Registering a Baby Born in Mexico to Foreign Parents
Nationality by birth, the Registro Civil appointment, documents foreign parents bring, the Mexican passport, a US Consular Report of Birth Abroad and residency for the parents.
A baby born in Mexico is Mexican by birth, whatever the parents’ nationality, under Article 30 of the Mexican Constitution. In Mexico City the parents register the birth at a civil registry office (Juzgado del Registro Civil) within six months, with the hospital’s birth certificate, then obtain the CURP, a Mexican passport and their own country’s citizenship papers.
Is a baby born in Mexico a Mexican citizen?
Yes. Article 30, section A, fraction I of the Constitution says that people born in Mexican territory are Mexicans by birth regardless of their parents’ nationality. Residency status, tourist entry or length of stay of the parents does not change this.
The child can also hold the parents’ nationality. Mexico allows dual nationality, but the Nationality Law (Ley de Nacionalidad), Article 12, requires Mexicans by birth to enter and leave Mexico as Mexicans, even if they hold another nationality. In practice the child travels in and out of Mexico on a Mexican passport and uses the other passport abroad.
How do you register the birth in Mexico City?
Registration is done before a judge of the civil registry, in an office of your choice or, in some cases, at the place of birth. The Mexico City Civil Code, Article 55, gives the father and mother, or either of them, six months from the birth to declare it.
- Get the birth certificate (certificado de nacimiento) from the hospital. The Civil Code, Article 54, says it is signed by the doctor or the person who attended the birth on the health ministry’s official form, and it proves the date, time, place and sex of the child.
- Book an appointment at a Juzgado del Registro Civil. The city also runs a home registration service for newborns; ask the hospital or the registry how to request it.
- Bring the baby, the birth certificate, both parents’ identification and the foreign civil documents listed below.
- Agree on the order of the surnames. Article 58 lets the parents choose the order, and the same order then applies to their other children together.
- Review the birth record (acta de nacimiento) carefully before signing, especially the spelling of foreign names, and ask for certified copies.
Parents who are not married both need to appear, personally or through representatives, for the father’s recognition under Article 60.
What documents do foreign parents need?
The registry asks foreign parents for documents that prove their own identity and civil status, apostilled and translated where needed.
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Hospital birth certificate | The official certificado de nacimiento; without it, a delivery record (constancia de parto) under the registry rules |
| Parents’ identification | Valid passport; resident card if you have one |
| Parents’ birth or marriage certificate | Certified copy, apostilled or legalized, with a Spanish translation by a perito authorized by the Mexico City High Court (TSJCDMX) |
| Witnesses or extra papers | Ask your Juzgado; requirements vary by office |
Our guide to apostilles and translations explains how to prepare these documents before the due date. Order them during the pregnancy if you can, because apostilles from US states can take weeks.
How does the baby get a CURP and a Mexican passport?
The Unique Population Registry Code (CURP) is linked to the birth record by the national population registry (RENAPO). If it is not printed on the acta, look it up on the government’s CURP site with the baby’s data; our explainer on what a CURP is shows how.
The Mexican passport is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) by appointment. Parents bring the child’s birth record and CURP and their own identification, and both parents sign the consent form for a minor’s passport (form OP-7), as SRE offices and consulates list it. Children under three can get a passport valid for one or three years. Check current fees and requirements on the SRE appointment site before the visit.
How do US parents get a Consular Report of Birth Abroad?
A child born abroad to a US citizen parent may be a US citizen at birth, and the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) documents it. The US Embassy’s birth abroad page explains the current process, as of November 2026:
- The child must be under 18. Adults use a separate citizenship claim.
- Most applications are filed online through a MyTravelGov account (eCRBA), with documents uploaded and the fee paid by card.
- Book the interview at least 72 hours after paying, so the payment clears.
- The child must attend; both parents generally attend too, with originals and single-sided photocopies.
- A US passport can be requested at the same appointment with form DS-11, a photo and proof of payment. The Social Security number comes later, after the CRBA and passport arrive.
Whether the parent can transmit citizenship depends on the law at the time of birth and on how long the parent lived in the United States before the birth. Other countries have their own procedures at their embassies in Mexico City.
Can the parents get residency through the baby?
Yes. The Migration Law (Ley de Migración), Article 54, fraction VI, lets INM grant permanent residency to foreigners who have children of Mexican nationality by birth. Parents on a tourist entry or with temporary residency can apply through this family route; see our guide to family unity residency for the documents and fees.
These are the general rules, not legal advice; the Registro Civil, INM, SRE and your own consulate decide each case.
Bottom line
Gather apostilled and translated parent documents before the birth, keep the hospital certificate safe, and register the baby well inside the six-month window. Then request the CURP, book the Mexican passport with both parents present, and start your own consulate’s citizenship paperwork.
FAQ
What happens if we miss the six-month deadline?
The birth can still be registered later, but it becomes a late registration (registro extemporáneo) handled under the Civil Registry Regulation, which can involve more paperwork. Ask your Juzgado what it requires.
Can the baby leave Mexico on a US passport only?
Mexico’s Nationality Law says Mexicans by birth must enter and leave Mexico as Mexicans. Plan for the Mexican passport before the first trip abroad.
Does registering in Mexico affect the child’s US citizenship?
No. The Mexican birth record and the CRBA are separate. US parents still need the CRBA or another proof of citizenship to get a US passport for the child.
Do both parents need residency to register the birth?
No residency is required to register a birth. Parents identify themselves with their passports and bring their own civil records.
