Mexican citizenship by descentOverview
Mexico grants nationality by birth on two bases: birth in Mexican territory and descent from a Mexican parent. Until 2021, Article 30 limited descent to children born abroad to a parent who had been born in Mexico, so the second generation born abroad was excluded. The reform published in the Official Gazette on 17 May 2021 removed that limit, recognising as Mexican by birth anyone born abroad to a Mexican mother or father.
Because nationality is acquired at birth, the procedure is a registration rather than an application for a grant. The birth is recorded in the Mexican civil registry, either at a Mexican consulate or through the registration of the foreign birth certificate at a Civil Registry office in Mexico. In a grandparent case, the intermediate parent usually has to be registered as Mexican first, so that each generation is documented in turn.
Once the birth record exists, the person can obtain a CURP (population registry code) and a Mexican passport. Mexico permits dual nationality, and the Constitution provides that no Mexican by birth may be deprived of that nationality. Under the Nationality Law, Mexicans who also hold another nationality must use their Mexican status to enter and leave Mexico.
Mexican nationality gives the right to live and work in Mexico without immigration permits and a passport with visa-free access to the Schengen Area and many other destinations. For families with Mexican roots, documenting the line now also protects the rights of younger generations.
Key benefits
- Nationality by birth, not a discretionary grant
- No investment, residence, language or civics requirement
- Dual nationality permitted; Mexicans by birth cannot lose their nationality
- Right to live and work in Mexico and to own property as a national
- A Mexican passport with visa-free short stays in the Schengen Area
- The right passes to children once the birth is registered
Requirements
- Birth abroad to a Mexican father or mother
- Proof of the parent's Mexican nationality (Mexican birth certificate, nationality certificate or naturalisation letter)
- In a grandparent case, prior registration of the intermediate parent as Mexican
- Certified long-form foreign birth certificate, apostilled and translated into Spanish where the registry requires it
- Valid identification for the applicant and parents
Investment options
Consular registration
Register the birth at a Mexican consulate by appointment. Consulates often do not require an apostille on the foreign birth certificate, and the first certified copy is usually free.
Civil Registry in Mexico
Record the foreign birth certificate at a Civil Registry office in Mexico, which normally requires an apostille and an official Spanish translation.
Multi-generation cases
Where the Mexican link is a grandparent, register the parent first and then the applicant, building the documentary chain one generation at a time.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Lineage review
We trace the Mexican ancestor, confirm the parent's status and identify which records already exist and which must be obtained.
- 2
Document gathering
Birth, marriage and nationality records are collected from Mexico and abroad, with apostilles and translations as required.
- 3
Registering the intermediate generation
Where needed, the parent's birth is registered first so that their Mexican nationality is documented.
- 4
Birth registration
The applicant's birth is registered at a consulate or Civil Registry office, producing a Mexican birth certificate.
- 5
CURP and passport
With the Mexican birth record, the applicant obtains a CURP and applies for a Mexican passport.
Typical documents
- Certified long-form birth certificate of the applicant
- Mexican birth certificate, nationality certificate or naturalisation letter of the Mexican parent
- Parents' marriage certificate, where applicable
- Records linking each generation in grandparent cases
- Valid photo identification of the applicant and parents
- Apostilles and Spanish translations where the registry requires them
How Legal Wealth helps
Legal Wealth helps families with Mexican roots document their nationality correctly and efficiently. We work with Mexican counsel to trace records, plan the order of registrations across generations and prepare consular or Civil Registry filings, and we consider how Mexican nationality fits with the family's tax residence, estate planning and other passports.
Enquire with Legal WealthFrequently asked questions
Can I claim through a grandparent?
Yes, in most cases, since the 2021 reform removed the first-generation limit. In practice your parent normally has to be registered as Mexican first.
Do I need to live in Mexico or speak Spanish?
No. Nationality by descent is acquired at birth, so there is no residence, language or civics requirement.
Will I lose my current citizenship?
Mexico allows dual nationality. Whether your other country allows it depends on its own law.
Is there a fee?
Consular birth registration is generally free, with fees for additional certified copies and passports. Apostilles, translations and record searches carry their own costs.
Is this a citizenship-by-investment route?
No. It is nationality by birth and cannot be obtained through investment.
Last reviewed: 2026-10. Requirements, fees and timelines change. Information is general, reviewed on the date shown, and is not legal or tax advice.
