Traveling To Mexico With Minors: What Documents Are Needed?

what is required to travel to mexico with a minors

If you're travelling to Mexico with a minor, it's important to ensure that you have the correct documentation. Foreign minors (under 18 years of age) travelling to Mexico alone or with a third party of legal age as tourists or with a short stay for study purposes (up to 180 days), require authorization or a letter of consent from their parents or guardians. This letter must be translated into Spanish and legalized by the Mexican embassy or consulate in the country where the document was issued. The letter should state: I acknowledge that my child is travelling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission. In addition to this letter, minors will need a valid passport and may also need a visa. When departing from Mexico, you must present a valid passport for the minor and an authorization/consent letter granted by a notary public, through which both parents or legal guardians give authorization for the minor to depart from Mexico. This document must contain the means of travel, the destination and the date of travel.

Characteristics Values
Who does this apply to? Foreign minors (under 18 years of age) travelling to Mexico alone or with a third party of legal age as tourists or with a short stay for study purposes (up to 180 days).
What is required? Authorization or a letter of consent from their parents or guardians.
What is the process for departing Mexico? Present a valid passport of the minor, an authorization/consent letter granted by a notary public, through which both parents or legal guardians give authorization for the minor to depart Mexico. This document must contain the means of travelling, the destination and the date of travel.
What if the document is released abroad? It must be attested by an Apostille Stamp and its Spanish translation must also be attached.
Is there an alternative to the authorization letter? A form is available on the website of Mexico's National Institute of Migration, which can replace the authorization letter if it is filled out properly and the required attachments are provided.
Who is exempt from this requirement? Minors who are travelling with at least one parent.

quartzmountain

When travelling to Mexico, foreign minors (under 18 years of age) who are travelling alone or with a third party require a letter of consent from their parents or guardians. This is a preventative measure against international child abductions. The letter must be translated into Spanish and legalized by the Mexican embassy or consulate in the issuing country. The letter should include the following:

  • Date of the letter
  • Name of parent(s)
  • Name of child/children
  • Destination
  • Date of travel
  • Airline/Flight number
  • Name of accompanying adult(s)
  • Date of return
  • Signature of parent or parents
  • Address and telephone number of parent(s)
  • Signature/Seal of Mexican embassy or consulate

> (Date) I (parent's name), authorize my child/children, (child/children’s name) to travel to (destination) on (date of travel) aboard Airline/Flight # (flight information) with (accompanying adults), returning on (date of return).

>

> Signed by parent or parents

> Address: Telephone/Contact:

>

> Signature/Seal of Mexican embassy or consulate

And in Spanish:

> (Date) Yo (parent's name), autorizo a mi hijo/a (child's name) a viajar a (destination) el (date of travel) en la aerolinea (flight information) con (name of accompanying adult), regresando el (date of return).

>

> Firmado por los padres

> Direccion: Telefono:

>

> (Signature / Seal of Mexican embassy) Sello de la embajada mexicana

In addition to the letter of consent, minors will need a valid passport, and possibly a travel visa. If the minor is travelling with one parent, a letter of consent is not required, but the parent must carry a copy of the child's birth certificate.

quartzmountain

If you are planning to travel to Mexico with children, it is important to ensure that you have the correct documentation. This includes a valid passport and possibly a travel visa. Since January 2014, new regulations state that foreign children who travel to Mexico as tourists or visitors for up to 180 days only need to present a valid passport, and are not required to present other documentation. However, if you are a parent or legal guardian travelling with minors, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Firstly, it is important to note that minors who are travelling with at least one parent do not require a letter of consent. This means that, as a parent, you do not need to provide additional documentation authorizing your child's travel. Your child's passport and other standard travel documents should suffice. This is applicable for both entry into and departure from Mexico.

However, if you are travelling with minors who are not your own children, the requirements may differ. In such cases, it is essential to have the appropriate documentation authorizing the child's travel. This could include a letter of consent from the child's parents or legal guardians, as well as proof of your relationship to the child. It is always a good idea to check with the relevant embassy or consulate to ensure you have the necessary documentation.

Additionally, when departing from Mexico, it is important to present a valid passport for the minor. If the minor is travelling without both parents, an authorization or consent letter granted by a notary public may be required. This letter should include the means of travel, the destination, and the date of travel. It is also essential to have the document attested by an Apostille Stamp and provide a Spanish translation.

To summarize, while minors travelling with at least one parent do not require a letter of consent, it is always important to have valid passports and necessary travel documents for all individuals. When in doubt, it is recommended to contact the appropriate authorities or embassies to ensure you have the correct documentation for your specific situation.

quartzmountain

When travelling to Mexico with a minor, it is important to ensure that you have the correct documentation. This includes a valid passport and possibly a travel visa for the minor. In addition, if the minor is travelling without one or both parents or legal guardians, a letter of consent is usually required. This measure helps prevent international child abductions.

The letter of consent must be notarised and contain the following information:

  • The date of the letter
  • The name of the parent/s or legal guardian/s giving consent
  • The name/s of the minor/s travelling
  • The destination and date of travel, including the means of travel (e.g. airline and flight number)
  • The name/s of the accompanying adult/s
  • The date of return
  • The address and telephone number of the parent/s or legal guardian/s
  • The signature/s of the parent/s or legal guardian/s
  • The seal of the Mexican embassy or consulate

"I, [parent's name], authorize my child/children, [child/children's name/s], to travel to [destination] on [date of travel] aboard Airline/Flight # [flight information] with [accompanying adults], returning on [date of return]."

It is important to note that this letter should be translated into Spanish and legalized by the Mexican embassy or consulate in the country where the document is issued. This letter may not be required if the minor is travelling with at least one parent or legal guardian. However, it is always a good idea to carry a notarised letter of consent to ease travel hassles and avoid delays in case immigration authorities question the minor's permission to travel.

When departing from Mexico with a minor, it is also necessary to present a valid passport for the minor and an authorization/consent letter granted by a notary public. This document must be presented to the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) and should include the means of travelling, the destination, and the date of travel. In addition, three copies of the minor's birth certificate, passport, and the identification of the parent and third party (if applicable) should be provided.

quartzmountain

When travelling to Mexico with a minor, it is vital to ensure that you have the correct documentation. This includes a passport and possibly a travel visa. If travelling with someone else's child, you may also need to prove that the child's parents or legal guardians have given their permission for the child to travel. This measure is in place to help prevent international child abductions.

In the past, it was an official requirement of the Mexican government that any child entering or exiting the country carry a letter of permission from their parents, or from the absent parent in the case of a child travelling with only one parent. Since January 2014, new regulations state that foreign children who travel to Mexico as tourists or visitors for up to 180 days only need to present a valid passport and are not required to present other documentation. However, Mexican children, including those holding dual citizenship with another country, or foreign children residing in Mexico who travel unaccompanied by either parent are required to show proof of their parents' permission to travel. They must carry a letter from the parents or legal guardians authorizing travel into Mexico.

"(Date) I (parent's name), authorize my child/children, (child/children's name) to travel to (destination) on (date of travel) aboard Airline/Flight # (flight information) with (accompanying adults), returning on (date of return).

Signed by parent or parents Address: Telephone/Contact:"

The same letter in Spanish would read:

"(Date) Yo (parent's name), autorizo a mi hijo/a (child's name) a viajar a (destination) el (date of travel) en la aerolinea (flight information) con (name of accompanying adult), regresando el (date of return).

Firmado por los padres Direccion: Telefono:"

This letter should be signed and notarized so that the child can carry it along with their passport during their travels. Although it may not always be required, carrying a letter of permission from the parents can help ease travel hassles and avoid delays in case immigration authorities question a child's permission to travel.

It is important to note that these are the requirements of the Mexican immigration authorities. Travelers must also meet the requirements of their home country (and any other country they travel through) for exit and return.

quartzmountain

The Mexican immigration institute has a form that should be filled out for any child leaving the country without either of their parents

When travelling to Mexico with minors, it is vital to ensure that you have the correct documentation. Besides a passport and possibly a travel visa, it may be required to prove that both of the child's parents or the child's legal guardian has given their permission for the child to travel. This is a measure to help prevent international child abductions.

The Mexican Immigration Institute (Instituto Nacional de Migración or INM) has a form called a SAM (Salida Autorizada de Menores) that should be filled out for any child leaving the country without either of their parents. If the child is travelling with one of their parents, the form is not required. The form can be filled out on the INM website with information about the child, the parent giving permission, and, in the case of the child travelling with a third party, that person's name, birth date, and passport information. The form is to be filled out online and then printed and taken to an INM office to be stamped by an immigration official. You should also take three copies of the child's birth certificate, passport, and the identification of the parent and third party.

Frequently asked questions

Minors need a valid passport to enter Mexico. If they are travelling alone, with only one parent, or with a guardian, they may also need a letter of consent from the other parent.

The letter should be in English, notarised, and signed by the other parent (if the child is travelling with one custodial parent) or both parents (if the child is travelling alone or with a guardian). It should include the sentence: "I acknowledge that my child is travelling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission."

If the minor is a U.S. citizen and under the age of 16, they may present an original or copy of their birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate.

Foreign and Mexican minors (under 18 years of age) travelling to Mexico alone or with a third party of legal age as tourists or with a short stay for study purposes (up to 180 days) require authorization or a letter of consent from their parents or guardians.

When departing from Mexico, you must present a valid passport for the minor, as well as an authorization/consent letter granted by a notary public. This document must include the means of travelling, the destination, and the date of travel.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment