THE NEWLY PUBLISHED PASSPORT GUIDELINES INCLUDE NO NEW REQUIREMENTS

The Foreign Ministry reports that that guidelines for passports and identity and travel documents (in national territory) were published in the Official Journal of the Federation on November 23rd. These guidelines clarify the scope and content of the requirements for both documents.

• There are no new requirements for passports. The documents that can be submitted as proof of identity remain those set forth in the regulations: a voting card issued by the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE); a properly validated military service i.d.; a professional certificate or diploma, to name the most commonly presented documents.

• In the absence of these identification documents, the guidelines list as acceptable other documents such as: credentials for retirees, individuals with disabilities or for medical services.

The above does not change the current requirements for obtaining a passport. The guidelines only seek to explain the criteria by which the Foreign Ministry’s delegation and subdelegation offices will issue passports, in order to ensure the legal certainty that the government must respect in any proceeding with individuals, as well as the principles of transparency, accountability and maximum disclosure to the public.