State of Tlaxcala: Translation Waiver Programme to Remove Cost Barriers in Civil Registration for Migrants

Mexico

Jan 2

State of Tlaxcala

Governor
**Lorena Cuellar Cisneros**
Start of Project
**01/06/2024**
End of Project
**Ongoing**
Website
https://regcivil.tlaxcala.gob.mx/

Overview

In 2024, the Coordination of the Civil Registry created the Translation Waiver Programme, which applies to registration procedures when a foreign authority issued a document submitted in a language other than Spanish and would otherwise require an official translation by a court-authorised translator accredited by the State High Court of Justice.

This measure is intended to benefit the migrant population, in light of the high costs charged by some authorised translators, which disproportionately affect returning migrants who are in vulnerable situations, often lacking employment and access to social support programmes due to the absence of legal identity documentation.

The initiative aims to prevent vulnerable migrants from paying excessive fees for these services, following complaints of charges ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 pesos for a simple translation of a birth certificate and its apostille.

This measure is feasible because the authority has access to the official formats used by each country to issue birth certificates, as provided by the General Directorate of the National Population and Identity Registry (RENAPO).

Expected Impact

Mexican nationals returning from abroad—primarily from the United States—seeking registration of dual or single nationality will no longer be required to pay excessive fees for official document translations. These costs have often resulted from unregulated translation fees and limited capacity among court-authorised translators to adequately serve migrant populations. By replacing a burdensome legal practice with a more straightforward, practical, and rights-based approach, this measure strengthens access to legal identity, reduces financial barriers for vulnerable migrants, and contributes to a fairer and more inclusive state response to return and reintegration.

Lessons Learnt

Migrants will no longer incur high and unjustified costs for the translation of foreign public documents issued in languages other than Spanish.
Migrants will no longer face delays associated with obtaining official translations from court-authorised translators accredited by the State High Court of Justice.
Registration of dual nationality for binational children will be completed more quickly and securely, strengthening access to legal identity.
Migrants will no longer be exposed to intermediaries who promise to expedite translation procedures, nor will they be required to incur additional, unnecessary expenses.