New Passport Regulations

The Mexican passport is a travel document that the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores) issues to Mexican citizens to prove their nationality and identity. This document can be used to request foreign authorities to grant entrance into their countries, provide assistance and protection, and in some cases to waive the courtesies and immunities that correspond to the post or representation of the holder.

Under the new rules of passports, travel and identity documentation, published in the Federal Official Journal (Diario Oficial de la Federacion), last August 5, 2011, there are three types of passports:

a) Ordinary: for people without public charge.

b) Official: For senators, judges, Congressmen and magistrates, and other public workers.

c) Diplomat: for the President, Governors, Secretaries of State, members of Mexican Foreign Service (Servicio exterior mexicano) among others.

ORDINARY PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

To have an ordinary passport, applicants must meet the following requirements:

I. Personal appearance in the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and if it is abroad, in the Mexican consular offices.

II. Submit the passport application duly filled and signed.

III. Pay the passport fee under the terms of the Federal Law;

IV. Submit two passport size photographs without glasses, uncovered head, white color background and it must be taken no more than 30 days before filing the request issuance of passport;

V. Prove the Mexican nationality by delivering one of the following documents:

a) Birth certificate issued by the Mexican civil registry office;
b) Birth certificate issued by the consular offices;
c) Certificate of Mexican nationality;
d) Declaration of Mexican nationality by birth;
e) Naturalization letter;
f) Citizen Identity Card or
g) Consular Registration Certificate.

VI. Prove identity with any of the following photo identification, in which the data will have to match with the documents used to prove the Mexican nationality:

a) voter registration card issued by the Federal Electoral Institute (Instituto Federal Electoral);
b) Military ID;
c) Professional Certificate;
d) Professional Degree;
e) Official Transcript issued by the Mexican Board of Education (Secretaria de Educacion Publica);
f) Documents showing evidence of citizenship referred to in section V, paragraphs c), d), e), f) and g) above, and
g) Valid ID issued by the National Institute for the Elderly or the equivalent.

The new regulation establishes special requirements for the request of passports for minors, who must be present before the competent authority and be accompanied by a parent or person who has the parental authority or guardianship.

The passports will be valid for:

• 3, 6 or 10 years for adults,
• 1 year for children under 3 years old, and
• 3 to 6 years for children between ages of 3 to 18.

REPLACEMENT FOR THEFT, LOSS OR DESTRUCTION

In case of theft, loss or destruction of the passport or travel identity card, the owners shall perform the following actions:

a) If the event occurs on the national territory, holder must file a report in the Public Minister Offices or the competent authority and immediately notify to the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores), where it is declared under oath, the fact and circumstances that had occurred.

b) If the act occurs overseas, it should be filed a report with the authority of the country where the event has occur. If there is an issue of consular protection, language or custom problem that does not make possible to file the report, the responsible of the appropriate consular office may accept a statement of the affected person, without going to the local authority and by having an statement under oath, after checking the issue of lost or stolen passport that has been reported without having to go to local authorities.

In case of mutilated or damaged passport or travel identity card, the holder must present the document to the delegations and sub-delegations of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores) or to the consular offices. It will also be necessary to provide a statement under oath expressing the facts and the circumstances that had occurred.

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

The new regulation initiates a day after its publication in the Federal Official Journal (Diario Oficial de la Federacion, repealing Regulation of previous passports.

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores) will set the administrative formalities necessary for individuals to complete procedures and comply with the requirements of these Regulations, and shall establish the format and content of the passport.

While new formats are issued for passports and travel identity cards documents applications, the old formats will be continue to be used.

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