U.S. Single Status Affidavit for Marrying in Mexico
Some Mexican civil registries ask the foreign spouse to prove they are not married. In the U.S. this is normally done with a sworn affidavit before a notary, apostilled by the state and translated into Spanish. Before getting one, confirm your registry office requires it.
Which Mexican offices ask for this document
These are the most common procedures; the receiving office may ask for more:
Civil Marriage of a Foreign National in Mexico
- The foreign spouse’s birth certificate, apostilled in the state or province of origin and translated into Spanish by a perito.
- If previously married: an apostilled divorce decree, or the former spouse’s death certificate, with its translation.
- Passport and proof of legal stay in Mexico; each state or municipality may add requirements (medical tests, pre-marital talks, witnesses, a single status statement).
Which version works and which does not
An apostille can only go on a public document with the right signature and seal:
- Original affidavit with a complete notarial certificate, or a certificate issued by the state registry
- Unnotarized letters
- Affidavits older than the Registro Civil accepts
How to prepare this document
Follow this order so the authority apostilles it and the Mexican office accepts it:
Confirm with the Mexican Registro Civil whether it is required and in what format.
Sign the affidavit before a notary in the U.S. state where you are.
Apostille from that state’s Secretary of State.
Spanish translation by a perito traductor.
Which authority apostilles your document?
The apostille comes from a specific office, depending on where the document was issued or signed. Pick your case:
Document review needed
We do not yet have a confirmed route for this combination. We review your document before telling you where it goes.
Already living in Mexico?
If you already live in Mexico, first ask the Registro Civil what it accepts: a U.S. notary cannot act on a document signed here. We help you review the checklist and choose a workable option.
1. Online review
Send us a photo or scan of the document. We check the signature, seal and authority before you send anything.
2. Shipping originals
If the procedure needs the original, we tell you how to send it by tracked courier or collect it from your address.
3. Delivery to your door
We send the apostilled document and, if you asked for it, the translation by a perito anywhere in Mexico.
Translation by a perito traductor
Mexican offices usually ask for documents in English or French to be translated into Spanish by a perito traductor authorized by the state judiciary. The translation normally includes the apostille. Each office decides which peritos it accepts: some only take peritos from their own state.
Usual timelines
These are the authorities’ timelines; shipping and translation are on top:
Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Getting one without confirming the Registro Civil wants it: not every state requires it.
Signing it while already in Mexico, where a U.S. notary cannot act.
Filing it after the age limit set by the registry office.
Apostille questions: Single Status Affidavit
How long before the wedding should I get it?
Some registry offices only accept recent affidavits. Ask for the time limit and allow for the apostille (5 to 7 business days on average) and translation so it arrives on time without expiring.
Do I also need my birth certificate?
Almost always: the apostilled and translated birth certificate is one of the basic requirements for a foreign national’s civil marriage in Mexico.
Do I need a single status affidavit to marry in Mexico?
It depends on the state and municipality. Some civil registries ask foreign spouses for it and others do not. If you are already in Mexico, ask what alternatives they accept before getting a document in the U.S.; we can help you review the checklist they give you.
We help you in Mexico
- Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH): https://www.hcch.net/es/instruments/conventions/specialised-sections/apostille
Pre-review: Single Status Affidavit
Before any paper moves, we review your document: who issued it, whether the signature and seal can be apostilled and what the Mexican office needs. You get the timeline and a quote in writing.
Pre-review: Single Status Affidavit
We check the authority, signature and seal, and send you a quote before you ship the original.