Factsheet, Page 2

AGE AND CIVIL STATUS: Prospective adoptive parents may either be married or single, male or female. They must be over twenty-five years of age, possess good moral character, and demonstrate the means to care for the physical and educational needs of the child. The adoptive parents must be seventeen years older than the child. If the parents are married, however, only one parent must meet the age requirement. If the child is over fourteen years of age, he or she must consent to the adoption.

ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS: Adoption in Mexico is governed by the civil codes of each of the 31 Mexican states. While there are general similarities among the states’ laws, actual practice may vary considerably from state to state and even from municipality to municipality.

DOCTORS: The Embassy and Consulates maintain lists of doctors and sources for medicine, should you or your child experience health problems while in Mexico

MEXICAN DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS: Prospective adoptive parents should have the following:

  • Certified copy of birth certificate or a U.S. passport as proof of U.S. citizenship.
  • Certified copy of marriage certificate, if applicable.
  • A statement from the employer of the parent who is the primary supporter of the family. It must indicate the position, years of service with the employer, and salary. It is also recommended to include a certified copy of the most recent income-tax form.
  • Copy of the most recent bank statement or other evidence of financial holdings as proof of financial solvency.
  • Two letters of recommendation from two people who can attest to the character of the adoptive parents.
  • A married couple should obtain letters from persons who have known them as a married couple. Each letter should include the address and telephone number of the person writing the letter.
  • Certificate from the state police from the parents’ home state (state of residence) in the U.S. verifying that the adoptive parents have no police record.
  • A copy of a social, economic, and psychological study of the parents'' home situation conducted by an agency of the state of the child''s proposed residence, or an agency authorized by that state to conduct such a study, and or by an appropriate public or private adoption agency licensed in the United States. The adoptive parents should consult the office of the U.S. Health and Human Services Administration nearest their residence for referral to the competent body for this study.
  • One 3x3-inch color photograph of each parent.
  • Two 3x5-inch photographs of the parents in their home or in a family outing.

All documentation listed above must be notarized by a notary public at the place of origin of the document, translated into Spanish by an official translator of the Mexican Consulate nearest to the parents'' place of residence in the United States, and certified by that Mexican Consulate. When all the documents have been assembled, they should be sent to the person or organization in Mexico acting as the adoption agent/representative for presentation to the Mexican court.


The Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores (the Mexican Foreign Ministry or SRE) requires that a Mexican passport be issued to the child in the child’s new name after the adoption proceedings are completed. Passports issued to a child prior to the final decree of adoption are not valid for travel purposes under the new identity of the child.

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Credits: U.S. Department of State