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Becoming Mexican: naturalization, the five and two year residence rules, the exam, renunciation, fees and how naturalized nationality can be lost

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Last verified: 2026-10-26 · Status: Stable

Foreigners may become Mexican by naturalization through a naturalization letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) after five years of residence, or two years for nationals of Latin American countries and the Iberian Peninsula, parents of Mexican children, descendants of Mexicans and spouses living in Mexico. Applicants prove residence with temporary or permanent resident cards, may not be absent more than six months in total in the last two years, pass tests on Spanish, Mexican history and culture, and formally renounce other nationality; the 2026 fee is MXN 9,500. Children born in Mexico are Mexican by birth whatever their parents' nationality, but naturalized Mexicans lose the nationality by voluntarily acquiring another, using a foreign passport or living abroad for five continuous years.

USD conversions use MXN 18.6638 per US dollar, the US Federal Reserve H.10 noon buying rate in New York for 23 October 2026 (FRED series DEXMXUS), the latest observation available when this page was verified. Conversions are for orientation only.

Key facts

Residence required before applying for naturalization (general rule)	5 yearsLey de Nacionalidad art. 20, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Residence required for nationals of Latin American countries or the Iberian Peninsula, parents of Mexican children and descendants of Mexicans	2 yearsLey de Nacionalidad art. 20 section I, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Maximum total absence in the two years before applying	6 monthsLey de Nacionalidad art. 21, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Naturalization letter, 2026 fee	9500 MXNLFD art. 26 section II; RMF 2026 Annex 4, as of 2026-10-26 · in force
Continuous residence abroad after which naturalized Mexican nationality is lost	5 yearsConstitution art. 37 B section II, as of 2026-10-26 · in force

The rule

1. Nationality by birth and by naturalization. Mexican nationality is acquired by birth or by naturalization. Mexicans by birth include everyone born in Mexico, whatever the nationality of the parents, and those born abroad to a Mexican parent. Mexicans by naturalization are foreigners who obtain a naturalization letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and foreigners who marry a Mexican, have or establish their home in Mexico and meet the legal requirements. No Mexican by birth may be deprived of nationality.
Cost to do it: No fee for nationality by birth; certificate of Mexican nationality MXN 2,475 (USD 133) (LFD art. 26 section I a)).
Example: A child born in Cancún to two foreign residents is Mexican by birth, and the parents may then obtain permanent residence as parents of a Mexican child by birth. / Nationality certificate about USD 133 at 18.6638.Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (consolidated text, last reform DOF 7 October 2026), Arts. 30 and 37 A, 1917-02-05 official text · verified 2026-10-26

2. Residence periods. An applicant for naturalization must have resided in Mexico for at least the five years immediately before the application. Two years suffice for a direct descendant of a Mexican by birth, a person with Mexican children by birth, a person originally from a Latin American country or the Iberian Peninsula, or a person who in the Ministry's judgement has made outstanding contributions in cultural, social, scientific, technical, artistic, sports or business fields that benefit the nation; a foreigner married to a Mexican must have lived with the spouse in a marital home in Mexico for the two years before the application; one year suffices for adoptees and minor descendants up to the second degree under the parental authority of Mexicans. Temporary absences do not interrupt residence unless they occur in the two years before the application and exceed six months in total. Residence is proven with the temporary or permanent resident card, which must be valid for at least six months after filing.
Cost to do it: Naturalization letter MXN 9,502.01 (Annex 4 rounded amount MXN 9,500, USD 509) under LFD art. 26 section II.
Example: An Argentine executive who has held Mexican temporary and then permanent residence since 2024 may apply for naturalization in 2026 on the two year rule for nationals of Latin American countries, provided absences in those two years total no more than six months. / About USD 509 at 18.6638.Ley de Nacionalidad, DOF 23 January 1998 (Chamber of Deputies consolidated text, last reform DOF 23 April 2012); Reglamento de la Ley de Nacionalidad, DOF 17 June 2009 (last reform DOF 25 November 2013), Ley de Nacionalidad arts. 19, 20 and 21; Reglamento arts. 14 and 16, 1998-01-23 official text · verified 2026-10-26

3. Exam, renunciation and procedure. The applicant files a request with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, passes tests showing Spanish, knowledge of Mexican history and integration into the national culture (refugees, minors and people over 60 need only show they speak Spanish), and, once the Ministry decides to grant nationality, signs the renunciation of any other nationality and of foreign protection and the protest of adherence to Mexican law. The Ministry sends the file to the Interior Ministry within 15 business days for an opinion due within 45 business days, and decides on the naturalization letter within 90 calendar days of receiving that opinion. The letter takes effect the day after issue. The procedure is suspended if the applicant is subject to criminal proceedings, and no letter is issued to someone serving a sentence for an intentional crime.
Cost to do it: Naturalization letter MXN 9,500 (USD 509); certificate of no naturalization record MXN 460 (USD 24.65); certified copy of nationality documents MXN 700 (LFD art. 26, Annex 4 rounded amounts).
Example: After a complete filing, the statutory stages add up to about 15 plus 45 business days and then 90 calendar days, roughly six months, before the renunciation and issue of the letter. / Fees about USD 509 and USD 25 at 18.6638.Ley de Nacionalidad (consolidated text, last reform DOF 23 April 2012); Reglamento de la Ley de Nacionalidad (last reform DOF 25 November 2013), Ley de Nacionalidad arts. 17, 19, 20, 23, 24 and 25; Reglamento arts. 15 and 21, 2009-06-17 official text · verified 2026-10-26

4. Loss of naturalized nationality and roles reserved to Mexicans by birth. Mexican nationality by naturalization is lost by voluntarily acquiring a foreign nationality, presenting oneself as a foreigner in any public instrument, using a foreign passport, accepting titles of nobility implying submission to a foreign state, or residing abroad for five continuous years. Authorities and notaries must report such cases to the Ministry within 40 business days. Positions that the Constitution or laws reserve to Mexicans by birth who hold no other nationality, including crew of Mexican flag vessels and aircraft, harbour masters and aerodrome commanders, remain closed to naturalized Mexicans.
Cost to do it: No fee for the loss procedure; the Ministry may revoke the naturalization letter after a hearing.
Example: A naturalized Mexican who travels into Mexico on a foreign passport risks losing Mexican nationality under art. 37 B section I of the Constitution. / Not applicable.Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (last reform DOF 7 October 2026); Ley de Nacionalidad (last reform DOF 23 April 2012), Constitution arts. 32 and 37 B; Ley de Nacionalidad arts. 15, 27 and 28, 1998-01-23 official text · verified 2026-10-26

Applicant	Residence required	Fee 2026
General rule	5 years immediately before applying	MXN 9,500 (USD 509)
National of a Latin American country or the Iberian Peninsula	2 years	MXN 9,500 (USD 509)
Parent of a Mexican child by birth; direct descendant of a Mexican by birth	2 years	MXN 9,500 (USD 509)
Spouse of a Mexican	2 years living together in Mexico	MXN 9,500 (USD 509)
Outstanding contribution to Mexico	2 years, or waived by the President in exceptional cases	MXN 9,500 (USD 509)
Adoptees and minor descendants under Mexican parental authority	1 year, uninterrupted	MXN 9,500 (USD 509)

Residence needed for naturalization in Mexico (Ley de Nacionalidad arts. 20 and 21; LFD art. 26; USD at 18.6638).

Worked example

A Colombian engineer arrived in Mexico in 2022 on a job offer temporary residence and became a permanent resident in 2026.
As a national of a Latin American country, the engineer needs only two years of residence immediately before applying, with absences totalling no more than six months in that period.
The engineer passes the Spanish, history and culture tests, pays MXN 9,500 (about USD 509), and once SRE decides to grant nationality signs the renunciation of the other nationality.
After naturalization the engineer must enter and leave Mexico as a Mexican: using a foreign passport can trigger loss of the naturalized nationality.

Step by step

1. Count residence from the first resident card and track absences in the last two years.
2. Make sure the current card is valid for at least six months after filing.
3. Gather the apostilled and translated foreign birth certificate, passport and record of entries and exits.
4. Prepare for the Spanish, history and culture tests.
5. File with SRE and pay the fee; expect the Interior Ministry opinion and the SRE decision within the statutory windows.
6. After grant, sign the renunciations and use only Mexican documents in Mexico.

Common traps

Counting time as a visitor. Residence is proven only with temporary or permanent resident cards (Reglamento de la Ley de Nacionalidad art. 14).
Long trips before filing. Absences over six months in total in the last two years interrupt residence (Ley de Nacionalidad art. 21).
Travelling on the old passport. Naturalized Mexicans lose nationality by using a foreign passport (Constitution art. 37 B).
Living abroad. Five continuous years of residence abroad also cause loss (Constitution art. 37 B section II).

Sources

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