Asylum in Mexico: applying for refugee status with COMAR

Under the Law on Refugees, Complementary Protection and Political Asylum, a refugee is someone who has fled their country because of a fear of persecution for race, religion, nationality, gender, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, or because of other forms of serious violence that threaten their life, safety or freedom, and who cannot return for those reasons. The claim cannot be made from outside Mexico.

Go to a COMAR office, or to the INM in states without COMAR presence, and state in writing that you want to apply within the first 30 working days after arriving in Mexico. If you are late, you must explain the reasons in writing. If you meet the legal requirements you receive a certificate of procedure (constancia de trámite) that guarantees you will not be returned to your country.

You must stay in the state where you applied and sign in at least once every two weeks (10 working days) until the procedure ends. You then attend an eligibility interview, where you can submit evidence at any stage, and wait for the written decision. Family groups name one principal applicant who explains why the family left.

Applicants are protected against return while the claim is assessed, their information is confidential and not shared with their country, they may be interviewed individually with an interpreter, and they may use a legal representative. COMAR does not issue migration or transit documents, visas or work permits, does not run shelters and does not give financial support; it does help refugees and protected persons with integration.

The decision can recognise you as a refugee, grant complementary protection (no return to a country where your life would be at risk) or refuse both. If you disagree with a negative decision, COMAR states that legal mechanisms exist to have the authority reconsider the case.