Colombia Birth Certificate Apostille — Cancillería Authentication & Translation
We apostille your Colombian birth certificate end to end: a current copia auténtica of the Registro Civil de Nacimiento, the online Cancillería apostille, and a certified translation when your destination needs one — fully remote.
- Online Cancillería apostille
- Copia auténtica obtained for you
- Accepted by USCIS & in Spain
- Certified translation included
Colombian birth certificate — what do you need?
Step 1 of 4
Where will you use the Colombian birth certificate?
Apostille for a Colombian birth certificate: fast and online
A Colombian birth certificate apostille is one of the more straightforward LatAm apostilles. The document is the Registro Civil de Nacimiento issued by the Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil, and the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Cancillería) apostilles it online — often within a couple of business days.
The two things to get right are the document and the copy. The apostilled document is the Registro Civil de Nacimiento (not the baptism certificate), and you need a current copia auténtica with the serial number so the Cancillería can verify the record. We obtain the correct copy and run the online apostille for you.
Who needs this service?
A Colombian birth certificate filed with USCIS or for a foreign citizenship claim must be apostilled by the Cancillería and accompanied by a certified English translation.
Registering a Colombian birth in Spain or applying for Spanish nationality requires the apostilled Registro Civil de Nacimiento — no translation since both are Spanish.
Enrolling children, proving filiation or updating records in another country requires the apostilled birth certificate.
Required documents
| Document | Issuing authority | Estimated time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registro Civil de Nacimiento (certified copy) | Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil (or the notaría that holds the record) | Same day to a few days for a copia auténtica | The document apostilled is the Registro Civil de Nacimiento — not the older "partida de bautismo". A current certified copy (copia auténtica) with the serial number (NUIP/indicativo serial) is needed so the apostille can verify the record. |
| Apostille (Apostilla de La Haya) | Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores — Cancillería (online) | Often issued within 1–3 business days online | Colombia apostilles civil-registry documents electronically through the Cancillería portal. Documents from recognized public registries can be apostilled online without an in-person visit, which makes the Colombian birth certificate one of the faster LatAm apostilles. |
| Certified translation (if destination is non-Spanish) | Certified/sworn translator recognized in the destination country | 1–2 business days after the apostille | For the US (USCIS) a certified English translation is required; for Spain none is needed. The translation must cover the certificate and the apostille text. |
How the process works
We confirm which registry or notaría holds your Registro Civil de Nacimiento, obtain a current copia auténtica if needed, and confirm whether your destination requires a translation.
We request a current certified copy of the Registro Civil de Nacimiento so the apostille authority can verify the record and signature.
We process the Apostilla de La Haya through the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs online system — typically one of the quickest steps.
If your destination is non-Spanish, a certified translator prepares the translation of the apostilled certificate. We courier the finished package to you.
Official sources & authorities
Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.
Related guides
Related services
Birth certificate apostille by country
Reviewed by
Laura ChenLegal Document Expert
Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.
Frequently asked questions
Who apostilles a Colombian birth certificate?
The Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Cancillería) apostilles the Registro Civil de Nacimiento, and it does so online. Colombia is one of the LatAm countries where civil-registry documents from recognized registries can be apostilled electronically, which makes the process relatively fast.
Do I need a fresh copy of my registro civil?
Usually yes. A current copia auténtica with the serial number lets the apostille authority verify the record. Very old copies or the baptism certificate are not the right document — we obtain the correct certified copy.
Do I need a translation?
For Spain, no. For the United States (USCIS) and other non-Spanish destinations, a certified translation is required, covering both the certificate and the apostille.
How fast is the Colombian apostille?
The online Cancillería apostille is often issued within 1–3 business days once you have a valid copia auténtica. With translation, most cases finish within 3–7 business days.
Can you do this if I live abroad?
Yes. We obtain the certified copy, process the online apostille and arrange any translation, then deliver the finished package to your address abroad. No travel to Colombia is needed.
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