Can my grandchildren be Mexican? The 2021 reform

What changed in 2021

On May 17, 2021, Mexico’s official gazette (Diario Oficial de la Federación) published a reform to Article 30 of the Mexican Constitution, which took effect the next day. Before, the Constitution said people born abroad were Mexican by birth if their Mexican father or mother was born in Mexican territory. In other words, nationality passed from Mexico to the first generation born outside, and stopped there.

The reform removed that condition. Today Article 30 says that Mexican by birth are "those born abroad, children of Mexican parents, of a Mexican mother or of a Mexican father." It no longer matters where the Mexican parent was born: it’s enough that they are Mexican.

What it means for your family

Picture a family with three generations: a grandmother born in Michoacán, a son born in Los Angeles and a granddaughter born in Fresno.

• The son always had the right to be Mexican, because his mother was born in Mexico.
• The granddaughter, before 2021, could not be Mexican by birth, because her father was born outside Mexico. Since the reform, she can: her father is Mexican, and that’s enough.

The same applies whether the granddaughter’s parent was registered as Mexican years ago or is about to be: what counts is that they are Mexican.

Order matters: the parent first

To register a grandchild, the consulate needs proof that the grandchild’s father or mother is Mexican. That is usually the parent’s Mexican birth certificate. If your son or daughter was born in the United States and was never registered as Mexican, the first step is to register them. With their Mexican birth certificate in hand, the grandchild is registered next.

Many families do both, one after the other. We help you plan them so the documents for the first appointment also work for the second and you don’t have to gather them twice.

Birth inscription at the consulates

The Mexican consulate in Calexico publishes that, since November 1, 2025, consulates can process the inscription of births that took place abroad when one of the parents is Mexican by birth. According to that notice:

• The person themselves or an adult relative can file as the declarant: a parent, grandparents, aunts or uncles, siblings, children or grandchildren.
• One parent’s Mexican nationality is proven with their Mexican birth certificate, certificate of Mexican nationality or naturalization letter.
• The procedure is free; extra certified copies have a fee.
• Minors under 18 no longer have to attend the appointment.
• Birth certificates that aren’t from the United States need verification or an apostille, plus a Spanish translation if they’re not in English or Spanish.

Each consulate applies these rules its own way and requirements can change. Before your appointment, confirm on your consulate’s page which procedure applies to you: birth registration or inscription.

How we help

At the consultation we map out your family tree with you: who was born where, who already has a Mexican birth certificate and who doesn’t. From there we tell you in what order to do things, which documents each person needs and how to request the appointments. Book your consultation or first see the requirements checklist.