Update: The new requirement concerning travel to Mexico for minors has been postponed until January 24, 2014. More info here: Documents for Minors Traveling to Mexico
New immigration rules in Mexico came into effect on November 9 and bring a few changes for tourists. One of the main points that may affect travelers is in regards to minors (under 18) traveling without their parents. According to the website of the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores, minors traveling alone or accompanied by an adult third party must present, in addition to a valid passport, a document showing the consent of both parents or legal guardians of the minor. If the document is issued outside of Mexico it must be translated into Spanish and notarized and legalized by the Mexican Consulate or Embassy. An unofficial translation is sufficient. The text of the document must state the parents' express authorization for the minor to travel alone or, if applicable, information about the adult who is authorized to be responsible for the minor during the trip. The document must state the purpose and length of the trip, and specify the dates of entry and departure. This document is a requirement for allowing the minor to depart from Mexico.
According to this statement, a child traveling with only one parent does not need an authorization letter. I've always recommended that a child traveling with only one parent carry an authorization letter from the other parent (or a document proving sole custody). I still think this is a good idea to be on the safe side, and although Mexico is not making it a requirement, it may be requested on the return trip.
Another important change in the new immigration laws is that someone who is in Mexico as a tourist may not apply for residency. So if you're planning to come to Mexico to work or stay long term, you should apply for an FM2 visa at the Mexican embassy in your home country before entering Mexico. In the past it was possible to come as a tourist and stay for six months and then switch to an FM2. That won't be possible anymore.
For more about entry requirements and travel documents, check out the following links:
It is sad that it has come to more and more paperwork so that children can come to the US for a summer vacation. I do, however, see how necessary it is with people being paid to traffic these children in to an uncertain future. I will make sure to have my paperwork in place far in advance again next year when I travel to Mexico and return with a 7 year old that just visits for the summer. Thank you for the heads up! I enjoy reading your column every month:)
I have more like a question i have a 10 month old baby which i have full custody of him i have all my papers for proof , and i want to go to mexico what would i have to take with me ? would i still have to ask his father for a letter?
Noemi,
If you have sole custody, bring the document (or a notarized copy) that proves that you have custody. Your baby will also need a passport.
Enjoy your trip to Mexico!
What about going to Mexico via a cruise ship? We will be in Cozumel for one day with a 17yr old friend of our daughter during our cruise. What should we do for Mexico? We will have a consent lettter of course but must we do more for Mexico?
I will be traveling to Mexico with my 17 year old daughter on Feb 16th. My husband is deceased, what do i need besides her passport, his birth cert, our marriage license, her birth cert, and his death cert? It goes without saying that I am not able to get a letter from him. I am a nervous wreck. If you could guide me I would really appreciate it.
I will be traveling with my son to mexico soon and it looks like it is going to be alittle harder than i thought to get a notarized letter from my husband seeing that he works very late………..so i went last year to mexico and they never asked me for the notarized letter that we had signed. So if worst came to worst and i can not get one do you think i could take the one i used last year? Please help!
The new requirements have been suspended until next year. Check out the updated info here: Documents for Minors Traveling to Mexico
Hi, can anybody give me any information? I’m travelling to Mexico from the UK in May2013 with my 14 yr old daughter & my husband her step father. My daughter has never known her biological father, his name isn’t on her birth certificate (unknown) and I certainly wouldn’t know how to find the man & wouldn’t want to either to ask his permission to take my daughter on holiday. As his name is not on the birth certificate & my daughter is travelling with me do I need any legal documentation other than her UK passport?
Thanks for any help.
I just spoke with the Mexican Consulate in Vancouver BC and was told that this law was put on hold until January 2014.
As such, children will only need a notarized consent letter from their parent including travel dates for their child to travel into mexico with a non-parent.
Does the new law also state that minors traveling to mexico must have an expiry date of at least 6 months beyond the travel date?
I would like to know or get more advice on the new regulations concerning bringing children to Mexico being a single parent mother.
One of my children does not have the father mentioned on the birth certificate so I trust there is no authorisation letter required but the other does have the father’s surname on the passport but we have no contact anymore and may not be able to make contact to obtain an authorisation letter from him.
How would I obtain a ” sole custody” document and where would I go about getting one for both my children in this instance. Would I need one?
I am a frequent flyer to Mexico and flying in from Europe. Is this going to be a problem for me in future without any further documention ?
Please can you advise.
Many thanks
You don’t mention anything about there being a 6 month passport expiry date rule for US minors traveling to mexico. Do you know anything about that?
In Mexico it is not a requirement for visitors’ passports to be valid for more than 6 months from the date of entry.
I don’t seem to find anything on the mexico consulate site of the extension of this until January 24, 2014. I can’t get through to anyone via phone and no one replies to emails either. I have a 2.5 year old travelling with her grandparents to a resort and worried that they will have a problem since the last names are different. Do you think a notarized consent in English is sufficient?
Hi Kristina, Yes, I believe that a notarized letter of consent in English would be sufficient for now.
I have the same problem. I am from Mexico but I will pick up a child in June from US to take him to Mexico for a 1 week vacation. Their parents are going to give me all the documents I need for it but I cannot reach anyone from the mexican consulate and they dont answer. I think the parents will get a authorization letter with a notary but my question is… does it have to be apostilled or legalized and translated to Spanish?
Thank you.
My contact at the Embassy of Mexico in Canada told me that these new requirements are suspended until January 2014. In the meantime the official requirement is just a passport. If you can get it, I think it is a good idea to take a letter of consent from the parents as an extra measure.