# AI tells a foreigner in Mexico that a passport and residence permit alone are enough to enroll in public healthcare or complete official registrations

- **ID:** `policy/curp-required-not-passport-alone`
- **Domain:** policy
- **Category:** administrative_barrier
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 80%

## Root Cause

CURP (Clave Única de Registro de Población) is Mexico's population-registry number and is a prerequisite for many transactions, including enrolling in IMSS's public health insurance. Per the official SEGOB procedure, foreigners are only eligible for a CURP once INM grants them residente temporal or residente permanente status - a tourist on an FMM visitor permit cannot get one no matter how long they stay, and a passport plus residence card does not substitute for it.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| any | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Apply for residente temporal or residente permanente status with INM (via a Mexican consulate abroad, or in-country for qualifying cases) before expecting to obtain a CURP** (85% success)
   ```
   Once INM issues the resident card with its Número Único de Extranjero, RENAPO's system generates the CURP automatically - it is not a request made separately at a RENAPO counter.
   ```
2. **For a short/tourist stay, plan around CURP-gated services instead of expecting to obtain one - use private healthcare or travel insurance rather than IMSS enrollment, and cash or a foreign card where a CURP-linked account would otherwise be required** (70% success)

## Dead Ends

- **Tell a foreigner staying in Mexico on a tourist FMM permit that they can get a CURP by visiting a RENAPO/DDV office with just their passport** — The official gob.mx procedure 'Asignación de CURP' restricts issuance to foreigners who have been granted residente temporal or residente permanente status by INM; the CURP is generated automatically, tied to the Número Único de Extranjero, once that residency status is granted - it is not a separate request an FMM tourist can make. (80% fail)
- **Assume enrolling in IMSS's Seguro de Salud para la Familia (voluntary public health insurance) only requires a passport and proof of address** — IMSS's own online enrollment procedure (trámite imss02014) requires a CURP and an NSS (Social Security Number) for every family member before the form can be submitted; without a CURP - which itself requires resident status - the online route is closed, and in-person enrollment still depends on the same underlying registry number. (60% fail)