North Carolina, Raleigh – When traveling from Mexico abroad or to Mexico from abroad with a minor, it is important that you be prepared. Here we explain what you should know if you are traveling with a minor.
What do you need to travel from Mexico with a minor?
To leave Mexico, as a preventive measure against the illegal removal of minors, the Mexican authorities ensure that minors traveling abroad are accompanied, either by one of their parents – when both cannot be accommodated – or by one of the parents. persons who exercise parental authority or guardianship.
In these cases, no special permit is required to travel. It will be sufficient to present valid passports and, where applicable, the document that grants parental authority or guardianship, in the case of third parties. If you do not have a valid passport and are in the United States Here we tell you how to process it.
If minors travel alone or with a third person of legal age who does not exercise parental authority or guardianship, then it is required to present an authorization before a notary public from both parents or from those who exercise parental authority or guardianship of the minor.
If the authorization is issued abroad, it must have the corresponding apostille and its translation into Spanish. The notarial document, together with the apostille and translation, if applicable, must be presented in the original and two copies.
Minor Exit Format (SAM)
The authorization before a notary may be replaced by the minor exit form (SAM), stamped by an office of the National Migration Institute (INM). The SAM format to be able to travel with minors is obtained free of charge in this link.
The minor exit form must be completed and printed (three copies are automatically printed) and presented at any of the offices of the National Migration Institute, along with the following documentation, in original and three copies:
1. Passport of the minor.
2. Birth certificate of the minor. If you don't have it here we tell you How can you process it in the United States.
3. Current identification of the person who exercises parental authority or guardianship of the minor.
4. Current identification of the minor's travel companion.
The procedure must be carried out by the person who is going to travel accompanying the minor, and go to the INM with the minor. Although it is valid for six months, the SAM form can only be used for a single trip, including return, and each minor requires a personal SAM form.
More Information
📌 How to process a tourist visa for the United States from Mexico?
Entry to Mexico with a minor
Minors entering Mexico can travel accompanied by their father or mother, alone, or even by a third person.
When minors travel with the father or mother, or with any of the people who exercise parental authority or guardianship, they do not require any special permission.
If minors travel alone or with a third person who does not exercise parental authority or guardianship, then authorization from both parents or those who exercise parental authority or guardianship is required.
If the authorization is issued abroad, it must have the corresponding apostille and its translation into Spanish. It must be submitted in original and two copies.
For minors who travel to Mexico accompanied by a third person who does not exercise parental authority or guardianship, there is no possibility of replacing the authorization with the corresponding apostille using the SAM format, since the National Migration Institute of Mexico is the only institution authorized to seal these formats and does not have representations abroad.
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