Known in Spanish as Ley Nacional de Extinción de Dominio, the law enables a judge to immediately order the seizure of a property that is suspected to be part of a corrupt or illegal transfer chain (for example, if previous owners used illicit means to acquire it or build it) and/or if it’s suspected the property is being actively used for criminal purposes.

Legal quagmire if your property becomes entangled

Under this law, a property may be immediately seized without trial if the authorities present a petition to a judge and that judge deems that there are grounds to suspect the authorities have a genuine case.  The state may subsequently dispose of the property even before a trial has taken place. The law is causing some controversy especially in relation to a present owner’s risk of loss due to an illicit transaction history that the owner could not have known about.

If you buy a property in Mexico and, even years later, it’s discovered that the property was transacted illegally you could forfeit the asset and have no recourse to insurance coverages which would become null-and-void in this circumstance.

As the law is relatively new and untested there are no substantive case studies to reference regarding the appeal process.  In any event, legal costs to defend the asset would be substantial even if a subsequent trial ruled in the owner’s favor.

The law covers titled land, titled physical property (residential and commercial) and ejidos (communal land); as well as any assets situated on or linked to the property including valuables, goods, bank accounts, etc.

Definitions of ‘illicit uses’ of the property include —but are not limited to— organized crime, kidnapping or human trafficking, concealment, storage of stolen or illegal goods (e.g. cars, fuel, drugs), extortion, and money-laundering.

The wrong tenants could cause you to lose your Mexican home

This law also places the burden of responsibility of current use of the property directly on the owner.  If you rent your house out and the tenants use it for illegal purposes, then the state can seize the property from you with a writ from a judge.  In circumstances where your rented property is used by the tenants for illegal purposes it may prove impossible to get your home back or get compensated after the fact.

When you rent out your Mexican home you should be absolutely sure that detailed referencing and due diligence has been undertaken on potential tenants and that the people who apply and sign the rental contract are the same people who move in.  The contract should also contain carefully-worded legal clauses which specifically prohibit illicit use of the home.

Speak to your real estate agent or a lawyer or Notary Public to ensure your contract is current in respect of this new legal code.

The information contained in this article is published in good faith and not intended to constitute personal, professional, legal, financial or investment advice, nor replace the services of professional advisors.

Learn more about caring for and insuring your home in Mexico

Mexperience publishes extensive information to help you plan and care for your home life in Mexico through guides, articles and free eBooks:

• Latest articles about property rental in Mexico
• Free Guide: House maintenance and home security
• Latest articles about property insurance
• Articles about real estate in Mexico

Foreign birth certificates and foreign marriage certificates are the most common, but there are others.  This article describes what the notarization and apostille procedures are and what circumstances commonly call for them.

Certification of foreign-issued documents for use in Mexico, or to submit to Mexican consulates

Before the Mexican authorities will receive certain types of foreign-issued legal documents for processing, it’s necessary to get these “Apostilled.”

In practice this means that when you need to submit foreign-issued legal documents in Mexico or at a Mexican consulate abroad, you need to go to a “competent authority” in the country where the document was issued, and get certified copies Apostilled.

Documents that most commonly need this Apostille include birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates; institutional diplomas; and certificates of company incorporation.

Each country has its own procedures for doing this and you should search online for more information, e.g. “apostille of documents in [country] or [state]” to ensure that your documents are properly apostilled for use by the Mexican authorities.

The international Apostille Convention

The Apostille Convention, as it’s known, is an international treaty that many (but not all) countries are signatory to. The convention sets out a procedure through which a document issued in one of the signatory countries can be certified for legal purposes in all the other signatory countries.

Mexico signed up to the treaty in 1995, making it simpler for people to present their foreign-issued legal documents here.  The USA, most countries in Europe, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Russia, India, South Africa, and Japan are among major countries also signed-up to the treaty.

Signatory and non-signatory countries

To find out if the country where your document(s) were issued is a signatory to the convention, check this list on Wikipedia.

If the country that issued your document(s) is not a signatory, alternative certification procedures may exist, and you should contact the Mexican consulate or Mexican government office you are treating with for advice about the alternative requirements.

Notarizing documents for Apostille

Official documents issued by governments (e.g. birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates) can be directly apostilled (or in Canada, authenticated) by the government of the country in which they were issued.

Any other documents, e.g. bank statements, investment statements, need to be Notarized first and then sent to be apostilled.

The difference between Apostille and Notarization

A certified copy or notarized document by itself is not apostilled.

An Apostille is a specific type of legal certification (as per the International Convention) given by a government department with the authority to certify documents issued in that country for legal purposes abroad.

You need to contact the government department responsible for apostilles in the country where the documents were issued to get documents apostilled.  Online services also exist in some countries that will do this on your behalf for a fee.

A Notarization is a seal given by a Notary Public to certify the authenticity of the document(s) they have reviewed. The seal is the equivalent of swearing verbally under Oath in a court of law that the facts contained in the document are true.

Apostille of legal documents issued in Mexico

If you have official documents. e.g. Birth Certificates and Marriage Certificates, that have been issued in Mexico and need to get them apostilled for official use outside of Mexico, you can find information about notarizing Mexican documents here.

You might also want to contact a Notary Public in the state where the documents were issued for further advice.

Apostille of Mexican marriage certificates

If you get married in Mexico and live abroad (or plan to live abroad) it’s a good idea to get your Mexican marriage certificate Apostilled in Mexico in case you need this for official use outside of Mexico; it needs to be done in the Mexican state you were married in.  The local Registrar’s office or your wedding planner will be able to advise you about how to do this.

Applying for legal residency in Mexico

If you apply for legal residency in Mexico from your home country, the Mexican consulate will not normally ask for your home country issued documents, e.g. marriage certificates, bank statements, etc., to be notarized or apostilled (in Canada, ‘authenticated’) to accept them.

However, if your key documents were not issued in your home country (e.g. you got married abroad, or you use bank/investment accounts outside your home country to qualify economically) or you are applying for Mexican legal residency from a third country instead of your home country, the Mexican consulate will ask for key documents to be apostilled.

In addition to the notarization, official documents that are not originally presented in Spanish (e.g. those issued by Spain) must also be accompanied by a copy of the document(s) officially translated into Spanish.

Documents that most commonly need to be translated into Spanish include birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates; academic and professional diplomas; and certificates of company incorporation.

Only certified translations into Spanish are accepted

Translation of official documents into Spanish (and their accompanying notarization/apostille certificates) must be undertaken by an authorized translator in Mexico certified by the Mexican judiciary to translate official documents.

Certified translators use a special stamp that is applied to translated documents, and their name/details are checked against a central register when the documents are filed.

How to get your documents translated into Spanish

Our associate can help and will be pleased to assist when you need to get your official documentation translated into Spanish by a certified translator.

They are authorized to translate documents from English to Spanish, and German to Spanish.

Simple and streamlined process

Our associate offers a streamlined process to create a certified translation of your documents.

• The original documents as well as their notarized/apostilled certificates (where relevant) will need to be officially translated into Spanish.
• Our associate will ask you to send them a digital copy of the original document(s) you want to get translated.
• They will undertake the translation work using the digital images, print the translation, and stamp/sign the papers using their certified credentials.

Document delivery options

When the translation is completed, it will be printed, certified, and shipped—or you can arrange pick-up.  These are the delivery options:

• Our associate will arrange for the the physical documents to be sent to you by courier, at your expense. (Courier fees vary by destination and our associate will advise you about these.); or
• You can arrange for a courier of your choice to pick them up; or
• You may pick them up yourself (or arrange Uber or Didi to fetch them) from the associate’s offices in Mexico City or Cuernavaca.

Typical delivery time scales

The table below describes the typical time scales required for translation work.

1 Page = 200 words.
Time scales exclude shipping/courier times.
If you have many documents to translate, our associate will quote an estimated time scale.

Fees for Certified Translations

Fees are based on a page count, and one page is = 200 words, minimum fee is 1 page.
Part-pages are rounded up to the nearest half-page, e.g., 1.2 pages=1.5, 1.6 pages=2.
Fees exclude shipping/courier costs to send you the certified translation copies.

Urgent translations: If your need is genuinely urgent, the associate can prioritize your translation for a 50% increase to the fees quoted above, and subject to the associate’s availability.

Make a service request

Complete the request form below and our associate will contact you directly to organize a certified translation of your documents into Spanish.

What happens next?

• After you complete the form, our certified translation associate will contact you to discuss your requirements, quote you for the work, and arrange payment for the translation.
• When you’ve paid, they’ll begin the translation procedure and send you the physical documents wherever you are based in Mexico (or abroad).
• Mexperience will send you an email to confirm these details.

This article answers common questions about time limits and exit/entry rules for Mexico visitor and residency visas and explains how long you must reside in Mexico to qualify for citizenship.

Time limits when you are in Mexico using a Visitor Visa (FMM)

What is Mexico’s visitor visa, the FMM?

Mexico’s visitor visa allows entry into the country for leisure or business visits lasting maximum 180 days.  The immigration official at the port of entry will grant a specific number of days (not exceeding 180) when you arrive in Mexico.

How long is it valid?

Your visitor permit is valid for the number of days granted by the immigration official and written on the permit —that will never exceed 180 days, but may be less than 180 days— starting from the date of your arrival.  The arrival date is always stamped on the permit. Learn more about the number of days being granted to people arriving in Mexico under the auspice of a visitor permit, FMM. It cannot be extended beyond the number of days written on the permit by the immigration official at the port of entry.

Extensions and renewals

The visitor permit cannot be extended or renewed; and you must leave Mexico by the date it expires.  If you over-stay your visitor visa you will need to pay a fine when you leave the country.

Leaving and re-entering Mexico

You must leave by the expiry date, but there is no time limit on how long you must remain outside of Mexico before you can return using a new visitor visa.  Every time you re-enter Mexico, the number of days allowance granted by the immigration official allowance is ‘reset.’  Some foreigners have been using this feature to remain in Mexico over longer periods; however, with today’s computerized systems, immigration officials at ports of entry have ready-access to your movements through Mexico and ‘perpetual visitors’ may now have their intentions questioned at the port of entry.  If you intend to stay in Mexico longer term we recommend you apply for a Mexican residency permit.

Further reading

See our article, Your Mexico Visitors Permit, FMM for further details. Also see this article about the number of days being granted to visitors arriving in Mexico.

Time limits when you are in Mexico using a Residente Temporal permit

What is Mexico’s temporary residency permit?

Temporary residency enables foreigners to remain in Mexico beyond the maximum 180-day time limit imposed with the visitor visa and also gives them access to certain residency privileges; for example, opening a bank account here which you cannot do as a visitor.

How long is it valid?

When you are granted Residente Temporal, it’s valid from 1 year to 4 years.  Your first temporary residency card is always issued for only one year* and must be renewed within the 30-day window before its expiry date. At the end of the first year, you can renew your temporary residency for a further 1, 2 or 3 years. When you renew for 3 years you won’t have to return to the immigration office to renew it until it fully expires at the end of year 4; however, you must inform the immigration office of certain changes in your personal circumstances (see below).

*If you are married to a Mexican national or existing legal foreign resident and apply for residency in Mexico under Family Unit rules your temporary residency card will be valid for two years.  If you are granted residency under auspice of the RNE special procedure, your temporary residency card will be issued for four years.

Leaving and re-entering Mexico

While your Residente Temporal card is valid, you may leave and re-enter Mexico as often as you wish. You must present your residency card when you enter Mexico, and each time you leave the country. If you are a legal resident and enter Mexico as a visitor, your residency status will become jeopardized.  See Procedures for entering and leaving Mexico for further details.

Renewing your temporary residency permit

Temporary residency card renewals must be undertaken in Mexico, and you cannot leave the country while the renewal process is in train.  In exceptional circumstances, you can apply for a temporary exit and re-entry permit while your residency card renewal is being processed; the covering letter submitted with your request must state the exceptional nature of your circumstances.  See Renewing your Mexico residency permit for further details.

Change in circumstances

When you are living in Mexico under the auspice of Residente Temporal you must report certain changes in your personal circumstances to the immigration office —e.g. change of your residential address, change of marital status, change of nationality, or change of employment status or employer— and these changes must be reported in Mexico.

Time allowed outside of Mexico

When you are living in Mexico under the auspice of Residente Temporal, there is no time limit to how long you can remain outside of the country, but renewals and reporting changes in certain personal circumstances (see above) must be undertaken in Mexico.

What happens after four years of temporary residency?

After 4 consecutive years under the auspice of a Residente Temporal status in Mexico (two years if you are married to a Mexican national or legal foreign resident and applied for residency in Mexico under Family Unit rules), you have three choices:

• apply to exchange your temporary residency status for permanent residency status within 30 days before your card’s expiry date; or
• purposely allow the permit to expire and then enter a regularization process (within a limited time period) to restart an application for temporary residency; or
• leave Mexico and surrender your legal residency status.

Time limits when you are in Mexico using a Residente Permanente permit

What is Mexico’s permanent residency permit?

Permanent residency gives a foreigner leave to remain in Mexico indefinitely.

How long is it valid?

When you are granted Residente Permanente —whether you apply straight away and are granted permanent residency, or eventually obtain permanent residency after two or four consecutive years of living under the auspice of a temporary residence permit in Mexico— you are issued with a permanent residency card that carries no expiry date.

Note that Permanent Residency cards issued to minors (under 18 years of age) require periodical renewals until the holder reaches the age of 18.  See this article for details. Permanent residency for adults never expires, but can be surrendered, or withdrawn by the Secretaría de Gobernación, at any time.

Leaving and re-entering Mexico

When you have permanent residency status in Mexico, you may leave and re-enter the country as often as you wish.  You must present your residency card when you enter Mexico, and each time you leave the country. If you are a legal resident and enter Mexico as a visitor, your residency status will become jeopardized.  See Procedures for entering and leaving Mexico for further details.

Change in circumstances

When you are living in Mexico under the auspice of Residente Permanente you must report certain changes in your personal circumstances to the immigration office —e.g. change of your residential address, change of marital status, change of nationality, or change of employment status or employer— and these changes must be reported in Mexico.

Time allowed outside of Mexico

Under current rules, when you have permanent residency status in Mexico, your Residente Permanente card does not require renewal if you’re aged 18 or older and there is no time limit to how long you can remain outside of the country, but reporting changes in certain personal circumstances (see above) must be undertaken in Mexico.

Time qualification for Mexican citizenship

If you intend to apply for Mexican citizenship as part of your lifestyle planning, you must prove five consecutive years with either temporary residency or permanent residency, and you must prove that you have been situated physically in Mexico for at least 18 months in the past two years preceding your application date.  If you are married to a Mexican national, the qualification period may reduce to two years.  See Becoming a Naturalized Mexican for further details.

Learn more about Mexico visas and immigration

Mexperience publishes extensive information about visas and immigration to Mexico, including:

• Our free Mexico Immigration Guide that encapsulates detailed information about applying for visas and residency permits.
• Learn about Mexico’s visitor permit, the FMM.
• Discover the principal routes for obtaining legal residency in Mexico
• Our latest articles about visas and immigration keep you apprised of current situations including financial criteria for residency, fees, and procedures—and our FAQs page is updated regularly

It’s been over a decade since Mexico passed a new law to crack down on the use of tobacco, securing smoke-free public spaces and buildings everywhere, and generating widespread awareness among smokers of the rights of non-smokers to be free from the toxic clouds exhaled by the users of the stuff when shopping, eating out, or waiting for a bus.

What it hasn’t achieved is to cut down on the number of smokers in the country, according to some reports.  Whether that’s because not enough has been done to discourage smoking, or because people who smoke don’t really care to quit, is anybody’s guess.

One thing for certain is that the props to help those who do want to give up nicotine patches, nicotine gum, lozenges, etc.— disappeared from drugstores across the country while ago.

Imports of electronic cigarettes (vaping devices) have been outlawed by presidential decree, citing World Health Organization data concerning the practice.  Vaping itself is not illegal in Mexico and visitors will probably not have equipment and supplies confiscated, provided they are brought in small quantities commensurate with the definition of “personal use.”

The ban on the —highly profitable, by the way— sale of loose cigarettes has been widely ignored.  These are still openly available on thousands of street stalls, at markets, outside Metro stations, at traffic lights.  In some districts where health inspectors have shown up to admonish vendors in breach of the ban, the sale stopped for a while and then resumed surreptitiously among trusted customers. But if the prohibition was aimed at keeping cigarettes out of the hands of minors, it could be said to have worked.  At least you’d be hard pressed to find vendors selling tobacco to the under-aged, and this is true of local shops as well.

Anyway, if you habitually consume nicotine products other than cigarettes, you will do well to bring a supply to tide you over during your visit to Mexico; or if you live here, stock-up on your next shopping trip abroad.

The illegal and risky business of a marriage of convenience

There does exist an illegal underbelly of this arrangement: whereby a foreign national will marry a Mexican only for the convenience of seeking legal residency in Mexico. The Mexican national may be offered financial incentives directly by the foreign national, or by unscrupulous intermediaries who intend to profit from the arrangement.

Consequences of obtaining residency by marriage fraud

Mexico’s immigration rules cite strict penalties for people who marry only for the convenience of attaining legal residency in Mexico:

• Foreign nationals can have their legal residency status revoked and get deported; and
• Mexican nationals participating in this fraud can face prison time.

By participating in a fraudulent ‘marriage of convenience’ with a Mexican national for the sole purpose of obtaining residency, you’re creating a real risk in your own circumstances, and you may also condemn your ‘partner’ to a prison sentence if they are Mexican.  Existing foreign residents participating in marriage fraud may have their residency status revoked.

Legal routes to residency in Mexico

There are legal routes to obtaining residency in Mexico that don’t require you to commit fraud.

• Learn about obtaining legal residency in Mexico through marriage or common-law partnership
• Discover the principal routes to acquiring legal residency in Mexico
• Most applications are made through economic solvency
• Residency for genuine relationships is facilitated through Family Unit rules.
• You can learn more about applications for residency in Mexico by reading our free and comprehensive Mexico Immigration Guide

This page gives an overview of the Mexican immigration system and outlines the principal visas and options open to persons seeking to visit Mexico for leisure, business, for retirement, for living and working, as well as those seeking permanent residence in Mexico or Mexican Citizenship.

What is Mexico’s immigration policy?

Mexico’s General Law of Population sets out the rights and obligations of foreigners, as well as the different statuses associated with foreign immigration.

Types of immigrant permits

There are broadly two kinds of immigration permit: Non-Immigrant and Immigrant:

• Non Immigrant Permits are for people who intend to visit Mexico for a specific purpose and then depart;
• Immigrant Permits are for people who wish to gain long term permanent residence in Mexico.

Applying for Mexican visas

You have to apply for your visa(s) in person, but you may hire a representative to advise you and undertake the appointment scheduling, paperwork and filing on your behalf.  See Immigration Consultancy and Support and Immigration Lawyers for more details.

Renewing an existing Mexico resident permit

If you currently hold a Mexican resident permit (card), you can find information about renewal of your Mexico resident card here.

Mexico’s visitor permit, FMM

If you intend to visit Mexico for a short period, for example as tourist, on a business trip, or a short-term visitor (e.g. to volunteer, undertake a medical procedure, or take a sabbatical) then you may be able to use Mexico’s visitor permit.

Visitante: Visitor permit for short-term visits to Mexico

The ‘Visitante‘ permit is intended for visitors —usually tourists and business trips— to Mexico on short-term visits.  For visitor of longer than six months, you should consider applying for residency—see the sections below for details about this.

A Visitor’s Permit is issued when you arrive in Mexico (by air, or travel inland by road beyond the ‘free border zone’) by completing a Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM): these forms are issued by airlines, and are also available at ports of entry.

The Visitor Permit is valid for up to a maximum of 180 days and cannot be extended or renewed beyond the number of days written on the form by immigration official when you enter Mexico. Upon its expiry you will need to leave the country.

There is a fee of about US$25 for this permit, which is usually included in the price if your flight (under taxes and fees). If you arrive by road or ship you will have to pay for this permit separately.

See Also: Entry requirements for tourists

Mexico’s temporary resident visa

If you intend to reside in Mexico temporarily, the Residente Temporal permit enables you to remain in Mexico for up to 4 years.

Visa de Residente Temporal: temporary resident visa

Mexico offers a Temporary Resident visa, intended for people who wish to live in Mexico for up to 4 years. The Temporary Resident visa is a renewable, long-term residency permit that gives legal temporary residency status to the holder.

The permit is issued for one year* initially, and can can then be renewed for a further 1, 2, or 3 years; this permit can optionally carry work permissions, and allows unlimited entries to, and exits from, Mexico.

There are various categories under which the Temporary Resident visas are granted, and these relate to the activities you intend to undertake while in Mexico. Under the terms of the Temporary Resident Visa, you are authorized to only undertake certain, specific, activities which may be lucrative or non-lucrative, depending on the visa’s classification.

A key criterion that the Mexican authorities require for the issuance of a Temporary Resident visa is that the applicant prove that they have sufficient funds to sustain themselves while in Mexico and/or a proven steady income.

With a few exceptions, the Temporary Resident visa cannot be issued to you in Mexico; you must apply for it at a Mexican consulate outside of Mexico.  This article explains who can apply for residency within Mexico.

When applied for from overseas, the Temporary Residency permit (card) itself is not issued by foreign consulates. Instead, they process and pre-approve the application and place a visa (sticker) in your passport. When you arrive in Mexico you have to attend your local immigration office within 30 days of arrival, and undertake a procedure to exchange your temporary resident visa (passport stamp) for a Temporary Resident permit (a plastic card).

All Temporary Residency cards are valid for only 1 year initially; they must be renewed after the first year for a further 1, 2, or 3 years if you wish to remain legally resident in Mexico.

After four years of holding Temporary Residency, you can apply to exchange the temporary residency for permanent residency; or enter into a regularization procedure to start temporary residency again; or leave the country.

*If you are married to a Mexican national, you are granted two years of temporary residency and after those two years you can exchange this for permanent residency.

Detailed information about temporary resident visas

Learn more about temporary residency permits in Mexico.  For detailed information about Resident Visas download our free eBook Mexico Immigration Guide.

*To holders of passports from specific countries only.
See Mexico Entry Requirements for details.

See Also: Latest articles with insights about Mexico Visas & Immigration

Mexico’s permanent resident visa

Permanent resident visas  are issued to foreign nationals who have the intention of living in Mexico who intend to settle permanently (indefinitely) in Mexico.

Visa de Residente Permanente: Permanent Resident Visa

The Permanent Resident permit is intended for people seeking permanent residency status in Mexico, and/or those who may seek eventual Mexican Citizenship. You do not need to be a Temporary Resident first to become a Permanent Resident later, provided that you fulfill the other requirements needed for permanent residency.

To apply for and be granted a permanent resident visa, the applicants must:

• have certain close family connections in Mexico, or
• apply for retirement status and prove they have sufficient qualifying monthly income or savings (and some consulates require applicants to be retired), or
• have 4 consecutive years of regular status as Temporary Resident, or
• have 2 consecutive years of regular status as Temporary Resident where that Temporary residency was issued through marriage to a Mexican national or a foreign permanent resident, or
• meet a minimum score under the Points System*, or
• be granted residency on humanitarian grounds or through political asylum.

With a few exceptions, the Permanent Resident permit cannot be issued to you in Mexico; you must apply for it at a Mexican consulate outside of Mexico.

You can apply to exchange an existing Temporary Resident card for a Permanent Residency card in Mexico.  This article describes who can apply for residency within Mexico and this article describes the difference between temporary and permanent residency, including exchanging a temporary residency card to permanent residency.

When applied for from overseas, the Permanent Residency permit (card) itself is not issued by foreign consulates. Instead, they process and pre-approve the application and place a visa (sticker) in your passport. When you arrive in Mexico you have to attend your local immigration office within 30 days of arrival, and undertake a procedure to exchange your permanent resident visa (passport sticker) for a Permanent Resident permit (a plastic card).

Permanent Residency cards do not expire, but you must notify the immigration office of certain changes in your circumstances, e.g. address, marital status, etc.

*Points-based System not in force: The 2012 immigration law references a Points-based system as one of the routes foreigners may use to seek residency in Mexico.  However, details of the points system have yet to be announced by the government.

Detailed information about Permanent Residency visas

For detailed information about Resident permits, download our free eBook Mexico Immigration Guide.

Examples of people who apply for Mexico resident visas:

This section lists typical situations of people seeking residency permits in Mexico.  You can learn more about the principal routes to obtain legal residency here on Mexperience.

Retirees / independent income

If you want to engage in “non-remunerative activities” (i.e. you do not intend to earn money in Mexico) and you are receiving funds from abroad (from a pension or other investments or income sources) you can apply for a Temporary or Permanent Resident permit when you meet the criteria. Read more about Retirement in Mexico on Mexperience.

Investors

You can receive a resident permit if you are willing to invest your capital in Mexico. Your investment can be directed at industry or services, and must equal a minimum set amount.

Professionals

If you are a qualified professional, technician, or scientist, Mexico offers a category of visa that enables you to live and work in Mexico under sponsorship from a company. The company must cover all of your income and expenses while you are in Mexico.  Learn more about Working in Mexico.

There are other situations including students and people with family connections in Mexico.  Download our free Mexico Immigration Guide eBook for detailed list of visa types and details.

Which Mexican visa is right for my situation?

Here are some examples of typical situations and the type of Mexican visa you may consider applying for.

Temporary visitor or temporary resident

When you do not want to seek permanent residence in Mexico right away.

For vacations, casual trips, or short business trips to Mexico: Simply fill out and use the Visitors Visa permit, available from the airline you travel with, or at the port of entry*

Volunteer work in Mexico: If you plan to volunteer here in Mexico, read the article about Volunteering in Mexico for details about the visa required.

For temporary work placements in Mexico: If you plan to live and work in Mexico for a defined period, and intend to return to your home country afterwards, a Temporary Resident permit, valid for up to 4 years, is the permit to apply for.

For other activities where you intend to stay longer in Mexico: You should apply for a Temporary Resident permit commensurate with your activity (e.g. Retiree, Student, Journalist, Scientist, Professional, etc.)  Our Immigration Assistance service can provide personalized consultation and support.  If your plans change and you decide to stay longer, you can renew your temporary residency for a maximum of four years and, after that, you can optionally apply to exchange your temporary residency for permanent residency.

Detailed information about Temporary Resident visas: For detailed information about Temporary Resident Visas download our free Mexico Immigration Guide eBook.

*To holders of passports from specific countries only.
See Mexico Entry Requirements for details.

Long-term resident, economically active

When you want to obtain residency and you want to work in Mexico

Most people who want to work in Mexico either get sponsored by a Mexican company, or move here to work independently and/or invest in Mexico. You need to apply for temporary residency with work permissions.

For detailed information about applying for residency to work in Mexico, including investment visas, download the free Mexico Immigration Guide eBook.

Long-term resident, not economically active

When you want to obtain permanent residency but do not want to work in Mexico:

If you have a regular source of income from abroad (e.g. investments, savings, pension, etc.) then you can apply for a Temporary or Permanent resident permit. By law, you need to prove that you have sufficient funds or investments to sustain yourself.

Detailed information about long-term residency permits: For detailed information about long-term residency when you don’t intend to work in Mexico (including retirees’ visas) download the free Mexico Immigration Guide eBook.

See also: Latest articles with insights about Mexico Visas & Immigration

Principal routes to obtain legal residency in Mexico

Read our article about the principal routes to legal residency for an overview of the ways most foreigners consider when they want to apply for legal residency in Mexico.

Applying for Mexican citizenship

There is a specific process to apply for and acquire Mexican Citizenship (also known as ‘naturalization’). As a minimum you must have applied for, and been granted, permanent resident status, although exceptions to this rule may apply, depending upon a variety of circumstances: marriage to a Mexican national, for example, may enable naturalization with a shorter qualification period.

If you are between 18 and 60 years of age you will be asked to take an exam, which you must pass, in order to acquire naturalization/citizenship.

For further information, read: Becoming a Naturalized Mexican

Immigration consultancy and support

If you’re thinking about or actively planning a move to Mexico and need some detailed personal advice about the move, this immigration assistance service can help.

Immigration Assistance by phone/email differs from hiring an immigration lawyer (see next section) as you don’t have to be physically located in Mexico and the consultancy will enable you to talk to and correspond with an expert in Mexican immigration matters about your specific circumstances.

This type of consultancy is ideal if you want to discuss your situation with an expert and talk through the various immigration options which may be open to you so that you can form your plans based on informed choices, and then help you with all the forms and letters you need to complete as part of the application.

The consultation will seek to assess your individual circumstances and suggest a proper course of action, based on your personal situation, that will have the best chance of leading to a successful application to live, work, invest or retire in Mexico, and then support you as you make your own way through the procedures.

Immigration lawyers

You may apply for Mexican visas directly in person at any Immigration Office in Mexico, or you may hire a representative to do the paperwork and administration on your behalf.

How you go about applying for your visa will depend on your circumstances, how much Spanish you speak, and how much time you have to deal with the bureaucracy involved in the application process.

Most people undertake the process themselves with no trouble (sometimes with some tele-support, see previous section) but if you definitely want in-person accompanied support at the immigration office in Mexico, or if your case is very unusual or complex (most are not), then you’ll need to hire the services of a local immigration lawyer at the location in Mexico where your residency papers are being processed.

A good immigration lawyer will be up-to-speed on the latest legislation as well as the latest “on the ground” policies being implemented at a local level. A good lawyer will also advise you if it is not possible for a person in your circumstance to make a successful application.

Mexico entry requirements for tourists and short term visitors

Mexico Visitors Permit, FMM

Passport holders from countries on Mexico’s no visa required list do not need to apply for a formal visa to visit Mexico. They may, instead, use a visitor’s permit, known as a FMM (Forma Migratoria Multiple).

For the countries that don’t need a visa, a Mexico Visitor’s Permit (FMM) is issued in place of a visa. Learn more about Mexico’s visitor permit, the FMM.

How long is your Mexico visitor permit valid?

When you enter Mexico as tourist or business visitor, the immigration official at the port of entry will grant you a number of days stay in Mexico and write this on your visitor permit. This will be a maximum of 180 days; but it may be less than 180 days.

Check to see how many days you are granted to determine your exit date.

Learn more about the number of days being granted to people arriving in Mexico under the auspice of a visitor permit, FMM.

Visitor permits cannot be extended or renewed

The Visitor Permit (FMM) will always expire after the number of days written on the permit: it cannot be extended beyond the number of days the immigration official grants when you arrive in Mexico, even if this is less than the maximum allowance of 180 days; and cannot be renewed.  You must leave the country before it expires.

Entry to Mexico: Essential Information for All Travelers

Regardless of whether you come to Mexico for leisure, for business or to take up residency here, take note of the following:

Required documentation

For a summary of the documentation required to enter Mexico, see Documents required for travel and entry to Mexico

Minors traveling to Mexico alone

Minors traveling to Mexico alone, or unaccompanied by at least one parent or their legal guardian: Read Traveling with Minors to Mexico.

Passport validity

The maximum period of time that a visitor/tourist may stay in Mexico under the auspice of a visitor permit (FMM, see above) is six months.

Therefore we recommend that your passport, regardless of country of origin, should be valid for a minimum period of six months, however long you intend to stay to avoid any potential problems at the port of entry.

Immigration authorities at the port of entry may allow or deny entry of any person into Mexico. If you have a passport that is valid for less than six months and you intend to stay in Mexico for a short period of time —perhaps a vacation— the Immigration Officer might allow you entry, especially if you can show a return air ticket.

Notwithstanding this, we recommend that you and your family members hold passports valid for at least six months from the date you intend to enter Mexico.

For holders of U.S. Passport Cards

U.S. passport cards are less expensive than passport books and can be used by U.S. citizens who cross the border between the United States and Mexico by land or sea. These look like a driver’s license, and are more robust and less bulky than a passport book. You can learn more about Passport Cards on this page of the US State Department web site. If you are a holder of a U.S. Passport Card, please note that this is NOT valid for air travel to Mexico. Passport Cards can only be used to cross the border between the United States and Mexico by land or sea ports. A passport is required for air travel to and from the the United States.

Traveling to Mexico via the United States:

In January 2009 the United States government introduced new rules for travelers entering the country using the Visa Waiver Program (US State Dept).
See Also: Travel to Mexico via the USA

Arriving to Mexico by cruise ship

If you are traveling on a cruise ship that visits Mexico, you will be asked to complete a Visitors Permit/FMM (see information above) at your first Mexican port-of-call.  This permit will be valid for a maximum of 21 days.  Ask your cruise company for details.

Traveling in transit through Mexico

As of February 2004 foreigners passing through one of Mexico’s international airports to a third country no longer require a visa or any migratory documentation, provided that they remain at the airport and depart Mexico within 24 hours of arrival.
See Also: Entry Procedure at Mexican Ports

Entry requirements for business visits to Mexico

Mexico welcomes business visitors and makes the immigration procedure for short visits straightforward by means of a special section on the Visitor’s Permit described above.

Business visits to Mexico

If you are traveling on business, or representing a company to conduct business in Mexico, and you hold a passport from a country on Mexico’s “no visa required list” you do not need to apply for a formal visa to visit Mexico. You can, instead, use a visitor’s permit—the same entry permit and procedures used by tourists to enter Mexico (see section above for full details).

If the country you hold a passport for does not appear on the no-visa list, you should check with your nearest local Mexican Consulate for details of visa requirements before you travel to Mexico.

Longer-term business visits to Mexico

If you plan to work or live in Mexico longer periods (more than 180 days), you will need to apply for a business visit visa.

This visa enables the visitor to live, work and do business in Mexico, provided that certain criteria are satisfied. You can get more detailed information about long-term living and working permits on Mexperience by connecting to the Immigration Page that contains lots of information and advice about living and working in Mexico.
See also: Working in Mexico

Entry requirements for residency in Mexico

People wishing to travel to Mexico to live, work, or retire must meet certain criteria to do so. Mexperience has comprehensive sections of information dedicated to these topics of interest:

Residency visas and immigration

Our guide to Mexico Visas and Immigration page gives an overview of the requirements for temporary and permanent residency in Mexico. Also see the regularly-updated Mexico Immigration FAQs page for the most-commonly asked questions about immigration to Mexico.

Entry Procedure at Mexican Ports

The entry procedure will vary depending on where you arrive in Mexico and whether you arrive as a visitor or as resident.
See also: Procedures for Entering and Leaving Mexico

Mexican Customs procedures and allowances

Like all countries, Mexico has policies on what can be brought in to the country without paying duties or taxes.

Your customs allowances when entering Mexico

Allowances are subject to change without notice, but listed below are the principal items followed by some tips about entry to Mexico.

• Personal Luggage: including new and used goods for personal use to include clothes, footwear, personal hygiene and beauty items which, according to the form: ‘reasonably respond to the duration of the trip and that due to its quantities may not be used for commercial purposes’;
• Two photographic or video cameras and twelve rolls of film or videotapes;
• Two mobile phones or pagers;
• One used or new laptop; one used or new printer; one projector;
• Two used or new items of sports gear;
• One CD player or portable music player; one DVD player;
• One musical instrument;
• Three surfboards; four fishing rods; a pair of skis;
• Ten packs of cigarettes (200 cigarettes total), twenty-five cigars OR 200 grams of tobacco (over 18s only);
• Vaping imports banned: The commercial import of vaping products was banned in February 2020; however, small quantities  for personal use by visitors to the country should not be confiscated (vaping itself is not illegal in Mexico); bringing an ‘excess’ deemed reasonable for personal use may cause your entire supply to be confiscated.
• Three liters of liquor AND six liters of wine (if the person is aged over 18 years);
• There is a US$300 tax exemption on items you import (in addition to those already listed above) when you enter the country by means or air or maritime transport; the exemption is reduced to US$50 if you travel in by land, except at Easter, Summer Holidays and Christmas time, when the land exemption limit is increased to US$300.

Please Note: Refer to the Mexican Customs web site for full details about customs allowances as these limits are subject to change with little or no notice.

What you may take home from Mexico

Customs allowances into your home country will depend on where you live.

If you are planning to do a lot of shopping in Mexico, you should check at the information desk at (air)port of departure in your home country for the latest duty-free allowances.

Most goods classed as art and craft work are free of import taxes and you can bring as many home as many as you like, provided the quantities would be considered ‘for personal enjoyment’. Check with your local port/customs authorities for details.

The following items are are typical of duty-free allowances in many countries:

• 200 Cigarettes;
• 50 Cigars or 250g of Tobacco;
• 2 liters of wine;
• 1 or 2 liters of liquor (depending on country);
• 60cl of perfume;
• In addition to the above: a US dollar or euro amount of goods, ranging from about US$300-$500, depending upon the country. If you go over the monetary limit, duty and tax is usually payable on the whole amount not just the sum above the limit;
• Exact rates and amounts vary by country/trading block. Check with the information desk at your home country’s port of departure for the latest details on allowances

Leaving Mexico and Consular Contacts

Leaving Mexico

There are some procedures to follow when you depart Mexico, whether you are a visitor, or resident here:

If you are in Mexico as a tourist/visitor: When you leave Mexico, you will need to show your visitor permit you were issued with when you arrived.
See also: Your Mexico Visitors Permit, FMM

If you are resident in Mexico be sure to the immigration desk at the airport or land border to show your residency card and get passport stamped before you leave the country.
See also: Procedures for entering and leaving Mexico

Foreign Embassies and Consulates

Foreign nationals may be able to get assistance from their country’s consulate.  Read our article about seeking consular assistance in Mexico for further details.

See Also: Directory of Foreign Embassies in Mexico

The Mexican Consulate in the USA (Principal)

Washington DC
1250 23rd St NW
Washington, DC
20037 USA

See Also: List of Mexican Consulates Worldwide (including All US States)

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The Mexican Consulate in the United Kingdom

London:
16A St. George Street
London
W1S 1FD

Website: http://embamex.sre.gob.mx/reinounido/

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The Mexican Consulate in Canada

Ottawa
45 O’Connor St, Suite 1500
Ottawa, ON  K1P 1A4

Website: https://embamex2.sre.gob.mx/canada/

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The Mexican Consulate in Germany

Bonn
Adenauerallee #100
53113 Bonn
Germany

Website: http://www.sre.gob.mx/

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The Mexican Consulate in Spain

Madrid
Carrerade San Jeronimo 46
28014 Madrid
Spain

Website: http://www.sre.gob.mx/

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The Mexican Consulate in Australia

Canberra
14 Perth Avenue
Yarralumla, Canberra
ACT 2600

Telephone: +61 02 9326 1292

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The Mexican Consulate in New Zealand

Wellington

Street Address
Embassy of Mexico
187 Featherston Street Level 2
AMP Chambers
Wellington 6011
New Zealand

Postal Address
Embassy of Mexico
PO Box 11-510
Wellington 6142
New Zealand

Telephone: +64 4 472 0555

Mexican Consulates in Other Countries

A list of countries, cities (and U.S. States) where Mexican representative offices are located world-wide can be found on this page.

In addition to the various technicalities involved in arranging a legally-recognized marriage —the details of which can be found on our guide to getting married in Mexico— there are several other important decisions to make to ensure that your special day unfolds as you’d planned.

Here are six insider tips from a foreigner who married in Mexico about getting it right first time: a country where religion, partying, and bureaucratic procedures are taken seriously and will play a significant role in the nuptial proceedings.

Simple no-frills wedding vs alternatives

If you want to keep things as simple as possible and costs to a minimum, a no-frills civil ceremony at the Registro Civil in downtown Mexico City will cost around US$5. A civil ceremony elsewhere, for example, on the beach, costs substantially more, and the popular resort areas including Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos are the most expensive.

The church service for your Mexican wedding

If it’s the classic romance of a church service that you seek, then Mexico offers plenty of opportunities amidst the abundance of beautiful churches elegantly adorned and steeped in centuries of history. Be aware though that the procedures can be confusing; for example, separate payments, sometimes referred to as donations, need to be made: at the diocesan office, at the parish church, for the pre-marriage “talks,” and so forth. A good relationship with a local priest can help.  Only a civil registration is recognized in law, so if you get married in church, you’ll also need to sign the civil registry.  See the marriage guide for details about this.

The wedding reception party

If you’re keeping things simple, you can leave the civil registry office and take yourselves down to a local restaurant for celebratory meals and drinks.  For those who plan something more elaborate, there are some things you should know about the fiesta. If you’re going to write one item on your to-do list, write Mariachi. The kitsch cowboy suits and bellowing voices will provide a sense of occasion, and if there’s ever an awkward silence on your table, you can brightly tell people that the words “mariachi” and “marriage” are etymologically linked. Make sure to negotiate and sign an agreement with the band for how long they will play. You can expect to pay around the equivalent of US$450 dollars an hour, depending on your location, the prestige and size of the band.

Weddings at Mexican vacation resorts

If you choose to get married at a popular vacation beach resort, talk to the resort manager about other events being planned at the same resort on the same date, as well as events planned at adjacent venues. You don’t want the noise of a children’s party next-door to drown out your own festivities.  If you hire a wedding planner (see below) that person should be taking care of details like this.

Marriage certificates

Order as many copies of your civil marriage certificate that you think you’ll need. And then order a few more to be on the safe side. It’s a hassle to get copies once you’ve left the country, and you’ll also want to get copies legalized (apostilled) so that the certificates will be recognized outside of Mexico.

Hiring a wedding planner

If you are living in Mexico (or plan to arrive early and do all the preparatory work yourself), planning your own wedding is feasible provided that you have a good command of Spanish, plenty of leather on the soles of your shoes—and patience.  Most foreigners who get married in Mexico (especially those who don’t live here) sensibly hire the services of a local wedding planner, based in the location where they plan to marry. Wedding planners know the terrain, they have good connections and relationships with local service providers and will be able to steer you through the labyrinth of regulations and paperwork.

Marriage in Mexico: An introduction

Mexico has some excellent places to get married alongside some picture perfect scenarios. From golden beaches with turquoise waters, to old colonial cities with their charm, old buildings, cobbled streets domes and archways.

Mexico is becoming increasingly popular as a destination for American and Canadians to get married, and given the opportunity to get married surrounded by stunning scenery, it’s not hard to see why!

If you want to get married in Mexico, there is nothing legal or technical stopping you from doing so; but you will need to plan ahead and get a few documents together, fill in a few forms and pay a few fees. This guide will steer you through the maze.

If after having read through this guide you wonder if you can face the paperwork and admin, don’t panic!  You can hire Wedding Planners to take care of the detail and paperwork on your behalf in return for a modest fee.

Legal requirements for a marriage in Mexico

Consent

People under the age of 18 may not get married in Mexico without parental consent.  With parental consent, boys have to be at least 16 and girls need to be at least 14 years of age.

Foreigners getting married to foreigners

You don’t need to be resident in Mexico in order to get married here, you’ll just need a passport and your tourist permit, plus some other paperwork (see below). If you plan to get married to a Mexican in Mexico, you will need additional documentation – read the section just ahead…

Chest X-rays and blood tests

These must be done locally in Mexico, as the results of the blood tests and the X-ray documentation must be in Spanish and the tests need to be done within a certain time frame of the Marriage Application Form being completed.   Not all Mexican States require the Chest X-rays: Check locally or ask your wedding planner.

Four Witnesses

You will need to have 4 witnesses present at the legal ceremony, and they must have valid identification: usually a valid Passport is used, but other forms of government-issued identification would be accepted.

Validity outside of Mexico

Your Marriage Certificate will be valid world-wide, BUT you should get your certificate ‘legalized’ in Mexico to ensure it is legally accepted when you get back home. The process is the reverse of getting your native documentation apostilled for Mexico by the necessary authorities (e.g. State Department) for marriage in Mexico (see below); The registry office in Mexico will tell you where this can be done locally or if you hire a wedding planner, he/she will advise.

Same sex marriages in Mexico

In 2015, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled to change the legal definition of marriage to encompass same-sex couples and since then several Mexican States now perform same-sex marriages and others have been moving towards ratifying their laws and legal procedures to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

This article on Wikipedia gives a summary of the present legal situation, by Mexican State.

We recommend that you contact your Wedding Planner to make the necessary arrangements for your same-sex wedding in Mexico.

See Also: LGBT in Mexico

Two marriages: civil and religious

The civil marriage

Only a civil marriage is recognized as legal in Mexico. You don’t need to engage in a religious ceremony but if you omit the civil ceremony, the marriage will not be legal. Most Mexicans have two marriages: the civil (legal) marriage and the church (religious) one.

The religious marriage

If you would like to get married in a church in Mexico, this can be arranged, although additional planning and fees will be required. A good wedding planner will be able to make these arrangements on your behalf.

Previously married

Divorced

Each State in Mexico has slightly different laws in regard to when previously married couples may re-marry. Most places require that BOTH the bride and groom are to be are divorced (starting from the date of final divorce decree) at least one full calendar year before re-marrying.

For example, in Quintana Roo, the State where Cancun is located (one of the most popular venues), only women (not men) who have been previously married, may not re-marry there for 300 calendar days following the the date of the final decree of divorce unless during that time they have given birth or can prove “by medical dictate” that they are not pregnant.

You’ll need to check with the local authorities in the State where you plan to get re-married if you have not been divorced for at least a year. Alternatively, hire the services of a wedding planner who will check this for you as part of their service.

Widowed

If either party is widowed, the death certificate of the deceased spouse will be needed as part of the documentation requirements (see below)…

Documents required to get married in Mexico

The couple getting married will be required to present the following documentation and requisites.

Some requirements differ from State to State; check locally, but be prepared to gather together all of the documents listed below.

Important! Foreign documents listed below (with the exception of your passport and travel permit) will need to be:

• Translated into Spanish;
• Notarized by your nearest Mexican Consulate and;
• Be ‘Apostilled’ in the country where you live by the appropriate organization / authorities (see next section about Apostilles)

Documents required:

Marriage Application Forms

These forms are attained from the local registry office in Mexico. You will need to specify whether you will get married under joint or separate property on this form.

Passport

Full Passport; we recommend that it’s valid for at least 6 months, and a copy of same (both the bride and groom).

Travel visa or resident permits

Original and copies of Your Visitor’s Permit (FMM) which was completed at the port of entry or, if you are resident in Mexico, your resident permit.

Birth certificates

These will need to be Apostilled and translated by an approved translator (see Apostille, below)

Divorce decree / Death certificate

If either spouse was previously married, or either partner is widowed, copies of the divorce decree or death certificate, if applicable, (see section above: Previously Married) will be required for presentation.

Chest X-rays

The Plates from the Chest X-rays, if required in the state where you get married. (Always get these in Mexico).

Blood test results

Written results of the blood test, written in Spanish (get blood test done in Mexico).

Legalization procedure – The ‘Apostille’

Before the Mexican authorities will receive foreign-issued legal documents for processing, it’s necessary to get these Apostilled.

See Article: Getting Your Documents Apostilled for Mexico

In the USA, this service is undertaken by the Office of Authentication at the State Department, although every State has its own requirements and you need to Apostille documents in the State that they were issued in.

Note for Canadians: Canada is not signatory to the international Apostille convention, and the procedures do not apply there. Canada has instead a notarization procedure for legal documents.

In the UK, the Foreign Office undertakes this task; connect to the Legalization page the on the Foreign Office’s web site for details about obtaining this service.

In Australia, the Authentication and Apostilles section of the Department of Foreign Affairs takes care of legalization of documents.

And then…

The marriage process

Once you have gathered this merry medley of paperwork and official documents together, you will need to pay your Marriage License fee (approx US$30*), allow the waiting period to go by (anything from 30 minutes to a few days, depending on the state in Mexico where you get married), and then the ceremony may take place and the marriage will be legal.

The least expensive option is to have the ceremony performed at the Local Registry Office. For a further fee, you can arrange for the ceremony to take place elsewhere (hotel, beach, colonial mansion, etc). You will need to make further arrangements with all parties involved, or instruct a local wedding planner to arrange this on your behalf.

Once the civil ceremony has been completed, you will need to obtain a certified copy of the marriage certificate (Acta de Matrimonio). This will prove that you have been legally wed in accordance with Mexican law, and the marriage will be recognized just about everywhere in the world where it can be, including the USA, Canada, United Kingdom / European Union, Australia, et al.

*The price varies depending on the State and exact location where you get married. Marriage licenses in Mexico’s most popular resort locations generally cost more (sometimes considerably more) than those in lesser known resorts/places. Check with the local state authorities for details or ask your wedding planner.

Marrying a Mexican National (In Mexico)

So far, the above requirements have assumed that a foreigner is marrying a foreigner in Mexico. If you plan to marry a Mexican national in Mexico, you may need to apply for a permit to marry a Mexican national.

The office issuing this permit must be the same office that has jurisdiction over the area where the marriage is to take place; i.e. you cannot get the permit from one state, e.g. Mexico City, and then go to e.g. Acapulco (in the State of Guerrero) to get married.

This process can take from two days to two weeks, depending on the State and the people at the local government office: be prepared to be patient if you have to! Your wedding planner (see below), if you hire one, will be able to advise you about this in detail and take care of necessary paperwork on your behalf.

Mexico Wedding Planners

Find a wedding planner in Mexico

If you want to get married in Mexico, but want someone else to do all of the running around for you to gather the necessary legal forms and paperwork, schedule your X-rays and blood test with local clinics, and make any arrangements with local hotels, churches and other venues for your marriage, you can hire a Wedding Planner to do this for you.  You can find Wedding Planners by location by searching google e.g. Wedding Planners Mexico [change the word ‘Mexico’ for the locale where you intend to get married once you are on Google]

Useful contacts

For matters in relation to certification and legalization of documents required for the marriage, as well as any general inquiries in regard to marriage in Mexico, contact your nearest Mexican Consulate.

In ancient Greek and Roman civilizations marriages were private agreements between individuals and families. Community recognition of a marriage was, by-and-large, the qualifier, and the state had only limited interests in assessing the legitimacy of marriages.

Civil and religious officials normally took no part in marriage ceremonies; nor did they keep registries. It was common for couples to cohabit with no ceremony, and cohabiting for a moderate period was sufficient for the relationship to be considered a marriage: cohabiting in this way carried no social stigma.

At the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 the Catholic Church forbade private agreement marriages or clandestine marriages, as they were defined by the Catholic Church. The Lateran Council required all marriages to be announced in a church by a priest.

Spain followed church doctrine unquestionably, and this was certainly the case when the Spaniards arrived in Mexico.  Private agreement marriages in Mexico were not recognized by either the Church or whatever government happened to be in administration at the time.

However, what came to be practiced was often different to the official line, especially in Mexico’s rural areas. A not uncommon ritual consisted of the would-be groom’s parents presenting themselves at the home of the intended bride, asking to enter and bringing with them a candle and a basket of gifts.

Although a wedding date may be set during this ritual, the church wedding was not always forthcoming. The expense of a church wedding was borne by the groom’s family and reasons would be given as to why the church wedding could not follow immediately; for example, that the future groom’s older brother had recently married and they needed time to save to meet the expenses.

Most studies show that in 1857 when the Ley Iglesias made Mexican marriages a civil contract between the couple and the State — and took away the Church’s authority over marriages — the number of private agreement marriages increased dramatically.

Despite two great movements of reform in slightly over a century, Mexican legal codes did not veer too far from the austere provisions of Spanish law denying spouses and children of private agreement marriages the legal rights of support and inheritance.

In 1928 Mexico’s Federal Civil Code adopted a provision granting partial recognition of the rights of women and children of private agreement marriages. Under the Federal Civil Code Mexico recognizes a concubinage relationship, and for the surviving partner to receive the benefits, that partner must prove a concubino status. However, not all Mexican states have ratified this federal law.

Why might the concubinage relationship be important to expatriates living in Mexico?

Increasing numbers of couples in committed relationships decide not to go through a marriage ceremony. The reasons for this include the desire to keep their finances separate, each partner may have children from previous relationships, and the possible loss of government benefits if they remarry.

Now that some Mexican states have adopted a legal process that recognizes concubinage relationships, in many of those states the relationship can no longer be established by evidence, as was previously the case. Under the new civil law in some Mexican states, if a couple is living together under a private marriage agreement, the state will not recognize it, unless the couple has registered with the civil registrar.

To ensure the survivor of a private agreement marriage receives the property rights to which he or she is entitled, an expatriate couple living together, but not “legally married” who consider themselves husband and wife must take affirmative action to protect the rights, which they may have possessed before the law came into existence.

It would be a pity if a foreign resident in Mexico were to discover after the death of their partner that the property rights to which he or she thought they would be entitled to were lost merely because they failed to take advantage of a civil ceremony available to them or to preserve the evidence necessary to prove the existence of a concubinage relationship.