Anyone running for President of Mexico, state governor, or Head of Government of Mexico City must hold Mexican nationality only, or renounce any other nationality before applying to register as a candidate.
Key Points
- The decree amending Articles 82, 116, and 122 of the Constitution was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) on October 7, 2026, and took effect on October 8.
- It applies starting with the 2028 election cycle and does not cover those already in office when it took effect.
- Anyone who holds another nationality must renounce it before applying to register as a candidate, on the terms set by law.
- The prohibition continues throughout the term of office: officeholders may not acquire or apply for another nationality, or invoke one before a foreign authority. Violations are punishable under Title IV of the Constitution, which governs the liability of public officials.
On October 7, 2026, the decree amending Articles 82, 116, and 122 of the Mexican Constitution—which requires single nationality to hold executive office at the federal and state levels—was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF). This completed the constitutional amendment process under Article 135, after a majority of the state legislatures and the Mexico City legislature approved the amendment and the federal Congress issued the corresponding declaration.
The amendment expressly writes into the Constitution, for each office, the requirement that the officeholder have Mexican nationality only. Until now, Article 32 of the Constitution and the Nationality Law already set a similar rule for various offices and functions; the amendment turns it into a specific eligibility requirement for executive office. It also gives the federal Congress and the states 90 calendar days to make the corresponding adjustments, so it already matters for anyone aspiring to these offices and for their advisors.
What Changes for Each Office
- Presidency of the Republic (Article 82): In addition to being a Mexican citizen by birth, in full exercise of their rights, and the child of a Mexican father or mother, a candidate must not hold or acquire another nationality; anyone who does hold one must renounce it before applying to register as a candidate, on the terms set by law. The requirement to have resided in the country for at least twenty years remains unchanged.
- Governorships (Article 116, Section I): Only a Mexican citizen by birth who does not hold or acquire any other nationality—or who renounces it before applying to register—may serve as governor. The candidate must also be a native of the state or have actually resided there for at least five years immediately before election day, and must be at least 30 years old on election day, or younger if the state constitution allows.
- Mexico City Government (Article 122, Section A, Subsection III): The Mexico City Constitution sets out the powers of and requirements for the office; however, in all cases, the candidate must be Mexican by birth and must not hold or acquire any other nationality, or, if they do hold one, must renounce it before applying to register.
A Prohibition That Does Not End with Registration
The amendment is not limited to the candidacy stage. Once in office, officeholders may not acquire or apply for another nationality, or claim a nationality other than Mexican before a foreign authority. The prohibition covers:
- Using a passport or identity document issued by a foreign country.
- Exercisingthe political rights thatcome with citizenship of that country.
- Seeking that country’s diplomatic protection.
For the offices of governor and Head of Government of Mexico City, the text lists these cases “among others,” meaning the list is not exhaustive. For all three offices, violations are punishable under Title IV of the Constitution and, for governors and the Head of Government, also under the applicable local constitution.
When It Applies
- Effective Date: The decree took effect on October 8, 2026, the day after it was published in the DOF.
- Application: The new rules apply starting with the 2028 election cycle.
- Incumbents: The new rules do not apply to anyone who held one of these offices when the decree took effect.
Next Steps: Adjustments Within 90 Days
- Federal Congress: Must amend the Nationality Law and electoral laws within 90 calendar days after the decree took effect, that is, by early January 2027.
- States: Must bring their constitutions and electoral laws into line within the same timeframe; in the meantime, the decree applies directly.
- Mexican nationality certificates: Those issued before the decree took effect remain valid for offices and functions other than those specified in Article 82, Article 116, Section I, and Article 122, Section A, Subsection III.
What You Should Review Now
We recommend that anyone considering running for these offices, as well as the parties and teams supporting them, review their situation with legal counsel well in advance. In particular, they should confirm whether they hold another nationality, which in some cases may exist by descent even if it was never formally claimed. They should also assess what renouncing that nationality would mean under the other country’s laws for residency, assets, taxes (including, in some countries, exit taxes), and inheritance rights. Finally, it is worth tracking the upcoming changes to the Nationality Law and electoral laws, which will define how renunciation before registration will work in practice.
The single-nationality requirement to head the executive branch is now part of the Constitution. For those seeking these offices, it means a verifiable eligibility requirement and an obligation that lasts throughout their term—one best addressed well in advance.
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