There are three categories of people eligible for Mexican citizenship:
Category 1
For those who qualify for this category, citizenship is automatic and does not require naturalization in the following cases:
– Being born in Mexican territory regardless of parents’ nationality or immigration status in Mexico, or
– Being born abroad of a Mexican citizen born in Mexico, or
– Being born to an individual after that person has become a naturalized citizen of Mexico
Those who fall into this category are not required to take any exams nor to speak Spanish.
Category 2
This requires applicants to have resided in Mexico as a legal resident (temporary or permanent) for at least two years AND
– Be a direct descendant of a Mexican by birth, or
– Be married to a Mexican citizen, residing in Mexico, or
– Have Mexican children by birth – either genetic or adopted, or
– Be from Latin America or the Iberian Peninsula (Spain or Portugal), or
– be recognized for providing outstanding service or achievement that has benefited Mexico in one of a variety of fields including culture, sports, science, business, etc.
Each person in this category must pass a culture and history exam. Applicants will be given a study guide of 100 questions. The questions are obtained from a “Study Guide for the Examination of History and Culture of Mexico for the Naturalization Process”, issued by the SRE. The exam is written, multiple choice and only consists of 5 multiple choice questions that have been randomly selected. The questions are not easy and do require a good understanding of Spanish. You must correctly answer 3 of the 5 questions to pass.
Minors, refugees, and people age 60 and older are exempt from this test. However, they will be given a Spanish language test that consists of a brief interview in Spanish followed by reading approximately 3/4 of a page in Spanish and answering a brief questionnaire. They will also be required to write a few sentences in Spanish.
Applicants must not have been out of Mexico for more than 180 days during the two years prior to application. You will be required to submit a report from INM showing all your entrances and exits from the country during that period.
Category 3
This category requires applicants to have resided in Mexico as a legal resident (temporary or permanent) for at least five years. Otherwise, the requirements are the same as for the second category.
Each person in this category must pass a culture and history exam. Applicants will be given a study guide of 100 questions. The questions are obtained from a “Study Guide for the Examination of History and Culture of Mexico for the Naturalization Process”, issued by the SRE. The exam is written, multiple choice and only consists of 5 multiple choice questions that have been randomly selected. You must correctly answer 3 of the 5 questions to pass.
Minors, refugees, and people older than 60 years of age are exempt from this test. Instead, they will be given a Spanish language test that consists of a brief interview in Spanish followed by reading approximately 3/4 of a page in Spanish and answering a questionnaire. They will also be required to write a few sentences in Spanish.
