Mexican Citizenship by Descent: Registering a Birth Abroad

Article 30 of the Constitution says these people are Mexicans by birth:

• Those born in Mexico, whatever their parents' nationality.
• Those born abroad to Mexican parents, a Mexican mother, or a Mexican father.
• Those born abroad to parents who are Mexican by naturalization.
• Those born on Mexican ships or aircraft.

Being Mexican by descent is not a separate kind of citizenship. If you qualify, you are Mexican by birth, with the same rights as someone born in Mexico, including dual citizenship.

Before 2021, Article 30 gave Mexican nationality by birth to children born abroad only if their Mexican parent had been born in Mexico. The children of Mexicans who were themselves born abroad were left out.

A reform published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on May 17, 2021 changed the wording to "children of Mexican parents, of a Mexican mother or of a Mexican father." The parent's place of birth no longer matters.

You claim Mexican nationality by registering the birth (registro de nacimiento). You can do it:

• At a Mexican consulate in the country where you live. Consulates handle birth registrations as a regular service. The Toronto consulate's July 2026 fee table lists birth registration as exempt from fees.
• At a civil registry office in Mexico, which records the foreign birth certificate (inserción de acta extranjera); rules vary by state.

Documents usually include:

• The foreign birth certificate, often with an apostille; a Spanish translation may be needed.
• Proof of the parent's Mexican nationality: a Mexican birth certificate, a Mexican passport, or a naturalization certificate.
• Valid photo IDs of the parents, and a marriage certificate if applicable.
• The person being registered, and usually the parents, attending in person. Adults can register themselves.

Book through the consulate's appointment system (MiConsulado in the US; see Mexican consulates) and check its document list first.

The Constitution passes nationality from parent to child. If your grandparent was Mexican but your parent never registered:

1. Your parent registers first, using your grandparent's Mexican documents. Since 2021, your parent is Mexican by birth whether they were born in Mexico or abroad.
2. You then register, using your parent's new Mexican birth certificate.

If your parent has died or cannot register, ask the consulate what options exist. Complex family histories (missing records, name differences, adoptions) may need a lawyer.

• Name differences. If your parent's name is spelled differently on Mexican and foreign documents, bring documents that link the two (for example a marriage certificate or a court record).
• Missing parent documents. If your parent has no Mexican birth certificate, they may need to request a certified copy from the civil registry of the Mexican state where they were born. Many states now issue copies online.
• Apostilles and translations. Consulates often want the foreign birth certificate apostilled. Check whether your consulate accepts certificates from its own country without one.
• Only one parent available. Some consulates require both parents to appear or sign for a minor. Ask what they accept if a parent is absent or has died.
• Adults registering late. Adults can usually register their own births, but may need more supporting documents, such as school or medical records showing their parents' names.

If your case involves adoption, disputed parentage, or a parent's lost nationality before 1998, talk to a lawyer who handles Mexican nationality cases.

Before March 20, 1998, Mexicans who voluntarily took another nationality could lose Mexican nationality. The Nationality Law's transitional rules let Mexicans by birth who lost it apply to benefit from the new rule that no Mexican by birth can be deprived of nationality. Since a 2004 amendment, they can apply at any time, in writing, to the Foreign Ministry (SRE) or a Mexican embassy or consulate, proving their right to Mexican nationality and their identity.

If your parent was in this situation, their status may affect how you register. Ask the consulate, or a lawyer who handles nationality cases, before you file.

• Mexican birth certificate: proof of your nationality.
• CURP: your population registry number. See getting a CURP.
• Mexican passport: apply at a consulate or in Mexico.
• No immigration status needed: as a Mexican, you can live and work in Mexico without residency. You must enter and leave Mexico as a Mexican.

• The right to live and work in Mexico with no visa, residency card, or work permit.
• Property rights as a Mexican. Mexicans by birth, including dual nationals, are treated as Mexicans for property in Mexico, so the foreigner rules for the restricted zone near coasts and borders do not apply. See buying property with a fideicomiso for how the foreigner rules work.
• Access to public services such as public schools and, through employment, social security.
• Political rights once you are 18, including voting. Mexicans abroad can request a voter ID through consulates.
• A nationality you cannot lose. Under Article 37 of the Constitution, no Mexican by birth can be deprived of their nationality.

Duties come with it too: you must enter and leave Mexico as a Mexican, and some public positions are reserved for Mexicans by birth without another nationality.

Descendants of Mexicans who are not Mexican themselves still have advantages:

• Permanent residency: grandchildren and children of Mexicans by birth can get permanent residency (Migration Law, Article 54). See family permanent residency.
• Faster naturalization: direct-line descendants of Mexicans by birth need only 2 years of residence (Nationality Law, Article 20). See naturalization.