On June 9, 2026, the Mexican Federal Official Gazette (Diario Oficial de la Federación) published a decree amending the Federal Administrative Litigation Procedure Law (Ley Federal de Procedimiento Contencioso Administrativo – LFPCA). The reform introduces significant procedural changes affecting litigation before Mexico’s Federal Court of Administrative Justice (Tribunal Federal de Justicia Administrativa – TFJA).
The amendments seek to modernize administrative litigation through enhanced digital proceedings, stricter procedural deadlines, expanded interim relief mechanisms, and measures intended to reduce case backlogs and improve judicial efficiency.
Key Changes
1. Statutory Deadlines for Court Actions
A new Article 6 Bis establishes that, unless a specific provision provides otherwise, any ruling or order issued in response to a filing submitted before the Court must be issued within five days following its submission.
The reform also introduces specific deadlines for several procedural stages, including:
- Admission or dismissal of complaints;
- Admission of amended complaints;
- Review of answers and responsive pleadings;
- Resolution of procedural incidents;
- Case file integration;
- Drafting of opinions and judgments; and
- Issuance of final decisions by Regional Chambers, Sections and the Full Court.
These provisions are intended to increase procedural certainty and reduce delays in administrative litigation.
2. Expanded Interim Relief and Protective Measures
The reform significantly strengthens the Court’s authority to grant interim relief.
The instructing magistrate may now order measures aimed at:
- Preserving the existing legal or factual situation;
- Maintaining the effectiveness of a future judgment;
- Preventing irreparable harm to the claimant; and
- Avoiding situations in which the dispute becomes moot before a final ruling is issued.
The reform also establishes expedited timelines for resolving requests for interim relief:
- 24 hours to admit the request;
- 72 hours for the authority to submit its report; and
- 5 days to issue a definitive ruling.
3. Further Development of Digital Litigation
The amendments continue the expansion of Mexico’s online administrative justice system.
Among other changes:
- Legal entities may use their own advanced electronic signatures;
- Filings submitted using a company’s electronic signature are presumed to have been authorized by its sole administrator or chairperson of the board of directors;
- Government authorities and third parties may participate electronically even when the claimant has chosen the traditional paper-based procedure.
4. Sanctions for Frivolous or Dilatory Conduct
New Article 7 Bis authorizes the Court to impose sanctions against parties, representatives, experts, witnesses and other participants who engage in improper procedural conduct. Fines may be imposed for:
- Disrespectful submissions;
- Conduct contrary to procedural good faith; and
- Manifestly frivolous or unfounded claims, motions or appeals.
Penalties may range from 100 to 1,500 times the applicable Unit of Measurement and Update (UMA).
5. Revised Rules Governing Stays and Security Requirements
The reform further develops the legal framework governing:
- Stays of administrative acts;
- Injunction-like relief;
- Bonds and counter-bonds;
- Modification or revocation of interim relief due to supervening circumstances.
The amendments also specify situations in which a stay may be denied on public policy or public interest grounds.
6. Modernization of Evidentiary Rules
Several provisions governing evidence have been updated, including rules relating to:
- Expert testimony;
- Witness testimony;
- Digital documents;
- Challenges to document authenticity; and
- Requests for records held by government authorities.
The reform expressly recognizes the use of electronic documents and establishes procedural mechanisms for their treatment during litigation.
7. Harmonization with the National Code of Civil and Family Procedure
The LFPCA now adopts the National Code of Civil and Family Procedure (Código Nacional de Procedimientos Civiles y Familiares) as its supplementary procedural framework, replacing references to the former Federal Code of Civil Procedure.
This amendment aligns the administrative litigation system with Mexico’s broader procedural harmonization efforts..
8. Effective Date
The decree generally becomes effective the day following its publication. However, certain provisions will enter into force later:
- Rules permitting electronic participation by authorities and third parties will become effective 180 days after publication.
- The newly established procedural deadlines applicable to the Court will become effective 240 days after publication, allowing time for the TFJA to implement the necessary operational adjustments.
Final Remarks
While the reform does not substantially alter the substantive jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Administrative Justice or the grounds for challenging administrative acts, it represents one of the most significant procedural overhauls of the LFPCA in recent years.
Companies, investors and taxpayers involved in administrative, regulatory, customs or tax disputes should carefully assess the impact of these amendments on their litigation strategies and risk management practices.
For additional information regarding the impact of these amendments on administrative, tax, customs or regulatory litigation in Mexico, please contact our team.