Who Can Apply for AMEXCID in 2027

The Baseline Requirements

AMEXCID eligibility works on a few different levels. First, your nationality needs to appear on the official eligible countries list (called Annex 5), which is published with each year's call. This list is updated annually, so a country that was on it last year may not be on it this year, and new countries can be added. If your country is not on that year's list, you cannot apply regardless of how strong your profile is.

Beyond nationality, AMEXCID checks your academic level, your GPA from your most recently completed degree, and your current living situation (whether you're already in Mexico matters). Each of these has hard cutoffs, not recommendations. The rules below follow the 2026 call; the 2027 call has not been published yet, so re-check them when it appears.

• Foreign national from an eligible country. Your country must appear in the official Annex 5 list published with the current year's call. This is bilateral — it depends on Mexico's diplomatic agreements with your country. If you hold more than one nationality, you submit a single application under one eligible nationality — the one you will be accredited with.
• Minimum GPA of 8.5 out of 10 (85 out of 100). This is measured as equivalent to the Mexican grading system, and the host university's acceptance letter must state that you meet it. If your country uses a different scale (letter grades, 4.0, percentage), it has to be converted. The exact conversion method is not publicly published, but a solid B+ average generally meets the threshold.
• Completed relevant university-level degree. For master's programmes and master's mobility: a completed bachelor's degree (licenciatura). For doctoral and postdoctoral research stays, the 2026 call asks for a copy of a doctoral degree; earlier guidance accepted a completed master's for doctoral research stays, so check the current call if you are a doctoral candidate. Undergraduate mobility is for students currently enrolled in a bachelor's. Technical or vocational qualifications are not accepted as equivalent.
• Valid acceptance letter from a participating Mexican institution. Must be from one of the participating universities listed in Annex 1 (103 in the updated 2026 Annex 1). The letter must be issued no more than 60 calendar days before your AMEXCID application submission. An older letter will not be accepted.
• Spanish at B2 level if Spanish is not your native language. A certificate at B2 or higher on the Common European Framework of Reference from any recognised university or educational institution is acceptable — DELE is not specifically required. If your programme is taught in a language other than Spanish (and other than your native language), your host institution must also confirm in writing that it will provide tutoring or advising in that language, naming the language and the tutor.
• At least 18 years old at the time of application.

Who Cannot Apply

These are hard exclusions. No exceptions are made and there is no appeals process.

• Mexican nationals or those with Mexican parents. Anyone also holding Mexican nationality is excluded, as are children of Mexican parents (since this can confer nationality rights under Mexican law). This is a commonly overlooked rule that catches many applicants by surprise.
• Foreign diplomats accredited in Mexico and their direct families. Diplomatic staff working in Mexico on an official accreditation and their immediate family members cannot apply.
• Current Mexican government scholarship holders. If you currently hold a scholarship from any Mexican government agency, you cannot apply. This includes other AMEXCID scholarships and scholarships from other federal agencies.
• Recipients of any Mexican federal scholarship in the immediately prior year. Even if you are no longer receiving the scholarship, if you received it in the previous year, you are still ineligible. Former AMEXCID beneficiaries must wait a period equivalent to the duration of their previous scholarship, and former recipients who did not successfully complete an earlier AMEXCID scholarship are excluded.
• Foreigners living in Mexico without a valid Temporary Resident Student card. If you are already living in Mexico but do not hold a valid Temporary Resident Student card (tarjeta de residente temporal estudiante), you cannot apply. The exception is described below.
• Foreign nationals on a family residency visa in Mexico. Individuals whose residence in Mexico is based on a family connection (a family reunification visa, or who are seeking one) rather than student status are ineligible.
• People living in a third country. If you are studying or residing in a country other than your country of nationality, or are nominated, recommended or sponsored by institutions outside your country of origin, your application will not be considered.
• Applicants under 18 at the time of application.

Special Case: Already Studying in Mexico

The 2026 call excludes foreigners living in Mexico without a Temporary Resident Student card, so students who hold one can apply. Its letter rules cover an acceptance or presentation letter. The details below come from earlier calls; check the current call before relying on them. If you are already in Mexico on a valid Temporary Resident Student card and enrolled at a participating university, instead of an acceptance letter you submit a letter of presentation (introduction letter) from your current Mexican institution. This letter must confirm:

• That you are a regularly enrolled student at the institution
• Your current academic average (which must be 8.5/10 or above)
• The programme and level of study you are pursuing

Earlier calls also asked for a copy of your CURP (Clave Única de Registro de Población — Mexico's national ID number for foreign residents) and a copy of your Temporary Resident Student card, on top of the standard documents. The 2026 call does not list these separately.

Scholarship Modalities and Duration

AMEXCID offers several types of scholarships, each with different duration limits and degree requirements. Make sure your planned program type matches one of these modalities.

Research stays were 3–12 months in earlier calls; the 2026 call sets 6 to 12 months, and every scholarship must last at least 6 months. Medical Specialization appeared in earlier calls but is not among the types in the 2026 call.

Excluded Fields of Study

Earlier calls specifically excluded these program types from funding regardless of which institution offers them or how strong your application is. The 2026 call does not repeat the list, so check the current call before applying in one of these fields.

The next step is understanding what the scholarship actually covers — and what you will be responsible for yourself. Check the annual eligible countries list (Annex 5) on the official AMEXCID site to confirm your country is included for the current cycle.