Mexican president signs decree restricting dual nationality for top elected offices

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum signed a constitutional reform Wednesday requiring candidates for the presidency, state governorships and the Mexico City mayor’s office to hold only Mexican nationality.

“Starting in 2028, anyone who wants to run for governor, head of government, president or president of the Republic can only be Mexican. That is what this decree is about,” said Sheinbaum.

The reform will take effect from 2028 and requires anyone seeking to register as a candidate for one of the positions to meet the nationality requirement before registering with the National Electoral Institute, or INE.

Candidates who hold dual nationality will have to renounce their other nationality and retain only Mexican nationality before completing their electoral registration.

The measure does not ban Mexicans from holding dual nationality. The requirement applies only to those seeking the presidency, state governorships or the Mexico City government.

The reform was approved by the required majorities in Congress and ratified by 22 state legislatures before being signed into law.

Sheinbaum has presented the measure as a way to strengthen Mexico’s sovereignty and ensure that people holding the highest elected offices have a single nationality.

The reform raised debate about the political rights of Mexicans with dual nationality, including those born abroad to Mexican parents.

Mexican law allows people born outside the country to Mexican parents to acquire Mexican nationality by birth. The new provision does not remove that right but adds a requirement for those seeking the offices covered by the reform.

The measure will not affect the 2027 elections.

The government has said the reform seeks to strengthen national sovereignty and establish a single-nationality requirement for those seeking key elected positions.