DOCUMENT LEGALIZATION FOR MEXICO

This page at a glance: DOCUMENTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES CANADIAN DOCUMENTS MEXICAN DOCUMENTS

In order for documents issued in other countries to be valid in Mexico, they must be legalized by the Mexican Consulate that has jurisdiction over the region where they were issued, or authenticated with an "apostille" from the central authority of the country where they were issued. (The "apostille" is an authentication issued within the framework of the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization and applies to those countries that are signatory members of said international treaty.)

CANADIAN DOCUMENTS

In order for documents issued in Canada to be valid in Mexico, they must be legalized by the Mexican Consulate that has jurisdiction over the region where they were issued. The consular fee for this service is the equivalent of US$36.00 per document, in Canadian funds.

Before a document can be legalized by our Consular Office, however, it must be authenticated by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, which will stamp it. For information on this matter, please contact the Authentication and Service of Documents Section at the Department of Foreign Affairs at 125 Sussex Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G2, Tel. (613) 995-0119. All official documents issued in English or French must be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish.

If you mail your documents, please do not forget to send the money order in Canadian funds and to include a prepaid self-addressed envelope.

MEXICAN DOCUMENTS

In order for documents issued or certified by a Mexican authority to be valid in Canada, they must be legalized by the Canadian Embassy or Consulate in Mexico. For further information, please contact the at 01-800-706-29-00.

Requirements for documents issued in the Federal District (Mexico City):

1. Academic documents must be certified by the Ministry of Public Education, UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) or the Instituto Politécnico Nacional.
2. Documents issued by government authorities (birth certificates, powers of attorney, legal judgments, etc.) must be authenticated by the General Legal and Legislative Studies Office (Dirección General Jurídica y de Estudios Legislativos) at Av. Calendaria de los Patos s/n, Col. 10 de mayo, México, D.F.
3. All documents must be authenticated before the Ministry of the Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación) at Abram González 48, Col. Juárez, Edificio Principal de la Secretaría de Gobernación, México, D.F.
4. Subsequently, all documents must be certified by any office of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Delegaciones de la Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores).
5. Finally, documents must be submitted to the Canadian Embassy or Consulate. Please call the Canadian Embassy at 01-800-706-29-00.

For documents issued by the States of the Mexican Republic, the first authentication will be provided by the Local Governmental Office (Secretaría de Gobierno) and then continue with requirements 2, 3, 4 and 5.