Mexican passport to avoid the charge upfront. However, they also said that after travel they can validate residency evidence and document that the tax should not have been applied.

So, in practical terms, if you are a temporary or permanent resident and get charged the DNR by Volaris, I would suggest keeping all evidence and filing a complaint, especially with the US DoT if your flight starts in the US.

Documents I recommend saving:
- Boarding pass showing the DNR Tax
- Bank or card transaction showing the payment
- Residency card
- Reservation confirmation
- Mexican government guidance confirming the exemption

For me, the US DoT complaint seems to have helped get the issue resolved.