There are three categories of people eligible for Mexican citizenship:
Category 1
For those who qualify for this category, citizenship is automatic and does not require naturalization in the following cases:
– Being born in Mexican territory regardless of parents’ nationality or immigration status in Mexico, or
– Being born abroad of a Mexican citizen born in Mexico, or
– Being born to an individual after that person has become a naturalized citizen of Mexico
Those who fall into this category are not required to take any exams nor to speak Spanish.
Category 2
This requires applicants to have resided in Mexico as a legal resident (temporary or permanent) for at least two years AND
– Be a direct descendant of a Mexican by birth, or
– Be married to a Mexican citizen, residing in Mexico, or
– Have Mexican children by birth – either genetic or adopted, or
– Be from Latin America or the Iberian Peninsula (Spain or Portugal), or
– be recognized for providing outstanding service or achievement that has benefited Mexico in one of a variety of fields including culture, sports, science, business, etc.
Each person in this category must pass a culture and history exam. Applicants will be given a study guide of 100 questions. The questions are obtained from a “Study Guide for the Examination of History and Culture of Mexico for the Naturalization Process”, issued by the SRE. The exam is written, multiple choice and only consists of 5 multiple choice questions that have been randomly selected. The questions are not easy and do require a good understanding of Spanish. You must correctly answer 3 of the 5 questions to pass.
Category 3
This category requires applicants to have resided in Mexico as a legal resident (temporary or permanent) for at least five years. And, you need to have been in Mexico at least 18 months of the past 2 years. Otherwise, the requirements are the same as for the second category.
Each person in this category must pass a culture and history exam. Applicants will be given a study guide of 100 questions. The questions are obtained from a “Study Guide for the Examination of History and Culture of Mexico for the Naturalization Process”, issued by the SRE. The exam is written, multiple choice and only consists of 5 multiple choice questions that have been randomly selected. The questions are not easy and do require a good understanding of Spanish. You must correctly answer 3 of the 5 questions to pass.
Exemptions for Culture and History Test
Minors, refugees, and people older than 60 years of age are exempt from this test. Instead, they will be given a Spanish language test that consists of a brief interview in Spanish followed by reading approximately 3/4 of a page in Spanish and answering a questionnaire. They will also be required to write a few sentences in Spanish.
Consequence of Not Passing Test/s.
If you fail either test, you will be allowed to make an appointment to come back and try again. If you fail the second try, your application for citizenship will be denied. You will be required to begin the process after a three-month waiting period. This means redoing each form and repaying all fees.
Requirements:
- Birth certificate
Your birth certificate must be legalized or apostilled (some countries provide legalized documents vs an apostille depending on which country signed the Hague Apostille Convention in 1961) and both the birth certificate and apostille / legalized document needs to be translated in Mexico by a certified translator.
The name on your passport must exactly match your name on your birth certificate. If not, your consulate or embassy must provide an affidavit stating the documents are for one and the same person.
If applying based on two years of being married to a Mexican national and married outside of Mexico, the marriage license in addition to the birth certificate must be apostilled/legalized and then translated by a certified translator in Mexico. Individuals are responsible for the apostille / legalization.
2. Letter from INM and Solicitud de Carte de Naturalizacion
A person who is applying for citizenship usually requires a letter from INM stating what was your visa status for the past 5 or if applicable, 2 years. INM also provides a copy of your visas covering those 5 or 2 years and a record of when you exited and entered Mexico during past 2 years. In the 2 years, total time allowed out of the country is 180 days.
Your application includes a Solicitud de Carte de Naturalizacion (DNN-3). With the form you are required to submit a letter and a chart. The letter indicates how many times you exited Mexico in past two years and complete a chart indicating when you left, when you returned, where you went and the page number in your passport with the stamps confirming this.
Criminal Background Check
Applicant needs two criminal records. One is from the state of residency, and one is Federal.
Documents, Photos, Timing
All submitted documents are to be in triplicate.
Required are three photos, passport size 4.5 x 3.5 cm with a white background, front view, no glasses, etc.
The process takes 7 to 8 months. During that time, you will need permission to leave the country.
