Mexico
Apostille in Mexico
At a glance
Who issues apostilles in Mexico, and what does it cost?
| Uses apostilles? | Uses apostilles1 |
|---|---|
| Member since | 1 |
| How it joined | Joined later (accession), 1 |
| Who issues apostilles | Ministry of the Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación, SEGOB), Directorate for Political Coordination with the Federal Powers (Dirección de Coordinación Política con los Poderes de la Unión), public documents issued by federal authorities, for example the federal criminal record certificate2 Secretariat of Government of each state (Secretaría de Gobierno de cada entidad federativa), public documents issued by state authorities, for example Mexican birth and marriage certificates3 |
| Fee | Not published by the office (all documents)2checked 18 October 2026 |
| Processing time | Not published by the office2checked 18 October 2026 |
| Documents covered | 2 kinds of document listed by the office |
| What the receiving side decides | Whether it accepts the document: for example how recent it must be and whether it needs a translation. |
| Last checked |
Step by step
How to get an apostille in Mexico
Work out whether the document was issued by a federal authority or a state authority.2
For a federal document, apply to the SEGOB directorate, which the Ministry says handles apostilles without an appointment and without a power of attorney, so a relative or acquaintance can go for you.3
For a state document, apply to the Secretariat of Government of the state concerned.2
For federal documents the online procedure on the SEGOB apostille portal starts by checking the payment concept and generating the payment reference (línea de captura).2
Documents
Common documents
As listed by the office:
- Documents issued by federal authorities, such as the federal criminal record certificate3
- Documents issued by state authorities, such as Mexican birth certificates and marriage certificates3
More about these documents: birth certificate, marriage certificate, criminal record certificate.
Contacts
Who to contact in Mexico
- Apostille officeMinistry of the Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación, SEGOB), Directorate for Political Coordination with the Federal Powers (Dirección de Coordinación Política con los Poderes de la Unión)2Public documents issued by federal authorities, for example the federal criminal record certificate
- Apostille officeSecretariat of Government of each state (Secretaría de Gobierno de cada entidad federativa)3Public documents issued by state authorities, for example Mexican birth and marriage certificates
- The office that will receive your documentAsk it before you start what it needs: an apostille, a translation, or a document issued recently.
Common situations
Using a document from or in Mexico
A document issued in Mexico
The apostille comes from Mexico, from the office named above. It works in any other country where the Convention applies with Mexico.
Check where it can be usedA document for use in Mexico
Get the apostille in the country that issued the document, not in Mexico. Mexico accepts it if that country is also a member and the Convention applies between the two.
Check your countryGood to know
Good to know
Note: Rule
Mexican embassies and consulates abroad do not issue apostilles; the procedure can only be done in Mexico.3
Before the apostille
Private documents
A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public, and the apostille then goes on the notary’s certificate. A copy of a public document from another country is first certified by a notary public, then apostilled.
An apostille only confirms the signature, the role of the person who signed and any seal or stamp on the document. It does not confirm what the document says. The office that receives the document decides what it accepts.
Questions
Questions about apostilles in Mexico
Does Mexico accept apostilles?
Yes. Mexico has been a member of the Apostille Convention since 14 August 1995, so it issues and accepts apostilles for documents exchanged with other member countries.
Who issues apostilles in Mexico?
Ministry of the Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación, SEGOB), Directorate for Political Coordination with the Federal Powers (Dirección de Coordinación Política con los Poderes de la Unión) (public documents issued by federal authorities, for example the federal criminal record certificate) and Secretariat of Government of each state (Secretaría de Gobierno de cada entidad federativa) (public documents issued by state authorities, for example Mexican birth and marriage certificates).
How much does an apostille cost in Mexico?
Not published by the office (all documents). Fees can change, so check the office’s own page before you apply.
How long does an apostille take in Mexico?
The office does not publish a processing time (checked 18 October 2026).
Do I need to notarise a private document first?
Yes. A private document, such as a power of attorney or a contract, is first signed in front of a notary public. The apostille is then added to the notary’s certificate, not to the private document itself.
Is an apostille valid in countries that are not Convention members?
No. An apostille only works in other member countries. Countries outside the Convention use a different process, usually called legalisation. The office that receives your document decides what it accepts.
Sources and verification
Sources
- Status
- Last verified: (18 October 2026)
- How it was checked
- Checked by our team against the sources above
- Next review
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