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Mexico and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both passports in 2026

9 min read · ·

Mexico requires a signed renunciation of previous citizenship on naturalisation, but for Russia this renunciation means nothing. We explain the pitfalls and how not to lose the Mexican passport.

In short

With a caveat: on naturalisation Mexico requires a written renunciation of previous citizenship, but under Russian law you remain a Russian citizen, and a naturalised Mexican risks losing Mexican citizenship by using a foreign passport.

Previous passport on naturalisationRenunciation on naturalisation
Country ruleNaturalisation requires a signed renunciation of your previous citizenship. Children born in Mexico keep both
Legal basisArticle 17 of the Mexican Nationality Law (Ley de Nacionalidad)
What Russia requiresnotify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
CheckedOctober 2026

Two laws decide the question of two passports here, and they see it differently. Mexico takes a written renunciation of previous citizenship on naturalisation, while Russia does not recognise it: Russian citizenship can only be given up through the Russian procedure.

What Mexico requires on naturalisation

You can apply for Mexican citizenship after 5 years of living in the country with residence, or after 2 years for spouses of Mexican citizens and parents of children born in Mexico. Absences in the 2 years before applying must not exceed 6 months. You must pass an exam on history and culture and prove Spanish. The ministry must decide within 40 working days; in practice 6-9 months pass from filing to decision, and the certificate fee is about $530.

On receiving the naturalisation certificate you sign a renunciation of previous citizenship. For Mexico it is an obligation, for Russia it is not: Russian citizenship does not end because of a statement to a foreign authority. Meanwhile, Mexico's Constitution allows a naturalised citizen to be stripped of Mexican citizenship for presenting themselves as a foreigner in an official document or using a foreign passport.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

  • Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
  • Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.
  • Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
  • Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
  • A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

  1. Live 5 years with residence, or 2 years if married to a Mexican citizen or with a child born in Mexico.
  2. Watch your absences: no more than 6 months in the 2 years before applying.
  3. Pass the exam on Mexican history and culture and prove Spanish.
  4. Apply to Mexico's Foreign Ministry and sign the renunciation of previous citizenship when receiving the certificate.
  5. In Mexico use only the Mexican passport, and enter Russia on the Russian one.
  6. Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

Government fees for the whole route from visa to passport are about $3,500 per adult. Nobody takes away your Russian passport after naturalisation, but you must not show it to Mexican authorities.

What happens to children

A child born in Mexico is Mexican by birth, and Mexicans by birth cannot be stripped of citizenship. Such a child keeps both citizenships if Russian citizenship is also obtained through the consulate. Birth is covered on the page giving birth in Mexico and citizenship.

Taxes and military service

Mexican tax residence depends on having your main home in the country, not on days. Residents pay tax on worldwide income at 1.92 to 35%. The double tax treaty between Russia and Mexico is in force and has not been suspended.

Military service in Mexico for young men mostly consists of registration and weekend training. A Russian citizen's Russian military duty remains.

Common mistakes

  • Using a Russian passport in Mexico after naturalisation. It is a ground for stripping a naturalised citizen of Mexican citizenship.
  • Treating the signed renunciation as leaving Russian citizenship. Under Russian law you remain a citizen and must notify the Interior Ministry.
  • Leaving for more than 6 months in the 2 years before applying - the application will not be accepted.
  • Missing the Russian Interior Ministry notification. The deadline is 60 days from receiving Mexican citizenship, and failure carries criminal liability.

How to get Mexican citizenship

First temporary residence on income from $4,630 a month or savings from $78,025, permanent after 4 years, and citizenship after 5 years of residence. Marriage to a Mexican citizen or a child born in the country cuts the term to 2 years.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Mexican citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

A Mexican passport without losing either one

The law does not stop you from getting Mexican citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than fees: extra absences before applying, a foreign passport in a Mexican document and a missed notification to the Russian Interior Ministry. We calculate terms and absences, prepare you for the exam and documents and explain which passport to use where.

Our consultant in the chat will calculate the cost of support.

Get a support quote

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

More on this country:

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

FAQ

Can you hold Mexican and Russian citizenship at the same time?
With a caveat: on naturalisation Mexico requires a written renunciation of previous citizenship, but under Russian law you remain a Russian citizen, and a naturalised Mexican risks losing Mexican citizenship by using a foreign passport.
Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Mexican citizenship?
Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
Do I need to give up Russian citizenship to become Mexican?
On naturalisation Mexico requires a signed renunciation, but Russia does not recognise it: under Russian law you remain a Russian citizen until you leave citizenship through the Russian procedure.
Can I lose Mexican citizenship because of a Russian passport?
A naturalised Mexican risks losing citizenship by presenting themselves as a foreigner in an official document or using a foreign passport.
How many years must I live in Mexico to get citizenship?
5 years with residence, or 2 years if married to a Mexican citizen or with a child born in Mexico.
Will a child have dual Mexican and Russian citizenship?
Yes. A Mexican by birth cannot be stripped of citizenship, so the child keeps both passports.
How much does Mexican citizenship cost?
Government fees for the whole route from visa to passport are about $3,500 per adult, including about $530 for the naturalisation certificate.

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