Want Mexican dual citizenship or nationality? Read this guide.
If you live or work in Mexico, Taking up dual citizenship might make your life easier. Here’s everything you need to know to get dual citizenship with Mexico.
Are you recently engaged and dreaming of tropical beaches, white sand, and a cold drink in your hand? Look no further than Mexico. Whether you’re interested in sunshine at the beach or a more traditional historic hacienda wedding, Mexico has excellent venue choices, many of which offer reasonable all inclusive packages. This is why Mexico is such a popular wedding destination.
Despite Mexico’s popularity as a wedding destination, the marriage process does have some quirks. Foreign nationals might find the marriage application process confusing and bureaucratic. There are also many requirements that may differ from your home country. Official Mexican government processes don't always move quickly, and your best bet is to be well-informed about what you’ll need to get married. If you can pair that knowledge with a bit of patience, that’s even better.
There’s a lot to consider, from the legal details and the application process, to the country’s popular venues and traditions. This article explains the details you need to know to make your wedding in Mexico possible.
Civil weddings are the only legally recognized weddings in Mexico. Religious weddings and other symbolic blessing ceremonies are possible, but they're not legally recognized without also having a civil component. Most Mexicans have two marriages: the civil (legal) marriage and the religious ceremony afterwards.
As of 2015, the legal definition of marriage was changed by Mexico’s Supreme Court to encompass same-sex couples.
You may not get married under the age of 18 without parental consent. With parental consent, boys as young as 16 and girls as young as 14 can wed. During the marriage ceremony, couples will need to have four witnesses, with valid identification, present at the legal ceremony.
You don’t have to be a resident of Mexico to get married there. Two foreigners can get married in country with a passport, tourist visa and minimum amount of paperwork.
However, if you plan to marry a Mexican resident or citizen, you may need to apply for a foreign marriage permit. Certain municipalities will require it, while others have done away with this traditional law. You’ll request a permit from Mexico’s Interior Ministry for the state where you plan to marry.
For your civil ceremony in Mexico, you and your fiancé(e) should expect to provide the following:
Requirements do vary from state to state, and depending on the type of wedding you’d like to have. Certain religions may require additional paperwork, so it’s best to inquire with both your local municipality and your minister, if applicable. Plan to have all of your documents translated into Spanish, and notarised by the Mexican consulate in your home country. This will prevent any confusion or re-verification that can add time to your waiting period.
Visit your local registry office in Mexico to attain all of the forms that you'll need to get your application started. Keep in mind that all foreign documents must be accompanied by a Spanish translation and notarised by the Mexican government. They must also have an Apostille stamp, which authenticates them. The process for this stamp can vary depending on your home country; check your government’s regulations for confirmation.
Every state in Mexico requires a blood test before marriage, and some states also require a chest x-ray too. These tests are for the purpose of detecting syphilis and HIV. You’ll have to conduct these tests within Mexico, and finding a clinic may be difficult without the help of a Mexican wedding planner. Contacting one at this point in the process is advised.
When your paperwork is gathered and ready to be filed, you'll pay your marriage license fee. The waiting period for your application to be processed depends on the state; it could be anywhere from 30 minutes to a few days.
If you have to apply for a foreign marriage permit, you have to request it from the same jurisdiction where your marriage will take place. The process may take up to two weeks. If you have to go through this process, plan to have a wedding planner assist you with the details and take care of the paperwork on your behalf.
After this you can be legally married. If you want to, you can get married at your local registry office, which does not cost anything. For a fee, you can have the ceremony take place at another venue, such as a resort, hotel or on a beach.
After your ceremony, you'll need to get a certified copy of the marriage certificate from your registry office (acta de matrimonio)
The Mexican marriage license fee is approximately Mex$530. You should also expect to incur fees obtaining the paperwork. For example, the Apostille stamp in the US is about Mex$141 per document.
If you’re marrying in a state that requires a national marriage permit to wed, the permit will cost around Mex$3,526.
When considering your wedding budget, you and your guests can save money on cross border payments using Wise. The Borderless account allows you to hold and manage money in multiple currencies, without steep bank fees or bad exchange rates.
Preparing the necessary documentation for a civil ceremony in Mexico can be overwhelming for foreign couples. This is why it’s very popular for many couples to hire a wedding planner, or only have a religious/symbolic ceremony in Mexico.
If you want to officially get married in a church in Mexico, it's possible, but complicated. Mexico is predominantly Catholic, and Catholic weddings require several additional requirements for a marriage. Many couples won’t bother with it due to long wait times and bureaucratic frustrations. Civil judges will often compromise, by allowing a religious aspect into a civil service, if somewhat informally. A minister can be present and read from a Bible as part of the civil ceremony, for example.
If you’re willing to deal with the wedding process and your heart is set on legally tying the knot in Mexico, these links might help you with the process:
The average cost of a wedding at a 4.5 star hotel for 45 guests, excluding accommodation, is Mex$88,250 - Mex$123,500.
Item | Approximate cost |
---|---|
3 nights accommodation for 45 guests | Mex$238,300 |
Paperwork | Mex$1,800 |
Reception Site | Mex$18,000 |
Flowers | Mex$7,000 |
Decorations | Mex$3,500 |
Dress, Accessories | Mex$9,000 |
Wedding Planner | Mex$18,000 |
Photographer | Mex$9,000 |
Cake | Mex$3,500 |
Food, Drinks | Mex$50,000 |
Celebrant | Mex$7,000 |
Music | Mex$3,500 |
There are so many different types of venues in Mexico, that it may be overwhelming to know where to start. The Riviera Maya is exotic, with its plethora of jungle life, white sand, and ancient ruins. Cancun is a hard-partying and convenient place to reach, with plenty of entertainment options for large groups of people. Los Cabos is another option on Mexico’s west coast, with deserts, beaches and dramatic cliffs, where it’s basically guaranteed not to rain. Then there’s Puerto Vallarta, an urban port surrounded by quiet villages and bays, known for its focus on Mexican gastronomy.
No matter your preference, here are a few popular options across the country to give you some ideas:
Venue | Description |
---|---|
Zoëtry Paraíso de la Bonita (Riviera Maya) | An intimate resort with oceanfront views and an exotic feel |
Dreams Villamagna (Nuevo Vallarta) | An oceanfront west coast hotel with the stunning Sierra Madres on the horizon |
Now Jade (Riviera Cancun) | A Caribbean Sea facing hotel that's all sand and sun |
Hacienda de San Antonio (Colima) | An historic coffee plantation located two hours from Guadalajara |
Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa (Huatulco) | A hotel on the southern coast set among the jungle and mountains |
Four Seasons (Mexico City) | A quiet, luxurious hotel located in the heart of Mexico City |
The Royal Suites Punta de Mita(Punta Mita) | A west coast resort in Riviera Nayarit with white sand and crystal blue water |
Casa Dorada(Cabo San Lucas) | A five star hotel located at the very bottom of the Baja Peninsula |
Hacienda de los Morales (Mexico City) | A traditional hacienda bringing history and tradition to your destination wedding |
Encuentro Guadalupe (Valle De Guadalupe) | An eco-friendly resort with panoramic views of the valley |
Mexican wedding customs vary by religion and geographical location. Families are known to incorporate their own personal traditions into the wedding day. Some others may choose to forego tradition entirely and just have an informal party. If you're considering incorporating some Mexican wedding traditions into your destination wedding, here are a few of the most common ones:
When it comes to planning your destination wedding, Mexico should be at the top of your list. The all-inclusive resort hotels that frequently accommodate foreign national weddings make it easy to plan from abroad. Plus, your guests will get to enjoy the great environment, from warm tropical beaches and exotic jungles to breathtaking vistas and charming old traditions. This country has got it all to make your wedding dreams come true.
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If you live or work in Mexico, Taking up dual citizenship might make your life easier. Here’s everything you need to know to get dual citizenship with Mexico.
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