Colombian Cedula Requirements
IMPORTANT CEDULA FILING EXTENTION: All persons who have received visas from March through September of 2020, have an extention through December 15, 2020. Once this period has passed it is important to understand you have 15 days to apply for a cedula after your visa is issued. If you are not in Colombia when the visa is issued, then the 15 day limit starts once you enter the country. Foreigner’s Identity cards are only issued inside of Colombia. Click here to see the special resolucion for extention of cedula processing time.
Colombia Cedula Requirements for 2023 (Cedula de Extranjeria): Please note that to obtain a Colombian ID card (cedula de extranjeria), you must first have a Colombian Visa which has been issued for a minimum of 3 months.
First Step: Reserve your appointment online with Migracion Colombia here: For persons in Bogota and Medellin as of 9/22/2020, immigration is only processing cedulas de extranjeria Monday and Thursday.Â
You can setup your appointment with Migracion Colombia by clicking here. You can change from Spanish to English by looking for the tab, “Select your language:”. Remember Medellin and Bogota have limited Cedula days to Monday and Thursday starting 9/21/2020, until further notice.
Related Articles of Interest: Colombia Visas
Step Two:Â You will need to fill out your biographical information in the Fomulario Unico De Tramites (FUT). Yes, sounds like the FOOT FORM. You must print the receipt out for this form to take to the appointment with you. The form sometimes has technical issues.
This service is also used to get PAZ Y SALVO (if your days have run up and you need to pay a fine, this is the certificate of good standing).Â
If you need assistance in paying a fine, obtaining an extention, getting an immigration report, or a cedula please let us know, as we are glad to help.
Step Five: Go to your appointment at your local Migracion Colombia office
A quick chek list for the Cedula First Time or Renewal: Please take the following items.
- Print Receipt from your FUT FORM.
- Formulario de COVID / Health Status
- Printed Copy First page of Passport, with Original passport.
- Printed Copy of your Entry Stamp
- Printed Copy of your Visa
- Old Cedula for renewals or Copy if you have it.
- A Face Mask is Required at all times while inside Migracion Colombia.
- You may be required to show you registered on the CORONA App, on your cell phone but this is not clear yet.
*Â Remember they will take your picture at Migracion Colombia. They will also fingerprint you. You do not need to take pictures before going. Pictures are required for the visa but you do not need to take them for the cedula de extranjeria.
** Also very important to remember in Colombia we have 2 government entities for immigration. Migracion Colombia DOES NOT PROCESS VISAS. They are the border patrol, immigration police, visa and tourist extentions, immigration reports, cedula / ID card, temporary permissions, and the place you pay your fine if you over stay. The Ministry of Foreign Relations or the Colombian Consulates outside of Colombia are the only entity authorized and trained to issue visas. NEVER take visa advice from Migracion Colombia. One year i had 10 people tell me they took advice from Migracion Colombia and went to Bogota without required documents.
Mask Tip – Many people do not realize that an N-95 mask will protect you much more than a simple cloth mask. (click for Mayo clinic article) Look into it! If you happen to sit next to a person with COVID-19 on a plane and you dont have the right mask, or your mask is lose you may catch the virus. Another advantage is that an N-95 mask will allow you to breath much easier if you purchase one with the exhale vents. Cloth masks protect other people from you. N-95 masks do a much better job at stopping you from breathing in the virus. The word for masks in Colombia is TAPA BOCA.
Websites of Interest Related to this Subject
Visas By James
Since 2005, our visa agency Visas by James has obtained hundreds of visas for foreigners who wish to study, work, invest, and live in Colombia. We are the oldest expat visa business in Colombia. We also have more attorneys in office than any other visa agency in Colombia. In addition to our visa services we offer a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. By having a legal and accounting firm work on your application, we are able to handle any surprises or last minute requests by immigration officials.
Our Story
James Lindzey the owner of Visas by James has worked as a private investigator and paralegal in the United States from the 90s until he moved to Colombia in 2005. James arrived in Colombia in 2005 and started doing visas for expats in 2007.
In addition to our visa services our agency offers a full range of legal and accounting services to our clients. We are able to assist better in document collection services in the United States because of James legal experience in the United States.
Our Services
Many visas require obtaining complicated documents in the United States or Canada. Just another reason why you should choose our firm.
Please let us know if you need more information, or we can set up a consultation in order to provided you personalized guide.
Our office ours are from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday, and 9:00 am to 12:30 pm Saturday. Our main office is located in Medellin, Colombia near Parque Lleras in El Poblado. We have representation in Bogota, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. Our main office address is Cra 39#5A-95, Oficina 709, Edificio Avangarde. We accept walk in appointments but its always nice if you can let us know ahead of time so we can schedule a time.
