• Documents issued in countries which are signatories of The Hague Convention on the Abolition of the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents of 1961 must have an apostille in accordance with this Convention, otherwise such documents must be authenticated by the competent Colombian consul.
• Any document in a language other than Spanish must be officially translated into Spanish and the translator’s signature must be duly legalized or with an apostille.
• If after six (6) months as of the date of notification of the requirement to supplement the documentation the petitioner has not done so, it will be presumed that he/she has no interest in acquiring the nationality and the file will be closed. In this case, the interested party would have to recommence the procedure as if it were a new petition and pay the respective fees.

For Latin Americans and Caribbeans by birth:

To have been domiciled in Colombia for a period of one (1) year. The term of domicile is counted as of the date of issue of the respective RESIDENT’S VISA.

For Spaniards by birth:

To have been domiciled in Colombia for a period of two (2) years. The term of domicile is counted as of the date of issue of the RESIDENT’S VISA.

For foreigners other than Latin American, Caribbean or Spanish:

To have been domiciled in Colombia for a period of five (5) years or for two (2) years if the foreigner is married to a Colombian national, is a permanent partner of a Colombian national or has Colombian children. The term of domicile is counted as of the date of issue of the RESIDENT’S VISA.

Absence from Colombia for a period of one (1) continuous year or more will be considered an interruption of the term of domicile required for the acquisition of Colombian nationality by naturalization.

Applicants for Colombian nationality by naturalization may, at the discretion of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, be interviewed.

Once the letter of nationality or registration resolution has been notified, applicants are required to take the respective oath before the Mayor’s Office or the Departmental Government, as appropriate.

El Gobernador o el Alcalde deben entregarle al nacionalizado la carta de naturaleza original o copia de la resolución de inscripción, según el caso.

Documents

1. Formal communication to the Ministry of Foreign Relations requesting Colombian nationality, with the respective reasons, which must state:
   • Name, alien’s identity card number, occupation, country of origin and present nationality of the applicant;
   • City of domicile and address of residence in Colombia, land line telephone number, cell/mobile phone number and electronic mail.
   • Statement by the applicant certifying his/her wish to be notified by electronic mail, if he/she so wishes;
   • Reasons for their application.
   • Declaration of their last domicile before being resident in Colombia.
   • Express authorization for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request the confidential report for naturalization, tax and other relevant information from the competent authorities.
   • If the interested party has children who are minors under his/her parental custody, he/she may request that they be included in the nationality, for which purpose he/she must present proof of the civil status of the children to whom they wish the nationality to cover. The request must be made jointly with that of the parents or the person who has parental custody. If the applicant has such parental custody, he/she must provide proof of this status.
2. Photocopy of alien’s identity card.
3. Photocopy of valid Resident’s Visa.
4. Four (4) photographs, facing the camera, against a white or blue background, both recent and identical to each other, size 4x5 cm.
5. Photocopy of the biographical data page of the valid passport.
6. If the passport does not include the required information, an appropriate  document issued by a competent authority of his/her country of origin, certifying the date and place of birth, will be requested. This document must be legalized by the Colombian consulate or have an apostille issued by the competent authority of the applicant’s country of origin, as the case may be. This document must be translated into Spanish if it was issued originally issued in a different language or if the respective translation was made abroad, it must have an apostille or be legalized, as the case may be.
7. Accredit a profession or occupation with the employment certificate of the company where he/she works, issued no more than six (6) months previously.
8. If the applicant is an independent professional, he/she must present a copy of the Single Tax Registration (RUT) form, income tax return and certifications of withholding at source, if appropriate, issued no more than six (6) months previously.
9. Present certification of a public accountant certifying that the applicant is not a taxpayer.
10. If the applicant is a partner or owner of a commercial establishment, he/she must attach the respective certification of the Chamber of Commerce, issued no more than six (6) months previously, showing the corporate purpose of the said establishment and its Tax Identification Number (NIT).
11. If the applicant is financially dependent on another person, he/she must present a statement certifying such dependency, signed by the relative, spouse or permanent partner. Likewise, he/she must attach the documents referred to in numerals 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the person responsible for the applicant.
12. Provide proof of a basic knowledge of the Colombian Political Constitution, of its history and geography and of Spanish, examinations of which he/she must take at the Departmental Government of his/her domicile, in accordance with the provisions of Law 43 of 1993.

    Persons who provide proof of having graduated from high school or have completed university studies in Colombia, as well as persons over 65 years of age are exempt from this requirement. Persons whose native language is Spanish are not required to take the Spanish examination. Equivalence of degrees in specializations and post-graduate studies do not exempt applicants from providing proof of their knowledge.

    Note: This examination must be taken before the Departmental Government of his/her domicile on the date set by the same if legally required.

13. Civil marriage certificate if married to a Colombian or proof of the common law marriage. If there are children of Colombian nationality, the respective civil birth certificates must be presented.
14. Persons of male gender who are over 18 and under 50 years of age who take Colombian nationality by naturalization must define their military situation in accordance with Colombian legislation, unless they prove, through an appropriate document, that they have established this situation in their country of origin. This document must be legalized by a Colombian consulate or have an apostille of the competent authority of the applicant’s country of origin, as the case may be. If this document was originally issued in another language, it must be translated into Spanish and, if the translation was made abroad, it must have an apostille or be legalized, as appropriate.
15. If the applicant has not defined his military situation in his country of origin, he must assume a written commitment stating that he will do so in Colombia if he is granted nationality.