If you are a foreigner and wish to apply for naturalization in Mexico, remember that there are seven ways to complete this process:
“Naturalization is a phenomenon that leads men to consider their actions and beliefs as natural, linked to their nature” -Josep Vicent Marqués (1981).
One of the dreams of many people who emigrate to settle permanently in another country is to become nationals of their host country. If this is your case and you’re wondering how to obtain Mexican citizenship , this article gives you all the answers. Here, you’ll discover the different ways to obtain citizenship and the requirements for each.
How to obtain Mexican citizenship?
As stated in the Mexican Constitution and the Nationality Law, there are two ways to obtain Mexican nationality: by birth or through the naturalization process .
Section B) of Article 30 of the Constitution establishes that the following are considered naturalized Mexicans: Foreigners who obtain a naturalization certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs . Below, we’ll provide more details about each.
Modalities
- For having been subject to parental authority or having been adopted by Mexican people.
- For having Mexican-born daughters or sons.
- For having married a Mexican man or woman.
- For outstanding work
- For being originally from a Latin American country or the Iberian Peninsula.
- By residence
- For being subject to parental authority or being an adopted daughter/son of Mexican people.
Specs
The specific requirements for your application will depend on the type of application that best suits your situation. You can review them at the following link: https://portales.sre.gob.mx/tramites-dgaj/naturalizacion/instructivo-para-obtener-la-nacionalidad-mexicana-por-naturalizacion
Where should I request the appointment?https://reipv6.sre.gob.mx/sinna
Necessary documentary and production
Among the general documents related to the procedure and essential are:
1. The temporary or permanent resident card as appropriate
2. Original apostilled birth certificate
3. Original and marriage certificate, if applicable
4. Original and copy of passport or valid identity document.
5. Written under protest of your exits and entrances
6. Certificate of No Local and Federal Criminal Record.
Note: If you have a record of entry and exits in the last two years that do not exceed 180 days, you should go to the INM and request a certificate of migratory flows to better support the request. You should also include a copy of your boarding passes or flight reservations to verify what you will state in your entry and exit statement.
What will happen on the day of your appointment to begin your naturalization application?
1. It is important that you arrive for your appointment on time. Therefore, you should allow for the time it will take to enter the property, due to the verification of safety and health measures by the competent authorities. Therefore, we suggest you arrive 10 minutes before your appointment. You must provide your name, show identification, and present your appointment electronically or in print. There is no tolerance.
2. The foreign applicant must attend the appointment unaccompanied, and no one may attend on their behalf. Minors must be accompanied by their parents, and in the case of marriage procedures involving a Mexican national, they must be accompanied by their spouse.
If a foreigner with a disability—that is, a person with a physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory disability—requires the assistance of a second person to enter the facilities, please indicate this on the day of your appointment so that we can facilitate access.
3. The applicant must meet each and every one of the requirements indicated at the time of their appointment. There will be no exceptions for late submission of any document.
4. You must have all the documentation applicable to your application. If you do not have all the documentation, you will not be allowed to leave or re-enter the premises.
5. Once you enter the building, you must take a seat and a public servant will be appointed to review and accept your documents. Please note that if you do not have all your documentation, you will not be allowed to leave or re-enter the building and must schedule another appointment.
6. If the application and documentation meet all the requirements and are current, the Mexican history and culture exam will be administered , and if applicable, the Spanish language exam. Likewise, if the applicant passes the exams, their biometric data (photograph, fingerprints, signature, etc.) will be collected. In accordance with the Nationality Law and the Regulations of the Nationality Law, it is reiterated that minors, refugees, and persons receiving complementary protection (as determined by the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) of the Ministry of the Interior), and foreigners over 60 years of age will not be required to take the Mexican history and culture exam. However, like any other foreign applicant, they must prove that they speak Spanish.
7. Once the application and documentation are complete, the application will be issued and registered in the Comprehensive Nationality and Naturalization System (SINNA) to generate the corresponding file. At this point, the legal deadlines and time limits will begin to run.
Once all of this is completed, depending on the case, the foreign applicant will receive an acknowledgment of submission of their application form and will receive an email with a username and password to follow up on their naturalization process.
(In the case of applications submitted at the Public Service Modules, in order for the legal deadlines and terms to begin running, said applications, along with the complete documentation, must be sent to the DGAJ Central Office, so that the respective file can be generated in the SINNA).
Costs
You can find out the cost at the following link: https://portales.sre.gob.mx/tramites-dgaj/nacionalidad/costos-de-servicios-de-nacionalidad-y-naturalizacion
Time.
There is no exact resolution time, and it is not mandatory. Processing usually takes 6 to 9 months, depending on the application. I recommend following the status of your application using the link included in your processing receipt, using the username and password provided to you at the office where you completed your application.
Conclusion.
If you’re thinking about obtaining Mexican nationality, it’s very important to consider all the basic requirements, the benefits of obtaining citizenship, and understand your rights and obligations when you receive your Naturalization Letter.
According to the UN public opinion poll, Mexico is one of the happiest countries in the world—yes, including the United States—regardless of our life expectancy, our productivity levels, corruption, and other tragedies, and our economic, social, and educational reality and prospects.
Few countries in the world boast nearly 11,000 kilometers of beaches, almost all made of talcum powder, where the sun, mild temperatures, and seawater, as warm and calm as a bathtub, are wonderful hosts. There’s Yucatecan cuisine, Oaxacan cuisine, Veracruz cuisine, Puebla cuisine, our pre-Columbian centers like Chichén Itzá, Bonampak, Palenque, and Teotihuacán, and our colonial cities like Zacatecas, Morelia, Guanajuato, and San Luis Potosí, all justifiable reasons for envy abroad.
Our tequila, our mezcal and our rums are from this magical hot land that seduces everyone, just as chicken tostadas or Veracruz-style red snapper or cochinita pibil or corn tamales or Tlalpeño broth or sweet zapote seduce, without forgetting the immense catalogue of tropical fruits that, when displayed in popular markets, are worthy of a photograph for their extraordinary colour, not to mention their heavenly flavours.
More? There’s folklore, our dances, our Flying Indians of Papantla, our trova, our mariachis, our cinema, our trios—in short, our music that has spread throughout the world. Not to mention the warmth of the men and women who provide tourist services and who never dream of ruining a tourist’s day with harsh words or abuse.
There are many reasons to be proudly Mexican:
- Greater Stability and Security : Having Mexican citizenship can provide a deeper sense of stability and security. As a citizen, you are not subject to visa regulations and are not at the mercy of policy changes that could affect your right to live in Mexico. There is no threat of being reported to immigration by an aggrieved party for malicious reasons or accidental violations.
- Freedom to Work : If you face unexpected changes in your source of income, you have the freedom to find employment, become self-employed, or even start a business in Mexico without worrying about immigration restrictions.
- Right to Express Political Opinions : Article 33 of the Mexican Constitution restricts foreigners from participating in political affairs, and the interpretation of “participation” can sometimes be vague. As a citizen, you have the freedom to express your opinions on national and local issues without fear of legal consequences.
- Easier Access to Mortgages and Properties : Citizens have easier access to Mexican mortgages and the right to purchase properties in restricted areas without a bank escrow.
- Less Bureaucracy : As a citizen, you avoid certain immigration and bureaucratic hurdles. This can be especially beneficial in situations where small omissions can lead to visa violations. For example, a simple favor for a friend could be a visa violation if it can be construed as a lucrative activity, even if it is not directly remunerated, and this activity is not registered with immigration authorities.
- No More Reporting to Immigration : Temporary and permanent residents must report changes in address, marital status, employment, and other matters to immigration within 90 days. Naturalized citizens are not required to report anything to immigration.
- Faster Entry and Exit : Naturalized citizens do not need to inform immigration before leaving the country and can use the Mexican citizen lines upon returning without questions. At most land borders, Mexican citizens can freely enter and exit without any immigration procedures in either direction.
- Easier to Replace ID : Temporary and permanent residents are required to carry their resident card at all times, but replacing a lost or stolen resident card can be difficult. Many report that the process is just as strenuous as obtaining the original document. Mexican citizens can identify themselves with several documents, some of which can be much easier to replace than a resident card, such as a local driver’s license.
- Mexican Passport Power : Depending on which passport you currently hold, a Mexican passport may be more powerful and allow visa-free entry to more countries. As of May 2023, the Mexican passport is ranked 22nd in the Henley Passport Index . In some cases, Mexican passport holders may have easier access to some countries than U.S. or Canadian passport holders. For example, Brazil has reciprocal visa policies as a retaliatory measure. For up-to-date information on visa requirements for Mexican citizens, you can check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) website: https://portales.sre.gob.mx/guiadeviaje/
Reflection:
Mexican nationalism is a set of values, feelings and aspirations that characterize Mexicans and that seek the development and maintenance of a national identity .
However, let’s keep in mind that the decision to become Mexican through naturalization is your own free will, so you should feel fully proud of it, since those born in a territory did not have the opportunity to choose their nationality. However, when you choose Mexico as your country, you are choosing our country or territory over the rest of the countries to which you could have acquired nationality. In my opinion, this has much more value, so don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by the xenophobic comments of those who, in their ignorance, call you a foreigner or a second-class Mexican. We are not, we will not be; before the LAW, we will all be MEXICANS. So, raise that pride and LONG LIVE MEXICO.
(Dr. Oswaldo Manuel Nava Oquendo.)
