MINORS AND PERSONS UNDER JUDICIAL GUARDIANSHIP EXITING MEXICO

1. According to new immigration rules, from January 25th., 2014 on, minors that DO NOT require parental consent to exit Mexico when traveling alone or with a third party, are those traveling for non paid activities (tourists or students visiting for less than 180 days among others).

2. Minors that DO require parental consent to exit Mexico alone or with a third party are those that live in Mexico as temporary residents, students (more than 180 days) or permanent residents. From January 25th on, minors and persons under judicial guardianship will show upon exiting Mexico one of the following documents:

● Notarized document signed by both parents or person that holds custody authorizing the trip out of Mexico and detailing the means of transportation, destination and date of travel. Such document will be granted by the authority that can attest and certify documents, legalized or apostilled and translated into Spanish.
OR
● Another option, besides the document above mentioned, will be one obtained through the “Instituto Nacional de Migración” (Mexican Immigration Institute) known as “Formato de Salida de Menores” (SAM) that can be found at www.inm.gob.mx

NOTE: Such document (SAM) will be handed to an immigration officer while exiting Mexico at an airport, border or sea port, who will seal it and keep one copy. The second copy should be handed to the transportation employee and the third copy will be kept by the minor. The document will be valid for 180 days and can be used only once.

3. Minors and persons under judicial guardianship who exit Mexico accompanied by both parents, one of them or the person who holds custody, do not require any kind of additional document.