Refugee Status

To qualify for refugee status, you must meet one of two legal definitions used by the Mexican government:

• The Traditional Definition: You have a well-founded fear of being persecuted based on your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
• The Cartagena Definition: You are fleeing your country because your life, safety, or freedom has been threatened by generalized violence, foreign aggression, internal conflicts, massive violations of human rights, or other circumstances which have seriously disturbed public order.

Key Thresholds and Limitations

• The 30-Day Rule: You must submit your application within 30 business days of entering Mexico. If you apply after this window, you must provide documented evidence justifying the delay (such as a medical emergency or lack of information).
• Geographic Restriction: Once you apply, you are legally required to remain in the state where you started your application. Leaving the state without explicit authorization from COMAR will result in your application being declared "abandoned."
• Physical Presence: You must be physically located within Mexico to apply; you cannot start this process from abroad.

Nationality-Specific Variations

Mexico utilizes "simplified procedures" for certain nationalities facing systemic crises (historically including Venezuelans and Haitians). These applicants may benefit from an expedited "presumption of inclusion" during high-volume periods. Additionally, while the refugee process is the same for everyone, refugees from Latin American or Iberian countries qualify for a shortened path to Mexican citizenship (2 years of residency instead of the standard 5).