A consular identification document — such as the Mexican Consulate's Matricula Consular — is an official card issued by a country's consulate to its nationals residing abroad. California Civil Code §1185(b)(4)(A) expressly recognizes these documents, along with foreign passports, as acceptable identification for notarial purposes.
To qualify, a consular ID must satisfy all of the following:
1. Be current or issued within the past five years
2. Contain a photograph
3. Include a physical description of the cardholder
4. Bear the cardholder's signature
5. Display a serial or identifying number
If any element is absent — even one — the document cannot serve as satisfactory evidence of identity. The notary must physically inspect the card and confirm all four documentary elements are present.
Exam Tip: The physical description field is what separates Tier Two from Tier One. A California driver's license (Tier One) does not require the notary to check for a description field. A consular ID (Tier Two) does. If the card has no physical description, it is not acceptable — regardless of how official it looks.
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