AMEXCID Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected

Before You Apply

1. Applying to AMEXCID before getting university admission

This is the single most common reason for application failure. The AMEXCID application requires a valid university acceptance letter as a mandatory document. Without it, the application is incomplete and will be rejected at the first stage of review.

The confusion comes from how this scholarship is often described online. Most articles list it as a scholarship to apply for, without making clear that admission to a Mexican university is a prerequisite, not a subsequent step. AMEXCID does not place you at a university — you bring your university admission to them.

2. Submitting an acceptance letter older than 60 days

Even if you went through the correct sequence and obtained a university acceptance letter, AMEXCID will reject the application if that letter was issued more than 60 calendar days before your SIGCA submission date.

This catches applicants who obtained their acceptance letter well in advance, then waited too long to apply. The 60-day window runs from the letter's issue date to the date your AMEXCID application is submitted. If it's Day 61, the letter is invalid and you need a new one from the university.

3. Applying for a program that is excluded or not eligible

There are two separate checks here. First, the field of study must not be on AMEXCID's excluded list from earlier calls: no Business Administration, MBA, Accounting, Marketing, Advertising, Dentistry, Plastic Surgery, or any online programme. These have been absolute disqualifications regardless of which university offered the acceptance letter, and the 2026 call still funds only full-time, in-person study.

Second, even if the field is eligible, the specific programme must be eligible for the current year's call. Earlier calls listed eligible programs in Annex 6 (Academic Offerings), and only programs in that annex qualified. The 2026 call has no Annex 6, so confirm with both the university and the call that your programme is covered; being admitted to a participating university does not on its own make every programme eligible.

In the SIGCA Portal

4. Uploading documents that exceed 1.8 MB

The SIGCA portal has a hard file size limit of 1.8 MB per uploaded document. Files larger than this cannot be uploaded. If you scan your documents at high resolution without compression, you will frequently exceed this limit.

Before uploading anything, check the file sizes. If a file is over 1.8 MB, compress it using any PDF compression tool. The 2026 call asks for color PDFs, so keep scans in color but at a moderate 200–300 DPI, which usually produces files well within the limit while remaining clearly legible.

5. Submitting multiple registrations or duplicate accounts in SIGCA

AMEXCID is explicit about this: one application per person, per application cycle. If you create a second account because you want to correct a mistake in your first application, you are automatically disqualified — not just the duplicate. Dual nationals are no exception: you file one application under one eligible nationality.

If you make an error in your application, contact AMEXCID directly at the email provided in the official call (infobecas@sre.gob.mx in 2026). Do not attempt to fix it by registering again.

6. Not translating non-Spanish documents

All documents submitted to AMEXCID must be in Spanish. Documents in any other language need to be accompanied by a Spanish translation. This is not a suggestion — applications with untranslated documents are rejected or returned incomplete.

A simple translation, signed by you, is enough for most documents; the medical certificate is the exception and needs a certified translation. Merge the original and the translation into one PDF so they count as a single file. This keeps things organized and ensures reviewers have both versions side by side.

7. Applying with a B1 Spanish certificate when B2 is required

The minimum Spanish language requirement is B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference. B1 is not sufficient. Some applicants present B1 certificates expecting them to be accepted, but they are not.

Note that the requirement applies to applicants whose native language is not Spanish. If your programme is taught in another language, your host institution must also confirm it can tutor you in that language, and you still need to complete the SIGCA application in Spanish.

After You Win

8. Arriving in Mexico expecting the airfare to be covered

The airfare benefit AMEXCID provides is the flight home after successfully completing the scholarship. It is not a ticket to get you to Mexico at the start. Your initial travel to Mexico is entirely self-funded.

Related to this: the stipend is also paid in arrears, meaning you won't receive your first payment until after your first month is complete. AMEXCID recommends arriving with enough personal savings to cover at least the first 60 days while you wait for your first stipend and get settled.

9. Assuming IMSS medical coverage starts immediately

AMEXCID provides IMSS health insurance as part of the scholarship, but this coverage activates from your seventh month in Mexico, not from Day 1. For the first six months, you have no health coverage through the scholarship.

This is particularly important for any applicant with ongoing health conditions or for anyone planning extended outdoor or physical activities in Mexico. Arrange private or international student health insurance to cover the initial six-month gap.

10. Missing the in-person AMEXCID registration deadline

After winning the scholarship and arriving in Mexico, recipients must register in person at AMEXCID's offices in Mexico City within the first 10 calendar days of the scholarship's first month. Office hours for this are 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM, business days only.

If your host university is in another city, you will need to travel to Mexico City specifically for this step. Missing the 10-day window can jeopardize your scholarship status. Factor in the Mexico City trip when planning your arrival date.

The Short Checklist Before You Submit

• University acceptance letter obtained and issued within 60 days
• University is on the official Annex 1 list
• Programme is eligible under the current call, in-person, and not in the excluded fields
• All files in color PDF format, each under 1.8 MB
• Non-Spanish documents include Spanish translations
• Only one SIGCA account created
• Medical certificate dated within 3 months of submission
• Spanish language certificate shows B2 or above (if applicable)

Always read the official call document before submitting. Rules and requirements can change between cycles.

The FAQ covers many more specific scenarios, including edge cases around eligibility, language certificates, and what happens after you are selected.