10/12/2026
Travelling to Mexico with children? There's an important change on the horizon! 🇲🇽
Mexico is moving forward with new federal legislation aimed at protecting children from trafficking and exploitation, and it could mean additional documentation requirements for families checking into resorts and hotels. On October 7, 2026, Mexico's Senate approved legislation that would require tourism providers to verify the relationship between adults and the minors travelling with them (anyone under 18).
What this means for families:
Once implemented, hotels and other tourism providers may require documentation confirming that accompanying adults are the child's parents, legal guardians, or otherwise authorized to travel with them. This could be particularly important for grandparents travelling with grandchildren, blended families, or children travelling with only one parent.
What should you bring? While we await the official requirements, I recommend travelling with:
👉 A copy of each child's long-form birth certificate showing parental information.
👉 Custody or guardianship documents, where applicable.
👉 A parental consent letter when children are travelling without one or both parents. (notarization may be worth considering).
IMPORTANT: These are precautionary recommendations, NOT a confirmed list of documents required under the new legislation.
IMPORTANT:
Although the legislation has passed Mexico's Congress, the official effective date and specific documentation requirements are still pending confirmation. As travel advisors, we'll be keeping a close eye on this legislation and will share updates as soon as the official requirements are published.