One of the most frequently discussed questions — Why choose Mexico for childbirth? For many, the answers are obvious: a decent standard of living and medicine, a relatively low cost of childbirth and automatic Mexican citizenship for the child. Still eternal summer, sea and comfortable life. Thanks to the second citizenship, the child will be able to travel without visas to 149 countries of the world, including the EU, Great Britain, Canada, etc., and the second citizenship itself is not superfluous.
What about the parents? What do they get in addition to investing in their child's future, opening up more prospects for him thanks to a Mexican passport?
Parents (and in addition sisters and brothers, grandparents) receive permanent residence in Mexico. Inside Mexico, permanent residence provides almost all the same options as a passport, but outside the country it means nothing. If you do not intend to live in Mexico after the birth of your child, you have the right to leave for your homeland at any time (many do this) and return even after 20 years — You will not lose your permanent residence permit. But permanent residence does not give you the right to visit all 149 countries that your child can visit without a visa. This right is granted by a Mexican passport, not permanent residence.
To prepare your Mexican passport, you have to put in some effort. You will be able to apply for naturalization (that is, begin the procedure for acquiring Mexican citizenship) only 2 years after receiving your PLM. Firstly, during these 2 years you are not required to be absent from the country for a total of more than 6 months. Secondly, you should pass 2 exams: on knowledge of the Spanish language and on knowledge of the history and culture of the state. The exams themselves are not difficult, but far from just for show. You need to know the language, and learn the history and culture. Thirdly, from the beginning of the stages of naturalization to obtaining citizenship and — most importantly — passports will take another 6-8 months at best. But, in particular, now, while the coronavirus epidemic continues, the examinations were suspended in April last year and have not yet been resumed (April 2021). In total, in order to purchase Mexican passports, parents should stay in the country for 3 years after the birth of the child, leaving Mexico only for a short time.
After purchasing a Mexican passport, parents must visit the country once every five years or risk losing their Mexican citizenship. One way or another, you will have to connect not only your child’s life, but also your own, with Mexico. Also, do not forget that by acquiring citizenship, you become a tax resident of Mexico and you will have to pay taxes in this country, including on income received outside its borders. There are the same nuances with Russian tax residency — you have the opportunity to claim 13% personal income tax only if you physically reside in Russia for more than 183 days a year (90 days as an exception during the coronavirus epidemic), otherwise the personal income tax will already be 30%, and on any income received both in Russia and abroad.
The prospect of eventually obtaining a Mexican passport — This is perhaps the only positive aspect of childbirth in Mexico for parents, if we talk purely about legal aspects. At the same time, in relations with your native state, you will always be only its citizen.
Upon returning to Russia with a child born in Mexico, you will have to declare to the FSM authorities that the child has a second citizenship. Failure to submit a notification is subject to administrative and, in some cases, criminal liability. Later you will have to declare that you also have a second citizenship.
The birth of a child is undoubtedly the most wonderful moment in the life of parents, and only for the sake of a happy and prosperous birth is it worth coming to Mexico. For this reason, don't dig too deep: Mexican citizenship for parents — this is of course good, but if you are not going to connect your life with Mexico, think about children and family, not about citizenship.