Online form eases parental permission requirement

IMPACT – LOW

What is the change? The Mexican immigration authorities have made a special form available online that parents submit to give permission for minor children to travel unaccompanied outside Mexico.

What does the change mean? The change relieves parents from the more burdensome alternative of producing a notarized letter of permission.

• Implementation timeframe: Jan. 3, 2014.
• Visas/permits affected: This affects the ability of minors to travel, including students living in Mexico alone.
• Who is affected: Parents of minors traveling outside Mexico without a parent or guardian.
• Impact on processing times: Parents can now use a standard form, which is faster than getting their own personalized letter notarized.
• Business impact: None.

Background: Last month, a rule took effect that required parents to show special permission before a minor child could travel outside Mexico unaccompanied. Under that regulation, parents had to present a letter that was notarized, legalized or apostilled (depending on the home country). That process was potentially time-consuming, especially if the parents were in the home country and the minor was living in Mexico. On Jan. 3, the National Institute of Migration (INM) made a special permit available on its official website. Parents can download the form, fill it out and submit it, instead of going in person to a notary to get a letter properly authorized.

BAL Analysis: The online form will ease compliance with the rule requiring parental permission for minors traveling outside Mexico.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Mexico. For additional information, please contact GlobalVisaGroup@bal.com.

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