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.

The most common family connection that applicants use to apply for residency using Family Unit rules is being the spouse of a Mexican national, or the spouse or common-law partner of an existing legal resident.

How residency applications for couples are treated

How your application for residency in Mexico using this route is treated will depend on:

• Whether you apply at an immigration office in Mexico, or start your application at a Mexican consulate abroad; and
• Whether your spouse or common-law partner is a Mexican national or a legal foreign resident; and
• If your spouse or common-law partner is a legal resident, whether they currently hold Temporary or Permanent residency status.

Applying as a couple at a Mexican consulate abroad

If you’re the spouse of a Mexican national or existing foreign legal resident in Mexico and choose to begin the application for residency at a Mexican consulate abroad you will:

• Be granted residency under Family Unit rules; and
• Get a residency visa sticker placed in your passport; and
• You’ll need to arrive in Mexico and exchange that sticker for a residency card at your local immigration office.

When you apply via a Mexican consulate, your Temporary Residency card will be issued for one year only and must be renewed near the end of year one for a further three years.

Near the end of that consecutive four year period, the spouse or common-law partner can then apply to exchange temporary residency for permanent residency.

Applying as a couple at an immigration office in Mexico

Spouses and common-law partners are among the few people who can exchange a visitor permit for a residency card inside Mexico without having to apply through a Mexican consulate abroad.

Applying at a local immigration office in Mexico requires that your key documents —e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificates— be notarized/apostilled, and translated into Spanish. It’s a good idea to get this done for any future presentation in Mexico of these documents for official purposes.

The table below describes how your residency status will be granted when you apply as a couple for legal residency at an immigration office in Mexico.

Learn more about Mexico visas and immigration

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

• Read about the principal routes to obtaining residency in Mexico
• Our article about temporary and permanent residency describes legal residency permits in Mexico
• Our latest articles about visas and immigration keep you apprised of current situations
• Read FAQs about residency visas and cards and FAQs about economic solvency criteria.
• Our free Mexico Immigration Guide that encapsulates what you need to know about applying for visas and residency permits.

If you’re in Mexico for the long-haul, at some stage you might choose to take your residency status to the next level: naturalization.  Naturalization is the process by which you apply for and, if successful, subsequently acquire Mexican citizenship.

Benefits of acquiring Mexican citizenship

Mexican naturalization offers several benefits to foreigners.  Among them (in no particular order of importance):

• you can cast a vote in Mexican elections;
• you can change address or jobs without having to inform the National Institute of Immigration (INM) of your moves;
• you can avoid having to visit Immigration kiosks at airports when you leave to check-out, and wait less time in immigration lines at airports on your return;
• you avoid having to pay to change your immigration status and/or renew your visa each year to extend you stay in Mexico; and
• you can own property situated near coasts and land borders in your own name without the need to operate a bank trust (fideicomiso) — which can save you thousands of dollars in fees over the years — although some people choose to operate a trust for estate planning purposes.

Things to be aware of before you apply for Mexican citizenship

There are a few matters you should be aware of in regard to becoming a Naturalized Mexican.

Consular protection from your home country

Following your naturalization, while you are in Mexico, you are not allowed to seek consular protection by virtue of your ‘other’ nationality; so if you become caught up in any problems with the authorities you cannot rely upon your home country’s Consulate to support you.

Surrendering other nationalities

Depending on your country of citizenship, you might have to surrender your home country’s passport —and citizenship— when you acquire your Mexican nationality. This is, however, rare: most countries, including Mexico, allow their citizens to hold dual or multiple nationalities.

Residency in Mexico

Once you become a Naturalized Mexican Citizen, you need to remain resident in Mexico to keep it.  See the blue information box below for more details about this.

Land trusts and property taxes

As a Naturalized Mexican, there is no obligation to keep your home inside a property trust if it’s near the ocean or a land border—although some people choose to, for estate planning purposes.

However, your property still remains liable to any capital gains taxes when you sell it.  You should talk to an experienced financial advisor about your personal and business tax affairs,

Procedures to apply for Mexican citizenship

The procedures that lead to Mexican naturalization demand a number of requirements for qualification.  These depend upon an assortment of factors such as:

• your links to Mexico,
• your current immigration status, and
• how long you have been physically resident here.

Legal and physical residency requirement

Importantly, you must have at least 5 consecutive years of legal residency (temporary and/or permanent) 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.

History and Spanish language exams

Part of the application process requires applicants to pass a history & culture exam, as well as a Spanish language aptitude examination, tested with an oral conversation.

In years past, the history exam consisted of studying 100 “multiple choice” type questions, answering 5 and getting at least 3 correct.  However, since January 2018 the exam process has been revised to test your knowledge of Mexican culture and history, and a reading comprehension exam has been introduced to test your Spanish language.

Exam exemptions

Some people are exempt from the history & culture exam, but all applicants must demonstrate a working knowledge of Spanish, tested via an oral exam.

The following are exempt from the history & culture exam:

• Minors (under 18 years of age);
• People over 60 years old; and
• Refugees and humanitarian cases under the auspices of COMAR.

Naturalization certificate, INE, and Mexican passport

Once you file the application, the procedures take about a year to complete, and may take longer in some cases.  Toward the end of the process, you will be asked to sit an exam, unless you are exempt (see above).

At the completion of the journey that leads to your Mexican naturalization, you will get a handshake from an official at the SRE (Mexico’s equivalent of the US State Department), and a Naturalization Certificate.

With this certificate in hand, you may apply for your Mexican passport and your INE card (known colloquially as simply, el INE)—that is technically a voter registration document, but also serves a de facto National ID Card in Mexico. The card incorporates features such as scanned fingerprints, holograms and other security devices. It’s the size of a driving license and is thus readily portable.

Further guidance and assistance

Applications to become a Naturalized Mexican are complex, require a specific process to be followed with strict criteria being met, and take at least a year to complete. Here are some resources you may find helpful:

• Government website about naturalization
• Online search for lawyers specializing in naturalization (Google)
• Learn about matters related to residency in Mexico

The immigration rules also legislate for a small few exceptions whereby foreigners in specific circumstances may exchange a Visitor permit (FMM) for a residency permit from within Mexico without having to leave the country.  This article describes the exceptions.

Who can apply for residency from within Mexico?

In certain specific situations, foreigners currently in Mexico holding a Visitor’s permit (FMM) can apply for a temporary or permanent residency permit without leaving the country, most usually under the auspice of a “Family Unit” application, and certain other circumstances, described in this article.

What is a “Family Unit” residency application in Mexico?

A “Family Unit” visa application means that you apply for legal residency based on certain family roots or connections you have to Mexico—through a blood line, or through marriage/civil partnership. Roots and connections that qualify under the ‘Family Unit’ routes to residency are specified in Mexican immigration law and summarized in the bullet points below.

Foreigners may apply for Temporary Residency (Residente Temporal) in-country if the foreign applicant is:

• The spouse of a foreigner holding a temporary or permanent resident card; or
• The parent (mother/father) of a foreigner holding a temporary resident card; or
• The son or daughter of a foreigner holding a temporary resident card, provided that the son or daughter is a minor (under 18 years of age); or
• The son or daughter of the spouse of a foreigner holding a temporary resident card, provided that the son or daughter is a minor (under 18 years of age); or
• A foreign spouse of a Mexican national. (Learn more about residency through marriage or common-law partnership.)

Foreigners may apply for Permanent Residency (Residente Permanente) in-country if the foreign applicant is:

• The parent (mother/father) of a foreigner holding a permanent resident card; or
• The son or daughter of a foreigner holding a permanent resident card, provided that the son or daughter is a minor (under 18 years of age); or
• The sibling of a foreigner holding a permanent resident card, provided that the sibling is a minor (under 18 years of age); or
• The son or daughter of the spouse of a foreigner holding a permanent resident card, provided that the son or daughter is a minor (under 18 years of age); or
• The son or daughter of a Mexican National in situations where the offspring are not entitled to Mexican Nationality and provided that the son or daughter is a minor (under 18 years of age); or
• The son or daughter of a spouse of a Mexican National provided that the son or daughter is a minor (under 18 years of age)
• The foreign parent of Mexican-born children; or
• The sibling of a Mexican National (including naturalized foreigners) provided that the sibling is a minor (under 18 years of age); also
• Existing foreign residents who have 4 consecutive years of Temporary Residency may apply to exchange their Temporary Residency permit for a Permanent Residency permit; they do not have to leave Mexico to make this exchange.

Applications via the ‘Special Procedure’ (RNE)

A special procedure is currently in force, sometimes referred to as ‘RNE’ (Registro Nacional de Extranjeros), that allows you to exchange an expired visitor’s permit for four years of Temporary Residency in some situations.  You can learn about the special procedure here.

Humanitarian and political asylum cases

Foreign nationals may also apply to exchange a FMM for a residency permit inside Mexico on Humanitarian grounds, or by applying for Political Asylum.  These are very specialized applications with specific rules and conditions attached to them.  Contact your nearest INM office for advice and guidance about this.

Everyone else

If your situation does not fold into one of those described above, you must apply for your initial residency permit from outside Mexico, by personally attending one of the many Mexican consulates abroad.

Principal routes to residency in Mexico

If you do not qualify for residency under the Family Unit rules you will need to apply for residency via an alternative route—most applications are granted on the basis of economic solvency.

• You can learn about the principal routes for obtaining residency in Mexico here on Mexperience.
• Read a detailed summary of the application process here.

Learn more about Mexico visas and immigration

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

• Read about the principal routes to obtaining residency in Mexico
• Our article about temporary and permanent residency describes legal residency permits in Mexico
• Our latest articles about visas and immigration keep you apprised of current situations
• Read FAQs about residency visas and cards and FAQs about economic solvency criteria.
• Our free Mexico Immigration Guide that encapsulates what you need to know about applying for visas and residency permits.

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

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.