Colombia
Latin America
Colombia joined the Hague Convention in 1998. The Cancillería (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is the sole competent authority for issuing apostilles on Colombian public documents.
Why people process documents for Colombia
Colombian nationals need apostilled criminal records (antecedentes judiciales), birth certificates, and university degrees for Spanish visas and work permits.
Colombian university degrees must be apostilled before being recognized by foreign universities, professional licensing bodies, or employers.
Most commonly processed documents
These document types are most frequently apostilled or legalized for Colombia. Each link goes to a full guide on that document.
Official certificate proving a person has no (or has) criminal convictions. Required for immigration, employment, and residency applications.
Official civil registry document recording a person's birth. Foundational for immigration, citizenship, and family applications.
Academic credential awarded by a university upon completion of a degree program. Required for employment abroad, degree homologation, and graduate admissions.
Civil registry document recording a legal marriage. Required for spouse visas, family reunification, name changes, and inheritance.
Notarized document granting someone legal authority to act on another person's behalf. Must be apostilled for international legal transactions.
Civil registry document recording a person's death. Required for inheritance, pension claims, insurance, and estate proceedings abroad.
Requirements at a glance
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not pre-authenticating documents at the originating institution before submitting to the Cancillería.
- Submitting documents with expired criminal records (most countries accept records no older than 90 days).
Real cases involving Colombia
Anonymized real situations we have resolved for this destination. See all cases →
The problem: Needed to apostille his university degree and transcripts for credential verification by a Miami employer.
Result: Documents ready in 7 business days. Employment contract signed the following month.
The problem: Civil engineer with 10 years of experience in Bogotá. Needed to homologate his degree and find work in Madrid.
Result: Homologation obtained in 8 months. Employment found before the process was complete.
Relevant services
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get an apostille for a Colombian document?
Only the Cancillería (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) can issue apostilles for Colombian public documents. We coordinate submissions to their Bogotá office on your behalf.
Can I apostille a Colombian document remotely?
Yes — we manage the entire process. Scan and send your documents; we handle submission to the Cancillería and courier return.
Reviewed by
Sofía RodríguezApostille Specialist
Expert in educational document certification and background checks for Latin America and Spain.
Ready to process your Colombia documents?
Our specialists handle the entire process remotely. No office visits required.