MEXICAN DUAL NATIONALITY PROGRAM

PRESERVATION OF MEXICAN NATIONALITY
(Dual Citizenship)

NATIONALITY LAW EXTENDED INDEFINITELY

* It will strengthen links among Mexicans at home and abroad.

* It will allow Mexicans to keep their nationality after adopting another one from a foreign country.

* It will give individuals who may have lost their Mexican nationality, an opportunity to recover it.

The Nationality law which allows the preservation of Mexican nationality, regardless of the acquisition of another nationality or citizenship, is effective as of march 20th, 1998.

This law, which is based upon a constitutional reform approved unanimously by the Mexican Congress on December 1996, will allow Mexicans who live abroad and decide to adopt a foreign nationality or citizenship, to keep their Mexican nationality. It will also allow those individuals who were originally Mexicans and are now citizens of another country, to regain Mexican nationality.

1.- Background

The Mexican provisions regarding nationality, in effect over the last decades, stated that any Mexican who obtained another nationality would lose their Mexican nationality.

This has implied that Mexicans living abroad have had a face a dilemma regarding naturalization: on the one hand, if they became naturalized in their host countries in order to improve their migratory and legal status, they lost their Mexican nationality and all of their rights. On the other hand, if they did not obtain another nationality so as to retain the Mexican one, they were unable to fully exercise their rights in their host country.

In order to find a solution to this matter, on December 10, 1996, the Mexican Congress approved President Ernesto Zedillo's initiative regarding Articles 30, 32 and 37 of the Constitution which allows Mexicans to preserve their nationality, regardless of acquisition of another nationality or citizenship.

These reforms will also allow those Mexicans who are already citizens of another country to regain Mexican nationality.

2.- Who may benefit from this amendment

Mexicans living abroad, and willing to be naturalized as citizens of their host country, will be able to obtain that nationality while preserving the Mexican one.

Mexicans who have already acquired another nationality will be able to regain the Mexican one. Children of Mexicans at birth or naturalized will be able to acquire Mexican nationality.

For those Mexicans who have lost their nationality, there will be a period of five years, beginning the day of the entry into force of the amendment, in which they may recover it. The procedure of the followed is ready to be implemented as of March 20, 1998 and its simplicity and efficacy are ensured.

3.- Main benefits

The constitutional reforms and the new law provide the necessary legal framework to the principle of "Non-forfeit of Mexican Nationality", a long awaited demand be Mexicans living abroad. These Mexicans communities have long wished to preserve the rights the Mexican Constitution grants to its nationals and to maintain cultural and family ties with Mexico.

Mexicans living abroad will be free to travel and live in Mexico whenever they wish to do so, without having to comply with complicated formalities or apply for permits required for foreigners.

They will be able to buy land without any of the restrictions applied for foreigners. Likewise, none of the restrictions regarding inheritance and employment, concerning foreigners, can be applied.

Mexicans who regain nationality will continue to pay taxes in the country where they reside and earn income.

Mexicans living abroad will not be required to serve in the Mexican armed forces. They will only be required to register at the age of 18, either in Mexico or at its consulates or embassies.

4.- Implications on Voting Rights

Unlike other countries, Mexican legislation establishes a distinction between nationality and citizenship. Nationality refers to how people feel they belong to their country. Nationality is based on one's place of birth and the origins on one's parents. Citizenship implies nationality, as well as, the exercising of political rights which are acquired upon reaching legal age and residence among other requisites. The constitutional reform only modifies provisions related to nationality.

This amendment is not related in any way with the right to vote. So far, no Mexican living abroad is able to vote in any election held in Mexican territory.

Voting is related with citizenship. Thus, the possibility of eventually voting abroad is being separately analyzed and, in any case, would be regulated by The Federal Code of Electoral Institutions and Procedures. Thus, the nationality constitutional amendment and law do not affect voting matters.

DECLARATION OF MEXICAN NATIONALITY

The Mexican Government is granting the opportunity to people of Mexican decent who are naturalized citizens or citizen by birth of another country, to recover their Mexican Nationality.

To obtain the Declaration of Mexican Nationality, the interested party must meet the following:

REQUIREMENTS

1. Be at least 18 years of age and of sound mind.



2. Complete the application at the Mexican Consulate.



3. Present the following documents in original and two photocopies:



1. If the person was born in United States:



• A Certified copy of the Birth Certificate, apostilled by the Secretary of State of the issuing authority.



• Original or certified copies of the Mexican father or mother's birth certificate.



2. If the person was born in Mexico



• Original or certified copy of the birth certificate.



4. Married women need to present the marriage certificate.



5. Document that proves the U.S. citizenship (i.e. passport or Certificate of Naturalization).



6. Official picture ID (i.e. Driver's license, passport, California ID, etc.)



7. Two-passport size photos.



8. This is a toll free process; the Mexican Consulate is the only autorizated institution to complete it. Upon receiving the Declaration of Mexican Nationality, a $14.00 fee will be assessed.

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List of Mexican Consulates in the United States
and Location Maps

Maps by www.expediamaps.com

ALBUQUERQUE 401 5th Street, NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 *MAP Phone(505) 247-2147, 247-4177 Fax (505) 842-9490	ATLANTA 2600 Apple Valley Road Atlanta, GA 30319*MAP Phone (404) 266-2233 Fax (404) 266-2309
AUSTIN 200 East 6th Street, Suite 200 Austin, TX 78701*MAP Phone (512) 478-2866/478-2300 Fax (512) 478-8008	BOSTON 20 Park Plaza, Suite 506 Boston, MA 02116*MAP Phone (617) 426-4181, 426-4942 Fax (617) 695-1957
BROWNSVILLE 724 East Elizabeth Street p.o. Box 1711 Brownsville, TX 78520*MAP Phone (210) 542-2051/542-4431 Fax (210) 542-7267	CALEXICO 331 West 2nd Street Calexico, CA 92231*MAP Phone (760) 357-3863/4132 Fax (760) 357-6284
CHICAGO 300 N. Michigan Avenue, 2nd Floor Chicago, IL 60601 *MAP Phone (312) 855-1380/ 855-0066 Fax (312) 855-9257	CORPUS CHRISTI 8800 N. Shoreline 410 N Tower Corpus Christi, TX 78401*MAP Phone (512) 882-3375/7366 Fax (512) 882-9234
DALLAS 8855 Stemmons Freeway Dallas, TX 75247*MAP Phone (214) 630-7341/ 630-7343 Fax (214) 630-3511	DEL RIO 300 E. Losoya Del Rio, TX 78840*MAP Phone (830) 774-5031 Fax (830) 774-6497
DENVER 48 Steele St. Denver, CO 80206*MAP Phone (303) 331-1867/ 8392823 Fax (303) 830-2655	DETROIT 600 Renaissance Street, Suite 1510 Detroit, MI 48243 Phone (313) 567-7713/7726 Fax (313) 567-7543
DOUGLAS 541 10th Street Douglas, AZ 85607*MAP Phone (520) 364-3107, 364-3142 Fax (520 ) 3641379	EAGLE PASS 140 N. Adams Street Eagle Pass, TX 78852*MAP Phone (830) 773-9255/773-63 Fax (830) 773-9397
EL PASO 910 East San Antonio Street El Paso, TX 79901*MAP Phone (915) 533-3644/4082 Fax (915) 532-7163	FRESNO 830 Van Ness Avenue Fresno, CA 93721*MAP Phone (209) 233-3065/9770 Fax (209) 233-5638/ 233-6165
HOUSTON 10440 West Office Street Houston, TX 77042 Phone (713) 339-4701/ 339-5473 Fax (713) 789-4060	LAREDO 1612 Farragut Street Laredo, TX 78040*MAP Phone (956) 723-6369/0990 Fax (956) 723-1741
LOS ANGELES 2401 West 6th Street Los Angeles, CA 90057*MAP Phone (213) 351-6800/ 651-6825 Fax (213) 351-6844/ 383-4927	MC ALLEN 600 South Broadway Street Mc Allen, TX 78040*MAP Phone (956) 686-0243 Fax (956) 686-4901
MIAMI 1200 N.W. 78th Avenue, Suite 200 Miami, FL 33126*MAP Phone (305) 716-4977/, 716-0898 Fax (305) 593-2758/2647	MIDLAND 511 West Ohio Street, 121 Midland, TX 79701*MAP Phone (915) 687-2334/35 Fax (915) 687-3952
NEW ORLEANS 1140 WTC Building 2 Canal St , suite 840 New Orleans, LA 70115 Phone (504) 522-3596/97, 533-3697/98 Fax (504) 525-2332	NEW YORK 27 East 39 Street 10016 New York NY *MAP Phone (212) 217-6400
NOGALES 480 North Grand Avenue Nogales, AZ 85621*MAP Phone (520) 287-2521, (800) 285-1626 Fax (520) 287-3175	ORLANDO 823 East Colonial Drive Orlando, FL 32803*MAP Phone (407) 894-0514 Fax (407) 895-6140
OXNARD 201 East 4th Street Oxnard, CA 93030*MAP Phone (805) 483-4684/8066 Fax (805) 385-3527	PHILADELPHIA The Bourse Building, Suite 310 111 South Independence Mall E. Philadelphia PA19106*MAP Phone (215) 992-4262/ 922-3834 Fax (215) 923-7281
PHOENIX 1990 West Camel Back Road, Suite 110 Phoenix, AZ 85015*MAP Phone (602) 242-7398, 441-3287 Fax (602) 242-2957/ 441-0421	PORTLAND 1234 Southwest Morrison Portland, OR 97205*MAP Phone (503) 274-1442/50 Fax (503) 274-1540
SACRAMENTO 716 J Street/ 1010 8th Street Sacrament, CA 95827*MAP Phone (916) 441-3287 Fax (916) 363-0625	SAINT LOUIS 1015 Locust Street, Suite 922 Saint Louis, MO 63101*MAP Phone (314) 436-3065/ 436-3075 Fax (314) 436-2695
SALT LAKE CITY 458 East 200 South Salt Lake City, UT 84111 *MAP Phone (801) 521-8502/03 Fax (801) 521-0534	SAN ANTONIO 127 Navarro Street San Antonio, TX 78205*MAP Phone (210) 227-1085/89, 227-0978/83 Fax (210) 227-1817
SAN BERNARDINO 532 North "D" Street San Bernardino, CA 92401*MAP Phone (909) 384-8113, 889-9836/37 Fax (909) 889-8285	SAN DIEGO 1549 India Street San Diego, CA 92101*MAP
SAN FRANCISCO 870 Market Street, Suite 528 San Francisco, CA 94102*MAP Phone (415) 392-5554 Fax (415) 392-3233	SAN JOSE 380 North 1st Street, Suite 102 San Jose, CA 95112*MAP Phone (408) 298-5581 Fax (408) 294-4506
SANTA ANA 828 North Broadway Santa Ana, CA 92701-3424*MAP Phone (714) 835-3069/ 835 3749 Fax (714) 835-3472	SEATTLE 2132 3rd Avenue Seattle, WA 98121*MAP Phone (206) 448-8419/448-8417 Fax (206) 448-4771
TUCSON 553 South Stone Avenue Tucson, AZ 85701*MAP Phone (520) 882-5595 Fax (520) 882-8959	WASHINGTON, DC 2827 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 *MAP Phone (202) 736-1000/7361012 Fax (202) 797-8458
	SAN JUAN IBM Building, Ave. Munoz Rivera 654 Office 1837 San Juan, Puerto Rico. 00918  Phone (787) 764-0258/764-8935Fax (787) 250-0042