Foreign flags in Mexico: what the law allows

Flags of the United States, Spain or Canada in front of hotels, consulates and factories, team flags in the stadiums: flags of other countries are an everyday sight in Mexico. The Law on the National Arms, Flag and Anthem regulates their presence mainly at official events and at ceremonies where they appear together with the national flag. For private use, the law sets no rules of its own. This guide summarises what it says.

Official international events

Under article 23, at official international events held in the Republic, only the flags of countries with which the Mexican Government maintains diplomatic relations may be raised or present, and they receive the same honours as the national flag.

At international sporting, cultural or other events hosted by Mexico, the flags of countries with which Mexico has no diplomatic relations may also be raised or present, in line with the corresponding ceremonial. Article 23 Bis, added in 2018, provides that at international sporting events held in the country, the presentation of the flag, the performance of the anthem and the use of the national flag follow the law and its regulation.

The place of honour

Under article 24, when the national flag and one or more foreign flags are present at a ceremony, honours are first rendered to the national flag and then to the others, in the corresponding order. The national flag takes the place of honour whenever foreign flags are present. The same applies to anthems: at an official ceremony with the national anthem and a foreign one, the national anthem is performed first, and at international events hosted by Mexico the corresponding ceremonial is followed (article 47). The guide to flag protocol covers the honours.

Anthems and reciprocity

Singing or performing another nation’s anthem in Mexico requires an authorisation from the Ministry of the Interior, without prejudice to the rules of each country (article 39). Article 52 allows the federal executive, through that Ministry, to regulate the use of a foreign country’s flag and the performance of its anthem in Mexico on a reciprocal basis.

Embassies and consulates

Foreign diplomatic missions fly their country’s flag under article 20 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, which gives them the right to use the flag and emblem of the sending State on the mission’s premises, at the residence of the head of mission and on his or her means of transport. Conversely, the Mexican law provides that Mexico’s embassies and consulates set aside a prominent place for the national flag (article 53).

Private persons, hotels and businesses

The law does not restrict a private person, a hotel or a business from flying another country’s flag, on its own or next to the Mexican one. The law’s limits concern the national flag: under article 32 Bis, it cannot be used to promote anyone’s image, goods or services. When a business flies the national flag next to foreign or corporate flags, article 24 and the practice of the place of honour serve as a reference. The guide to flagpoles for businesses covers sets of several poles.

Articles 191 and 192 of the Federal Criminal Code refer to the national coat of arms, flag and anthem.