How to combine your ID, CURP and proof of address into a single PDF for an application

School enrollment, job applications, loans, scholarships or company paperwork: more and more online forms ask you to upload a single PDF file with all your documents. If you have your ID (INE, the Mexican voter ID) as a photo, your CURP (Mexican personal ID code) downloaded separately and your proof of address in another PDF, here's how to put it all in one tidy file that's easy to review.

1. Gather your documents as PDFs

Before merging, each document needs to be a PDF and look good. It's common to have a mix of files:

• CURP: the certificate downloaded from the official portal already comes as a PDF. Use it as is.
• Proof of address: electricity, water or phone bills, or a bank statement, can usually be downloaded as PDFs from the provider's app or website. Check the date: many applications require it to be no more than three months old.
• ID (INE): usually required on both sides. If you only have it as a photo, scan it or take a well-lit photo and convert it to PDF with your phone's scanner app (most phones include one in the camera or notes app).
• Birth certificate, diplomas or others: like your ID, scan them in full, without cutting off edges or stamps.

2. Decide the order

If the instructions specify an order, follow it: whoever reviews your file usually works from a checklist, and it's faster when the documents match it. If nothing is specified, a logical order is:

1. Official ID (INE or passport).
2. CURP.
3. Birth certificate.
4. Proof of address.
5. Documents specific to the application (certificates, letters).

3. Merge the files

1. Open Merge PDF and select all the files.
2. Check the list before continuing: the files are merged in that order. If something ends up out of place, it's easy to fix (see step 4).
3. Create the merged PDF and download it.
4. Open it and go through every page: make sure none are missing, none are upside down and everything is readable.

4. Final touches before uploading

• If a page ended up in the wrong place, use Organize PDF and drag it into position.
• If the file is too big for the portal, compress it with Compress PDF. The guide how to reduce the size of a PDF explains what to do if it still doesn't fit.
• If a document shows more data than needed, like the transactions on your bank statement, you can hide them with Redact PDF. Check first whether the application accepts documents with redacted information.
• Give the final file a clear name, for example Application-Juan-Perez.pdf. Avoid names like document(3).pdf.

Mistakes that get your application rejected

• Uploading only one side of your ID when both were required.
• Proof of address that's out of date or in someone else's name without a letter explaining why.
• Blurry photos, with glare or with parts cut off.
• Blank pages that slipped in while scanning.
• A different file type than requested, for example a JPG image instead of a PDF.

Frequently asked questions