Does Mexico allow dual citizenship?

Dual citizenship offers a broad range of legal rights in both countries of citizenship, plus the benefits of holding 2 passports.

If you’re wondering how to get dual citizenship with Mexico this guide is for you, covering everything you need to know about who can apply, and why you might want to.

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Can you be a citizen of two countries?

You can be a citizen of more than one country where each of the countries involved allows dual citizenship. However, not all countries recognize that.

If the country of your initial citizenship, or the country you’re applying to become a citizen in, rejects dual citizenship, you’d need to relinquish one nationality to take on the other.

Can you have dual citizenship for Mexico and the USA?

There’s nothing in US law which requires Americans to relinquish their US citizenship when they take up citizenship of another country¹, which in effect means you can be a citizen of both the US and Mexico (or a pretty big range of other countries) at the same time.

The same goes the other way in that Mexico also recognizes dual citizenship. So, if you hold Mexican citizenship, you can take citizenship of another country without having to give it up.

Are there countries which don’t allow dual citizenship with Mexico?

The laws regarding dual nationality are complex. Whatever your circumstances it's worth getting legal advice from an immigration lawyer to help you understand if you can take up a second citizenship with Mexico.

Mexico allows dual citizenship. But local law in many countries means that you have to give up your original nationality before taking up any new citizenship.

🛂 The main countries which don't usually allow dual citizenship include:
China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Singapore Austria

Can you get triple citizenship in Mexico?

Triple citizenship is sometimes described as multiple citizenship, and is theoretically allowed in Mexico.

You don’t need to give up previous nationalities to become a Mexican citizen, so holding other citizenships won’t affect your chances of becoming a Mexican citizen.

That means that, if you already hold dual dual citizenship elsewhere, and apply for Mexican citizenship too, it shouldn’t cause you a problem.

How many nationalities are you actually allowed to have?

Theoretically you can hold multiple nationalities, including US and Mexican citizenship. However, in practical terms it’s not usually possible to collect nationalities without hitting a natural ceiling.

There are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, to acquire citizenship through naturalization there’s often a residency requirement which means you need to live in a country for a fixed length of time — 5 to 10 years usually — before you can apply.

And secondly, if you acquire citizenship stating you intend to permanently reside in a country and then move away, you could be stripped of your citizenship for failure to adhere to the terms you agreed to.

Can you lose your Mexican citizenship or nationality?

You can choose to renounce your Mexican citizenship if, for example, you want to take citizenship of a country which doesn’t allow dual nationality.

There are also a number of ways you may lose your citizenship if you’re a naturalized citizen in Mexico or in other countries around the world. Often these include being elected for office in another country, serving in a foreign army, or being actively engaged in a war against the country of your citizenship.

If you acquire Mexican citizenship by naturalization, and are therefore a dual citizen of Mexico and at least one other country, it is far easier for Mexico to strip you of your citizenship should there be a reason to.

Usually governments can not leave people stateless, meaning that if you were a citizen of Mexico only the chances are that you could not lose your nationality, but as a dual citizen this consideration does not apply.

How to get dual citizenship in Mexico: step by step

There are several steps to becoming a Mexican citizen.

Here’s an outline of the steps you’ll have to take:

Step 1. Ensure you meet the requirements for Mexican citizenship — which means either you’ve fulfilled the residency requirement or somehow offered distinguished service to the nation

Step 2. Submit relevant documents and proof of eligibility including a criminal record check

Step 3. Complete and pass your tests on Spanish language and Mexican history² — if you’re over 60 you may not need to take the test but you’ll still face an interview

Step 4. Pay your fee

Step 5. Sign an affidavit swearing loyalty to the Mexican government

Step 6. Once your application is approved you can apply for a Mexican passport

Read further: full guide on how to get citizenship in Mexico

How long does it take to become a Mexican citizen?

Before you can apply for Mexican citizenship you have to fulfill the residency requirements, which depend on your personal circumstances.

If you’re married to a Mexican and live in Mexico, you might be able to apply for citizenship with as little as 2 years of residency, or it could be up to five years before you’re eligible if you don’t have a direct family link to the country.

Once you’ve sent in your application, you can usually expect a citizenship decision to take 6 months — or longer if the authorities need to ask you any questions, or if you don’t include all the right paperwork with your application.

When getting dual citizenship, do you need to inform both countries?

This is a tricky question — and there’s no short answer. Because immigration law is complex, you should check with a professional about your duty to inform your home country of your decision.

What you need to do will depend a lot on your home country, and the law there about dual citizenship. If you’re taking Mexican citizenship as a second citizenship, and your country of origin doesn’t allow dual nationality, you might run into some problems.

Your best option is to check if you have a duty to inform your home country of your intentions, with an immigration lawyer, or your local embassy or consulate.

Move your money between US and Mexico in just a few clicks

If you already have — or you’re considering applying for dual nationality, then the chances are that you already have to split your life between Mexico and the US.

Relocating is usually a tough task, with lots of aspects to consider.

Wise offers you one less thing to worry about — moving your money across borders.

• Send money to or from Mexico in just a few clicks
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Send money to Mexico

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If you live and work in Mexico, naturalizing as a Mexican citizen to hold dual citizenship can be a smart move.

Holding Mexican citizenship will offer a broader range of legal rights in Mexico, and make it easier to live and work in the country without needing to worry about renewing visas and permits from time to time.

Use this guide as a starting point to check if you’re eligible to take up dual citizenship with Mexico, and remember to take legal advice to make sure you get through the process smoothly.

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Sources:

1. US Department of State - Dual citizenship
2. Mexican Government - Naturalization exams

Sources checked on 05.31.2022