Mexico: Whether there is a requirement in Mexico that upon checking in at the airport (or obtaining a boarding pass or proceeding through security inspection or at the boarding gate) for an accompanying adult to produce documentation that demonstrates that the other or both parents have authorized the child's exit (2005)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 20 October 2005 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MEX100750.E |
| Reference | 7 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico: Whether there is a requirement in Mexico that upon checking in at the airport (or obtaining a boarding pass or proceeding through security inspection or at the boarding gate) for an accompanying adult to produce documentation that demonstrates that the other or both parents have authorized the child's exit (2005), 20 October 2005, MEX100750.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/440ed72819.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a 12 October 2005 telephone interview, an official at the Embassy of Mexico located in Ottawa stated that in order to receive a boarding pass for any international flight, any person travelling with a minor must produce at the airline check-in area documentation that authorizes the minor's travel. Moreover, the official noted that migration authorities located near the security checkpoint would also check documentation of persons passing through, such as identification cards and authorization for the travel of minors (Mexico 12 Oct. 2005).
A Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) official posted in Mexico City corroborated this information in a 13 October 2005 telephone interview, stating that because airlines do not want to be held accountable for a possible kidnapping, persons departing for international travel with a minor must produce documentation that authorizes the minor's travel (a notarized consent letter – declaracion notarial) at the check-in with the airlines. The CIC official added that airlines are "very strict" about this procedure (Canada 13 Oct. 2005).
However, with regard to Mexican migration authorities, the CIC official stated that in his opinion the migration personnel would possibly check the authorization documentation from one parent travelling with a child; nevertheless, the officer believed that this duty was not within their mandate (ibid.). The migration authorities, the official pointed out, are generally more concerned with checking the documentation of foreigners departing the country (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Canada. 13 October 2005. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Telephone interview with official in Mexico City.
Mexico. 12 October 2005. Embassy of Mexico, Ottawa. Telephone interview with official.
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de Mexico (AICM), Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), Embassy of Mexico in Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada, Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM), Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE), United States Department of State, World News Connection (WNC).
