ADOPTING AND ACQUIRING COLOMBIAN CITIZENSHIP 

1. What is naturalization or registration through adoption of Colombian citizenship?

Naturalization is a sovereign and discretionary act of the President of the Republic by virtue of which Colombian nationality is granted to those requesting it, provided they fulfill the requirements established for this purpose by the Political Constitution and the Law. 

2. Requirements

1. For Latin American or Caribbean citizens by birth:

1. To have resided continuously in Colombia for one (1) year prior to the date of filing of the application.

2. For Spanish citizens by birth:

1.  To have resided continuously in Colombia for two (2) years prior to the date of filing of the application.  

3. For foreigners, other than Latin American, Caribbean or Spanish citizens:

1. To have resided continuously in Colombia for five (5) years prior to the date of filing of the application, or for two (2) years if the foreigner is married to a Colombian national, or if he/she is the permanent partner of a Colombian national, or if he/she has Colombian children. 

In all the aforementioned cases, it is understood that a foreigner is a resident in Colombia when he/she is the holder of a RESIDENT VISA; the period of residence is therefore calculated from the date of issuance of said visa.

Absence from Colombia for a period equal to or exceeding one (1) year interrupts the continuous residence period for the purpose of adopting the Colombian nationality.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs may, at its sole discretion, require an interview with the petitioner desiring to adopt Colombian nationality.

The Internal Working Group of Nationality of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall summon the applicant in order to notify him/her of the resolution granting or denying the adoption of Colombian nationality.

Colombian nationality by adoption shall only be considered formalized upon administration of the oath, or a solemn vow, in the event that the individual's religion prevents him/her from taking an oath.

If the foreigner is Latin American, Caribbean or Spanish, the oath is taken by the mayor of the place of residence of the individual; in all other cases, this act is performed by the governor. 

It should be noted that, in some cases, the oath may be administered the President of the Republic or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for reasons of national convenience.

Upon administration of the oath, the Governor or Mayor shall hand over the original letter of naturalization or a copy of the registration resolution, as the case may be, to the interested party.

3. Documents

1. Official application addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs requesting the Colombian nationality, stating the reasons motivating the request and including the following information:

1. Name, Foreign Resident ID Card Number, occupation, country of origin and current nationality of the applicant;

2. City and address of residence in Colombia;

3. Reasons for the petition;

4. Latest address prior to becoming a resident of Colombia;

5. Express authorization for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request police and tax background checks and other pertinent information from the relevant authorities.

6. If the interested party has children under his/her custody, he/she may request that the nationality be made extensive to the children; to this end, he/she must submit proof of the civil status of the minors to whom the nationality is to be extended. This request must be filed jointly by both parents.  If custody is held by only one of the parents, said situation must be duly accredited.

2. Certified photocopy of current valid Foreign Resident ID Card and Resident Visa.

3. Suitable document issued by a the relevant authorities of the country of origin confirming place and date of birth, or a photocopy (authenticated before a Notary Public) of the relevant page of a (valid) passport, showing the aforementioned information. Should the petitioner not possess such a document, a birth certificate or birth registration document may be submitted instead, as provided in Article 259 of the Code if Civil Procedure. This document must be legalized by the Colombian Consul, whose signature shall be verified by the Legalizations Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or bear an apostille issued by the relevant authority in the country of origin of the petitioner, as the case may be.

4. Accredit the applicant's profession or occupation through a certificate issued by the petitioner's employer.

5. If the applicant is an independent professional, he/she must submit a copy of the Single Tax Registration (Registro Único Tributario - RUT), income tax return and certification of withholdings, if applicable.

6. If the petitioner is a partner or owner of a commercial enterprise, a Chamber of Commerce certificate issued not more than six (6) months prior to the date of the petition, indicating the corporate purpose of the company, as well as the Tax identification Number (NIT) must be attached.

7. In the event that the petitioner is financially dependent on another person, a statement evidencing said fact, signed by the relative, spouse or permanent partner must be submitted.

8. Accredit basic knowledge of the Political Constitution, history and geography of Colombia, as well as of the Spanish language. The tests will be given at the applicable Governor's Office, as provided by Law 43 of 1993, amended by Law 962 of 2005.

Individuals that show proof of having obtained a high school or university degree, as well as persons over 65 years of age are exempted from this requirement. The Spanish language test is waived for natives of Spanish-speaking countries. Recognition of equivalence of specializations or postgraduate degrees do not constitute an exemption from the aforementioned tests. 

Note: In order to take these tests, the interested party shall be notified after filing the relevant naturalization application or registration as a Colombian citizen, as the case may be.

9. Marriage certificate if married to a Colombian, or proof of domestic partnership, pursuant to Law 54 of 1990, Law 640 of 2001 and Law 979 of 2005.  (Extrajudicial statements were abolished by Law 962 of 2005.) If the petitioner has Colombian children, he/she must submit the corresponding birth certificates. 

10. Written commitment of compliance with the requirements regarding military status in the event of being granted Colombian citizenship, unless evidence is provided that said military status has been resolved in the country of origin, submitting a certification issued by the relevant authority. Males over 50 years of age and all females are exempted from this requirement.

11. Five (5) recent photographs, 4x5 centimeters, on blue background.

It is important to bear in mind that:

• Any documents issued in countries that are members of the Apostille Convention must include the apostille stamp, in accordance with the 1961 "Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents". Otherwise, these documents must be authenticated by the Colombian Consul, whose signature must be legalized by the Office of the Internal Working Group of the Decentralized Legalization and Apostille Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Official translations into Spanish are required for any document originally written in a different language

• If, in the six (6) months following the date of notice with the request to supplement the documentation, the applicant does not comply, it shall be assumed that he/she is no longer interested in acquiring the nationality.

4. Fee 

In Colombia (only): Three hundred fifty thousand pesos (COP $350,000), in accordance with Resolution 1670 of 15 April 2011, payable to the Revolving Fund of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Fondo Rotatorio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores), TIN (NIT) 860.511.071-6, at Citibank, checking account No. 0060703019. This amount shall be paid upon receipt of a notification sent to you in that regard by the Internal Working Group of Nationality.

5. Place  

Offices in Bogota: Coordinating Office of the Internal Working Group on Colombian Nationality of the Department of International Legal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Carrera 6 No. 9 – 46, Bogota, D.C.