Apostille in Colombia

Here we tell you everything you should know about the apostille in Colombia.

What is an Apostille?

Certification of the authenticity of the signature of a public servant in the exercise of his functions and in a certain capacity, so that the document in which it is found has full legal effect.

How is it different from legalization?

The apostille is an abbreviated legalization process for countries party to the Convention on the Abolition of the Requirement of Legalization of Foreign Public Documents (1961), a list of which can be found here.

How to apply for an apostille in Colombia?

1. Since 2017, the procedure can only be done online, from the following link: Apostille
2. Once the request has been made, the entity will have up to 3 business days to respond. You will be able to consult the result of the procedure in the registered e-mail or in the following link: Consult application
3. If the application is approved, you will have 30 days to verify the data on the document, request corrections if necessary and proceed with payment

Apostille fees in Colombia

The cost will depend on the applicant’s location, as follows:

• In Colombia, $31,000 pesos
• Euro territory and Cuba, €7
• The rest of the world, USD $10

General requirements

• Name, position, entity, date and handwritten signature of a public servant or private individual in the exercise of public functions, registered in the database of this Ministry.
• All documents must be sent in PDF in a file no larger than 11 MB.
• In case of multiple applications, only up to 10 documents may be attached independently.

Specific requirements for Apostille in Colombia

Each type of document has its specific requirements that you can consult in the following link: Requirements

Among others, it is required:

• For deeds or civil registrations: True copy taken from the original in the file of the notary’s office where the registration was made or the respective endorsement of the notary.
• For citizenship cards: Authentication at sight of the photocopy of the document.
• Passport without machine reading: Copy of the document or, if the signature on the document does not contain the name or position of the public servant, a certification of the passport must be requested from the Internal Passport Working Group.
• Official translations that take effect abroad: Acknowledgement of the official translator’s signature before a notary public
• Documents signed by judges: Signature of the sectional Director of the Superior Council of the Judiciary or the official delegated by the latter, having jurisdiction over the place where the document was issued.

Law Offices in Colombia

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