State of Tlaxcala Offers ‘Pro Persona Legal Interpretation’ to Recognize Two Surnames for Mexicans Born Abroad

Mexico

Jan 7

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 established the Pro Person Interpretation Programme for Immigration Matters, which allows individuals born outside the national territory to be registered as Mexican nationals with two surnames on their birth certificates. This measure applies in cases where the legal systems and requirements of the country of birth do not recognise the use of two surnames (paternal and maternal) in birth certificates and civil records, and instead record only one surname.

In such cases, elements such as a dot, hyphen, or other similar character, notation, or mark are used to indicate to Mexican authorities the existence of two surnames for the individual whose identity is being recognised.

This measure is intended to benefit Mexican nationals residing in the United States of America or in other countries who face difficulties in processing dual nationality or Mexican nationality through the Civil Registry Offices of the State of Tlaxcala. The provision will also apply to the parents of the applicant.

Expected Impact

This measure ensures that Mexican nationals returning from abroad—particularly from the United States—can register for dual or single nationality without being required to return to the country where their foreign birth certificate was issued to correct minor discrepancies, such as variations in their full name or typographical errors.

This represents a significant improvement in access to legal identity, as returning migrants would otherwise be faced with the impossible requirement of travelling back to a country they may no longer be able to enter in order to amend official documents. By removing this barrier, the measure addresses a longstanding administrative obstacle and strengthens a more realistic, rights-based approach to nationality registration for returning migrants.

Lessons Learnt

Migrants will be able to register their children, or their own birth records, even when the foreign birth certificate contains errors at the time of issuance.
Migrants will no longer be required to travel to the country that issued their birth document to have it corrected.
Registration of dual nationality for binational children will be completed more quickly and securely.
Migrants will no longer be exposed to intermediaries who charge excessive fees for correcting foreign public documents.